Page 71 of Goldflame

Irritation flashes across her weathered face. “The master wishes to meet you today. You should prepare yourself properly.”

Themaster. Of course. Another man who thinks he can own me. Every man in the world can’t be like this, can they?

“Tell yourmasterto go fuck himself,” I snap. “I’m not his property.”

Her eyes widen, and for a moment I expect her to strike me. Instead, she draws herself up, lips pursed tightly. “Such disrespect. The master has been generous, providing this lovely room, good food. You should show gratitude.”

I laugh. “Gratitude? For being drugged and dragged here? Tell me, which of my captors deserves mygratitude?”

“You know nothing,” she hisses. “Nothing of this house. Ignorant young girl.”

“Get out,” I say, my voice dropping dangerously low. “Get. Out.”

She stares at me a moment longer, then turns sharply on her heel. As she leaves, she mutters something in rapid Italian—probably cursing me and my entire existence. The door shuts.

Alone again, I wrap my arms around myself, trembling with adrenaline and fear. There will be consequences for my defiance. There always is in this world. But I need these precious moments alone to process and breathe and find my footing.

I’ve been running in circles—from one cage to another, from one cruel keeper to the next. Valentine’s betrayal. Julian’s manipulation. Lady Harrow’s orchestrations. Adrian’s death. It’s all part of the same vicious cycle that claimed my mother.

Regardless, I’m still here. Still breathing. Still fighting.

I lost my mind for a bit at the Harrow’s penthouse, yet now that I’m somewhere else, there will be new opportunities for escape. I’ll figure something out.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that I’m stronger than they think. I’ve been broken over and over, yet somehow, I keep finding pieces of myself to put back together. Different than before—sharper, harder, but still me.

My stomach growls, so I eye the food warily. It could be drugged, but somehow I doubt it. I bet this new “master” wants me functional, at least for now.

I drag myself from the bed and approach the tray cautiously. I tear off a small piece of bread and chew slowly, then another. Soon I’m eating with desperate hunger, shoving fruit into my mouth between bites of bread and eggs.

As I finish, I hear a child’s voice in the hallway—a boy, his high-pitched chatter muffled by the thick door. The sound is so unexpected in this environment that I wonder if I’m hallucinating.

Well… now that I have some food in me, my head is a little clearer, though the dread remains. I need to know what I’m facing. Who this “master” is and what he wants. Knowledge is power, and right now, I have neither.

My body aches, but I go through the motions of showering. The warm water washes away the lingering scent of Julian, and I scrub until my skin is pink and raw. As soon as I’m out of the bathroom, the first thing I do is put Adrian’s necklace around my neck. When I face this new “master” I think I’ll need it for emotional support.

The garment bag contains a simple but elegant blue dress. I slip it on, hating how perfectly it fits, as if someone knew my measurements exactly. Every act of compliance feels like a surrender, but sometimes you have to play along to survive. Especially when I still want revenge.

I’ll escape my new prison, but I can’t possibly leave this world without finishing my hitlist first. I crave justice. I need my revenge on Julian. On Lady Harrow. On Valentine. On whoever my new captor is.

If Julian thinks he’s broken me by passing me off tosomeone else, he’s about to learn how wrong he is. I’m done being the Golden One, the prize to be claimed. I’m something else now, something far more dangerous—a woman scorned.

The next man who tries to cage me will be the one who burns.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

DANTE

The phone buzzes precisely at 12:04 p.m., illuminating briefly on my desk. One must appreciate punctuality, especially in matters of significance.

“Yes?” I answer, keeping my tone measured.

“She’s ready,” Lorenzo’s voice comes through and he’s vibrating with excitement. “The maids are bringing her to you now.” There’s a childlike quality to his enthusiasm that I find both amusing and slightly concerning.

I allow myself a small smile, invisible to him through the phone. “Excellent. I appreciate your attention to detail in this matter.”

“Of course.” He laughs, the sound rich with anticipation. “After all our planning… to finally have the Golden One in our possession.”

“Indeed.” I clear my throat.

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