The Secret Reader

Chapter 3 — Dark Intentions

(Dante's Pov)

I felt something shift inside of me as I stood in the cold wind, her smooth her sliding from my grip. I was staring at my old friend, Jacob. We went to school together, and he was one of the very few people that I enjoyed hanging out with, especially when I wasn't at the barracks. I was feeling a little embarrassed from the moment I had just shared with Alina, and the sight of seeing her cheeks singe under my grip sort of turned me....on.

“Aren't you guys coming in?" Jacob asked, staring at the two of us. I hardly looked back at her, before I started walking. I could hear her following behind, her pace low as it could be. She was hesitating but at least she was complying. Her phone was still in my pocket, and I was going to give it back to her once she had stopped throwing tantrums. I knew there was nothing she could do without her phone or the car keys.

"This is practically the last time I'm going anywhere with you." She said behind me, as we climbed up the stairs. Stopping at the doorstep, I turned around, facing her as she stood, her arms folded.

"I can hear her hesitation," Jacob said, chuckling. "Looks like someone's not happy."

I shot him a warning glance. "Just drop it, Jacob."

I noticed something on her wrist, my fingerprints that had burned into her skin and I felt my insides tighten with embarrassment. I had overdone it. I only intended to scare her a little, not literally hurt her. But, it was in the past now and all that mattered was the future.

"Can you be any quicker?" I said.

She looked at me. "Are you the one that gives me strength?"

I c****d an eyebrow. "Do I look like an energizer to you?"

She finally finished climbing the few stairs, standing just at my side with a hint of hesitation. She wasn't happy, and I could see it written all over her face. Jacob, who had been watching our exchange, stepped forward. "Hey, we haven't met yet. I'm Jacob."

Her eyes shifted to Jacob, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I'm Alina."

Jacob's eyes lit up as he shook her hand. For a moment, he held onto it, staring at her with a charming smile. "Nice to meet you, Alina," he said, his voice low and smooth. Then, to my surprise, Jacob kissed her hand. Alina's cheeks flushed, and she quickly pulled her hand back. I cleared my throat, feeling a twinge of annoyance. Jacob snapped out of his trance, grinning at me.

"Sorry, man. Got a bit carried away," he said, winking.

I raised an eyebrow, my eyes flicking to Alina. She looked flustered, avoiding eye contact with me. I didn't think she'd be letting my friend kissing her hand like that.

"Let's get inside," I said, my tone a bit rougher than intended.

Jacob led the way into his home, and we followed inside. Alina was walking in front of me, her mane of hair was falling down her back like a waterfall: there was something about her hair that kept me captivated. Its highlights were like a mixture of caramel, gold and red brown. And it looked a bit richer than her sister's.

Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed Alina's hand, pulling her to stop. She turned, her eyes narrowing. "What?"

"I don't want us to stay here for long..." I said, my voice low. "Wait here."

She c****d an eyebrow, clearly annoyed. "So you're saying you dragged me inside just so you can keep me waiting?"

I met her gaze, my tone firm. "Yes. And enough with your stupid questions. Just do as I say."

With that, I released her hand and rushed to catch up with Jacob, leaving her standing alone. I don't know why I felt this way about her. There was something that I wanted to break in her. I wanted to make her submit to me, to see her beneath me, on her knees like she depended on me. It was the first thing that came into my mind when I read the few chapters of her novel: If Only.

She was innocent on the outside, but deep down I knew there was something that she was hiding. That something was dark, more wild than I could even imagine and I wanted to see that. But first, I wanted to make her see me as everything in her life. If it meant these thirty days that I had, I had to spend them all in breaking her? I was going to do it. I wasn't going to stop, even if it meant going to unthinkable extremes.

I still remember the first time I saw her. There was something that shifted inside of me, it was much different from when I used to see her in pictures on my sister-in-law's f*******: page. She was a bit childish there, but now that I was standing face to face with her.... I don't know.

Our first time meeting left my insides twisting and turning, and the darkest thing that was always in my mind was undescribable. But, I wanted to make her feel the same way that I did. And I was going to make her fall in love with me.

“Dude, where'd she go?" Jacob asked.

I c****d a brow. "I left her standing...."

"Why?" Jacob asked.

"Just some minor..." I said. But the real truth was, I didn't enjoy it when he kissed the back of her hand. I didn't enjoy the way he was charming her with his smile, or the way he was staring at her.

She's mine, and I won't let anyone try to snatch her from me.

“If I may ask, what's she to you?" Jacob asked.

I smirked. "She's my sister-in-law."

Jacob eye widened. "Wait what!? You've gotta be joking."

"I wish I was...." I said. "Now, can we get back to why I'm here?"

"No." Jacob said. "I'm still trying to process all that. She's your freaking sister-in-law.... Why didn't you tell me earlier? I mean....I could really use a girlfriend RightNow."

I rolled my eyes, clearly annoyed. "You're a f**k boy Jacob. I wouldn't want anything bad like that happening to her...”

“You're a fuckboy too, Dante." Jacob said. "Don't make it sound like I'm the big bad wolf. We are both wolves of the same pack.”

“Tch—" I couldn't disagree with what he was saying,but it didn't mean I was going to let her fall into his hands. I knew Jacob more than anyone. Back when we were in High School, he made it his priority to sleep with as many girls as he could. He actually made a register, and posted a few of his s**t on Webcam. I wasn't going to him touch even a single hair on her head. Not when I was alive. “....but that still isn't going to convince me to let you date her."

“Can I at least talk to her?" Jacob asked. "Maybe on f*******: or just to call her?"

His eyes were as pleading as ever. They were a bright shade of brown, that almost seemed to sparkle. Bad thing was, that didn't really work on me. "Go plead to your whores. I'm not into men!"

Jacob sighed. "Since you're not gonna let me talk to her. Might you as well as tell me what has forced this lovely visit from you?"

I grinned. "I need weed."

"I don't sell that s**t anymore." Jacob said.

"Since when?" I c****d a brow.

Jacob ran a hand through his thick mane of blond hair. "Since the day my father had me locked up for three f*****g months in rehab."

I wanted to laugh, but I had to hold myself back. "That's insane....but you sort of deserved it.”

Jacob rolled his eyes. "But it doesn't mean I stopped using it."

"Exactly the Jacob I know..." I said, feeling pity for him.

"If you want it, I can connect you to my buyer...." Jacob said. "... I'll meet you tomorrow at our usual club....and if you want me to bring you some of the good stash? Make sure you bring the chick!"

I melted into a fair smile. "Deal."

But now, the real troubles was in convincing her to come. I was supposed to have a good story, something that could at least give her a purpose to want to join us at the club. I trusted Jacob because he was a man of his word, especially when it came to selling his stash. If he was going to be loyal, the I also had to play my role.