A powerful Council. Five men dedicated to keeping a tradition over a century old. Five men prepared to do what it took to harbor secrets. They held absolute control over dozens of industries, with the ability to destroy anyone who refused to play by their rules.
Even after betrayal had almost destroyed everything they’d created.
Only their firstborn sons were allowed to take their place.
Danger...
The majority of people went through life never experiencing the concept.
They never feared for their lives or those of their loved ones.
Danger was something seen on the media, tragedies happening to others.
They believed they were safe from the treachery of ruthless monsters.
But they were wrong...
The Sacred Sect was still watching.
Chapter One
Winter
Terror.
I couldn’t stop shaking, my hands numb from the tight grip on the steering wheel. I’d never felt the kind of fear that snaked around every vein and muscle, twisting and yanking, a beast clawing at my system. My family had betrayed me, my mother and father pretending for years that I could make my own choices, securing the kind of life that I wanted. Me. Their only child.
I’d been a good girl my entire life, playing by the rules, never once crossing the line between right and wrong.
Now this? What had I ever done to deserve this kind of horror? I could still feel the guests’ imploring eyes as they gawked at me, could almost hear their whispered words. I could swear they’d been chanting words of encouragement, much like when Matteo had made certain I realized this was my only choice. The entire community was nothing but a cult. The fear and rage from realizing the entire situation had been planned for some time had brewed into an explosive combination. I was out of my mind with desperation to get away.
Even though I knew I would never be free of them.
Members would catch me, punish me. Then they would place me in a cage.
Or worse.
I was nothing but property now, at least according to the sanctimonious Sacred Sect. To hell with them.
Please. Please. Please.
“You will adhere to our rules.”
“You will obey.”
My father’s sanctimonious words had been said with a smile.
I had to find a way out of this nightmare.
I could barely breathe as I pressed down on the accelerator. I’d only managed to grab the cash I’d been given inside the ugly Box, the wad of hundred-dollar bills nothing more than blood money, a bribe to keep me quiet.
That wasn’t going to happen.
I wrapped my hand around the beautiful necklace surrounding my neck and yanked, opening the window and pitching it. How many times had I begged my mother to allow me to wear it? The lovely piece was one of the expensive items that had indentured my mother into her arranged marriage. I knew I was tossing thousands of dollars out the window, but what the hell did I care? I refused to wear a collar for anyone.
Including my intended husband.
It was nothing more than a noose.
How could he? The bastard had actually tried to befriend me, pretending he was nobody.
Not a revered god in the community.
Not a beast who could destroy people’s lives.
Now I knew exactly who the asshole was, ugly memories flooding my mind.
Matteo Capodanno was considered one of the most powerful and dangerous men in the country. His influence hovered over various cities and organizations like a black veil of death. I’d read enough about the entire family to know how connected they were.
Blackmail.
Extortion.
Murder.
The Capodannos would do anything to protect their own.
Including Matteo’s soon to be wife.
But only after punishing her into submission.
Me. That was supposed to be me.
“No!” I hissed as I stared into the rearview mirror, able to see the headlights coming closer.
I refused to marry anyone against my will, especially an arrogant asshole.
Everything had come tumbling back to me, including the stories my father had told me years before. Anyone who betrayed the sect was punished, several facing a horrible demise, any possible identification removed from their bodies before being dumped into the ocean.
Or set on fire.
Their families had been shunned, their wealth and power stripped from them, never to be seen again. He’d told me that very story the first time I’d attempted to run away. I’d been dragged back by the same asshole who’d come to pick me up at the airport only hours before.
I would never forget that horrible time. I’d learned at that moment my life was far from a fairytale, my parents abiding by a system that I couldn’t understand and refused to learn more