Page 1 of Mastered by Them (Rose and Dagger #2)

Troy

F rancis’s words echo in the hallway. I don’t move, stunned.

To that end, our Edmund and the Aseyevs’ Danica will marry .

This isn’t real. It isn’t right. They can’t just say Dani and Edmund are getting married, and make it happen.

Except they can.

A stylized watercolor of Ed and Mariana’s wedding sits in a gilt frame across the hall. Doubtless Mariana had it placed across from Ed’s office for some petty reason. Maybe as a reminder of their constantly-broken vows. Joke’s on her, I guess, because he doesn’t give a shit.

Ed and Mariana’s marriage was arranged. Her family isn’t a crime family, but they are a powerful business institution in San Esteban. It isn’t that uncommon for powerful families to broker marriage deals with each other, to solidify their positions.

But usually, the people getting married have known about it for years. They were raised for it.

And this is Dani.

Her gray eyes are wide as she searches her grandfather’s face. She’s probably waiting for him to say something like just kidding, it’s only a joke . But he’s not going to say it. Instead, he’s giving her a regretful smile.

“I know this is unexpected, Danica.” He reaches for her. “But it’s the best for the family, and you want what’s best for us, don’t you?”

“No. No .” She whirls away, her peach-colored dress lifting with the force of her movements.

Before any of us can stop her, she pushes past Edmund and me and runs down the hall.

“She’ll come around,” Sergey says with a shrug. “She only needs some time to adjust.”

Ed and Francis nod.

“What the fuck?” Edmund faces them. “This was?—”

“This was our decision and you’ll stand by it.” Ed’s face is hard.

I don’t want to listen to their bullshit. Edmund can handle himself. But Dani—Dani’s alone.

I rush away, knowing Edmund will understand. At the front of the house, I pass Arky in the entryway. He sits next to the door Dani left open. He barks after Dani, but he doesn’t chase her. Good dog.

I reach the door, heart pounding with emotion, and catch sight of Dani standing in the middle of the driveway. She’s doing something with her phone. Probably ordering a ride.

I run toward her. “Dani, hey.”

She looks up, startled. Then she jams her phone into her bag and takes off, running awkwardly in her heels.

“Dani, dammit. Wait!”

Her head whips around as she looks over her shoulder, but she doesn’t slow. It doesn’t matter. I easily catch up and get in front of her, blocking her path.

“Go away, Troy.” She glares, but her words are wobbly with emotion.

“Let’s talk about this.”

“What is there to talk about?” She rubs her eyes with the back of her hand. “I was ambushed in there. Was I the only one who didn’t know about this? Is everyone just laughing at how I came here to be bartered in some twisted mafia marriage contract?”

Fuck, it kills me how sad she looks.

“No.” I ball my hands into fists so I don’t grab her like I want to do. “Edmund and I had no idea. I promise.”

The sun has gone down, and it’s chilly for May. A breeze tugs at Dani’s frilly dress. She wraps her arms around herself. I don’t have a coat or sweatshirt to give her, but I can give her a ride.

“Let me take you home.”

“To your apartment?” She sounds almost hopeful.

Fuck. “I can’t. If Edmund’s in town, I stay with him.”

She squints. “Can’t, or won’t? Never mind, it doesn’t matter. None of this matters, because I’m gone, I’m done.”

“You can’t leave.” My heart twists as I say the words. I don’t want to force her to stay, but I can’t let her leave like this.

“I already called a car. And I’m not fucking marrying Edmund. I’m not. I can’t believe my granddad even entertained the idea. What the fuck, Troy?”

I want to hold her, but it doesn’t take a genius to see she’d reject all attempts at comfort. She’s rigid, arms locked around herself. I thought it was because of the cold, but now I see what it really is—she’s trying to keep herself together.

“You feel like your world’s falling apart.” My voice is raspy. “You don’t know who you can trust.”

Her gray gaze slams into mine. “You don’t know me. Neither you nor Edmund. Don’t try to tell me how I feel, what I’m thinking. You don’t know.”

But I know me. I know my own past and what a twisted event like this can do to someone’s heart. Fuck, I’m feeling it right now. She was ours and now they want her to be his . With a ceremony. A license. A ring. His ring, his promises. Not mine.

My feelings don’t matter right now. Not to them, not to her, not to me. I take a deep breath. “What do you want?”

“You’re the first person to ask me that tonight.” Bitterness twists her lips in a false smile. She points across the street. “I’m going over there to wait for my ride. Don’t wait with me, don’t follow me. That’s what I want. Can you do that?”

I nod, then hesitate. “Dani…don’t let this change you.”

Her laugh is sharp and she flips me off before stalking across the quiet street to wait.

I walk toward the house until I’m out of her view, then melt into the shadows so I can keep watch. Loud, panting breath reaches my ears—Arky trots up to stand next to me, his big brown eyes black in the darkness.

Far out of my reach, Dani stands alone—a bright splash of pastel on the shadowy street. She holds herself stiffly, looking smaller and more alone than I’ve ever seen her.

She might be small, she might be alone, but to me, she looks as strong as ever.

When she marries Edmund, I hope she doesn’t lose her heart in the process.

* * *

Danica

My chest is tight, my throat closed. Is this another panic attack?

I sit in the backseat of my ride, trying to breathe through it.

Funny enough, it’s thoughts of Troy that keep me from making a scene.

I imagine his strong arms wrapped tightly around me during my last panic attack, the way he held me together when I was scared.

It isn’t until the car crosses into Dorado Heights that I take a full, cleansing breath.

I’m not sure what got into Granddad, but he broke my trust tonight. I can only think that he had me come with him to the Laytons’ house because he knew something like this was going to happen. He wanted me there, like I was some kind of peace offering. A commodity, something to be traded.

Fuck him.

I’m less mad about the whole marriage thing than I am about my granddad betraying me.

I wipe away a tear that’s trying to escape.

The driver pulls up to my house. I thank him before hurrying inside. There, I mutter a quick hello to my roommates who are crammed onto the sofa and watching one of Elias’s serial killer documentaries. Then, blessedly, I reach my room and collapse on my bed.

Cackle gives me an imperious meow from the floor—he followed me in here. I scoot to the side, allowing him to jump up so he can make an absolute pest of himself, kneading the pillow right next to my head.

I could call Leah or Dmitri, and I probably should. But I don’t even know what to say. Even thinking what I’d say— Granddad is setting me up to marry Edmund Layton so our families can be stronger —sounds preposterous.

So I don’t call. Instead, I turn my phone all the way off. I don’t want to talk to anyone, because nobody can give me the answers I need.

I don’t know why Granddad did this. I don’t know what Edmund thinks of the whole thing. I don’t know when, exactly, they think this marriage is going to happen.

But I know one thing with absolute certainty: I am not marrying that pretty prick of a prince.

* * *

Edmund

I didn’t expect her to answer my call, but I hoped she would.

No answer.

You feel too goddamn much .

Not this time. I refuse to feel anything at all.

I pace back and forth in my bedroom. Troy is probably doing the same in his room down the hall. We didn’t talk on the way back to our apartment. There’s nothing to say. If he’s mad, if he’s happy, if he’s sad—none of that shows. My father could never accuse Troy of feeling too much.

I know Troy does have feelings. He’s just better at hiding them.

Unlike me. Unlike Danica. Fucking hell, every thought in her head was broadcast on her beautiful face. Shock, anger, hatred. I wouldn’t expect her to be thrilled with the idea of an arranged marriage. What is this, the 1800s? But her absolute and obvious loathing for me was a blow.

I throw my phone across the bed, disgusted with myself.

I don’t want to repeat my parents’ marriage. A series of grievances, annoyances, affairs. The thought of Danica fucking anyone other than me or Troy incites a burning, boiling rage in my gut. She’s mine. I tried to stay away from her, but it’s fucking impossible.

Now we’re engaged.

It isn’t the worst thing in the world. If I can allow myself to feel something, anything, I can feel affection for her.

She’s sexy and smart and, beneath her tough girl exterior, she’s incredibly kind and thoughtful.

I’ll marry Danica, do what’s expected of me as my father’s son. And I’ll do it easily.

My phone buzzes with a text and I scramble over the bed to reach it.

Disappointment fills me when I see my grandfather’s name as the sender.

Your engagement party will be on Sunday .

Six days away.

I don’t want to repeat my parents’ marriage, no. No way. She’ll marry me and it’ll be the two of us against the world. We’ll be a powerful couple. Strong. Capable.

I have six days to make her fall in love with me.