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I followed Ivy back down the hall when she was done. The only person we passed was Anthony, who gave her nothing more than a quick glance before looking away. Possibly because he caught my glare.

I wasn’t going to risk having Ivy around any of my family until she was properly married to me. After all, it wasn’t like she had to marry me. Technically anyone in the family would do.

And then I’d have to rip one of my own family members limb from limb, and I didn’t think the don would like that.

Ivy

Tomas followed me into my room again. Having a near silent shadow probably should have been unnerving, but truthfully it made me feel protected. I still glared at him and stomped my feet over his hovering – it felt expected – but truthfully, I was glad he was there.

He was the only thing that felt slightly familiar in this house and with these people. I also didn’t want to find myself handed off to some stranger.

At least I knew what to expect with Tomas.

Quiet, efficient ruthlessness, but also pleasure. Unexpected gentleness at times. So far, the worst thing he’d done was spank me. I could live with that. He wanted me, more than I’d realized when I’d first decided to seduce him to increase my chances of living. Wanted me badly enough to marry me. There was a certain level of protection in that.

Anyone else might marry me, but would they want me?

Besides, from the way everyone looked at him, I felt quite certain that Tomas could protect me from everyone and everything that might threaten me. I only had to worry about him. And I thought I could probably manage him.

Sighing, I turned around, letting my shoulders slump in defeat.

“Now what?” I asked tiredly, letting my exhaustion show through. I didn’t have to fake that. “Can I go to bed, Daddy?” I let my lower lip quiver a bit at the question.

He might realize I was playing him, but he didn’t seem to care. Calling him Daddy made his dark eyes gleam.

“Yes, you’re going to bed.” He nodded at it. “Daddy’s going to tuck you in.”

Interesting. But if that’s how he wanted things to go. At this point, it would behoove me to act more cooperative, not less. Like I was too tired to fight.

So I just nodded my head and went to the bed, pulling the covers down and crawling in. The bed was incredibly soft and comfortable, and I didn’t have to fake the yawn that immediately pushed its way out of my lips. I covered my mouth with one of my hands.

Almost as soon as I was done yawning, Tomas took my wrists and started to tie them together, startling me. Where had he gotten that rope from? It was softer than what he’d used in the car, silkier, and colored a very pretty dark green. Very close to the same shade my dress had been.

“Daddy, what are you doing?” I whined.

“Making sure my little flower doesn’t disappear in the middle of the night.”

Every time he called me his little flower, a tiny bud of warmth blossomed in my core. Even when he was tying me up.

Strangely I felt a trickle of relief as he tied my wrists together and then secured them to the bed above my head. Maybe because when he’d done this in the hotel room, I’d been scared but then it had turned out fine.

More than fine.

Now, knowing that we were getting married tomorrow, I wasn’t scared at all that he was going to kill me anymore.

I had exactly what I’d planned for – as long as I kept him happy, I was safe.

And there was some relief in being tied to the bed. The temptation to try and escape was completely gone. I knew it wasn’t the right time, and being tied down gave me permission to not try and change that.

I still tugged on the rope, just a bit, to see how well he’d tied me.

Just as well as he had at the hotel.

Tomas chuckled, watching me with an alert gaze, and then he tapped his finger against my lips and began to trace down my body.

The thin silk of the nightgown barely covered me, and I sucked in a breath that was easily seen as his finger trailed down between my chest. It was impossible to miss the way my nipples hardened, excitement starting to thrum through my body.

He kept his gaze on my face as his finger slid over my stomach as it quivered, and he leaned down to claim my lips with a kiss as it reached my hips and he began to pull the silky skirt of the nightgown up.