Chapter 1

REMY My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would crack open my ribs as I walked down the aisle of the private chapel inside the compound. Most of the seats were empty except save for my half sister Mara sitting stone-faced in the front row, my father gripping the back of a pew like he was the one being sentenced, and the guards lining the walls with hands resting on their guns. They watched me like they would shoot the second I tried to run. I kept my eyes fixed on the floor and the ridiculous white dress they had forced me into, on anything but the man waiting at the end of the aisle. I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t look at the man I was supposed to marry. The priest’s voice became background noise and the only thing I could hear was the pounding of my own heart and the blood rushing to my ear. My hands shook around the bouquet someone had shoved at me. Then the words cut through everything else and I snapped my head towards the priest. “Do you, Remy Lennox, take Kai Blackwood as your husband?” I paused as my throat closed. For one stupid second I let my eyes flick up to him. He was tall, dark-haired, a scar that cut through his left eyebrow, the cold stare of the man who now owned every piece of my life. Kai stared right back at me with that unreadable expression making me swallow hard and lower my head to the ground again. “I do.” ONE WEEK EARLIER The last customer had finally left Bella Vista, and I was alone in the small Italian restaurant my family had run for two generations. The place still smelled like garlic, fresh basil, and the burn of the wood-fired oven I had shut down an hour ago. I wiped down the last table, silver hair sticking to my neck from the heat, and checked the till one more time. We looked rich to everyone, smiled at the charity galas and the cameras but the truth was, the debts were eating us alive. My mother’s heart surgery was scheduled for next month, and we still did not have the money. One more missed payment and the bank would take the restaurant my grandfather built with his own hands. My phone buzzed on the counter. I glanced at it to see my half-sisters name pop up. Mara. I almost ignored it, but she never called unless it was very urgent. “Yeah?” I answered as I balanced the phone between my ear and shoulder while I locked the front door. “Remy, you need to get to the Grand Meridian Hotel right now. The meeting has been moved to tonight. Dad arranged everything and If you do not show up, the Voss family will pull out and we are finished.” I froze with the key still in the lock. “Tonight? Dad said it was next week.” “The plans changed. The Voss are getting jumpy and I don’t know why or care but DD needs you there to seal the match with their guy. Wear something nice. I’ll text you the room number once you are in the lobby.” She hung up before I could argue and I glared at the phone with my stomach twisting in knots. The arranged marriage was supposed to be a quiet formality, a way to buy time on our debts. I only agreed because my mother’s life was on the line, but I never thought it was going to happen this fast. I quickly opened the door again and changed in the office into the only decent black dress I owned. It was one that hugged my curves a little too tightly for a business meeting, made my way out and drove across the city. I soon got to the Grand Meridian. It was all marble and bright glowing crystal chandeliers. Grand Meridian was the kind of place where the most dangerous and influential people in the city made deals. Bodyguards in dark suits lined the entrance. I gave my name and was waved through to the private wing. I stood in the hallway, and Mara made her way toward me, her breath coming in short pants as she fast walked towards me. She was wearing a blood-red gown that made her look like she belonged here more than I did. Mara was my half sister. She was three when our father divorced her mother and married my mother. We never really got along well unless it was something important. Like right now. “You are late,” she snapped, pressing her manicured hand to her forehead while the other held a glass of red wine that she pressed into my hand. “Drink this. You look like you are about to pass out. The main guests are running two hours behind so we will have to wait for them.” She said as we began walking deep into the hotel. “I booked you a suite upstairs so you can rest and freshen up. Dad will text you when it is time.” I gave a stiff nod as I drank the wine fast in one gulp because my mouth was dry and my nerves were screaming. Mara grabbed my hand, her nails digging into my skin and led me to the elevator, talking about how this marriage would fix everything and I should make sure I don’t f**k it up. “f**k,” I muttered under my breath, blinked hard as the hallway blurred a little on the way to the room. Inside the suite the lights were low and the bed looked too inviting. “Lie down for a bit,” Mara said, already heading for the door. “I will come get you when they are ready.” Then door clicked shut and I kicked off my heels and laid on the bed. I must have slept for a few minutes because when I woke up, the world tilted as I got to my feet. “What the hell is wrong with you, Remy,” I said under my breath and and walked to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. The wine must had gone straight to my head even though it was little. I wasn’t really much of a drinker. I groaned, staring at myself in the mirror. My skin was tingling and a pulse throbbed between my legs. I stared harder at myself in the mirror. My cheeks wereflushed and my pupils blown wide. Something was wrong and as I took a step back, the room tilted again. I needed air, I thought as I took my bag and stepped out of my room. There weren’t really anyone on this floor so I made my way to what looked like a private balcony that overlooked the city lights. As I stepped forward, the cool night breeze hit my skin, but it did nothing to stop the fire that kept building inside me. My n*****s tightened against the thin dress. My thighs pressed together on instinct and I gripped the railing trying to breathe through the sudden, overwhelming wave of lust. This was not normal. I had a meeting in less than two hours with a stranger I was supposed to marry, and all I could think about was how badly I needed to be touched. I heard voices from my left and I didn’t even realize there was someone else standing there and he was watching me. I couldn’t see his face, just his shadowed figure. My body reacted before my brain could catch up. I leaned forward seductively, my lips pulling back into a seductive smile. I wasn’t usually like this but the alcohol was doing things to me or maybe it was just me. Last few f***s before I get chained to a stranger, I thought. So why not One reckless night before everything changes. The man had one hand in his pocket while the other held a cigarette between his fingers and he brought it to his lips and took one long drag, the light showing a little of his face. Even though I couldn’t see him, I could tell he was a beautiful man. “Looking for fresh air too?” I asked, my voice huskier than I meant it to be. I slowly leaned towards him, trying to see his face but it was to dark and my mind felt like a mess. He turned his head slowly and I could feel his eyes dragged over me, taking in the flushed cheeks, the way the dress clung to my body, the way I was practically vibrating with need and a low chuckle rumbled out of him. “Sorry darling, but I’m not looking for a w***e tonight.,” he said, and I blinked hard at his words. I took another step forward, stumbling and gripping the rail to keep myself upright then i pressed my finger against his chest. “I’m not a w***e,” I whispered then paused. “But I have less than two hours before I have to go be someone’s perfect little wife. But I wouldn’t mind being someone’s w***e for the next two hours.” He caught my wrist and yanked my forward, his grip so tight that I whince in pain before he let go and shoved me away. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, so leave.” He snapped, turning his head away and taking a long drag from his cigarette. I stumbled a little as another wave of dizziness hit me, my vision bluring, my body burning hot and I caught myself against his chest, my room card dropping to the floor. “Oppsies,” I whispered then laughed again as I bent to pick it up. “I better go back to my hotel room and sleep this off before I do something stupid.” I didn’t wait for his answer as I turned, feeling his gaze on me even as I stumbled back. I swiped the keycard on the door screen but nothing happened and I frowned as I looked at the door next to it. “Wrong room,” I muttered under my breath and moved to the other room and the door clicked Ope. As I swiped the card. I placed my bag on the nightstand and dropped to the bed, everything spinning, my vision darken and my legs pressing together as heat flooded me. What the f**k was wrong with me? I heard the door click open, then shut again and I turned my head to see the same figure from the balcony standing there. I still couldn’t see his face, not when my vision was spottings. How did he get into my room? Fuck, that didn’t even matter now. Not when I need something—someone. “What are you doing here?” He growled as I got to my feet and moved towards him. It felt like something had taken over me as I gripped his suit, pulled him towards me and kissed him hard. “Please,” I begged, my fingers tightening on his suit jacket. “Take me. I don’t care if you think I’m a w***e, just please.” I panted. I could feel his gaze on me then before I could get another word in, he gripped my neck and walked me back until the back of my knees hit the bedframe and I fell on my back. “f**k,”He said under his breath, “You really are dripping for it, aren’t you?” I pressed my legs together, panting hard as he stepped closer. “Tell me to leave and I will.” I did not tell him to leave. I didn’t want him to— I woke to the blare of my phone’s alarm. My head pounded like someone had taken a hammer to it. The sheets were tangled around my body and I quickly sat up too fast and the world tilted. My brows pulled together in a frown as I looked around trying to remember why the f**k I was in a ridiculously expensive hotel that I knew mt family could no longer afford. A groan left my lips as I grabbed my phone to see the time stared back at me: 7:42 a.m. “s**t,” I whispered as everything came rushing back in. The engagement meeting. The one I was supposed to attend— I looked at the time again. —Ten hours ago! I jumped out of bed, heart slamming against my ribs as I quickly put on my clothes, wore my shoes and grabbed my bag. “Fuck.” I cussed again and all I could hope for was, it wasn’t too late.