Page 29 of Wicked Villain

It’s the quickest I’ve ever signed anything in my life. When I’m done, the pen trembles in my hand as it all sinks in. My life. My dreams. The morsel of freedom I had.

It’s all gone now.

I just signed it all away. Didn’t even get to read the damn contract first.

Now the devil owns me.

I turn my head and look at him, wanting nothing more than to shove the pen right through his eye.

No way would he let me get that close. I’d have the pen wedged in my own eye before I could lift my arm to stab him.

He picks up the contract, and his face becomes stern. “You’ll get a copy later. Make sure you read it. I have… terms and conditions.”

I know I’m going to hate every single one of them. “I want to see my family.”

“You’ll see them tomorrow at the wedding.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my head and my legs turn to water. “What! Tomorrow?”

“You heard me.”

“But… tomorrow?”

“I work fast.”

Jesus. This is a nightmare.

We’re getting married tomorrow. With Danillo, I had a month to prepare my mind. And I knew him.

The only things I know about Lev are that he’s a psycho asshole and he wants revenge against my father.

This man is going to be my husband.

I swallow hard, thinking fast. “I want my own room,” I blurt.

“No.” The word rings through my head like a death knell. “My wife will sleep in my bed.”

“But—”

“Discussion over. You can leave now.”

My breath snags in my throat, and I stare back at him as if he just slapped me across the face. The hot sting spreading across my cheeks makes it feel as though he has.

“Zoya will take you back upstairs and tend to you. Don’t give her any trouble.”

I barely hear him.

I turn and walk toward the door.

Behind me, Lev clears his throat. “One last thing, Gabrielle.”

It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to me. I stop and glance over my shoulder, summoning the filthiest look I can manage.

“Don’t bother trying to run from me again.” He gives me a clipped smile. It’s brief but slices the edges of my heart. “I will always catch you.”

The warning curls through me, along with the hidden promise. Words he hasn’t said but I feel. Everywhere.

I turn away, forcing my trembling legs to move me forward. The floorboards creak beneath my bare feet, but I keep moving, the hollow in my heart growing bigger and bigger.