Dakota's throat closed up, panic clawing at her chest. "I don't... I can't...."
"Can't or won't?"
"Both!" The word burst out sharper than she intended. "I can't talk about it, and I won't talk about it, and you don't get to push me just because you marked me!"
Kade studied her for a long moment, then leaned back, his expression going cold and calculating. "Fine. Keep your secrets. But understand something, Dakota, your father is my enemy. Silver Ridge is my rival. And whether you cooperate or not, I'm going to dismantle everything Richard Winters has built."
Dakota's chest tightened. "What does that mean?"
"It means I'm taking his territory," Kade said bluntly. "His cities, his resources, his power base. I'm going to strip Silver Ridge down to nothing, and your father won't be able to stop me."
"You're going to war," Dakota whispered, horror creeping into her voice. "You're going to actually start a war."
