Something in the air shifted as we made ourselves known. Movements paused, and suddenly the place wasn’t alive anymore, but like a graveyard.

Eyes fell on us... me... in particular, and I couldn’t help it as a blush burned through my cheek. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

They can see it. They can see the fucking hickey!

If it hadn’t been for Zade’s hand locked around my waist, I’d have bolted out of this room and called it a day.

But all I could do was just endure being exhibited like a new shiny toy, because that was exactly what it felt like.

We got to a table, and Zade pulled out a chair for me. The air was still tight even as we sat down.

This was the function? A casino, or whatever this place was called. I have only seen it in movies, and it didn’t have this kind of intensity.

Everyone here wasn’t just some casual person looking to gamble the night away; these were elites. Their attire and the aura clinging to them don’t belong to ordinary people.

I think my father used to attend all these sorts of things; I could only imagine that this was the same place he got buried in debt. It had to be.

Goosebumps rippled over my skin as Zade’s hand settled on my thigh, followed by the cold brush of his breath against my ear.

"Don’t be so nervous..." he murmured.

"I’m not nervous..." I replied sternly.

"Then why are you shaking?"

I flickered my eyes to his, and a hollow smile curled my lips. "Because I’m mulling my life choices right now. Slap your hand away and drop dead, or cut your fingers off and still drop dead."

I have never seen anyone more entertained by a threat. What’s his deal? Or does he think I can’t do it?

"It’s fascinating how much bloodlust can hide behind such an innocent gaze," he remarked. "It brings out your gray eyes."

"I’m far from innocent," I seethed.

"What makes you say that?"

I looked away, feeling a heavy sensation on my chest.

"You’ve been sheltered all your life. Places like this are far from what you’re used to... especially now that you’re married to a Don."

Yes... I was once innocent, but everything changed when my sister’s remains were brought back to us, courtesy of Don Salvero.

I heaved, looking at him once more. Having no words to say, except just glowering. My screams of rage won’t get through that thick skull of his.

Whatever he’d smoked in the car had gotten him downright high. His eyes were so slitted I questioned whether he was even in the right state of mind.

I caught Lisa coming toward us, her gaze focused only on Zade. She seemed to be in whatever game-on mode.

She leaned down to Zade, whispering something to his ear, and he nodded for a go-ahead.

A few men came toward the table, and I shifted uncomfortably, becoming the only woman present. Zade hasn’t taken his hand off my thigh either.

What’s the matter with him?

I can’t believe I’m gonna spend the rest of the night in this position. Sitting with these clearly dangerous men. The guards standing at the corner didn’t even bother to be civil and hide their guns.

The heat in this room was enough to cut through glass, and I don’t mean the fucking temperature.

"Don Salvero..." one of the men seated opposite us spoke. "We didn’t expect to see you tonight." His eyes locked on me. "We thought you’d be enjoying your honeymoon."

Zade was in the middle of lighting a cigar with his gold lighter, taking his sweet time, flat out ignoring the powerful men seated.

It took over a minute, and something tells me he purposely did that. The impatient look on the man’s face wasn’t hard to miss either.

Zade exhaled a stream of smoke through his nostrils. "I am enjoying my honeymoon quite well, actually." A grin touched his lips. "But my wife insisted on a good game, isn’t that right, darling?"

D-Darling?!

I shot him a furious glare, but Zade remained focused. When I looked back, they had their eyes on me, and the judgment behind them reminded me of the ones I got in the academy.

"She’s a Morri, isn’t she? I never expected you’d tie the knot with Roman Morri’s daughter."

"Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?" Zade questioned lightly.

"Not at all!" He let out a laugh to brighten the mood. "It’s rare to see you settle down. But every man needs a beautiful woman by his side, and you found one."

Zade doesn’t reply, silently smoking.

"So! Let’s get down to business..." He snapped his fingers, signaling the dealer over. "It’s been a while since we had a good game. We can discuss that investment while we’re at it."

"Mr. Shane, you made such a request some time ago, did you not?" Elliot spoke up. "And I believe my brother showed no interest."

I hadn’t realized he was part of the table until now. I’m heavily focused on Zade’s hand on my thigh, and the gentle stroke of his thumb is making my head woozy.

"Yes, but you told me that. I didn’t hear from Don Salvero himself. So I thought about a more private audience outside the line of legal business. It’s all still business, isn’t that right?"

"Business..." Zade muttered, tipping his head back as smoke slipped from his lips. "That’s what I like to hear."

Mr. Shane snickered as if he had gotten what he wanted. The dealer shuffled the cards, and I knew this was gonna be one boring game, as well as business talks that don’t concern me.

It seems like I was brought like a decoration to be paraded to every breathing being here, that I was his wife... his property.

When Zade took his hand off my thigh, it felt like I could breathe, but with it came an unwanted lingering cold sensation.