Screw you, Angelo.
I try to curb the embarrassment in my voice since my face alone shows enough of it. “I wasn’t planning on leaving the apartment tonight, so yes, I’m in my pajamas,” I say defensively.
“I knew you wouldn’t come, so I had to come and get you myself.” Without my consent, he barges his way into the apartment.
“Hey! You can’t just come in here!” I bark.
It’s no use, he’s already passed the threshold and is now inspecting every inch of the apartment.
I narrow my eyes and purse my lips as I kick the door shut and lean against it, folding my arms again.
“You have a lot of expensive stuff,” he notes, continuing to survey our tiny living room.
“You can thank Mr. and Mrs. Price for it.”
He releases one hand from his pocket to glide his fingertips across the breakfast bar.
“Oh, that’s right. Alice’s parents.” He turns to face me. “Couldn’t they have given her a better place to live?”
“She found this place herself. They were tossing out this furniture, so she took it.”
“I see.”
Once satisfied with all our little kitchen and living room has to offer, he meanders over to the bedroom doors and thumbs towards them. “Which one’s yours?” The mischievous grin returns.
“I’m not telling you. You’ll never see the inside of my bedroom.”
“You should change. You’re a little underdressed for the club,” he tells me.
“I’m not going. I told you that already.”
He rubs his chin with his fingertips.
“You wasted your time driving over here,” I continue.
In three strides, he stands before me and lowers himself to my level, leaving only an inch of air between us. I inhale a sharp breath. His scent imbues my nostrils, though it has little effect on me. My eyes widen as he stares at me the same way he does in my nightmares. Those deep ocean pools dominate my vision. My body quivers and my heartbeat increases upon realizing I’m trapped between him and the door with nowhere to run.
“You’re coming with me, even if I have to drag you there,” he purrs. “Either change your clothes and keep your dignity or don’t and you’ll go in your pajamas.”
I open my mouth to retaliate but soon close it again, clenching my jaw to stop my teeth from chattering. Other than the rise and fall of my chest, I remain perfectly still.
“All right,” he says, standing tall. “Have it your way.”
He clutches the top of my arm and drags me from the door like I’m a rag doll.
“Let me go!” I yell, mustering all my strength to free myself, only to find my efforts are futile.
He opens the front door and drags me through it.
“Okay, okay, I’ll change first,” I surrender as my feet slap against the cold linoleum floor.
He releases his grip, allowing me to twist back towards the door.
Finding myself defeated, I dawdle to my room. In defiance, I wear my red dress, giving him no satisfaction in seeing the other dresses he bought me. I refuse to wear makeup and only drag a brush through my hair. With my hands on my hips, I glare at him from my doorway.
While he examines my attire, a grin caresses his lips. “You look beautiful.”
I clench my jaw, preventing the rising smile from breaking free.
A strange mixture of apprehension and exhilaration saturates my body as I ease myself into the cool leather seat of Angelo’s Mustang. The first ride I endured was positively unnerving, hurtling at great speeds on heavy trafficked roads. Tonight, euphoria fills my senses.
All the ill feelings I’d managed to conjure towards Angelo have evaporated. Now, the hummingbird makes her appearance, along with the increasing grin on my lips the moment Angelo slips into the driver seat beside me.
He closes his door and darkness envelopes us, allowing me to sit and gleam in private. I’m not ready for him to discover my infatuation with him. Maybe I’m a fool for permitting my imagination to run wild, yet I can’t seem to stop the fantasies from filtering through my mind. My hand slipping into his. Our lips pressing together. His voice whispering “I love you” in my ear.
The engine roars to life, increasing the exhilaration that’s pulsating through my body. I’m surprised to discover I’m not afraid of his erratic driving this time. In fact, I find it thrilling to launch from every stop and see the oncoming traffic blitzing towards us. With every passing second, I allow myself to trust Angelo more and more.
A soft curve graces my lips as I glance towards him. The hummingbird flutters around her cage, eager to find a way out. My body quivers as I conjure up the courage to reach out and caress his hand that rests on the gearstick. But I stay my hand and admire the beauty of his silhouette as he keeps his focus on the road.
By the time we arrive at the club, I’ve managed to regain my composure and hide my dopey grin.
After killing the engine, Angelo turns to face me with a slight smile. With a tender hand, he reaches out to caress the side of my face, leaving behind a trail of warm tingles. The butterflies in my stomach flutter as I gaze into his sparkling ocean pools.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod. If I open my mouth, I fear I’ll squeal with excitement.
Without waiting for him to open my door, I exit the car. The cool air caresses my skin, making me shudder. My fingertips glide over the goosebumps on my arms as I embrace myself.
Once I join Angelo, he leads me to an emergency exit door. Darkness envelopes us once we’re inside the building. The only source of light is from the streetlamps seeping in through the small window, leaving a golden path for us to follow.
Only Angelo’s cologne laces the air, and other than the sound of our soft steps on the carpet, silence saturates the room.
Terrifying memories of the poker game seep into my mind, causing my steps to falter.
I have to wonder if Angelo and I have a telepathic connection as he reaches out a hand. His fingertips glide across my skin, leaving a trail of tingles. He laces our fingers together; his hand feels warm inside mine, offering me a sense of security.
I take a step closer to him and absorb the warmth radiating from his body. I raise my free hand to his arm and caress the smoothness of his suit jacket. Within the darkness, I permit my emerging grin to widen.
After a few more steps, he opens a door, allowing the loud music to flood into the room and saturate my ears.
“Where are we?” I ask before we cross the threshold.
He turns his face towards me, leaving an inch of air between us. “The office.”
“Why is it so quiet in here when we’re right next to the club?”
“I soundproofed the walls.”
Inside the club, it’s like the poker game nightmare never transpired.
With Angelo a step ahead of me, I’m able to survey the sights and sounds I’m accustomed to. The clouds of tobacco have long since dispersed, leaving the familiar scent of cologne to pervade the air. Even the atmosphere has returned to its usual euphoric state. The heavy flow of patrons dancing and enjoying the music fills the room to full capacity.
Despite acknowledging my safety, I remain close beside Angelo with my hand securely inside his.
Behind the line of sofas is a low wall, creating a corridor, where we’re plunged into darkness, hidden from everyone. I wish I could spend the rest of the night here, alone with him, instead of continuing towards the bar.
Once we reach our destination, his hand slips from mine to slide around my waist, drawing me close. A kaleidoscope of butterflies flutters around my stomach as I gaze up at his lean face, though his attention is on Clyde. However, this doesn’t expel the joy I feel as I nestle in close beside him, inhaling his fragrance and becoming drunk from it. My fingertips caress the softness of his suit jacket.
After Angelo says something incoherent to Clyde, he releases me from his embrace. “Can you wait here for one second?” he asks. “I need to
talk to Frankie.”
“Yes, of course,” I assure him.
The security he imbued in me earlier, remains as he and Frankie are only a few steps from me. They converse in Italian. Clearly, a private conversation for their ears only.
Tonight, Frankie has adorned himself in his usual attire of black trousers with a dark blue shirt. A gold chain gleams from around his neck instead of the constricting tie he wore a week ago.
As I watch the two brothers, a smile graces my lips. But it fades when the memory of guns trained at them trickles into my mind.
The angry shouts replace the music, forcing me to cover my ears. My heart races along with my shuddered breaths. The terrifying images cloud my better judgement as I lose my surroundings. Suddenly, I find myself back at the poker game, hiding behind the bar with Alice begging for us to escape.
I close my eyes and shrink within my dress, imploring the frightful images to disperse. A hand rests on my shoulder and I gasp in fear. I turn toward its owner, expecting to find a gun pointing at me.
“Eva, are you okay? You look a little pale,” Clyde remarks.
The frightful images dissolve.
“Yeah. I’m good,” I sigh.
While taking shallow breaths to slow my rapid heartbeat, my gaze travels the length of Clyde’s body to his strong, chiseled face. It’s unusual for us to have such close interactions. Ordinarily, there’s a bar between us. But on these rare occasions, I note how tall he actually is.
There’s only a sliver of difference in height between him and Angelo. I have to crane my head as he lowers his.
Tonight, as he looks at me, I notice something different dwelling within his warm, honey-brown eyes. With a gentle hand, he caresses the side of my face, leaving behind a soft tingle. My hand flutters up to cup my cheek, while I offer Clyde an innocent smile.
“I’m glad to see you back here,” he says.
“Angelo convinced me to come back,” I tell him.
The smile on his lips widens as his eyes glimmer.
I shuffle my feet and chew on my lip.
This goes beyond his casual flirting. How do I let him down gently?
“What happened the other day normally doesn’t happen. As a rule, their games are friendly enough. You shouldn’t let it bother you,” he mumbles, lowering his eyes from mine.
How am I supposed to respond to that?
Instead of answering him, my hands join in front of me, and I scan the room for nothing in particular.
“I should get back to work,” he says.
In the second it takes to turn back to him, he’s once again behind the bar, flirting with another girl.
“Hey, Eva,” Frankie says.
I turn to greet him. Both he and Angelo have closed the gap between us. Their private conversation is over, for now.
“Hi, Frankie,” I greet him.
“You singing tonight?”
“No. I’m just here with Angelo,” I say.
A glimmer forms in Angelo’s eyes as Frankie tries to contain his emerging grin.
Is this a private joke between them?
I examine the pair, yet find no clues behind their secrecy.
“But you will sing for us again, won’t you?” Frankie prods.
“Yes, on my next shift,” I promise.
A wide smile appears, accentuating his scar. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all night.”
I feel heat rise to my cheeks, causing both men to chuckle.
To my relief, they return to their conversation, liberating me from further embarrassment. I’ve never been comfortable with compliments, and that’s not about to change anytime soon.
A new couple enters the club, commandeering my attention. Though they hide their faces, their demeanor speaks to me, reminding me of a couple I’ve met before.
The lanky man wears jeans and a black hoodie. The short woman draped over his arm wears a long black skirt with a gray tank top. I have to wonder how they got past the bouncers dressed like that.
They have their backs to me, but I notice she wears her dark hair cut into a short, spiky bob. He wears his hair cut close to his scalp.
As my curiosity intensifies, my feet lead me a little closer to the unique couple. The man turns to face me and my blood freezes. His long gaunt face, his crooked nose, his jutted-out chin.
I know him.
My sight obscures as a fresh coat of tears glaze over my eyes. My hand grasps onto my chest, clenching the fabric in a tight fist, while my haggard breathing intensifies. I maintain my fearful stare on the couple and slide my feet back until I hit something hard.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Angelo asks in annoyance.
I spin on my heel towards him and open my mouth to speak, yet cannot convince my voice to emerge.
His face softens as his hands find my shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
I glance over my shoulder to the couple who have edged closer. I propel forward into Angelo once again.
“Who’s that?” he asks, dropping his hands from my shoulders to wrap around my waist.
Somehow, my voice materializes, though it quivers like the rest of my body. “A couple I hoped I’d never see again.”
“Want me to get rid of them?”
Before I can answer, they turn to expose their features. I take deep breaths, convincing my body to relax. “It’s…it’s not them,” I say as I turn away from them to rest my head against Angelo’s chest.
“Still, look how they’re dressed. I don’t want them in here. Frankie, go deal with them,” he says.
Once Frankie leaves, the rest of my energy depletes and my body sways. Angelo tightens his arms as he cradles me.
“Want to tell me who you thought they were?” he asks.
“No,” I say. He can never know how broken I am.
“Want to sit down?”
“Yes, please.”
I remain nestled in his arms as he leads me to his usual table. Only then does he release me long enough for us to slide onto the sofa.
After sealing the gap between us, he slides his arm around my shoulders to envelope me. A warmth radiates through my body as I relax. I know he will protect me.
“Want a drink?” he asks, shifting in his seat.
I reach out to clasp his arm. “Wait. Please don’t go. Not yet.”
“They really shook you up, didn’t they?”
I refuse to answer but keep my fearful stare trained on him.
He draws me in tighter, wrapping his other arm around me like a protective shield. I rest my head against his chest and listen to his rhythmic heartbeat.
Alice has said time and again that Angelo doesn’t care about women’s feelings, yet it’s obvious that he cares about mine right now.
“Pretty good band, don’t you think?” he asks.
I lift my head to acknowledge the band. Since we arrived, they were nothing more than a din in the background. They play classic rock, and they are good.
“Are they new?” I wonder.
“I asked them to come in tonight for a trial run. Think I should hire them to replace you?”
I jolt up and stare at him.
He laughs, guiding my head back down to rest on his shoulder and slowly dragging his fingertips through my hair. “I can’t replace you. The crowd would kill me.”
As I nestle back into his embrace, I slip an arm around his back; the other slides across his front until my hands meet and my fingers interlock. The combination of the soft caresses of his fingertips through my hair and his warmth make me drowsy. My eyes flutter closed as I inhale his scent.
In another world, in another life, maybe I could live in this moment forever. If he allowed it.
He shifts in his seat, retracting his arm from behind my back. I sit up, expecting him to leave for the refreshments he offered earlier. To my surprise, he seeks for my hand.
“Come,” he says, slipping his hand in mine and lacing our fingers together.
I allow him to escort me
from the sofa, into the sea of people. He leads me to the middle of the dance floor. Our hands remain interlocked as he brings them level to my shoulder, his other hand slips around my waist, to the small of my back, while I rest my free hand on his shoulder. Even though the music isn’t for slow dancing, he turns us in a small circle.
He lowers his face to meet mine, our noses almost touching, capturing me within his gaze. The room falls silent as everyone in it disappears.
I can’t tell who seals the gap between us, him or me. The hummingbird beats her wings and my breath shudders as he slides his nose along the side of mine, heightening my desires. I close my eyes and part my lips and await his kiss.
His hot breath caresses my cheek a moment before his lips graze my ear. “I’m glad you came tonight,” he breathes.
Heat stains my cheeks, while my eyes spring open. How foolish of me to presume he would kiss me. Thankfully, my glowing face hides in the shadows.
His hot breath flows down my neck. “You’re the most beautiful girl here.”
“Thanks,” I mumble.
I doubt a piece of paper could squeeze between us, yet he tightens his arm around my waist, drawing me closer still. If it wasn’t for his suit jacket, I imagine I would feel every muscle in his torso.
I didn’t think it was possible to become ever more smitten with him. Yet here I stand, falling further for him. I rest my cheek against his shoulder and allow his presence to devour me.
A warmth flows down my neck, awakening my senses. My eyes flutter closed, as I tilt my head.
His tender lips travel the length of my neck and back up to caress the soft skin of my ear.
“You like that?” he asks.
My body quivers involuntarily.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
As my hands fall limp by my sides, I silently implore him to work his kisses to my lips.
To my dismay, it never transpires.
Instead, the heat that envelopes me disperses. I open my eyes and discover his absence and I plummet back to reality. The music drones in my ears as the crowd swallows me whole, leaving icy tendrils to wrap around my spine and slither throughout my body. I sense everyone around me staring at me, mocking me.
“Look at the silly girl who thought she had a chance with Angelo,” I hear them say. Yet, every time I turn to confront the tormentors, they avert their gaze, intensifying my humiliation.
Twisted City: (Twisted City Book 1) Page 10