MasukCHAPTER SEVENTYI look down at my phone again.Two missed calls. Both to Miguel.No response. No callback. No text saying he's busy or in class or anything.Just silence.He's probably busy. Has to be. Right?I haven't heard from him since Seraphina's men threw him out of Diamond Group.Since he was dragged through the lobby like a criminal while everyone watched.That was days ago now. And nothing. Complete radio silence.I want to see how he's doing. Want to make sure he's okay. Want to explain what's happening, or at least try to explain the parts I can without sounding completely insane.But he's not picking up.My thumb hovers over the call button again. Maybe third time's the charm. Maybe..."We are here, ma'am."The driver's voice pulls me from my thoughts.The car stops smoothly. We're in front of a building that looks nothing like a typical casino. No neon lights.No flashy signs. Just an unmarked door with two guards stationed outside.The driver exits and opens Seraphina's
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINEWe walk out of the auction house in silence.The murmurs and shouts from inside fade as we step into the late afternoon sun. Seraphina's heels click against the pavement with that same deliberate rhythm.The car is already waiting. Engine running. Driver standing by the open door.We slide into the back seat. The door closes. And we're moving before I've even settled in."Head to the casino," Seraphina says."Yes, ma'am."The driver increases speed immediately. Caracas blurs past the windows as we navigate through traffic.I sit there, slightly puzzled. Trying to piece together what just happened. What's happening now."Why are we heading to a casino?" I manage to ask.Seraphina looks up from her phone. Those ice-blue eyes fix on me with an intensity that makes me shrink back slightly."Because Dante sent his brother to a bid that I'm supposed to rule in." Her voice is cold. Clipped. "And I won't take that for granted."I was shocked.. wait what!!! Dante has a broth
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHTThe murmurs start immediately.Whispers rippling through the auction room like waves. Everyone trying to process what just happened.Ten million dollars. For a journal.But no one dares speak out loud. No one questions Seraphina's decision. No one challenges her.They just whisper among themselves. Stealing glances at us. At her.Wondering what kind of person spends that much money on a book.I'm still reeling. Still trying to understand what I just agreed to.Any time. Any where. Any day.The auctioneer clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to the podium."And now, ladies and gentlemen, we come to our final piece of the evening." His voice carries a different weight now. More gravitas. "The main event, if you will."He gestures to someone offstage. A large screen descends from the ceiling. A projector flickers to life.And suddenly we're looking at blueprints. Architectural renderings. Financial projections."The Coastal Development Project," the au
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVENMy uncle stares at Seraphina, shock and pain warring on his face."Who the hell are you?" he gasps out.He tries to free himself from her grip. Pulls back with all his strength. Twists his wrist. Tries to break her hold.But he can't.I watch in stunned silence as my uncle, a beta wolf, not as powerful as alphas but still strong enough to overpower most people, struggles uselessly against Seraphina's grip.He's a grown man. Has supernatural strength. Should be able to break free from a woman half his size.Yet Seraphina holds his wrist effortlessly. Like he's a child throwing a tantrum.Like his strength means absolutely nothing compared to hers.How is she doing that?She's a vampire. I know that. But I didn't realize, didn't understand, how much stronger that makes her.How completely outmatched my uncle is.Seraphina shoves him aside. He stumbles backward, nearly falling.Then her hand comes up and she slaps him.Hard.The sound echoes across the parking lot. Sh
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIXThe door opens.The PA walks in, her expression carefully neutral. But I can see the questions in her eyes as she takes in the scene.Me, standing near Seraphina's desk. My blazer on the floor. My blouse still partially unbuttoned. My face flushed and my breathing uneven.Her eyes narrow slightly. Calculating. Judging."You called, Mrs. Corvinus?" Her voice is professionally polite, but there's an edge underneath."Yes." Seraphina doesn't acknowledge my disheveled state. Doesn't explain. Just gestures for me to button my blouse. "I have a meeting this afternoon. An auction for a commercial property portfolio in the financial district."The PA nods. "I have the details prepared. Your car will be ready at...""Elena will be accompanying me." Seraphina's interruption is smooth. Casual. Like it's already decided.The PA's expression falters for just a second. "I'm sorry?""I said Elena will be accompanying me to the auction." Seraphina walks around her desk, picking up a
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE"Strip."The word hangs in the air between us.I stare at Seraphina, trying to process what she just said. Trying to understand if she's serious.But those ice-blue eyes are completely serious. Completely calm.Like she just asked me to file some paperwork instead of remove my clothes in her office."I'm not..." I start."That wasn't a request, Elena." She takes a step closer. "You're two hours late. You need to be reminded of your place here.""My place?" Anger flares through the fear. "I'm an intern. Not your...your property.""For the next sixty days, you are exactly that." Her voice is soft. Deadly. "Now strip. Or I'll do it for you."My hands are shaking. "Please. Please don't do this. Not here. Not at work.""Oh, darling." She reaches out and trails one finger down my cheek. "Everywhere is my territory. My office. My penthouse. That plane last night. All of it belongs to me."Her finger continues down my neck. Over my collarbone. Down to the first button of my
CHAPTER SEVEN"I'll make you desperate," he continues, his voice dark velvet wrapped around steel. "Make you plead. Make you offer me anything, everything, just for the relief of my touch. And maybe then, if you beg prettily enough, I'll consider it."Tears leak from the corners of my eyes. Not fro
CHAPTER SIXDante walks toward me slowly, deliberately, until he's only inches away.I can feel the heat radiating off his body. Can smell that intoxicating mix of expensive cologne and something wild that makes my wolf stir restlessly.I refuse to back away. Refuse to give him the satisfaction of
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWOIsabella leads me deeper into the store, past displays of elegant dresses and perfectly styled mannequins, through a doorway marked "Private" in discreet gold lettering.Beyond it is something else entirely."This is the VIP chamber," she announces, gesturing around the space wit
CHAPTER SIXTEENI look at him, feeling a confusing mix of emotions churning in my stomach.Shy. That's the dominant one. Followed closely by anger. And underneath it all, a thread of something I don't want to examine too closely."Is everything about sex to you?" The question comes out more timid t







