Chapter 44
A R I A N A
Dante’s grip on my arm was like iron, he held firmly like I was a criminal cut in the act.
He didn’t say a word.
He just pulled me through the park, away from Angelo who was still lying on the ground people were staring, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Dante, please,” I begged, trying to dig my heels into the grass. “Let go! You’re hurting me p>
He didn’t even look at me his face was a cold, the same face he had when he was beating Angelo, my heart pounded with fear.
Was he going to hurt me too? Was all that gentleness from before just a lie?
I was afraid of him, he had the look my father puts on whenever he was going to hit me, if anything much more worst.
I know I made a mistake, I should have ran away after he disagreed to sign the divorce papers, I should have never stayed back.
He dragged me to his car and practically threw me into the passenger seat and I scrambled trying to push open the door but it was locked.
I broke into new set of sobs terrified.
He got in the driver’s side and he sped off.
He drove so fast.
Too fast.
He swerved around other cars, running red lights, the tires screeched.
I gripped the door handle, my knuckles white. This was pure madness.
He was running mad and I was was scared we were going to crash and die but he didn’t seem to bother one bit.
“Dante, slow down!” I cried, my voice trembling. “Please! You’re going too fast! We’re going to get into an accident… please! Just listen to me and I’ll explain” I pleaded in between tears
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t even look at me.
His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping.
“Talk to me!” I pleaded. “Please! Say something! Yell at me! Just say something! It’s not what you thing I swear to you, there’s nothing going on between me and Angelo, I bumped into him after my meeting with my mum” I tried to explain but he was still silent.
The only sounds were the roar of the engine and the scream of the tires.
Tears streamed down my face.
I was more scared of his silence than I was of his anger, this cold, quiet rage was worse than anything.
I thought about jumping out of the car, but we were moving too fast, I was trapped.
Trapped in a metal box with a man who had just turned into a stranger yet again.
The car finally screeched to a halt in front of the Russo mansion.
My whole body was shaking.
I couldn’t move.
Dante got out, walked around the car, and yanked my door open, he unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled me out.
He didn’t drag me this time but his grip was still firm as he led me into the house.
He didn’t stop until we were in his bedroom he finally let go of my arm and closed the door behind us.
Then he turned to look at me his eyes were still dark with anger, but the coldness was gone and now there was just pain.
Dante stood there, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths.
“What did I say about fidelity?” he asked, his voice low and rough, it wasn’t a shout, but it was more frightening than any yell. “What did I say about remaining loyal to me p>
He took a step closer.
I flinched, but he didn’t touch me.
“Didn’t I warn you?” he continued, his eyes burning into mine. “Didn’t I tell you how possessive I am over what is mine? That I do not share my belongings with anyone? Especially not with my nephew? You two had a past but that ended the minute I put my name next to yours”
“Dante, it wasn’t—” I tried to explain, my voice shaking.
But he didn’t let me finish, he moved fast, pinning me against the wall, his hands were on either side of my head, caging me in.
“You are hurting me,” he said, and his voice cracked on the words, the raw pain in it shocked me. “You do not even know how much damage you are causing Ariana… I—” he paused mumbling cursed underneath his breath.
More tears filled my eyes as my stare burned into his, and for a split second I saw betryal and hurt.
But why?
Why didn’t hurt him this much when there was no feeling attached to our relationship.
Or was there?
“I don’t want Angelo!” I burst out, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I don’t! He tried to kiss me, and I was pushing him away when you saw us! I don’t want him! What Angelo and I had was in the past, what happened today was a mistake and I’m sorry”
Dante’s eyes searched mine, looking for the truth. “Then what do you want, Ariana?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper. “Tell me what do you want p>
I took a deep, shaky breath answering honestly.
“I want revenge,” I said, my voice growing stronger. “I want my father to pay for what he did to me I want to ruin him, just like he tried to ruin me, I want revenge on your nephew for hurting me, I want revenge on my best friend for betraying me… I want revenge on everyone that had ever belittled me and treated me as though I was trash..” I looked straight into his eyes. ” I could never, ever go back to a man like Angelo, not after what he did to me, I want it to be my mission to make him wish hell than living a second in this world”
I paused, gathering all my courage as my heart was hammering against my ribs.
“Even though you terrify me Dante Russo,” I whispered, “I feel safe with you and right now… you are the only one on my side. Even though you’re one of New York’s ruthless and dangerous man, you’ve been nothing like that to me and it makes me question you, who are you? Underneath the hard cold look you put up, who is the man buried deep down there”
The anger in his eyes finally faded, replaced by something softer, something deeper for a second before he quickly masked it off losing his grip on my waist.
He tried to pull back, but I stopped him mustering up enough courage, I stood on my toes, grabbed the front of his shirt, and pulled his lips down to mine.
I kissed him.