Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be held hostage by an Italian stallion? My name is Clara, and I am part-owner of a brothel called "The Castle." My empire is my home which I've worked hard to build a life from. A future. But one day, the infamous Luca Belatoni stepped into my office and demanded that I pay him protection money. Of course, I refused. Of course, he wouldn't take no for an answer. Now he is in my castle-holding me hostage. Trying to control my mind in business and my body in bed. Neither of which I will allow. No matter how much his caramel eyes and Italian words...

Murderous thoughts. Those are what I had once Isabella walked through the door and revealed to me who she was. I needed an escape. An escape from my thoughts, an escape from the hurt, and an escape from ... him. I was a broken woman, but I was never going to break my resolve. I grew up being a fighter because I had to. No man could ever bring me down... Not even Luca. But, I had to admit, I never thought my heart would break as much as it did that day. Of course, I fled, but I was a fool to think he would ever let me go. He always told me I was his ... no matter what the cost. He was...

I had the perfect school, the perfect friends-the perfect life ... At least, that's what I thought. But you changed all that. You are always there ... Always watching ... Always waiting in the shadows. You send me flowers and messages. You stalk me, trace my every movement... Until that one day, in a silly game of Seven Minutes in Heaven, when I finally get to feel you-have a taste of you ... It left me wanting more. One catastrophic day, my wish is granted. Just past my eighteenth birthday, tragedy strikes and I watch my family die before my eyes. You are there. You rescue me. You choose my...

I'm not a good person. In fact, I'm a real bitch. If the opportunity arises, I will take your husband, give him the best sex he's ever had, and laugh behind your back once I'm done with him. I do not put on airs and graces. I just take what I want whenever I want it. I am the abused who has become the abuser. I live for power because all power had been stripped from me for years. Now that I have it back, I feed off of it like it's my primary sustenance, and I don't care who I hurt in the process. Every woman hates me, but do you know what? I don't give a shit. You won't like me. I'm not here...

On my fourteenth birthday, I was promised to a very wealthy man... A domineering man. A powerful man. On that day, the first of two transactions were made with my very unloving parents. I became his possession. Something to own. Something to keep. An object intended only for his desire, his pleasure, and his ... indulgence. Although promised to this man, I at least remained safe ... untouched ... pure. I was to be his and his alone. On my eighteenth birthday, the second transaction took place. I escaped... But he came for me. Now, I'm his. He owns my body and my soul. And, as if all of that...