His grip tightened. "If I ever find out that you’re lying to me, Britney…" He leaned closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "I will kill you."
A blinding fury erupted inside me.
Without thinking, my free hand flew up, slapping him hard across the face.
The sound echoed through the room.
Duke’s head tilted slightly from the impact.
When he looked back at me, his gaze was unreadable.
Then, to my shock, he smiled.
It wasn’t a smile of amusement. It was something darker. Something that made the hairs on my arms rise.
He released my wrist and stepped back, his smirk lingering as he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart racing.
For weeks, I felt his eyes on me. Watching. Waiting. Testing me.
But I refused to break.
Until one night, everything fell apart.
My phone rang in the dead of night, the screen flashing with Fay’s name.
I answered immediately, my voice hushed. "Fay, what is it?"
"Mia," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I found something."
A chill swept over me. "What?"
Fay hesitated. Then, "Duke Trayson is part of a mafia group."
I felt my breath leave my body.
"Mafia?"