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“I suspected. The transfer cleared this morning. A million dollars as promised. Except you’re never seeing a cent of it, are you? Because your sister has other plans.”

“I swear, I didn’t know how much money she was promised. I didn’t know anything about the arrangement until she told me.”

I believe her, strangely enough. There’s an innocence in her fear that can’t be faked. But that doesn’t change what’s happened. Doesn’t change what she’s done.

“You still stood at that altar,” I remind her. “You made me believe,” I add quietly. “For one goddamn second, I thought maybe this could be real. And you ripped that out from underme, just like everyone else. You still said the vows. You signed the papers.”

“As Chiara,” she counters. “The marriage isn’t valid.”

I laugh then, a sound without humor. “You think the legality of our union is what concerns me right now? Your sister took my money, and someone still owes me for it. And you—” I step closer again, until we’re breathing the same air, “—you committed fraud against the Bianchi family.”

The fear in her eyes deepens, and I know she’s finally understanding the gravity of her situation. Not just the lies, but who she lied to.

“What are you going to do?” she whispers.

I trail my finger along her jawline, feeling her pulse race beneath my touch. “The way I see it, you have your sister’s debt now.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s simple, Aria. Your sister was meant to be my wife. She was meant to share my bed.” My hand slides to the nape of her neck, fingers tangling in the hair she just loosened. “She’s gone, but you’re here. And you look just like her.”

“No,” she gasps, hands coming up to push against my chest. “That’s not—you can’t?—”

“I can do whatever I want.” I hold her gaze, unwavering. “You belong to me, Aria.”

But even as the words leave my mouth, something inside me clenches. A warning. This isn’t just about vengeance. Not anymore. And I hate that her tears make me hesitate, even for a breath.

“Please,” she begs, tears flowing freely now. “Let me go. I’ll help you find Chiara. I’ll convince her to pay you back somehow.”

“It’s too late for that. You lied to me.” I lower my face toward hers, close enough to feel her ragged breath against my lips. “And now, I’m going to punish you.”

The fear that flares in her eyes only makes the fire in my blood burn hotter.

Because she’s mine now.

And I’m going to make sure she never forgets it.

For a second, I don’t move. I watch the rise and fall of her back. Her skin glows in the city’s silver light. I tell myself this is about power, about payment. But my body knows better. It’s hunger. Memory. Need.

My hands find the hidden zipper of her dress behind her, and I slowly begin to lower it even further, until I feel the curve of her ass beneath my palm. Her breath catches, a small sound between a gasp and a whimper.

“Marco,” she whispers again, but there’s something different in her tone now.

Her fingers twitch against my chest—one final push that doesn’t quite land. Her lips part, and for just a second, her gaze drops to my mouth before she blinks hard, like trying to erase the thought.

Something that makes me pause and really look at her.

Through the rising steam, I hover over her, searching her face. Fear is there, yes, but something else too. Something I recognize all too well from the night we spent together.

Desire.

11

ARIA

Ican feel the walls closing in as Marco’s deep green eyes darken to the color of a thunderstorm. He knows and he’s angry with me, claims he’s going to punish me. I should run, but my body betrays me, a flush of heat crawling up my neck despite the danger closing in.

I back up until my spine presses against the wall now. There’s no escape. He doesn’t touch me, not yet, but the energy in his body feels like a live current, buzzing under his skin, waiting to strike.