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Lily could hear her heart literally pounding out of her chest.

The men circled around the exit blocking her path and their hands brushing the steel inside their jackets was enough to remind her she wasn’t leaving. Not unless Christian allowed it.

Her grip on Gio’s hand tightened, but her cousin looked just as lost, confusion painted across her wide eyes.

Lily turned pulse racing when she saw Christian watching her from across the hall holding a tight grin on his face.

“W-what’s going on?” she stammered, searching his face for an answer, for anything she could use to make sense of this nightmare.

However, instead of responding, his gaze shifted to his brother, Sebastian, who then stepped between them.

“Take Gio inside.” He ordered.

“What?” Lily’s voice broke as Gio frowned, tugging against her hold.

What’s going on?” Gio questioned with even more urgency.

Lily swallowed hard, forcing a smile she didn’t feel. She didn’t want her cousin dragged deeper into this mess.

“Just go, Gio. I’ll meet you out in a bit.” Lily gave her a warm pleading smile to which she nodded reluctantly and followed disappearing in the side corridors with Sebastian.

Christian moved leisurely across the room, taking his sweet time to reach her as the crowd parted for him. “How rude of you to want to leave just like that.”

“What do you want from us?” She spat.

He closed the distance between them in one final step. Lily wanted to step back, to claw away from him, however her body seemed to stiffen with fear.

“There’s no us Lily. I don’t care about Gio. It’s only you.”

Every eye followed him as though the room itself bent to his presence. He stopped in front of her, close enough for her to smell his cologne.

“Pardon me for the abruptness.” He turned. “Ladies and Gentlemen say hello to my new mistress.”

The entire room hushed in silence then seconds later whispers flew in the air like wildfire.

Lily’s eyes widened, both dumbfounded and in horror.

“What?”

“Isn’t she Dmitri Kalanshivo’s wife?” A scandalous feminine voice was heard from the crowd..

With another cruel smirk, he slid his arm possessively around her waist, presenting her to the crowd.

Without thinking, she shoved against his chest, her face flushing hot with fury and shame. “You’re insane!”

She hadn’t known what to expect but this was just outrageous and out of her wildest imagination.

Gasps rippled around them, but Christian’s smirk didn’t falter. Instead, he dipped low against her ear. “Say that again, and you won’t leave here alive. Not you. Not your cousin.”

Her breath caught. She knew she should shut her mouth, play along and wait for a chance to slip free but then anger clawed its way back. She turned her head, meeting his eyes with fire.

“I don’t know what sick games you’re playing but you have a lot of nerves. Just wait until Dmitri finds you.”Her voice lowered into something of venom. “You’re done.”

Christian looked shaken for a split second, so did the entire room. Like they’d been caught off guard by her fire. However, minutes later the burst of laughter that filled the room shook her to the core.

He lowered his voice again so only she could hear though his grin remained ever so visible for the audience to see.

“How could I forget Dmitri? Of course he’s aware. In fact, he has a surprise for you.”

Her stomach lurched. “You’re lying.”

He tilted his head, mock sympathy painted across his handsome face.

“You are no longer needed, Lily. That’s why he shipped you back to your family. He only used you for one thing and that is to secure his place as Don. And now that crown sits firmly on his head.“Did you really think he wanted you?”

Hey eyes hollowed, there was no way in heaven she was about to believe anything that came out of his mouth.

The humiliation burned hotter and hotter as the seconds passed.

Christian’s fingers pressed lightly into her waist, a mockery of tenderness. “Now? You’re just useless. But lucky for you…” his grin deepened, “I happen to have an interest in you.”

Lily’s jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

“You’re a liar. Every word out of your mouth is a lie.”

Gasp filled the room. A good number of people giving her death glares and the rest startled that she’d dared speak to him like that in his den, surrounded by people that could easily slit her throat open.

But the only thing Christian cared about was the thread of hope still evident on her face that he could wait to snap.

He angled his head while still holding her in place. “My bad. You’re right, Lily. Perhaps it’s better you hear it directly from him.”

Confusion filled her face. “What?”

Christian raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The double doors at the far end of the hall swung open. The crowd turned at once to see two men in smooth black suits step into the room.

Because between them, walking slowly into the light, was a figure she knew all too well. The piercing presence he always gave her whenever they were together, both power and desire clung to her.

The moment the two men stepped aside, her eyes paired with the figure she knew all too well her blood turned to ice.

“Dmitri?”

For the briefest second, something unreadable flickered in his expression. And then, just like that it faded into thin air.

Christian’s smirk widened, triumphant even. “See, darling?” he whispered, lips brushing her ear. “No lies. Only the truth. Straight from the man you thought would protect you.”

Lily looked between Christian and Dmitri, both confusion and denial clawing themselves through her. She hadn’t seen him for almost two weeks now. No calls, no text and nothing at all from him. And now after the silence, there he was, just standing
there looking at her with a cold expression she didn’t recognize.