[Music: Spotlight By VOILA, Austin Giorgio]

Lisa was a bit taken by his reply, and he didn’t spare her a glance. Frustrated, she walked out, leaving Zade and me alone.

In a heartbeat, he came closer, my pulse racing, and I wondered why the sudden compulsion to retreat.

The idea of Zade, not amused as usual was a bit... off. My chin tilted up to maintain eye contact because looking away was not an option right now.

"Something wrong, Don Salvero?" I asked, pondering where I got the bravery to speak despite my insides trembling. "Am I a bit overdressed?"

On cue, that smirk was back on his face, far too unsettling. He moved, circling me like a predator... no... like a snake coiling around its fresh kill.

"No..." His voice dropped, low enough to make my pulse quickened. "Exactly what I expected."

I released a breath when he came forward. Expected? Isn’t he supposed to be mad I used a scarf?

"One more important thing." He dipped his hand into his pocket and took out a black box. I recognized it instantly. He opened it and revealed my wedding ring.

I clearly left that on the dresser, so how—! And then it dawned on me. He took it when he came into my room this morning.

He must have known I wouldn’t wear it. This reptile was one step ahead of me. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Zade clutched my hand and slid the emerald-cut diamond through my finger as easily as he had done during the wedding.

"You should never forget your ring, Mrs. Salvero."

Slowly, he lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the ring without breaking eye contact. I forced my hand away, disgust washing over me.

"I didn’t forget it. It simply didn’t match my dress."

"Is that so?" He eyed the ring once more, but then he caught sight of the bracelet.

"Mind telling me what kind of function we’re attending?"

His eyes shot back to me. "And spoil the fun...?"

Fun. I don’t like the sound of that.

His hand snaked around my waist, and when I tried to push him off, he pinned his nails into my hips to keep me still. The heavy scent of mint and his cologne overwhelmed my senses.

"Behave tonight. Good behavior will earn rewards. Bad behavior will earn consequences."

His eyes dropped to the scarf around my neck. If I knew better, he looked seconds away from ripping it off.

"What does it matter? You can always Photoshop, just like the wedding," I said.

He smirked, leading me out and down the stone steps. "Did you like the pictures?"

"You mean fake pictures."

"You left me no choice, little kitten."

"Don’t call me that."

He traced my face intensely. "And miss out the chance to see the heat rise on your cheeks? Not in a million years."

My nostril flared.

"Careful, little kitten... you’ll burn my eyes out with that look." He pressed the door seam, and it lifted upward in a smooth, winged motion.

I got in, and my eyes tracked Zade’s movement as he got in too, tucking a cigar between his lips.

"Seatbelt," he said, strapping his on, and I did.

He pressed the start button, and the engine fired instantly. He lit his cigar and sped off.

Zade drives like a maniac, and I’m not so surprised. I can’t even look at the window without having the urge to puke.

In less than a few minutes, we were out of the Salvero estate and through the winding streets lit up by the street lamps. The roar of his engine was loud as he sped past. Passersby were scared away, even though they were in their lane.

Zade steered the wheel with one hand, the car whipping through a sharp turn before surging onto the open road, ignoring traffic signals like he owned the damn city.

After a few more minutes of enduring his suffocating habits, we stopped in front of a building, my chest rising and falling heavily. I didn’t realize how much I clutched my purse until now.

That was intense. I do not want to experience that again.

I turned my head to glare at him, but he seized my chin, holding me in place as his teeth grazed along my jaw and sucked far too deeply until I felt a burn.

I rasped thickly, pounding my fist against his chest until he finally let me go. I swung my hand, but he caught my wrist before I had the chance to land a hit.

"I wouldn’t do that." He warned with a dark edge to his tone.

"You—"

Zade got out before I even had the chance to say a word. The door opened, and I veered my eyes to his hand, but I didn’t take it, getting out on my own.

But the fucking snake yanked me close by the waist. His gaze lingered on the mark he’d left on my jaw, something unreadable in his eyes.

"Beautiful..." he murmured, leaning close, and I looked away. A shiver coursed through me as his breath kissed my skin.

"You didn’t think I’d let you walk out of here without my mark, did you?"

"Take your hands off me!" I hissed.

"Now... don’t make this difficult." He tossed his key fob to the valet. "Behave..."

Behave...? Watch me. I’m gonna do anything other than that. This time, I don’t care what the fuck happens to me as long as I get to wipe that smirk off his face.

Zade led me into the building. We stepped into the foyer first, men guarded there before we walked through the corridor, a noise getting louder and louder, even as we went up the staircase.

A few more turns and we emerged in a large room, with multiple tables, dark velvet polished surfaces, and chandeliers suspended to the ceiling with paintings depicting a history.

Everyone was either sitting or standing. Champagne bottles resting in ice, crystal glasses in hand, cigars, low laughter, and quiet conversations.

Different players, dealers, chips stacked high, and money treated like nothing.

"Welcome to the Night Chamber..." Zade whispered to me.