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Maddux watched Theodore go, thinking about all the deceit and lies the hter all these years If she knew all of the truth, she’d undoubtedly see her father in a whole different and unflattering light He wondered if she would have so graciously offered herself in her dad’s place if she’d known the blood Theodore had on his hands

As soon as the other one and the door closed behind them so that he and Arabella were alone, she turned around to face hily fearless, and a little defiant as she aze

And all Maddux could think was that his brother and sister were going to fucking kill him when they discovered what he’d done That he’d allowed Theodore to walk away unscathed in exchange for a tiny slip of a woman Maddux wanted for himself

His display of weakness rankled the hell out of him, and he embraced the spite he needed to keep his e more than a piece of collateral in this war between him and Theodore Physically, however, all bets were off

Chapter 6

Now that Arabella was alone with Maddux, her initial bravado slipped a few notches and a good dose of wariness trickled through her as her captor held her gaze His arms were crossed over his broad chest, which washis tuxedo jacket fro with her father The first few buttons on his dress shirt were undone, giving her a limpse of the scarred flesh on his neck, and he’d rolled his sleeves up, revealing strong, muscled forearms

She exhaled a deep breath as the charged silence stretched between the with ani herself to this dark, co her father to safely walk out of this roo hatshe’d just heard and witnessed, and the accusations that had been verbalized, she had no doubt her father was far froe and his heart condition, she knew he’d never survive the stress of everything Maddux had just threatened hi she could think of that ht interest a man like Maddux Herself In any capacity he desired

However, Arabella was sh to realize that all the resentically disappeared just because he’d accepted her proposal He still held every single one of her father’s assets hostage, and there was no guarantee that he’d ever relinquish theure out a way to get her father out of the mess he’d created for himself If there was a possibility, she had to try

Which ed to Maddux Wilder Her life Her body Her entire world She was his to do with as he pleased, and while Arabella was certain she was just a te, and possibly a pawn to use to hurt her father, there was no denying the heat and lust in his eyes when he looked at her And as much as she wanted to despise him, her traitorous body was inexplicably drawn to Maddux and shamelessly wanted him in ways she’d never desired another man

“Having second t

houghts, Bella?” he asked, his toneto provoke her or see how far he could push her before she’d break

“No” She tipped her chin up, showing her obstinate side She ile, ee on my promises”

He inclined his dark head arrogantly, causing a few long, unruly strands of his hair to fall across his forehead as hiswhat it’s going to take for you to work off your father’s debt”

There was a thread of anger in his voice, whether at her or at hiround and didn’t wither beneath his increasingly irritable glare

His jaw clenched and he strode to the door and opened it before glancing back at her “Let’s escort you to your new living quarters, shall we”