A warmth radiates throughout my body as I allow the world around me to fade.
Is he as attracted to me as I am to him?
Alice clears her throat, breaking the trance. I abandon Angelo and focus on the empty wine glass in front of me. My hands slide under the table to comfort one another.
In the center of the table sits an unlit bronze oil lamp with a basket of breadsticks resting beside it. Alice retrieves a breadstick, breaks it and offers me one half. Other than the sound of the gentle accordion music mingled with a low din of conversation, the room remains silent until Alice and I begin munching.
“I bring you some wine,” the lady says before walking away.
“She’s our second mother,” Frankie explains as he sits in the remaining chair. “She was our mother’s best friend and took over caring for us after Mama passed.”
They’re brothers? Which one is older? Though Frankie has a larger physique, this doesn’t automatically mean that he’s the older brother.
As I scrutinize their features, their resemblances emerge. Both have the same ocean-blue eyes. However, Frankie’s eyes lack the hypnotizing effect of Angelo’s. Their noses are shaped similarly. How did I miss all this?
They smile at their “mother” as she returns with a bottle of red wine, allowing more similarities to surface. The shape of their lips, the small crease at the corner of their mouths and the crinkle in the corners of their eyes as they smile. Even the way their hands move as they speak. Had I paid closer attention, I would have noticed all this sooner.
Angelo converses with their adopted mother in Italian. It takes a few moments to realize he is ordering our meals. Frankie pours the wine.
I haven’t mentioned my aversion to alcohol. However, it is impolite to refuse the wine. Back at the club, Alice finished my glass of champagne when no one was looking. After taking a complimentary sip, I leave the glass close enough for her to reach.
We continue to converse about the running of the club and entertainment while waiting for our meal to arrive. Other than myself, two other girls will sing tonight, though Angelo and Frankie continue debating which hour I will perform.
Angelo’s eyes glimmer whenever they travel my way. One corner of his mouth hitches up, inviting a kaleidoscope of butterflies to flutter in my stomach.
“I need to visit the ladies’ room,” Alice announces. “Eva, will you join me?”
Everyone knows girls typically accompany one another to the bathroom. But Alice and I never do, so why does she want me to go with her now?
After excusing myself from the table, I follow her and find her leaning back against the single sink. She grips the edge of it and glares at me.
“What the hell are you doing?” she barks the moment the door closes behind me.
I blink a few times, stunned by her sudden confrontation, and arch one eyebrow.
“Standing in a bathroom with you?” I say, confused.
“Don’t play coy with me. You’re flirting with him. Fluttering your eyes, playing with your hair, laughing at every lame joke.” She scoffs. “You promised me you wouldn’t get involved with him.”
“I’m not. I’m just trying to impress my new boss.” I chew on my lip and stare at my feet. My fingers intertwine with one another. She knows I’m totally enamored with him.
Her voice softens. “You impressed him with your voice. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you, and his chin practically fell to the floor the moment you opened your mouth to sing.”
I look at her through my lashes. “Really?”
“I think he likes you as much as you like him, and that terrifies me.” She pushes herself away from the sink and encloses me in her arms. “Babe, he’s a dangerous man. You can’t trust him.”
My shoulders rise and fall with a heavy sigh. I wrap my arms around her and rest my cheek on her shoulder.
“You’re right,” I concede. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Maybe it’s the lack of affection for so many years. Now I’ll take it from any man who offers it.”
“I warned you he’s a charmer. Don’t lay all the blame on yourself.”
I nod, determined to keep my distance or keep it platonic. But I can’t guarantee it when I’m locked in his gaze. He could command me to do anything, and I fear I would obey.
She whispers, “We better get back to the table.”
Though I agree, we remain in our embrace for a few moments before leaving the bathroom.
The club opens at eight o’clock, and we arrive half an hour later. A line of people waiting to enter stretches far along the side of the building. The cheer and screams are deafening once we exit the taxi. Angelo smiles and waves as they call over to him.
I turn my confounded expression towards Alice. “Are we at a rock concert or something? This is crazy how they’re going wild over him.”
She shrugs. “Angelo’s famous. What else can I say?”
Angelo slips his hand inside mine and laces our fingers together. One corner of my mouth curves, while my gaze travels the length of his lean body to his face. Though he keeps his focus ahead of him, I can’t stop the awakening urges and desires I have for him.
So much for Alice’s pep talk in the ladies’ room.
I watch my clumsy feet and beg them to maintain their balance while Angelo skillfully guides us through the dense crowd towards the front doors.
Two large bouncers with bald heads, dressed in black suits, hold the doors open. “Evening, boss.”
“Johnny. Carl,” Angelo greets them.
Once we’re inside, he leans close. His lips caress my earlobe, making my head spin. “They seem like pussy cats, don’t they? But believe me, you don’t want to get on their bad side.”
“Hi, Angelo,” two blonde twins giggle from the kiosk. They twirl their hair around their fingers and bat their lashes.
“Evening, ladies,” he replies, but doesn’t disclose their information.
The club is alive with people of all varieties. I can’t imagine squeezing more people in here. Nevertheless, more and more file in. The crowd parts, allowing safe passage for us to approach the bar.
Two companions accompany Chad, the angry barman: another man, and a woman. Even though all three wear the same uniform, their appearances are unique. The petite woman, with her already pale complexion, appears almost transparent under her mop of black hair and black painted features. She seems friendly as she converses with patrons, especially next to her scowling associate. The other man towers over Chad. He is rather attractive, wearing his chestnut hair in a crew cut and wears a smile on his lean, clean-shaven face. He flirts with all the girls approaching the bar, while Chad watches with envious eyes.
Keeping our hands joined, Angelo leans across the bar to converse with the handsome barman. “Keep the drinks coming,” he yells over the music before guiding us back into the sea of people.
A variety of people inhabit the dance floor. Some dance while others stand to marvel at the music. It appears all eyes follow Angelo as we weave our way through the crowd.
His hand slips from mine as the first man approaches to greet Angelo. He pauses every so often to converse with others, mostly men, while women stand back ogling him. They flutter their lashes, pout their lips, and accentuate their bust as they try to entice him.
“Are they for real?” I ask Alice.
She surveys the room to witness their astonishing behavior. She wears the same perplexed expression as mine.
“I’m afraid they are,” she says. “All this time, I thought Angelo was the one fishing. Seems like these girls throw themselves at him. Disgusting, wouldn’t you say?”
“He doesn’t seem interested in them, does he?”
“Why would he? He has you tonight.”
I glower at her, making her laugh. “Not funny, Alice.”
Angelo leads us to a table closest to the stage with a black rope latched from the end of the sofa to the end corner of the table. A sign ha
ngs over it, with RESERVED written in thick black letters. Frankie removes the rope, allowing us to sit.
Alice slides in first, curving around the sofa as she did earlier.
As I begin to slide in beside her, Angelo clutches my hand. “Sit with me,” his smooth voice purrs into my ear.
My knees buckle.
He slides onto the sofa, pulling me down with him. His fingertips tiptoe along my back to rest on my hip, drawing me close beside him.
I ignore the glare Alice penetrates at me (or possibly Angelo) and rest my cheek against his shoulder, becoming drunk from his intoxicating fragrance.
The butterflies return the moment he turns his face towards mine. As I lift my head, he leans closer, allowing the tips of our noses to kiss. I gaze through my lashes, straight into his ocean-blue pools, and become lost to the world. He glides his nose down the length of mine and along my cheek, leaving behind a trail of warm tingles.
His lips brush against my ear, caressing the softness of my skin while his hot breath flows down my neck. “Frankie will introduce you soon. Are you going to sing that song for me again?” he murmurs.
My heart flutters around my chest like a hummingbird. My breath becomes heavy, making me dizzy, and my eyes flutter closed as I lose myself in this moment. I don’t care anymore that I’ve become part of the majority, one of the long list of women who have fallen victim to Angelo’s charms.
All too soon, I hear my name, liberating me from captivity. My eyes snap open as I lean away from Angelo. I search for Frankie, to find him standing on the stage, offering his hand to me.
Before departing, I turn to face Angelo, who gazes at me with sensual eyes. The hummingbird in my chest beats her wings harder, desperately seeking a way out. I avert my gaze before I accept the invitation to fall into his arms and kiss him in front of Alice.
The guests create a path for me towards the stage. My body quivers, my breath becomes ragged, and my heart pounds against my chest, but no longer from Angelo’s advances. Now I have a crowd of strangers to entertain, a far more terrifying prospect than singing for only Angelo.
With slow, deliberate steps, I shuffle towards the stage, while clenching my fists and jaw in a feeble attempt to gain control over my tremors.
Once I reach the stairs, I grasp onto the rail and count to five, allowing myself some time to calm my fears.
It doesn’t help.
Once I reach the top of the stairs, the quiver in my body intensifies.
Frankie waits beside the microphone, watching me. A pleasant smile laces his lips, though I can’t convince myself to reciprocate it.
Sweat forms in my palms, however, I withhold the temptation to wipe them on my dress this time. Instead, I massage my palms together, allowing my skin to absorb the excess moisture.
All too soon, I am beside Frankie. I continue focusing on my breathing to calm my jittery nerves. He gives me a wink before exiting the stage.
The spotlight’s glare shrouds me, creating a screen to conceal everyone except the table I recently vacated.
With my white-knuckled grip on the microphone, I sweep the room until I find Alice. She has tucked herself in the sofa’s corner beside Angelo. She doesn’t seem angry anymore. In fact, she is smiling, giggling, cheering me on with silent gestures. She holds my gaze as I sing, transmitting her strength to help me through the hour.
Alice is on her feet with open arms and a wide smile. “You were amazing!” she cries, enveloping me within her embrace.
My heart continues to pound against my chest from the fear and exhilaration of my performance. As she closes the gap between us, I feel her heart beating to the same rhythm as mine. I rest my chin on her shoulder and stare into Angelo’s shining eyes.
He remains seated with one hand stretched along the back of the sofa, the other hand swirling a tumbler of whiskey. One corner of his mouth curves as he continues to watch me, inviting the hummingbird to return.
Alice releases me, only to have her smile fade when Angelo takes her place. He slides one hand around my back, closing the gap between us.
“You were great up there. A natural,” he says, his lips caressing my ear.
“Thank you,” I say in a meek voice.
“Why don’t you ladies stay for the rest of the night?” he asks.
Part of me wants to stay. However, my sensible side knows we need to leave. I’ve already landed myself in enough hot water, the moment I sat beside Angelo.
“Actually, I’m a little tired from all this excitement,” I lie. “Maybe next time?”
“I’ll be here.” He continues to hold me a little longer, maybe hoping I’ll change my mind.
Alice remains silent for the duration of our taxi ride home. I know she’s seething with anger and waiting for the privacy of our apartment before she erupts.
Even as we climb the stairs, no sound escapes her lips. The child-like feeling returns as I wait with trepidation for my newest lecture.
“I can’t believe you,” Alice begins the moment the front door clicks shut.
With my hands behind my back, I lean against the door and realize the predicament I’ve placed myself in.
Once again, I find myself frozen in place as Alice continues to berate me.
“You promised not to get involved with him. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? You let him play you.” She paces around in a tight circle. “God, I thought you were ready to screw him right there in front of me!”
Well, that’s exaggerating a little. I’ll admit, I was ready to kiss him if he made the advance, but that was all.
While avoiding her eyes, I keep my thoughts hidden and chew on the inside of my cheek.
She halts in front of me, forcing me to stare into her sea-green eyes and finally free my tingling hands.
“And you sang your song to him, Eva,” she continues. “You were trying to seduce him as much as he was trying to seduce you. Oh, just so you know, he was successful!”
I wish I could say that I’m sorry, that I was playing along to get the job. But the truth is, he did play me. He did seduce me. Worst of all, I loved every minute of it.
His eyes, those ocean-blue pools, penetrate my own, hypnotizing me, dominating my view. I try to avert my gaze and search for Alice, but I’m frozen in place.
His voice, smooth and enticing, commands me to move and I obey.
Where is he leading me?
I can smell the ocean and feel the cool breeze on my skin. As I glide my hands across my body, the cool silk of the blue dress kisses my palms and fingertips. The coarse ground cuts into my naked feet.
Where did my shoes go? Did I leave them back at the apartment? I can’t even remember leaving my apartment or meeting Angelo.
“Walk to the edge,” Angelo commands. “Go on, walk to the edge.”
As he steps out of my view, releasing me from captivity, my anxious eyes dart around us to survey the surroundings. At the water’s edge, boats bob over waves that grow stronger, crashing against the wall and soaking the ground. The fierce sky looms overhead with threatening gray clouds. A few buildings kiss the skyline, too far for anyone to capture a glimpse of us. We are completely alone.
Icy tendrils slither around my spine, curling their frozen fingers around my body. My breath shudders along with my limbs.
Alice was right, Angelo is planning to kill me and dump my body in the ocean like all the other women.
Though the mesmerizing effects clear from my mind, my insubordinate feet walk to the edge.
I peer into the murky blue water that is dressed with whitecaps. A wave crashes against the wall, soaking me.
It’s freezing!
I inhale a hard gasp of air as I throw my arms around myself in a failed attempt to warm my body.
Why can’t I step back away from the edge? What’s wrong with me?
I’m aware of Angelo’s presence close behind me, even before his warm breath caresses the cold skin of my neck.
He laughs mercilessly, frig
htening me.
“Jump in,” he commands in his smooth voice.
I try to protest. I turn away from the edge and open my mouth to plead with him, beg him to let me go home. Nevertheless, my body refuses to obey my desires, but continues to shiver, while I stare into the water.
“Eva,” he whispers seductively in my ear. “Jump in.”
My shoulders shudder with my sobs. My teeth chatter from the cold and fear that saturates my body. My knees buckle, making me topple. I let out a panicked scream as I regain my balance. Once I’m firmly on my feet again, I’m incapable of imprisoning my sobs or stopping the violent trembling of my entire body.
My defiance enrages him. “Eva. Jump!”
The icy water stings my body with a thousand needle pricks. My subconscious reaction forces me to gasp, sucking in the water, freezing my lungs. As I cough, water gushes into my nostrils, shooting pain through my sinuses. I thrash around in the water, desperate to reach the surface. But as my limbs freeze, they refuse to cooperate and soon cease all movement.
I’m trapped under the water, drowning.
I lunge forward, coughing violently as tears streak my cheeks. My heart pounds against my chest while my ragged breathing intensifies and my entire body trembles.
It takes a long moment before I realize where I am: safe in my bed.
I tug the blanket up around me like a protective shield and lie back down, letting my eyes slide closed.
In an instant, those intense ocean-blue eyes commandeer my dreams again, forcing my eyes to spring open. I inhale a sharp, fearful breath.
I can’t sleep. I can’t go back to that place.
Stay awake, Eva, stay awake! I implore myself.
As I lay there peering out into the darkness, two lead weights attach themselves to my eyelids. Soon, I exert all my energy to keep them open, only to succumb to their desires and allow them to sleep.
The moment Angelo invades my mind, I bolt upright. With the heels of my hands, I rub at my eyes to shed the excess weight. But even as I sit, my heavy lids form little slits, inviting Angelo to haunt me still.
Twisted City: (Twisted City Book 1) Page 4