"Welcome home..." she said huskily before her eyes fell on me. "And you must be Mrs. Salvero. I’m Lisa Wade, Don Salvero’s secretary."

Secretary?

I flat-out thought she was his lover or something. She fits the picture, and the eye fucking was becoming horrendous.

"Lisa, would you be so kind as to take my wife to change into something more appealing. That box..." Zade said, eyeing me like he could picture me on something.

"As you wish, Don."

He applied pressure to his hand at the small of my back to bring me closer, leaning down to my ear before I could think of fighting him off.

"I’m looking forward to you destroying the next dress."

I turned my head the other way when his face got too close.

"By all means... do it," he taunted, and it made me wonder why he was gearing for my disrespect.

Jacob. That was the only explanation I could think of. What happened at the wedding proved that he uses dirty tricks. He wants me to defy him and in return, Jacob would suffer.

Zade’s phone rang, and he checked the screen before pressing the device to his ear.

Winking, he moved, one hand buried in his pocket. My vision blurred as rage burned through my skull, but it was cut short when I found Lisa eyeing him in a way that didn’t look one bit professional.

She had his eyes on his ass, tightening against his pressed pants with every movement.

If she’s going to eye someone like that, she should at least choose better. Disgusting.

Lisa peeled her eyes away with great effort, giving me the loveliest smile ever. "Follow me."

~☆~

The outfit I changed into was a smooth, satin dress with thin straps and a deep neckline. Attached to my body like a second skin and flowed down in a soft look. A high slit on the side.

I cupped my tits, straining against the fabric like they were about to break free, the straps biting into my shoulders, sure to leave marks later.

I looked like a dressed-up doll just waiting to be played with.

I gripped the fabric, having the strong urge to rip it to shreds, but my mind flashed to Jacob.

My hands fell to my sides in defeat, but I’m not one bit defeated. I fear I may do something that’d land me in an early grave.

I closed my eyes for a while, trying to regulate my breathing before wrapping my hair in a bun, using the hairpin to hold it still.

I took the lip gloss in the middle of applying it when I saw Lisa through the mirror. Her eyes were scrutinizing dangerously.

"Mrs. Salvero..." she said with a smile on her lips. "How does it feel to be called that?"

"If you want it, just say so..." I replied bluntly.

She chuckled. "Please... you’re too kind."

I faced her, and she came to me.

"I rather like my position. It has more weight."

My eyes followed her as she circled me like a predator would circle its prey.

"There’s not much to that title of yours, you know. It doesn’t make a difference. You were bought by Zade. An investment, and like a dog, your father happily grabbed that cash. Can’t blame him, though. The power of money has always been underestimated."

Zade. The intimacy in her tone wasn’t discreet, and she wasn’t trying to be.

"A glitch in the matrix," I replied.

She chuckled. "You’re funny."

"I wasn’t trying to be..." I said through clenched teeth as she stopped in front of me.

"It’s rare to have dogs in our home... I hope we have enough to feed them."

"I’m told vultures feed on scraps too."

Her smile faltered... just for a second. "You’re a property, Mrs. Salvero. A dog with an owner now... all that remains is a leash..." Her gaze dropped on the ring. "But that comes in many forms."

"I’m quite aware of that."

"Pardon?"

"Sweetheart, there’s no need to say that to my face or make me feel miserable."

She narrowed her eyes, caught off guard.

"My entire existence already is..."

Her face twisted in a scowl. "A word of advice, Zade doesn’t like a screamer in bed. Just stay still and let him fuck you as he so pleases. He’s quite... vigorous, and doesn’t like anything interrupting his sweet time."

Is that supposed to intimidate me?

Lisa scoffed when she didn’t get the reaction she wanted. "We’re gonna be late!"

I watched her walk out of the room, making sure she was out of sight as I quickly parted my slit, readjusting my thigh garter that came with my wedding dress, making sure my package was well installed.

I fixed myself and took deep breaths before I followed after Lisa.

It took forever to get to our destination since she kept swaying her wide hips as if she was trying to command the attention of the inanimate objects. Showoff.

At long last, we got there, and Lisa pushed open the doors to reveal the dining room.

A long polished table stretched at the center, high ceilings with a chandelier offering lighting, dark wood walls, and tall windows with heavy curtains.

I stopped my ogling and descended my gaze back at the table dressed with candlelight and food enough to feed a village. This doesn’t look like a wedding dinner.

Men filled the table: The twins, Elliot, my father, and other men I was unfamiliar with. Their eyes fell on me, longer than expected. I spot an empty seat at the head of the table and then another beside it.

Great.

I inhaled as I moved, my heels clicking against the polished floor. I sat down, and suddenly the uncertainty only seemed to stretch.

Zade wasn’t here yet, so no one touched the food or even talked.

I caught Silver Watch smirking before waving his fingers at me. Gold watch just flat-out rolled his eyes at his brother’s antics.

Suddenly, the doors opened, and Zade stepped forward, in the middle of lighting the end of his cigar with a polished gold lighter.

Goosebumps rose on my skin when I noticed the shoulder holster strapped tight to his frame, guns tucked in. His dress shirt sleeves rolled as he sank one hand in his pocket.

He tipped his head backwards, exhaling smoke before settling his gaze back down, and they connected with me instantly.

A smirk curled his lips as he tilted his head as if noticing I hadn’t done any damage to my dress.

"My wife looks beautiful this evening... doesn’t she?"

No one answered. I’m not sure if he said that for a response; it was more like a rhetorical question.

He walked, shoes echoing, closer and closer. I shut my eyes for ease as he dragged the chair beside me and sat down.

"Congratulations, Don Salvero..." A man raised his glass. "Welcome to married life, and trust me, it’s not as fun as it looks."

"And how would you know that?" Silver watch asked, amused. "Is Chanel still giving you trouble?"

The man cleared his throat and drank from his wine glass.

"Luca..." Elliot said. "Please, you will make Mr. Tate uncomfortable."

"What? Chanel’s still whooping his ass, isn’t she?"

"How are the kids by the way?" Gold watch—Dante asked. "Still haven’t gotten custody?"

Mr. Tate shifted uncomfortably.

Elliot simply sighed like he knew the twins weren’t gonna stop.

That was the start of various talks. Why call this a wedding dinner if they are talking about shipments and whatever else was rendered important for them?

Money. Money. Drugs.

I eyed the fine dinner on my plate. A sense of nausea twisting my abdomen. I don’t have one bit of appetite, and my head is pulsing loudly.

I closed my eyes, trying to breathe properly. Suddenly, my chair moved, and I thought maybe the ghost of this manor had come to play, but it was Zade’s doing. He’d grabbed the leg of my seat and dragged me closer with ease.

"Bored?" His gravelly voice spiked my nerves. "I am too."

I shot him a side glance, watching as he brought the cigar to his lips.

"That one on the left..." He nudged his head, and I followed.

Mr. Tate.

"His chance expired today."

"Why?"

I can’t believe I just asked that question.

Zade smiled as if my interest pleased him.

"He stole from me. The chance was to see if he’d do it again... he did."

He took my hand, the bandaged one, and even though my body itched to rip it off his grip, I knew doing that would make the pain worse.

"Making them think they have gotten away with it..." he pressed a kiss on the bandage, even though it was already dented with blood. "Having them drink and laugh as if we’re one..."

I heard loud laughter from Mr. Tate, and the others.

"And then..." he veered his eyes away from me, connecting with Elliot.

Elliot rose and walked to Mr. Tate, standing just behind him, and without warning, he grabbed the man’s chin and slit his throat open, blood spraying to the table.

I hitched, my body going cold, eyes widening as Mr. Tate slumped to the table. Gurgling filled the air, horrific, as the twins did the same thing to the others.

The only ones left sitting and not face down on their dinners were my father and a few men.

Elliot casually used the napkin to wipe the knife before dumping it on the table, walked back to his seat, and the twins did too.

I shuddered, the brush of Zade’s cold lips on my palm pulled my gaze back to him.

"Still bored?" he murmured, a slow grin curving his lips.