The Syndicate's Stolen Bride

from recessed panels, blinding her for a moment. The air smelled faintly of l

sharp and unforgiving. Her hands trembled as she looked around the room. The

at once. Each one radiated danger. E

es, stepped forward first. "Isla," he said, voice low

la-sounded right, yet wrong. Who

icked back, piercing blue eyes trained on her. "My fian

d with a faint accent, "you promised me once. You cannot leave now." Hi

ike she was fragile glass. "And then there's me. Marcus," he said with a

. All of them looking at her as if she belong

Her voice sounded foreign to h

oor. "I am your husband, Isla. You married me three years ago in Mosco

trange. Alien. She shook her

lm, almost soothing. "I am your fiancé. You prom

nji. "You-what did y

and you swore loyalty. Do you forget everything?" His v

temples. "I... I don't understand. Why... wh

ou are dangerous even when you forget who you are. A

rds made no sense, yet somethi

op this charade. You're mine. And if

hreaten her. You don't get to claim owne

hed. "Both of you. Enough. She has

, voice calm but commanding. "Gentlemen, let's not fight over her in front

felt smaller suddenly, tighter, as if the

firmer this time, though her stomach twisted with fear. "I

ou will remember," he said, tone low and dangerous. "

ked, feeling a strange bo

"Then you'll have us to remind

. "And you'll learn quickly. Because we don't

d this: none of us are bluffing. Each one of us has proof that you belong

like a heavy weight. Proof. She couldn't remember

't remembered. Do Not Trust. The black ink stared up at her

oes this mean?"

eans someone tried to warn you. But

wants you to fail. Someone who knows the truth

owerful. Someone close. Someone w

at even without your memory, Isla... you are important. And dang

. She wanted to run. She wanted to hide. But where could she go? The room was locked. The men

measuring each word. "And yet... I don't remember any o

. Not yet. But you will. And when you do, you'll have no cho

tain. Whoever you were, whatever you promised

nsequences. The people outside-your life-your past-they're all tied to

isper. "And yet, you're already here. Awake. Confused. Alone... an

nt for a heartbeat, each man's presen

rifying. None of them were lying about wanting

she had to find out the truth. Be