Chapter 1

I had been engaged to Zackary Chaney, the rich heir of the Klerton, for three years. But to please his beloved Elaine Shepard, he made me drink with his sworn enemy, Sean Munoz, hoping I'd dig up some useful info for him.

At the party, Zackary had his arm draped around Elaine, flashing a careless grin. "If we manage to get that land, I wouldn't mind sending you over to spend the night with him as part of the deal."

My heart turned to ice when a cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my head.

'He's putting on an act again. His palm's bleeding from how hard he's digging his nails in, waiting for you to beg him for a hug.'

'Disgusting. He's pretending to be the devoted lover while treating you like a bargaining chip. Don't waste your time on this scumbag.'

'Take a look at Sean Munoz, the psycho across the table. He's torn up his whole arm to see you, and he's got the whole place plastered with surveillance videos of you.'

'Flash him a smile, and he'd give you his life without a second thought.'

I picked up my glass, and with Zackary's frozen stare locked on me, I slid right onto Sean's lap. "Mr. Munoz, he doesn't want me anymore. Will you keep me?"

*****

Zackary's words felt like a slap in the face, making my ears buzz. "If we can't get that land, I wouldn't mind throwing you in for a night with him as part of the deal."

He had his arm around Elaine, flashing that lazy grin. The eyes that once swore they loved me were now overflowing with affection for her and nothing but disdain for me.

Three years engaged, and I thought I was his Achilles' heel. It turned out I was only a bargaining chip in his business deals.

Just as my heart turned to ice and I was about to storm out, a cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my head.

'He's faking it again. He's dug his nails into his palm so hard he's bleeding, hoping you'll come crawling back for a hug.'

'Gross. He's playing the lovesick boyfriend while using you as a bargaining chip. Don't bother with this jerk.'

I froze, my gaze dropping to Zackary's hand at his side. Sure enough, his nails were dug so deeply into his palm that a streak of bright red was oozing between his fingers.

Was he acting? Was it all to make Elaine happy, or was he testing my limits?

The mechanical voice continued, dripping with contempt.

'Look at Sean, that lunatic across the table. He's shredded his arm to pieces just for a chance to see you, and his whole place is covered in footage of you.'

'Flash him a smile, and he'd give you his life without a second thought.'

I followed the voice's cue and looked across the long table.

Sean Munoz. The city's most notorious madman, Zackary's arch nemesis.

He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves pushed up, thick bandages wrapped around his left arm, with spots of blood showing through.

Sean was staring right at me, his gaze dark and crazed, but the instant our eyes met, a flash of needy desperation crossed his eyes.

Nausea hit me like a tidal wave, twisting my stomach into knots.

Zackary's brand of "devotion" that tormented me, while he got sentimental over his own cruelty, was even more revolting than Sean's raw, unapologetic insanity.

I picked up the glass of strong liquor meant for Sean, and to everyone's shock, instead of heading to the business table, I slid right onto Sean's lap, straddling him boldly.

Sean instantly went stiff as iron, his breath stopping altogether in that moment.

I wrapped my arm around his neck, leaned in so close my warm breath brushed his ear, and whispered, "Mr. Munoz, he doesn't want me anymore. Will you take me in?"

The private room fell into a deathly silence.

Zackary's lazy smile shattered in an instant. He shot to his feet, knocking over his glass of red wine. The dark liquid splattering across the floor, looking for all the world like his heart was bleeding out.

"Amber, get off him!" Zackary's voice was hoarse, raw with barely contained rage.

I ignored Zackary, just stared at Sean.

Sean's eyes, always full of hostility, were now so red it looked like he'd been crying blood because of what I said.

His hands shook as he carefully wrapped his arms around my waist, like he was holding a treasure he thought he'd lost forever. His voice was so low it was almost scary. "As long as you don't regret it, my life is yours."

Sean's grip was so strong it felt like he might break my waist, but the fear in his eyes betrayed how scared he really was inside.

'He can't stop shaking! He's waited five years for this moment, and now he thinks he must be dreaming.'

'Host, check out Zackary! He's about to go crazy. He thought you'd be sobbing and begging him, but you went and picked another guy without a second thought.'

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Zackary.

He was glaring daggers at Sean's hand around my waist, his forehead veins popping out. His hand had already let go of Elaine and was shaking with anger.

"Sean, let her go," Zackary growled, his teeth gritted so hard it sounded like he was chewing the words out.

Sean let out a cold laugh, his chin pressed against my shoulder as he shot Zackary a provocative look. "Didn't you say you'd let her spend a night with someone if it meant getting that land? What's wrong, Mr. Chaney? Getting cold feet now?"

Elaine's face turned pale. She reached out, trying to tug Zackary's sleeve. "Zackary, let's not lose sight of the deal. Amber's probably just teasing you."