Chapter 42
A R I A N A
I rushed out of the café, blinded by tears just wanting to get away, I wasn’t watching where I was going.
I bumped hard into someone, stumbling backward strong hands reached out to steady me.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, trying to pull away.
“Ariana p>
I looked up.
It was Angelo.
He was staring down at me, his face full of surprise.
His eyes moved over my face, his expression changing as he saw the red mark on my cheek from where my mother had slapped me.
His brows furrowed in concern and confusion.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice softer than I’d heard it in a long time as he cupped my face, his thumb gently brushing the sore spot.
His touch was surprisingly gentle.
It wasn’t like before, his touch felt like the man I fallen over heels for back then, he felt like my Angelo, the one I had lost.
“Let go of me Angelo,” I whispered, but my voice had no strength.
He didn’t let go.
He ignored.
Instead, he kept looking at me, his thumb still moving softly on my cheek. “Who did this to you? Was it him? Was it uncle? What am I saying, of course it’s him, he’s not good for you Ariana p>
The kindness in his voice, the concern… it was too much but hearing him blame Dante didn’t seat well with me.
I hated the way he pinned it on Dante.
“Please, just let me be… it’s none of your concern… I don’t need your piety”
He didn’t listen instead he pulled me to his chest as a sob broke, then another I couldn’t stop them.
I started crying right there on the sidewalk.
Angelo didn’t say anything again he didn’t ask more questions.
He just pulled me more into his arms and held me.
I cried into his shirt, my whole body shaking.
He held me tight, one hand on my back, the other in my hair.
“Shhh,” he whispered. “It’s okay… Ive got you p>
When my tears finally slowed, he pulled back slightly. “Come on,” he said, keeping an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get out of here p>
He led me away from the busy street to a small, quiet park nearby and I’m not sure why I followed but I felt suffocated, I need to clear my head before returning home.
There were only a few people around he found a bench under a tree and sat me down.
We sat in silence for a few minutes.
I wiped my tears, feeling embarrassed.
“Sorry,” I mumbled.
“Don’t be,” Angelo said. He looked at me, his eyes serious. “Now tell me what happened p>
“If Uncle did this to you p>
I didn’t let him finish, “No! This has nothing to do with Dante”
Angelo shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. “You don’t have to cover up for him, Ariana I know my uncle and I know what a dangerous man he is, he is ruthless… he hurts people and that’s why he’s not good for you, you should leave him before he destroys you too”
His words sparked something in me a need to defend Dante, even though I was still so confused about my own feelings.
“That’s not true Angelo,” I said, standing up. My voice was stronger now. “You don’t know anything about us he’s not the monster you think he is. Dante is far better of a man than you were and than you’ll ever be, get that into your head and stop tainting my husband black”
Angelo stood up too anger by my outburst “Open your eyes! He bought you from your father! He owns you! Is that the kind of man you want to defend? Seriously Ariana, I thought you were better than this”
“Its none of your fucking business if he did, at least he is faithful” I argued, my hands clenching into fists.
He stared at me as though I had given him a blow, “You’re making a mistake Ariana, he’s using you, just like he uses everyone!” Angelo stepped closer, his eyes intense. “You deserve better than him, you deserve someone who actually cares about you p>
The air between us became tensed with old feelings and new anger.
“Why does it bother you? Whatever that is going on between me and your uncle is our problem to deal with so stay out of this p>
He sighed reaching out and cupped my face again, his thumb stroking my cheek. “I still care about you, Ariana, I made a mistake a huge mistake but I never stopped p>
He couldn’t finish it instead he leaned in, his eyes closing, his lips moving toward mine.
My heart hammered in my chest.
I was frozen, confused by the sudden shift.
“What are you doing? Let go of me Angelo… don’t you dare” I stutter trying to push away but his grip on my waist held me firmly.
He moved but before his lips could touch mine, a voice, cold and sharp as a blade, sliced through the tension between us.
“Ariana p>
We both jerked apart.
My head snapped toward the sound.
Dante stood at the edge of the park, his hands shoved in his pockets, his face a mask of cold, hard fury.
Shit!