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CHAPTER 1

His big hand curls around my throat as his eyes spit veno I’ve ever experienced I try to scream, but Carver’s lethal stare holdsback, unable to look away from the horror and betrayal within his eyes

They burn, pulsing with fury, daringhand I’le below, the black silk ofthe marbled tiles “An eye for an eye,” I tell hio I had to do it”

It’s as though he doesn’t hearhe needs to say—he fucking hates me I betrayed hiain

I killed his father, just as his father had killed mine

I had no choice I had to do it, and I’d do it again a million times over

My heart races, ins to burn and bruise under his wicked hold I need to breathe He’ll never let ht, and he’s too fucking stubborn to give in now To hirey area, no in-between

“Carver,” I gasp, feeling light-headed as the gasps and horror continue around us “I … I … can’t breathe”

His lethal stare doesn’t waver He’s going to kill me

The music dies, and the screams instantly echo around the roo at Carver’s feet, the pool of blood slowly seeping across the dance floor

A body rushes into Carver’s side, and like lightning, a loaded, brutal punch flies straight at his face There’s a loud grunt before Carver goes flying back, releasing his hold on my neck

My body crashes to the ground as I suck in a deep breath, rip My hip drops to the hard dance floor as my torso falls forward into the spilled blood My hand lands just by the intricate dagger I used to end his pathetic existence