A Dance with Darkness
1196 Words
Silva’s POV
The confidence radiating off Gio is addicting, though I’d never tell him that. Staring up at him, my heart flutters. The contact from his hands upon my body makes every inch of me want to submit to him. To give in to whatever desire he asks of me, but I fight against it. Gio is from the wrong side of the tracks and after the hell he’d put me through for years, I wasn’t about to bow down to him.
“Don’t let those hands get too comfortable,” I say to Gio, my lips forming a thin line as I try to hide the way I truly feel.
He smirks at me, “Why not? They feel pretty good where they are.
I roll my eyes at him, hoping that will help hide the thrill I feel from his touch. Now is not the time to lose it. Not with the whole damn school watching.
“Can I ask you something?” Gio asks innocently enough, but I know better than to trust that innocence.
“Fire away,” I sigh with more dramatics than need be.
“Have you heard about what’s been happening at home?” I freeze at his question. My eyes widen slightly as I swallow. There’s a shift in his tone, something darker, something serious. I knew it was too good to be true with him wanting to dance with me or even take interest.
The man has other motives.
“No,” I say coyly. “I mean…I’m guessing that there’s been some…drama. Not that my father ever really shares anything with me. I’m not the male heir he wanted…why do you ask?”
Gio swings me around to the music, catching me off-guard. Which, I’m certain, is his intent, but I’m not about to let him get the better of me.
“There’s been a spike in skirmishes, between your family and mine. That’s what my dad’s been telling me anyway. And now that we’re at the end of the semester, he’s been worried about me coming home.”
Things had generally been pretty quiet between the families for years. However, according to Bruno there have been issues as of late. Issues that include Gio’s family attacking ours or our property. Not that I knew why, but it was a big reason why Bruno warned me to stay away from Gio.
However, for Gio to say he was warned about coming home made me question what is really going on. “I don’t know anything about skirmishes or whatever you call it. As I said, I’m not the male heir my father asked for.”
“Really?”
Just then, he looks towards the doors of the old hotel and nods, indicating I should follow his gaze, and that’s when I spot them. Three men, all dressed in black. Not talking to anyone, not dancing, not drinking…just watching.
“See them?” Gio says, whispering into my ear. The feeling of his warm breath against my skin sending chills down my back. My breath catches in my throat as I close my eyes and nod slowly.
“They just arrived today. A ‘gift’ from my dad. Here to keep me safe. I wonder why that is.”
I look up into Gio’s eyes, the dark shadows of them impossible to read, but easy to fall into. A trap lying in wait for me to fall into.
“Keep you safe from what?”
He pauses for a moment, giving a halfway shrug. “I dunno. You, maybe.”
I laugh, loud and bright, finally catching him by surprise.
“Oh honey,” I say, “there isn’t anything that can protect you from me, certainly not those little men in the corner over there. I’m the devil, didn’t you know?”
A sly grin crosses his lips as he lets out a soft chuckle and grips me even tighter. “Is that right? Perhaps I should check out my potential property a little better then.”
I pause, my eyes searching him for clarification. “Excuse me? What do you mean by property?”
His lips part and he hesitates for a moment before he breaks into laughter. “Seriously?”
I shake my head, irritation growing as I try to pull myself from his grasp but fail drastically. I have no idea what he’s talking about and now part of me isn’t sure I want to. “Let me go.”
“No, no.” He smirks, holding me to him. “I don’t mean to laugh, I just can’t honestly believe your father hasn’t told you yet. I mean, damn…I thought my dad was harsh. But yours—well he takes the cake.”
“What the f**k are you talking about?” I snap at him.
“Your precious little daddy is selling you out, darling.”
What the f**k did he just say?
My world slowly feels as if it's shattering around me as I stare at him blankly trying to process his words. There’s no way in hell my dad would do that. “You’re lying…”
“No, I’m not. There’s a war brewing, between the Magilacanos and the Bonettis, and your father has offered you up as the prize to satisfy my father to stop the war before it starts.”
“He wouldn’t.” I say, shock reverberating through my words.
“Oh, but he would. He’s giving you to me, as a peace offering to make sure the two sides are forever linked together.”
I try to pull myself from Gio’s grasp once more, my heart racing with fear and anger over what he’s saying. I had never believed anything he said before, but right now…something deep inside me was telling me he is telling the truth. “I know you’re lying…”
“No. I’m a lot of things, Silva, but I’m not a liar. Never have been and I don’t see the need for it now. He’s giving you to me…Happy birthday.” His words are dripping with sarcasm as he finally lets go of me and steps away disappearing into the crowd.
My mind is spinning, my head on the verge of exploding as tears brim my eyes. How is it that something like this could happen, and I’m not made privy to it. I mean, who does that?
Taking a deep breath, a hand lays gently on my arm and I flinch, turning to see Rose staring at me with concern. “Are you okay?”
“No,” I say softly, shaking my head. “Please…take me home. I have to get out of here.”
She doesn’t hesitate to take my hand, setting down her drink as she pulls me through the crowd and towards the door. I hate that my birthday turned out the way it did, but there are more important things for me to worry about now than celebrating.
If what Gio says is true…my father and I are about to have some serious words.
Because no way in hell will I be marrying Gio Bonetti.
- Writer
