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I’m well versed, and I’m already shaking my head at such a solution.
“You will not hurt her. I mean it, Virgo. No harm must come to her.”
He stares back at me unblinking, then finally he nods. “Okay.”
I told her once that I’d die first before ever hurting her.
I meant it then and I mean it now that it truly matters.
Besides. I’ve already hurt her enough with my lies and my secrets.
There were many moments when I was with her when I felt like I had everything. I’d give anything to go back to that.
Even if it was another bittersweet lie I wanted to believe.
Chapter36
Serenity
“The moment you get back from New York I want to see you.” Dad uses the tone he reserves for me when he’s furious. Usually I care. Now I don’t.
“Sure Dad.” I summon as much nonchalance as possible to answer him. It’s an attempt to disguise my disgust with him.
“I can’t believe your incredible lack of judgment. What made you think you should even give that guy the time of day.”
He’s talking about Dante—of course.
Although the question is coming from my father who I can just about stand to hear at this moment, it’s a good one. I also can’t even be upset by his remark on my judgment. And I don’t know how to answer.
I’ve been numb since I spoke to Dante. That was roughly three hours ago, but the feeling hasn’t shifted from my soul, nor has the dark impending doom clinging to the air.
I press the phone to my ear and glance at Dante’s guard—the one he called Borya who looks like a water hog.
He’s standing by the window across from me in the same spot Dante was in earlier. I’m sitting on the window bay opposite him, feeling Alice-in-Wonderland small in comparison to his hulking presence. He’s the same height as Dante but has the type of muscle you’d see on an extreme body lifter.
He’s here to make sure I don’t say anything I shouldn’t. Or have anybrightideas of escaping. As if I could.
Of course despite the warning Dante issued earlier, I thought about it a million times, but I saw the million ways I would fail. I also wouldn’t want to do anything to accelerate my father’s death by pissing off the devil.
Twenty minutes ago Borya handed me my phone to start making my calls. As Dante didn’t come back and sent Borya I assumed he went out. Or maybe this is just how he treats his captives. I’m sure I’m not his first.
I called Jene-Rene’s secretary first and told her I’d come down with the flu so couldn’t join them in New York. She wasn’t too happy to hear that, so I can only imagine how Jean-Rene will be. I spoke to Miko next, who was just as furious as Dad is with me. But at least he calmed down when I told him I wasn’t seeing Dante anymore.
“Serenity, are you still there?” Dad’s voice rumbles in my ear like thunder in a tempest.
“Yes, Dad I’m here.”
“I am so damn mad at you.”
“I gathered that. Look I have to go.” This is so hard. I can’t do it. I can’t talk to him feeling like everything I’ve ever known is a lie and knowing that Dante wants to kill him.
“I’m not done with you yet. I personally think you should skip New York and we meet so we can talk properly. A lot has happened today with Matthew and I just need to see you. ”
No, no, no. Bad idea.We can’t do that at all. I had one hell of a task getting Miko to ease off and I assured him I was fine. I have to do the same with my father.
Instantly I go into panic mode, but then I realize I know exactly what to say to him.
“Dad, I’m not meeting you and I’m certainly not skipping New York. You have such great respect for Natalie’s work, but not mine. I’m at the stage where I no longer care and don’t care about Matthew. These things have happened because you keep trying to control my life and I keep taking orders like a dog because of my stupid love for you.” I’m surprised by how effortless the words pour out of me. “I need a break from everything. The media is going to have a field day with Matthew’s scandal and my name is going to get dragged into it. People have seen us together and knew we were possibly getting engaged. So please give me some space.”
