The Devil’s Bargain

Chapter 005

DANTE

"Dante Valerio?" My name thundered loudly, and I don't need any soothsayer to tell me who it was. I slowly turned around, and there she was, standing at the entrance, her angry red eyes directed at me, the gown she wore earlier still clawed to her skin, her face all swollen and puffy.

"Are you happy?" She started.

"Depends on the news you're about to share with me?" I answered.

"You got my father arrested just to make a claim on me. Why? Why are you doing this to me?" Her voice was cracking slowly, and I pushed myself away from the window.

It was 4:00am in the morning, and she had the nerve to drive down without considering running into some bad people on the way, that's bravery.

"You did nothing to me Elara, it's your bravery and your actions that I'm drawn to" I walked forward and touched her cheeks, which were probably wet probably with her tears.

"Don't touch me!" She slapped my hands away, and it didn't anger me at all....I like the game of chess.

"You know how to get your father released, don't you?" I asked, and she looked away, not daring to hold my gaze anymore.

"Is it a must to marry you? Can I be something else to you apart from your wife?" Her voice went low, and I held her chin, making her stare up at me.

"There's nothing else special other than you being my wife, Elara, so if you want your father released from prison, just say the words, and I, Dante Valerio, will approve of it" I let go of her chin and walked back to my desk, sitting on my chair.

She stood in the middle of the room, her mind probably in a mess, and I noticed her inner cheeks going inside; she's already calculating the risk.

My background check on her wasn't wrong then.

I fixed my gaze on her, watching and waiting patiently for her next move, and then she walked slowly towards me. She sat on the chair opposite me like a businesswoman in a press conference meeting.

"I agree to be your wife, in my own terms and conditions" she said, and I creased my brows amusingly.

"Great...go on, I would like to hear it, Elara,"

"Aside from you releasing my dad and offering us both protection, you won't touch me, you won't interfere and meddle with my school life, you will give me black cards loaded with money, and lastly, this marriage must be within our family; no social or public person is allowed to hear of it"

I smiled softly after hearing her terms, she's sure trying to play smart here.

"I agree to all you said, Elara, except for one..." I trailed off.

"Wha...what's that?" She asked.

"If you want our marriage to not go public but private, then that means I would have to touch you, my wife, when I feel like...." My terms was added, and she stared at me, her face suddenly going pale.

"What?"

"An eye for an eye, Elara, I won't announce it. That means I have every right to touch you. Are you in?" I asked.

She stared at me before looking away, her hands falling on her lap. I gave her time to think, and minutes passed before she looked back at me.

"Fine, I agree. Where's the marriage contract?" She asked later on about bringing the spirit that I like.

I picked the file from the table and placed it in front of her. "Here you go,"

She glanced at me, then picked up the pen from the table and signed it before throwing the papers back at me.

"Now release my father?" She sounded cold.

I glanced at the papers, and her signature was sitting pretty on it.

Then I stood, and her eyes followed me instantly. I walked toward her without breaking eye contact.

Stopping in front of her, I reached down and spun her chair around, and she gasped softly as I pulled her up by the wrist, her body stumbling into mine.

My hand slid to her waist, fingers grazing her soft skin, and she stiffened immediately.

“So now, you’re officially my wife, Elara.” I murmured, leaning closer.

I could feel it, the rapid rise and fall of her chest against mine. She was scared and shaking.

“Don’t forget,” I continued softly, my thumb tracing the side of her waist just enough to make her aware of it.

"You agreed to my terms.”

Her hands pressed against my chest, not pushing, just holding onto me.

“You said when you feel like it…” She whispered, her voice betraying her in the process.

My lips hovered dangerously close to her ear, "Yes, I did.”

I slide my fingers slowly upward along her back, feeling the warmth of her skin that was bare and naked to my palms, and she sucked in a breath, her body reacting, letting go of her pride.

"And I feel like having you now, Elara"