BOUND BY LIES A BILLIONAIRE CONTRACT BRIDE

feeling my will breaking at his app

already are." You too will learn to welcome it. Though his voice

his stare and his clarity in his speech made me

cate quiet between us before I could reply.

t the call may bring. Alan fixed his eyes on me, a menacing light flar

hen swiped to answ

other side. Though the message was clear-and terrifying-th

a beat. "What are you

roke before I

n my palm. You shouldn't believe him. What had been said by

us had changed once again, darker now, and the tension nearly tangible. Though

Ariel, you are engaged in a game you do not understand. And you w

ttempted to force the terror building in my chest under control.

h, "I didn't ask for any of this." "But righ

hen I say you're ready to hear them, you will ge

to knot. Part of me yearned to yell, to attack him and demand to know what was

heavy with the feelings I wanted not to experience, I asked

thoritative, as though the problem was already resolved. And right no

breathing became short as his words sank in. He was correct-this exceeded my wil

derstand it. He stretched out, his fingertips brushing across my arm, shocking me with unexpected voltage.

ow, almost begging. "I will defend you; I do not want this any more t

trike. Under lock and key? That is you

vanished almost as rapidly. "You are not a prisoner, Ariel. But you have to real

everything in me screamed I should find out, I had no idea what he

crash, then the sound of rushing fee

ern, he said

rriving as well. Though I realized I had no idea what I was stepping into, I

rately approached the door.

strangers, their movement-how they looked about the room-tells me a

ather, his eyes fixed on hers, and I sensed th

ut forceful instruc

rlook something in his eyes that seemed to be a subdu

? " I insisted, my voic

cold, calculated eyes. Walker, we

that followed was deafening, and with every second

wned on me. The individuals Alan had cautioned me about-the ones who had just wal

in front of him. Though his face was invisible, I c

at last, his voice icy and cert

omprehensible, then one of them spoke on

hing as fast as they had arrived, le

changed in the air. Something darker and more threatening.

oice came from me. "What's happenin

on me, his expression inscrutable, and for the firs

me standing in the chilly quiet, my heart hammering, my

happened? And wh

sound in the silent room wa