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“Ah, what a fabulous academy that is. I’ve danced in Milano many times. You’d love it.”
“Yeah, I guess it’s time to think about applying.”
“You’re not getting any younger and neither am I.” She said, and raised her boney shoulders. “Twenty-three years of age must be the beginning of life for some, but a ballerina? You should have been on stage for a few years by now.”
“I’m not twenty-three yet,Madame.” I remind her. “Do you think I have a chance at making up for the time I’ve lost? That is, if I apply and get it, of course.” Money and relations could only take you so far. After all, Academia Teatro Alla Scala was one of the world’s most famous ballet companies. Getting in would be no easy task.
“There aren’t many young dancers with your technique, my dear. Yes, I believe that all you need is to dance in front of the right people to make a name for yourself, so think about what you want to do next.”
“I will,Madame.”
“Ok, then. We’re done for the day. I have a dinner reservation that is waiting for me. You’re dismissed.”
“Thank you. I’ll go to the concert room and do a few more steps.”
The Palermo Ballet School had seventy-four ballerinas age four to twenty-five and twice a year we had charitable shows held in our own private concert hall. Sometimes, when no one else was around, like tonight, I liked to go there and dance up on the stage. Miss Rosa knew it was something I needed to do and she was encouraging every extra hour of practice.
“Go then.” She pushed me towards the door.
I found an abandoned tutu that wasn’t mine, but fit, to put over my black leotard and turned the lights on in the hall. I didn’t want to pick a classic song or some piano track, but instead went for Maneskin’sTorn A Casa, one of my favorites. The raspy voice of the singer started pouring from the speakers and my arms exploded with goosebumps. I could dance to anything, but this one had such a soft flow, allowing me to follow the notes with spins and jumps, feeling every second of the song.
I was so taken by the feeling of being up on a stage and so lost in my steps, I had no idea when the three minutes and forty-nine seconds passed. I also hadn’t noticed that I was being watched, not until I fell on the hard floor on my knees when the last measure of the melody ended and I heard the slow clap coming from the back of the room.
At first, I thought that maybe Miss Rosa had decided to stay and see what I was up to, but it took less than two seconds to spot the massive, dark silhouette that was looking at me from the shadows.Salvatore.
“Every time I see you dance, I’m mesmerized, Grazi.” He was wearing one of his dashing suits today, a navy-blue one, and he looked incredible in it. He must have had a meeting.
With my chest rapidly going up and down, I went to sit on the edge of the stage.
“What are you doing here?”
“Me?” He stepped into the light with a smile on his face, like he had no care in the world. “I came to see why my girl thinks it’s ok to run from me for over a week.”
“I’m not yours.”
Salvatore walked closer and placed his hands on my knees. “Grazi, don’t start.”
“I’m just speaking truth.”
“You’re speaking stupid things.” His lips found mine. It was so soft and familiar, I almost melted. He was pushing at my defenses again and I did nothing to stop him.
I was such a hypocrite, saying one thing and then falling at his feet, but my ties to him were so strong, I couldn’t fight them. When he was close, he had power over my stupid heart.
“I told you we need to stop sneaking around, Salvatore.”
“Right, so let’s stop.”
“You’re here. I’m trying to end it and you refuse to let go.”
Salvatore’s laughter echoed in between the walls of the empty room.
“I meant stop sneaking around, not stop being us. I’m just a man, I can’t stop destiny,Tesoro.”
“Now who’s talking stupid things?” Salvatore knew as well as I did that there was no other way. He was Adrian’s only heir, the prince of the Fiori mafia. When his father will be no more, it would fall on Salvatore to carry the grudge against my blood, just like it would be Giovani’s responsibility to hate the Fiori when he takes over forBabbo.
“Still you. How long have you been in the studio?”
“What time is it?”
