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If they’d been generous enough, or given us a little cash or a job to help us get back on our feet. Perhaps, she wouldn’t have been dead.
"Perhaps that's the key, Jasmine" he says, his voice earnest. "Maybe we have to embrace both the beauty and the darkness in order to truly understand ourselves and each other. Without the darkness, we’d never recognize the good."
"Maybe," I agree, allowing myself a small smile. The weight of his words seem to seep through my bones, as I realize the wisdom in them. To recognize evil, one must know good. To recognize good, one must know evil. Otherwise, there would exist a bliss of nothing.
"You're someone who's seen the ugliest truths of what it is to be human and still chooses to fight for what's right. That's rare," Dario says quietly, his eyes searching mine for something I can't quite identify.
"Thank you" I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest. My internal conflict intensifies as I fall deeper into the rabbit hole of emotions with Dario, the very embodiment of the world I've spent years fighting against.
But despite my reservations, I can't seem to pull away. Maybe it's fate, or maybe it's simply a cruel twist of irony, but either way, I find myself drawn to this man like a moth to a flame.
Maybe this is my lesson to understand that not everyone in a group is of the same nature. Even within the criminal world, there is honor and goodness.
And as we sit there on the rooftop garden, surrounded by the tranquility of nature, our lives intertwined by secrets and pain, I can't help but wonder if this is the beginning of something beautiful... or the start of an inevitable disaster.
As the warmth of Dario's hand finds mine, his touch sends a jolt of electricity through my veins, and I can't help but marvel at how natural it feels to be this close to him.
Our eyes meet, and it seems as though time stands still, the city below fading into a distant murmur.
His other hand reaches up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips lingering on my cheek. The gesture is so tender that it catches me off guard, my breath hitching in my throat. He leans in closer, our faces just inches apart.
"Whenever I'm with you," he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin, "it feels like home. Like this is right. The two of us, spending time, saving the world, together.”
He laughs lightly. “I’m serious, though. Discussing all this with you; you ground me.”
"Me too," I confess, unable to suppress the shiver that runs down my spine. It's as if he's put words to the very thoughts that have been haunting me since we first met – the magnetic pull that draws me to him, despite the danger that surrounds us.
"Life doesn't give us many chances like this, Jasmine," he continues, his voice barely audible over the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hum of traffic. "Whatever happens next, just know that of all the things fate has thrown my way, this is one I’ll always cherish."
His words make my heart soar. Any words coming out of my mouth at this moment would feel shallow. My silence, I think, speaks for itself and Dario leans closer, his lips grazing mine, sending my pulse racing like a jackhammer.
I feel a shiver go down between my thighs and part my lips, my arms reaching over to hold Dario close when his phone rings.
With glazed eyes, we part, our breaths deep and short. I notice him staring at my eyes, forgetting about that darned phone, questioning why we parted in the first place when it rings again.
The moment is shattered by another shrill ring of Dario's phone, jolting us back to reality. His eyes darken with frustration as he pulls away from me, digging the device out of his pocket.
"Marco," he growls into the receiver, his voice tense. "This better be important."
Chapter 16
Flames Of Trust
Dario
My fingers still trace circles on Jasmine's hand as I listen to what Marco has to say. "The fight club tonight, boss. I can't make it. Your father has given me some debts to collect tonight so my seat is empty."
The frown wipes off my face. I completely forgot what I had planned for tonight.
"That's fine, Marco," I say. "I'll take someone else."
"Jasmine," I say, turning to face her once I cast my phone aside. "I have something planned for tonight. Something...different. An underground fight club. It'll be a chance for us to let loose and forget about everything else for a while. What do you say?"
Her eyes light up with excitement as she responds, "Dario, isn't that dangerous?"
"Extremely," I give her a devilish grin. "It's as illegal as racing. But this time, we're spectators. All we can lose is some of our money. You in?"
"Oh hell yeah," she grins, at the promise of witnessing something as exciting as the races we participate in. "I'm in."
