“I’m waiting.”
My eyes flash as I hold her life in my hands, and she nods slowly, causing me to ease the pressure a little.
“I fear…”
Once again, her voice trails off as the tears slide down her face, and her whisper is almost silent as the words fall. “Morgan. I fear Morgan.”
CHAPTER 8
TIFFANY
The instant the word leaves my lips, he releases my neck, and I take in a deep breath of air, loving the sudden rush to my lungs. My body is limp, almost exhausted, and yet saying her name aligned with my darkest secret isn’t as terrifying in this room for some reason.
“Morgan.” He repeats the name of my biggest fear, and I nod, sensing I just experienced an epic battle that required mere thought, not physicality.
“Why do you fear her?”
“I’d rather not say.”
He says nothing, and I attempt to change the subject.
“Is this where your darkest fears come out to play, Mr. Ravera?”
His sharp intake of breath tells me I’m right, and he snaps, “Joseph. You call me Joseph because what bride refers to her husband as Mr. anything?”
“I’m not marrying you.”
I reaffirm that because there will be no doubt about that.
His amused grin causes my blood to boil as he shrugs. “You have no choice, so live with it.”
“Of course I have a choice. Are you mad?”
I am incandescent with rage, and I jump when he pulls me from the bench and slams me hard against the wall. His arms landing on either side of me, locking me in a dark prison.
“You say Morgan is your biggest fear, little one. Well, say hi to her replacement. I’m not playing a game or messing with your mind. I am your husband whether you like it or not, and there is nothing you can do about that.”
His eyes blaze with fury, and I am so shocked I can only stare at him in horror. As his finger trails down my face, he whispers almost to himself, “It’s appropriate to lay down the rules in the dark recess of my home. This is your life now, Tiffany.”
“But–”
His hand slams against my mouth and his eyes burn with power as he hisses, “I am not my brothers, and I don’t play nice. Tomorrow, we marry, and by the end of the day, we will have attempted to make a child. Only when that child is born will you be free to leave.”
“You want a child.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing, and he shakes his head, making me wonder if he is mentally unstable.
“No, I don’t want a child, but under the terms of your father’s will, you must be with child to unlock yours and your sister’s inheritance. If you fail, so do they, and so, out of duty to them, I’m guessing you will agree.”
“I don’t understand.”
I must be in a parallel universe because my mind is scrambled.
What did he just say?
As my head spins, he whispers against my lips, “Welcome to hell, little nun. The devil’s in charge now and he only accepts deals in return for freedom.”
“You’re not the devil.”
