Marcus pov
The heavy mahogany doors of the master suite clicked shut, sealing out the rest of the sprawling mansion and the suffocating tension that had hung over the dinner table like a shroud.
I loosened the silk tie around my collar, pulling it free with a slow, deliberate tug before tossing it onto the velvet armchair near the entrance. My mind was still sharp, entirely consumed by the lingering image of Elena sitting across from me at dinner. In the soft, amber glow of the dining room chandelier, she had looked completely undone, her wide, dark eyes flashing with a potent mix of terror and unadulterated fury every time our gazes locked. I had watched her pick at her food, her delicate hands trembling as she tried to hide the deep purple bruise blooming on her cheek. The concealment
