After my father racked up a massive loan shark debt, he sold me off to a Mafia Don as a collateral bride.

The Don had a notoriously violent son.

The three brides before me were all driven to the brink of insanity by this young heir.

They fled the estate overnight, preferring to pay astronomical penalties rather than stay.

Whether I could survive here depended entirely on whether the boy would accept me.

On our wedding night, the Don went out to handle a gang war, leaving me alone in the massive estate with the rumored little terror.

When I pushed open the door to the nursery, I was prepared for all kinds of cruel tricks.

But instead, I found the supposedly vicious boy...

huddled in the corner of his closet, trembling like a leaf.

~~~~~

"Don't be afraid."

I pitched my voice low, keeping the tone as even and clinical as I would for a panicked patient.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

At the sound of my voice, the little boy flinched. Instead of dropping his guard, he shrank further into the dark recesses of the closet.

I didn't push it. I simply crouched down and began picking up the shattered glass scattered across the hardwood floor.

Once the pieces were gathered, I stood and looked at the tense shadow in the closet.

"The glass is gone. You won't cut your feet when you come out."

I paused, letting my eyes drop to his arm. "Your hand is bleeding. That's a deep cut. If we don't treat it, it'll get infected. I'm going to get the first-aid kit. If you want, I can bandage it for you when I get back. If not, I'll just leave the kit by the door. Is that okay?"

He didn't answer. He just stared at me with dark, hostile eyes, though a flicker of bewilderment briefly broke through his defenses.

I turned and walked out of the nursery, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Down in the first-floor hall, I located a medical kit. Passing the kitchen on my way back up, I grabbed a slice of cake and poured a glass of warm water.

I set the items down just outside the nursery door.

"I'm leaving the medicine here. The yellow liquid is iodine—it'll sting a little. Use the white gauze to wrap your hand."

I nudged the plate forward. "The cake is clean. Eat it if you're hungry."

I slowly stood up, keeping my distance.

"I'll be in the guest room next door tonight. The door will be unlocked. If you get scared, or if the pain gets too bad, you can come find me."

I gave him one last look, then turned and walked away.

A few steps down the hall, I stopped and glanced back.

Through the crack in the door, Dante peeked his head out from the shadows.

He reached out with his uninjured left hand, grabbed the glass, and drank the water like he was dying of thirst.

A few seconds later, he picked up the cake. He took a bite, his eyes rimmed with red as he mumbled to himself, "She didn't hurt me."

I took a quiet breath, turned, and went to my room.