CHAPTER 1: NAKED FOR THE MONSTER

ISABELLE’S POVMy name is Isabelle Moretti, and until a week ago, my world was defined by the scent of my nonna’s lemon biscuits and the safe walls of our family compound in Palermo.

I was a prized ornament, a virgin daughter to be bartered for influence.

I knew the rules: smile prettily, speak only when spoken to, and never, ever look a man like Dante Alighieri directly in the eye.

Now, I am standing naked before him, and I am breaking every single rule.

The candlelight in this cavernous Sicilian bedroom doesn’t trembles. Just like the frantic beat of my heart against my ribs....