There was fire in her.Strength.And something else I can’t quite name, something that’s got my blood running hot and the beast inside me clawing at its cage.
What is it about this slip of a girl that held me like this?Why couldn’t I look away?
Of course she was stunning, those green eyes, vibrant and sharp, her heart-shaped face framed by a cascade of auburn hair that caught the light like fire.Her skin, pale and impossibly smooth, made her look almost surreal.And her body?A masterpiece, like the gods had carved her solely to test the resolve of mortal men.
I’ve had my share of beautiful women—more than my fair share, if I’m being honest.They come willingly, eagerly, throwing themselves at my feet like offerings to a king.Perks of being one of the most powerful men in the state.They flutter and fawn, desperate to catch my eye, hoping they’ll hold it long enough to become Mrs.Santaluccia.
Not her, though.Why?What is she hiding?
I push the thoughts of her aside and step out of the room, blending into the glittering chaos of the ballroom.As always, eyes turn.People move toward me, eager to be seen, eager to be acknowledged.Businessmen crowd in with fake smiles and firm handshakes, angling for deals.Women drift closer, all perfume and promise, hoping to catch my eye.
I brush past them all.Nothing they have to offer interests me in the slightest.
Why is it that surrounded by laughter, light and the buzz of admiration, I’ve never felt this kind of emptiness before?
Chapter Five
Lily
On Monday at work, I’m distracted, my mind circling back to what happened that fateful night.
If Penelope, my boss, notices, she doesn’t comment.Neither does she object that I took on Mira’s appointments, spreading them out to fill my days way over the allocated hours I was supposed to work.But she knows how much I need the money, so she merely asks me to let her know if it becomes too much.She could take some of the load off, and I am grateful for her looking out for us employees.
I have been a vet at the clinic for three years now after graduating and obtaining my veterinary degree.Even though I love my colleagues at the clinic and the patients we have, my dream is to open my very own clinic.I know I will one day.I only need patience and money.
Oh, and I just need to stay alive, too.
Easy-peasy, right?
I gently pet Libby, the adorable golden retriever puppy the Dubois family brought in for her first check-up and vaccinations.Her soft fur feels like a comforting embrace as she gazes up at me with those innocent puppy eyes.Once we’re finished, I turn to the little six-year-old girl standing beside me, her wide eyes fixed on me with a mix of anticipation and excitement.
“All clear.Libby is the healthiest puppy in town.What a brave little lady she is.You’re so lucky to have her, you know?And I’m sure she’s equally as lucky to have you looking after her.”
The little girl beams up at me, her toothless grin lighting up the room like a burst of sunshine.
“She sure is!”she replies with all the sincerity only a child could muster.“I take really good care of her.I take her for walks all the time, and we play together.”Then, she leans in close, her voice dropping to a secretive whisper, “And sometimes…I share my food with her.”
I can’t help but laugh, and her parents smile sheepishly in the background.
“That’s sweet, honey, but don’t give her too much, all right?Human food isn’t always good for dogs.And especially, never give her chocolate.It’s very bad for her.”
Lauren nods solemnly, her eyes wide with understanding.“Never,” she promises, her tiny voice serious beyond her years.
Once they’ve left, I lock up the clinic.The last of the staff has already trickled out for the weekend.
I sit in my car for a few moments before starting the engine, the silence enveloping me like a blanket.I need this time, only a few seconds, to gather my thoughts.It has been an exhausting week.I’ve nearly doubled my hours, and my body is protesting with every ache and fatigue that lingers.
I should call Mira, check in on her and her grandmother.We’ve exchanged a few texts, but nothing substantial has changed.Still, I put it off.Let tomorrow be the day.The mental exhaustion wins out, my mind too tired to fight it.
When I get home, I shower quickly, then collapse into bed, the weight of exhaustion pulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep.The world fades away, swallowed by blissful unconsciousness, until the sun forces its way through my blinds the next morning.
* * * *
The busy week was a blessing since it kept my mind off the head of the mafia,Il Demonio.
However, on this lazy Saturday morning, as I sit at the breakfast table, my thoughts inevitably wander back to him.In the light of day, he doesn’t seem so terrifying anymore.The dark, haunting memories of him begin to fade into a dull gray, softened by a week of work and distractions.
But I will not delude myself.I know better.The man is danger personified.Fear and awe hang heavy in the air when he is discussed, as if the mere mention of his name is enough to make him appear.
