Chapter 3 - The Price of Debt
Tessa ignored the heavily armed guards standing outside the basement bunker.
She pushed past them before they could even raise their hands to stop her.
She threw the heavy steel door open.
Damian was sitting at his massive desk, bathed in the blue light of the security monitors.
He did not look surprised to see her.
He slowly turned his leather chair around to face her.
Tessa was breathing heavily, her face flushed with a mixture of shock and anger.
Did you pay my sister's medical bills? she demanded.
Damian leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers together.
I told you, I require a background file on everyone in my house.
He looked at her with an infuriating calm.
I do not like my employees being distracted by debt.
Tessa felt tears of sheer frustration prick her eyes.
That was four hundred thousand dollars.
I cannot pay you back.
Damian stood up and walked slowly around the desk.
He stopped just inches away from her.
I did not ask you to pay me back.
His voice was incredibly low, vibrating in the quiet room.
I bought your debt, Tessa.
Which means you now belong entirely to me.
Tessa stared up at him, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.
She should have been terrified of this man.
He was a monster who ruled the criminal underworld with an iron fist.
But as she looked into his dark eyes, she saw something else hidden beneath the ice.
She saw a man who was deeply, desperately lonely.
I am not a piece of property, she whispered fiercely.
Damian reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
His touch sent a jolt of electricity straight down her spine.
No, he agreed softly.
You are something much more dangerous.
The tender moment was abruptly shattered by the blaring sound of a security alarm.
Red lights began flashing violently across the monitors.
Damian spun around and stared at the screens.
His expression instantly transformed from a man to a ruthless predator.
They breached the outer gates, a voice yelled over the radio on his desk.
Damian pulled his Glock 19 from his shoulder holster.
The Moretti family had finally made their move.
He grabbed Tessa by the arm and pulled her toward the heavy steel door.
You need to get back to the East Wing.
Lock the door to my mother's room and do not open it for anyone.
Tessa nodded, adrenaline flooding her veins.
What about you? she asked, her voice trembling.
May you like
Damian racked the slide of his pistol.
I am going to kill every single person who stepped onto my property.
