The command galvanized the guests into action. Within seconds, the ballroom erupted into chaotic movement as people scrambled for the exits. No one wanted to be present for whatever came next. Wealthy heirs helped their injured bodyguards to their feet. Socialites clutched their purses and fled in their expensive heels. Within minutes, the grand ballroom that had been filled with hundreds of guests was nearly empty, save for Raymond's inner circle and the Wesley family.Garrick Wesley finally managed to catch his breath properly. He straightened slowly, one hand still pressed against his bruised chest, and stared at the empty doorway where Darius had exited. His face was a mask of conflicting emotions—fear, rage, humiliation, and something else. Something calculating."Dad?" Donald's voice was small, almost childlike. He'd finally managed to push himself up from the floor, though he swayed unsteadily on his feet. His face was still swollen and bruised from Darius's earlier slaps, his

"He's not—" Josh started to protest."Not what? Not dangerous? Not a threat?" Garrick's lip curled into a sneer. "Oh, he's dangerous alright. But the two of you are too busy making puppy-dog eyes at him to see the bigger picture. You're both useless, disloyal little worms who should have been taught better discipline years ago.""That's enough," Raymond said, his voice suddenly cutting through the argument like a blade through silk. It wasn't loud, but it carried an authority that made everyone pause.Garrick turned to him, eyebrows raised. "Oh? Finally found your spine again, did you?""I said that's enough." Raymond's eyes locked onto Garrick's, and there was something cold and calculating in them—something that reminded everyone present why Raymond Romano had survived and thrived in one of the world's most dangerous professions. "You want to know why I begged? You want to know why I got down on my knees and groveled?""Because you're weak—" Garrick began."Because I'm smart," Raymo

Jessica's voice cut through the verbal assault like a whip crack. She'd been silent until now, but the fury in her eyes was unmistakable as she glared at Donald and then at her father. "None of this was Josh's fault! He was trying to protect me!"Raymond slowly released Josh's collar, his attention shifting to his daughter. "Explain."Jessica's hands clenched into fists in her lap, her voice shaking with emotion. "Donald has been harassing me for weeks. Ever since I got back to Duskfort. Calling me, texting me, showing up at places he knew I'd be. Acting like I was his property just because our families have some stupid arrangement that I never agreed to.""That's not—" Donald started to protest."Tonight wasn't the first time he put his hands on me!" Jessica continued, speaking over him. "He's been trying to corner me at social events, touching me when I've explicitly told him not to, making it clear that he thinks he owns me. And Josh—" her voice cracked slightly, "—Josh was trying

"Or maybe we should talk about the time you showed up at my gym," Jessica continued relentlessly, her voice growing stronger with each revelation. "You watched me work out for an hour, Donald. Just standing there, staring. When I confronted you, you said you were 'admiring your investment.' Your investment! Like I was a stock portfolio or a piece of art you'd purchased!""That's taken out of context—" Donald tried."Or how about last week?" Jessica's voice rose to a near-shout. "When you cornered me in the parking garage of Dad's office building? When you told me that once we were married, you'd 'teach me my place' and 'break that stubborn spirit'? When you grabbed my face and said—and I quote—'You'll learn to love me, or at least to fear me enough to obey'?"The limousine fell into shocked silence. Even Garrick looked stunned by the litany of his son's transgressions.Josh's voice was deadly quiet when he spoke. "I'll kill you. I swear to God, Donald, I'll—""Josh, no," Jessica put a

"She's got spirit, I'll give her that," Garrick said, his earlier anger at Donald apparently forgotten in his amusement at Jessica's defiance. "Like a wild mare that needs breaking. Don't worry, Raymond. Donald will tame her soon enough. A few months of marriage and she'll be docile as a lamb.""I am not an animal to be tamed!" Jessica shrieked, turning her fury on Garrick. "I'm a human being! A person! Not property, not livestock, not a bargaining chip in your pathetic power games!""You're whatever your father says you are," Garrick replied dismissively. "That's how these things work, girl. Your opinion matters about as much as a dog's opinion on what it gets fed for dinner.""That's enough," Josh said, his voice suddenly hard. He stood up as much as the limousine's low ceiling would allow, positioning himself partially between his sister and the Wesleys. "Mr. Wesley, you need to stop talking. Right now.""Or what?" Donald sneered, emboldened by his father's support and Raymond's ap