Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105679 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Two security guards stood at attention by the entrance, their eyes tracking our movements with calculated precision, their posture rigid. They nodded respectfully as we approached, but otherwise unmoving.
We walked inside and I didn’t know why for a foolish moment I thought he would carry me over the threshold. But that was for fairy tales, right? And Adrian was no Prince Charming or my knight in shining armor.
The thought made something inside me rot, my carefully guarded walls splintering as cruel disappointment seeped through the cracks.
Me and my foolish desires for romance…
I almost laughed at myself.
Our reality was much, much different.
Inside, the house opened into a soaring foyer with a double staircase that curved elegantly toward the upper floors. The interior was the perfect contrast—warm wood floors against cool stone walls, modern art pieces hanging alongside minimalist furnishings. It was beautiful in a way that felt almost sterile, like a museum rather than a home.
“Mrs. Salvatore,” Adrian said, his voice carrying a hint of mockery that made my stomach clench. “Allow me to introduce you to our staff.”
A much older man with silver hair and impeccable posture approached us. “Sir,” he said with a slight bow. “Everything has been prepared as requested.”
Adrian turned to me. “Serafina, this is Edmund, our butler. He’s been with me for many years.”
“Since you were twenty-two, sir.”
“Almost a decade,” Adrian agreed.
A woman who couldn’t have been older than thirty-five stood beside him, her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun. She offered me a smile but she couldn’t hide the confusion in her expression.
Adrian gestured toward the woman. “And Elena, our head housekeeper. Edmund’s daughter. She oversees the household staff, though we don’t have many.”
That was obvious. I figured as much that Adrian wasn’t a man to trust people into his home so easily.
I offered them a small smile, though it was strained. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
Elena’s eyes met mine, and there was something in her gaze. Curiosity, perhaps, or pity—and that made me uncomfortable. She looked too young to be responsible for an entire household.
“We’ve prepared your suite for you, Mrs. Salvatore,” Elena said, her voice soft but confident. “If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
What had Adrian told them about me? What did they know?
I nodded, the perfect smile still plastered on my face, unable to find words.
This was real. This was my home now. My new gilded cage.
The thought of it sent a wave of discomfort through me, my lungs clenching as frightening uncertainty coursed through me.
I inhaled, trying to get myself composed, but a sudden bark shattered the moment. A low, rumbling growl that made my blood run cold.
My eyes widened, heart leaping into my throat, as three massive black Dobermans emerged from a side corridor, their sleek bodies moving with predatory grace.
Holy shit. Oh God, no.
They prowled toward us, and I stumbled backward, my heels catching on the edge of my dress. Fear slithered through me, cold and paralyzing.
“What’s wrong?” Adrian asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
I took another involuntary step backward, my heart hammering against my ribs. Their dark eyes fixed on me with unnerving intensity, their movements deliberate as they circled closer.
“I—" I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper. “I was chased by a dog as a child. I don’t... I don’t like them.”
I didn’t just not like them. I didn’t want to be anywhere near them.
Dogs… were not my friends.
Dogs hated me.
They chased me. They always barked at me. My father’s old dog even tried to bite me when I tried to play with it. I had been seven and gullible.
And these dogs? They were tall, massive. Twice the size of my father’s dog. Hell, no.
Adrian’s expression shifted, something calculating flashing in his eyes. “That’s going to be a problem.”
“Why?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
“These are my Dobermans,” he said, gesturing to the dogs that now flanked him, sitting at his sides, protective and loyal. “Shadow, Orion, and Nyx. They live here.”
One of the dogs, the largest of the three, took a step toward me, its head tilting curiously. I watched it sniff, almost like it was trying to recognize or memorize my scent.
Was it trying to decide if I was a threat?
It took another step toward me, sniffing again and I yelped, backing away until I hit the wall.
The dog barked in response, a sharp sound that made my pulse race. It regarded me with what seemed like curiosity, but all I could see was potential danger. They had large, sharp teeth. Big, wide jaws.
They could snap my bones into pieces if they truly wanted.
“You’ll have to grow accustomed to their presence,” Adrian said, his tone making it clear this wasn’t a suggestion.
Terror clawed at my throat at the thought. I had… to live with… them.