Page 8 of Savage Union
"There is a box on top of your nightstand. Take a look. Be a good girl, and comply," he says, already walking out the door.
A shiver runs down my spine. I need to find out why he murdered my father. The moment I do, I'll find my mother and sister. We can't stay in New York. If we do, Vito will make good on his threats.
I walk to the nightstand where a small black box sits. I snatch it open. Inside gleams a beautiful engagement ring.
But I know better.
The ring might as well be a chain around my neck.
CHAPTER 3
Rina
The black boxsits on my nightstand like a ticking bomb. I've left it untouched since Vito's dramatic exit last night. Sleep had been impossible. Every creak and whisper in this luxury prison had me bolt upright, expecting to see his dark silhouette looming in the doorway.
Morning light streams through floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the room in gold. I hate that it's beautiful. I hate that part of me admires the carefully curated space—pristine white bedding, modern art on the walls, furniture that probably costs more than my entire childhood home. Nothing is accidental here. Everything serves a purpose.
Just like me.
I slip out of bed, abandoning the pretense of sleep. The marble floor is cold against my bare feet as I creep toward the door. I crack it open, listening. Silence. Taking a deep breath, I step into the hallway.
This floor of the penthouse is quieter than the main level below—personal quarters tucked away from the entertaining spaces. I pad down the hall, noting the other bedroom doors, a sitting area with impossibly white furniture, and what looks likea smaller study area near the windows. Everything gleams in the morning light—glass, chrome, polished wood. Not a pillow out of place, not a speck of dust on any surface.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I head for the spiral staircase that connects the floors. If I'm going to be trapped here, I might as well understand the layout of my cage.
The main floor is even more impressive in daylight. Everything is meticulously arranged—a temple to wealth and power. I run my finger along a bookshelf, half-expecting alarms to sound at my disruption. The books are arranged by height, their spines forming a perfect gradient. Who does that?
I wander through the vast living spaces, noting the kitchen where Antonia must work, the formal dining room with its intimidating long table, the multiple sitting areas. But it's the office tucked near the main entrance that draws my attention. Through the partially open door, I can see the corner of a massive desk covered with papers.
I move closer, peering inside. Financial reports, from what I can tell. Numbers that would make most people's eyes water.
"I wouldn't touch those if I were you."
I whirl around, heart slamming against my ribs.
Vito stands near the elevator entrance, his massive frame blocking the light from the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. He wears a charcoal suit that's probably worth more than a car, not a wrinkle in sight. His dark hair is perfectly styled, face freshly shaved. Even at this hour, he looks ready to command armies or topple governments.
"Do you always creep up on people?" I cross my arms, hating how my voice wavers.
"It's my home. I don't creep." His eyes drift to the office doorway where I'm standing. "Those are private."
"Everything is private with you." I step away from the office anyway, moving toward the center of the main living area. "Is there anything I'm allowed to touch in this prison?"
His jaw tightens. "This is hardly a prison."
"No? What would you call a place I can't leave, with rules I didn't agree to, and consequences I didn't ask for?"
"Home," he says simply, moving away from the elevator. "For now."
"This isn't my home."
"It will be. The sooner you accept that, the easier things will be." He strides past me toward his office, straightening the papers I hadn't even touched. "Did you sleep well?"
The casual question throws me. "Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously." He doesn't look up from organizing his precious papers at the desk.
"Oh, I slept wonderfully after being kidnapped, threatened, and given a marriage ultimatum. Best night ever."
