AllFreeNovel
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“Ten past seven.”
“Going on six hours.”
He leaned in and kissed my forehead. “My diligent girl. Your feet must be sore.” He knew my struggle. More than once I went home after endless hours of practice and cried in his arms because of the pain screaming in my joints.
Salvatore fell on one knee and took off my dancing shoes, and used his handkerchief to wipe away the few drops of blood on my toes.
“You know, Grazi, if I wouldn’t know how much you love to dance, this would make me really mad. I can’t stand to see you hurt, not even when you’re doing it to yourself.”
“It’s a small price…”
“…price for perfection.” He finished the motto I’ve learned from my first ballet instructor. “I know.” His hands started to stroke my feet and calves slowly, releasing the tension that accumulated during the day. There was no pain he couldn’t make better.
“Salvatore, you don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do. You’re mine to take care of.”
“I’m not…”
“Stop it, Grazi. I’m not in the mood today.”
“Something bothering you?”
“Yes.” He never pealed his eyes away from where his hands were massaging me. “You're bothering me. You stopped answering your phone.”
“I was busy, I told you so.”
“Don’t take me for a fool. You always answer when I call, just like I always make time for you.” That was redundant. I was never the one to call him. “You tried to hide this week. It irritates me.”
“Salvatore, we had this talk before.”
“And I’ve told you over and over again that you’re mine and nothing would change that. Why do you keep fighting me?”
“We’re being careless and stupid, and we’re going to get burned. I’d rather stop before that happens.”
“Don’t you trust me to protect you?”
“I’m not scared for me, Salvatore!” I unintentionally raised my voice. It was true, the fear was not for my own person.Babbowould not hurtme.
“But?” He chuckled.
“I don’t want to put you in a position where… there’s too much bad blood. We can’t fight it.”
“Let me worry about that.”
“Why?” I slapped his chest. “Because I’m a woman? You and my brothers all think the same thing, that I don’t have your brilliant minds for decision-making. Testosterone-filled idiots. You know what, it’s you men who started this stupid feud between our families.”
“Easy, my lioness. No need to get your claws out. I was just saying that you don’t need to worry. I can carry it for both of us. Not because you’re a woman, Grazi. I know how fucking strong and hard-headed you are, trust me. I’ll do this just because I can, so there’s no need for you to lose sleep over it.”
“Whatever. You’re a jackass.”
“Watch that mouth. I’m here trying to be nice after you ignored me.” Yes, he was, but nice wasn’t something we did.
“Well, Salvatore, you can take that nice and stick it right up your ass.”
“Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”
I leaned in and grabbed his jaw with one hand.
