His gaze darkened as it traveled over the scars scattered across my collarbone and abdomen—souvenirs from prison. Carved into me by people Dennis's rivals had paid off to deliver their revenge.
I'd nearly had my uterus ruptured during a beating that lasted three hours.
"All right. I'll give you everything you want."
Christian pressed his fingers down hard on a wound that hadn't yet healed.
Agony ripped through me. My whole body convulsed, cold sweat soaking through to my spine in an instant.
But he leaned into my ear, his voice tender, his words merciless.
"In return, from this moment on—your life, your bloodline, even every single breath you take—belongs to me."
I bit down on my lower lip so hard it split, swallowing the pain whole.
"Deal."
The Maybach climbed the hillside and pulled through the gates of the Finley estate.
This was the vantage point that overlooked the entire Capital—and the gilded cage Christian Finley had built just for me.
The car door opened. Two rows of bodyguards in black stood at perfect ninety-degree bows.
"Welcome home, Mrs. Finley."
Their voices rang out in unison, echoing across the grounds.