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Chapter 4

Author: Melissa Z
Damien's POV

I stood in front of the elevator. Blood from my knuckles dripped onto the marble floor.

There was a deep dent in the wall. A sharp pain shot through my hand, but it was nothing compared to the fire in my gut.

"Boss?" Marco asked carefully. "Should I get the doc?"

"Get lost."

I turned and stalked toward the casino downstairs. Sophia trotted after me on her heels, trying to take my arm.

"Honey, your hand..."

I shoved her away. "I said, get lost."

The casino was a sea of bright lights and noise. The rattle of dice and chips filled the air.

Smoke, booze, and perfume hung heavy.

I went to the VIP corner where a few of my guys were at a poker table.

"Boss!" Tony jumped up to give me his seat. "Just in time, we were just..."

"Just what?" I sat down and nodded for the dealer to continue.

"Uh... talking about what happened upstairs," Tony said, trading a look with the others. "That Thorne kid has some balls."

"Yeah," another guy, Vince, chimed in. "Trying to pick up the Boss's girl on the Boss's turf."

My hand balled into a fist. "She's not my girl."

"Right, right," Vince corrected himself quickly. "I mean... ex-girl."

"You know," Tony lowered his voice, like he was sharing a secret. "You know what they say. When a saint finally decides to sin, she sins harder than any devil."

Blood rushed to my head. "What did you just say?"

"I mean..." Tony realized his mistake. "No disrespect, Boss."

"That lawyer Thorne is a lucky man tonight," Vince chuckled. "Three years of being all pent-up... imagine what that's like when it finally breaks loose..."

CRACK!

I slammed my fist on the table. Chips flew everywhere.

Glasses shattered. Liquor splashed across the felt.

"SHUT UP!"

Everyone froze. The whole casino went quiet.

Only the distant chiming of slot machines continued.

I stood up and kicked the chair over.

Sophia tried to get close. I shoved her away. She stumbled, almost falling.

"Damien!"

I ignored her and stormed toward the security room in the back.

"Boss!" Marco ran after me. "Where are you going?"

I shoved the door to the monitoring room open.

Two techs sat inside, staring at a wall of screens showing every corner of the building.

"Pull up the elevator footage," I commanded.

"Which elevator, Boss?"

"The private one. From a few minutes ago."

The tech’s fingers flew across the keyboard. An image appeared on the main screen.

Inside the elevator, Isabella and Julian were wrapped around each other. Her hands were on his collar. His arm was around her waist.

She never looked at me like that.

Hungry. Needy. Completely lost in the moment.

"Replay it."

The footage started again. This time I saw more.

Isabella standing on her toes to kiss him first.

Her body pressed against his. No hesitation at all.

"Again."

I saw her fingers twist in his hair.

I saw her parted lips. I saw the fire in her eyes.

A fire that never burned for me.

For three years, she kept a polite, elegant distance.

Even in our most intimate moments, she was a perfect princess, giving but never taking.

But now, for this stranger, she was showing a side I never knew existed.

"Boss." Nico's voice came from the doorway.

He was my most trusted man. The only one who dared to tell me the truth.

"What?"

"The men outside are waiting for orders."

I didn't turn around. I kept my eyes glued to the screen. The footage replayed the moment Isabella offered her lips to another man.

"Boss," Nico came and stood beside me. His voice was quiet. "You've been more on edge than ever since you and Miss Rossi broke up."

My fists clenched. "I'm not on edge."

"You've flipped three card tables, fired twelve employees, and pushed Sophia over twice."

"That's because they weren't listening."

"Or is it because you can't stand seeing her with another man?"

On the screen, Julian’s hand stroked Isabella's cheek. She closed her eyes, a look of pure bliss on her face.

CRASH!

I grabbed the whiskey glass from the desk. I hurled it at the screen.

Glass exploded. Amber liquid dripped down the shattered monitor.

"ISABELLA!" I roared, the sound tearing through the small room. "YOU'RE MINE."
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  • The Perfect Doll He Discarded   Chapter 11

    The car merges smoothly into traffic.Night falls. The city lights begin to glitter.We leave that world of violence and possession behind.I watch in the rearview mirror as Damien's figure gets smaller and smaller, until it disappears into the darkness.I let out a long breath. I feel lighter than I have in years."How do you feel?" Julian asks, his eyes on the road."Free," I answer. "For the first time, truly free."A small smile plays on his lips. Even in the dim light of the car, I can see the tenderness in his eyes."You were brave back there," he says."I just told the truth.""Not everyone has the courage to do that." Julian glances at me. "That wasn't an ending back there, Isabella," he says, his voice low. "That was a declaration of war. And you just handed me the sword."We stop at a red light. Julian turns to me. His eyes hold a new depth."Isabella.""Hmm?""You said you loved me."My heart starts to pound. "I did.""Did you say it to hurt him, or…""Or what?""Or did you

  • The Perfect Doll He Discarded   Chapter 10

    I look at Damien's pale face. A new strength rises inside me."What you're feeling right now," I say calmly, "is exactly what I felt that night in your apartment."He starts to tremble."How does it feel?" I continue. "To lose control?""Isabella…" His voice is barely a whisper."It hurts, doesn't it?" I take a step closer. "To watch someone you love belong to someone else. To see their eyes no longer hold your reflection."Damien stumbles back against his Cadillac."But do you know what hurts the most?" I ask. "Realizing that person never truly loved you at all.""I love you!" he shouts. "I always have!""No." I shake my head. "You love the feeling of owning me. You love the power of controlling me."Julian stands silently beside me. He doesn't say a word, but I can feel his support."In your world, Damien, trust isn't a bond. It's a bargaining chip," I say, my words sharp and precise. "And you will always trade up for a bigger prize."Pain flashes in his eyes. "That's not true—""The

  • The Perfect Doll He Discarded   Chapter 9

    "Marry you?"I look at Damien. He's like a stranger to me.There are tears in his eyes, but his obsession is terrifying.This is not the man I once loved."Yes," he says eagerly. Hope flickers in his eyes. "Isabella, we can start over."I don't answer. My heart is a frozen wasteland.He lets go of my hand. Pulls a velvet box from his pocket."This is for you."He opens it. Inside is a breathtaking diamond ring. "The Star of Sicily."He carefully takes out the ring. His eyes are full of expectation."My grandmother wore it. My mother wore it. Now, I want you to wear it."The ring is stunning. Any woman would kill for it.All I feel is disgust."Put it on, Isabella." Damien takes my left hand. "Be my queen. For real this time."I look at the priceless ring.Then, as he watches, full of hope, I take it from him. I roll down the window. And with all my strength, I throw it into the weeds on the side of the road."No."The look on Damien's face freezes."What?""I said no." I stare at his s

  • The Perfect Doll He Discarded   Chapter 8

    The next afternoon, I leave my studio.As I drive into the parking garage, the metal gate slams shut behind me.Black Cadillacs emerge from the shadows, boxing me in.My heart hammers against my ribs.My car door is yanked open. Damien himself pulls me out of the driver's seat.He shoves me against the cold metal of my car. His hands trap me, his body a cage.He's wearing a dark suit. His face is pale.His eyes were hollow, but a terrifying madness burned deep inside them."Get in the car," he tells me."I won't.""Isabella." His voice is quiet, but laced with threat. "Get in the car."I see his men outside. Their hands are inside their jackets.I have no choice.I start the car. I drive where he tells me, toward the outskirts of the city.The silence in the car is suffocating.I can feel his eyes on me. Burning holes into my skin."Have you fucked him?" he snarls, the question hitting me like a physical blow.I don't answer. I slam on the brakes."Answer me!" He punches the dashboard.

  • The Perfect Doll He Discarded   Chapter 7

    I don't know how long I've been in the studio.Three days? Four?Time blurs between paint and canvas.The Madonna in front of me is almost finished. Her eyes shine with mercy. But all I feel is exhaustion.I haven't slept since Nico's call.Every time I close my eyes, his venomous words echo in my head."You think they'll accept a Don's mistress?""You think they'll let their precious heir marry a tainted woman?"I shake my head, trying to banish the thoughts.The brush trembles in my hand.An email from my biggest client. The contract has been terminated.Then a call from my father. His voice shakes as he tells me the company accounts are frozen.Suddenly, the room spins.I reach for the workbench, but my legs give out. I collapse into the chair.My forehead is burning. My vision blurs.I have a fever.My phone rings and rings, but I don't have the strength to answer.The world feels so far away.Through the haze, I hear a knock."Isabella?"Julian's voice.I try to answer, but my th

  • The Perfect Doll He Discarded   Chapter 6

    The picture went viral.I sit in my studio, scrolling through the comments.Most are supportive, but some are venomous."Another gold digger.""Costello dumps her and she immediately finds a new wallet.""The Thornes are old-school. They won't tolerate a woman like her for long."I turn off my phone. Try to focus.But my hands are shaking.The phone rings.A blocked number."Hello?""Miss Rossi. It's Nico Torrino."My blood runs cold.Nico. Damien's most trusted man."What do you want?""Easy now, bella. Just a business call." His voice is relaxed, but I know the danger beneath it."I have no business with the Costellos.""Oh, but we do," Nico chuckles. "I'm calling on behalf of an anonymous collector. He wants you to restore a painting. The price is very generous.""I don't take anonymous commissions.""Not even for a million dollars?"I take a deep breath.The number is tempting. But I know what's behind it."Why me? There are plenty of restorers in New York.""Because you're the bes

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