Chapter 3

Twelve men with baseball bats just sealed the only way out of my private box.

My security tears free of the men holding him and throws himself at the staircase, ready to die for me.

Viktor’s men don't even hesitate.

A tactical knife flashes once.

*Thud.*

The blade goes straight through my security left shoulder.

Hot blood sprays in an arc. A few drops land on the hem of my gown.

The smell hits the air.

I lock my eyes on Damien.

"Damien. Are you really going to stand there and watch?"

For one second, he flinches. His eyes drop to my bodyguard bleeding into the carpet.

Then he turns to Viktor.

"This isn't fair. Sign a promissory note. Three days. Full three million plus interest."

Viktor snorts.

"Your IOU? Worth about as much as that Patek you already lost."

He nods toward the stage downstairs..

"Tonight Celeste and that three friends stay and works it off as a whore, or your fiancée goes on the stage."

Celeste screams.

She flings herself at Damien's legs and clings on with both hands.

"Damien — please — I'd rather die than be passed around in a place like this — save me — !"

He looks down at her.

A muscle ticks in his jaw.

Then he turns his head, slow and pained, and looks at me.

I see the exact moment he decides.

So disgusting.

"Aurora. It's one dance. Just for show."

The voice he uses when he wants to sound soft.

"After tonight, I'll give you the biggest wedding this city's ever seen. Every name in Manhattan."

"But Celeste — I have to save her."

The room goes still.

He just traded my dignity for his ex-girlfriend's safety.

I look at him with narrowed eyes.

"You'll spend the rest of your life making it up to me?"

My voice doesn't shake.

"But Damien. You're not even worth the breath it takes to be angry with you."

Celeste keeps her eyes lowered.

But I catch it.

That tiny, ugly little smile at the corner of her mouth.

Her friends take Damien's silence as a green light.

Brittany shoves the cocktail waitresses aside and gets right up in my face.

Her red acrylics close around the strap of my gown.

"No more pretending. Put it on and go dance. The crowd downstairs didn’t come to wait."

*RIIIIP.*

The straps tears clean off. Bare skin. The cold air of the casino hits it.

I don't scream.

I don't cry.

I don't move.

I count the time.

Almost. My brothers will be coming.

Damien sees me standing still and reads it as defiance.

He waved a hand, signaling Viktor’s men to hurry.

"Enough."

He turns his back on me.

And pulls Celeste behind him like she's the one who needs protecting.

"Get her on the stage. Sooner this is done, sooner Celeste and I go home."