FRANCE, PARIS
FIVE YEARS LATER
“So what Helena, are you coming for Vivianna’s wedding or not. Your sister needs you here” my mother droned on me, just after I was done with my performance at a fundraiser in paris where I had been living since I signed those divorce papers.
“I’ll think about it mama” I did not want to attend, neither did I plan on attending but I knew my mother’s guilt tripping skills were going to come into play very soon.
“No Helena, there’s nothing to think about. You take the next flight down here, Vivianna is getting married and the best part, she’s marrying for love and not as a shady deal for your father’s business, how can you miss that?”
I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me, I was walking down the street still mostly dressed in my ballet attire but I had switched out the shoes for a more comfortable converse shoes.
“Rub it in my face mama”
“Oh come on Helena, everybody misses you. This is your home, you can’t run away from home forever, I thought you’ll be done with this dance thing by now and besides I found someone for you”
“Oh mama – ”
She didn’t let me speak “He’s real nice and you’re going to like him” she said in an endearing tone that had me thinking, I haven’t been with a man since Dante divorced, I had lived since then pouring my all into ballet and scared to give out my heart to anyone maybe. I had totally sworn off men and I had no desire to ever be in love but of course I was going to indulge my mother
“Who is he mama?” I said and she gave an excited squeal
“He’s Vivianna’s husband good friend and they’re real sophisticated good men, you’ll like him I promise and also no one is going to mention your divorce”
I rolled my eyes again “I don’t care about that mama, and besides, who’s Vivianna’s husband?”
There was silence from her end and I wondered if she had gotten distracted or maybe by Vivianna’s whining that she didn’t like her wedding dress, but her voice sounded back in my ears with a sigh “Well, you’ll see him when you come around”
I gave a tentative pause, her voice sounded final and there would be no point to push further “Fine mama, I’ll be there – but I’m not staying and I’ll leave immediately after the wedding, I have series of performances lined up for the summer”
Another pause before her breathy voice “Fine Helena, just come home”
***
“Paulo D’angelo? Really Vivianna, that’s who you’re marrying? Dante’s cousin?” I threw my sister an unbelievable look when I found out the real nice guy she’s marrying for love was my ex husband’s cousin whom I have not seen or spoken to in five years since I signed those divorce papers, and then took the next plane to France. We were both in Vivianna’s grunge looking room while we got ready for her engagement party. She sat in front of her large oval mirror, dressed in a red sparkling dress that flew to her ankles.
“Well he’s different Vivianna – he’s not into that those shady shit” she sounded, applying red lipstick to her lips that matched her dress and I made a sound that called bullshit, rolling my eyes in the process.
“Every guy in Algreen Cove is into that shady shit”
“Well he’s not like Dante and I doubt he’d divorce me and run back to his ex the moment she came back into town whom by the way broke up with him and went back to New York to pursue an acting career”
“Oh – ” I barely said, unsure of what I was going to say to that piece of information she had unnecessarily revealed out to me. She studied my face, fishing out the uncertainty that swirled within me.
“Well if you’re thinking of going back – ”
“No – never” I interrupted her immediately, I was no longer that insecure little girl who gave up her dreams to be with a man whom she thought would love her. I was a professional ballet dancer now and had healed her broken heart since then and never wants anything to do with another man especially Dante D’angelo.
Vivianna was about to say something when our mom waltzed through the door dressed in a flowing sparkling dress “You guys, the guest are arriving and Vivianna – ”
“I know mama, I have to go welcome the guest” Vivianna got up with a groan and walking out the room leaving me with the somewhat pitiful look my mom was throwing me as she glanced at me
“Smile Helena – there might just be someone out there for you tonight”
“Mom – ”
I could already hear the loud chatter of the party guest as they trickled into the house and I felt boxed in with nowhere to run to. I felt odd, mostly out of place or maybe it was the silent dread that brewed in my stomach from the thought of seeing Dante, maybe it was also the exhaustion of having to smile in the faces of people I did not give a hoot about. Instead, I grabbed a bottle of wine of the table, sneaking behind papa talking to a bald headed man dressed in a suit. I walked past a couple of people who looked a little eager to be here, from where I stood I could spot Vivianna giggling carelessly into Paulo’s ear and I could say they looked a little in love. I didn’t bother to gawk, I walked out the door, letting the cool air hit my face as I walked across the lawn towards the pool with the bottle of wine in my hands. I needed a moment to breathe, to feel something else even if it was just the cool night air on my skin and the taste of expensive wine on my lips. I corked the wine, admiring the moon’s reflection on the water and then I felt a presence behind me, a familiar scent wafting through my nose and pulling me back into a sea of nostalgia but not a happy one, one that reeled my mind with memories that I’d rather stay forgotten.
“Helena” someone breathed behind me, his voice dark, haunting with a hint of danger flanking the aura that suddenly engulfed me. The hairs at the back of my neck prickled, and I froze, with the bottle halfway to my lips.
I knew who it was before I even turned around.
Dante.
And I couldn’t face him. Not now, not ever, if I had my way. The memories were too raw, too painful. I took a step back, trying to slip away from him and run back into the party that I had been avoiding. But in my haste, my heel caught on the hem of my dress, and I stumbled. Before I could even register what was happening, his hand shot out and caught my arm, steadying me. His touch was firm, grounding me in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.
I looked up, and our eyes locked. For a heartbeat, everything else fell away—the party, the pool, the world. It was just him, and me, and I found myself falling back into the pit I had crawled out from.
“Wow Helena” he breathed, his voice low and rough
I swallowed hard, trying to summon the strength to speak, to tell him to let me go, but all I could do was stare back at him, lost in those dark eyes of his. I hated him still, his dark charm was not enough to erase the years of hurt I had spent trying to forget him.“You look – different” his words hung heavy in the air above even with his hands still latched around my waist burning a hole through my skin, and I pulled myself away from him.“You disappeared without a trace, no good byes no nothing” he said, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, but I refused to let it show. I had spent too many nights thinking about this moment, about what I would say if I ever saw him again.“For good reason” I shot back“What reason?” he asked, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming.I forced myself to meet his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. “It doesn’t matter anymore, we’re divorced and if you don’t mind I’d like to go back to the party, I
I could still feel the goose bumps on my skin even long after the party had ended, with Dante’s last words still echoing in my ears. His voice ran deeper than usual, an unusual scruff encasing his voice that proved he truly wasn’t bluffing.And I do not bluffOf course he doesn’t bluff, he wasn’t bluffing when he brutally divorced me five years ago and desperately clung to his slimy ex like it was his last life line. I could still see the dangerous glint in his eyes glaring at me, laying claim at what he had discarded years ago. He didn’t what other men touching me, I didn’t want other women touching him either but he went ahead to do whatever he pleased, just like he always did and I couldn’t complain, I couldn’t lay my own claim because I didn’t matter.Now that I was back better and prettier, he wanted me back. He didn’t want me at my worst, what made him think he deserved me now that I was better. I knew I couldn’t stay, not with him closer than ever now that Vivianna was getting
“I guess I’ll be able to make the performance after all” I said into my phone as I stared at my reflection at the mirror. It was my ballet instructor Margaux, firm as a rod but was the sweetest woman when she let down her tight bun and slipped into some comfortable converse instead of her ballet flats.“I thought you wouldn’t be back until after a week, is the wedding done already?” I was already unconsciously stretching my taut muscles just at the sound of her voice, and I could imagine her rallying around me, nagging until I got my postures correct.“Slight change of plans Margaux, I need to be back, I almost forgot why I left in the place” I said, I could imagine the slight nod of her head as she said “Alright then, see you when you get back, I’ll place you in the line up”“Just one hour Helena, and it’s done, you’re far away from here, away from him and away from where the truth matters”Just one hour.I sang it like a mantra.Mama and Papa weren’t too pleased with my decision to
I never made it to the airport, just one hour had turned into several hours later and that moment I was stuck in the hospital with my brother’s blood smeared on my face and the creamy dress I wore stained with his blood.“It was the Anotti clan” I heard Paulo say to my distraught sister and mama. Mama was hysterical, papa had been shot same with Luca, but Luca had died on the spot and Papa was in critical condition and from the looks of it, he wasn’t going to make it.I couldn’t listen anymore to mama’s hysterical sobbing after the doctor announced that Papa indeed didn’t make it, I needed to leave, go somewhere the smell of antiseptic and bad news wasn’t clinging to me like a second skin. My legs were shaking, but somehow they carry me forward into the hot afternoon air.I stumble out into hospital courtyard, gasping for air, feeling like I’m in a nightmare but just as I step out, I see Dante approaching.I don’t have strength for thisImmediately, I turn back around willing myself to
DANTE’S POV“The Anotti’s are going to pay for ruining my wedding brunch”I tapped my cigarette on the coffee table, a glass of whiskey in my hand while I listened to my cousin Paulo drone about how he was going to get back at the Anotti’s for what they did to the De Luca’s. It was all mouth of course, it wasn’t his fight and the only reason he seemed so upset about it was they were ruining his whole wedding experience with Vivianna, she seemed like a sweet girl but I doubted Paulo was doing it for love. No man in Algreen Cove got married based on just love, marriage was business for us, I’m offering your something and I want your sweet virgin daughter in return.Now this trailed my mind back to Helena, our marriage had been an alliance deal, strictly business, she would play the sweet doting and faithful wife and I helped her Papa move his goods across state and that was it. I didn’t have to be faithful, the D’angelo men were never faithful but as her luck would have it, I didn’t tou
HELENA’S POVI hear the gun shot, thick and loud, slicing through the suffocating air while my arm was held captive by Tony Anotti, the heard of the Anotti gang and apparently the one my father owes a large sum of money. My body reacts before my mind can catch up, a visceral jolt of fear rippling through me as I try to duck under the nearest seat but Tony holds me in place, his eyes widening from the suddenness of the sound. For a moment, I’m back at the brunch – my brother’s weight pinning me down and his blood dripping on my face. Panic claws at my throat, threatening to consume me.“Stay still woman” Tony swipes at me as I struggle in his arms, I see my sister and my mother holding each other in fear as the rest of the congregation scrabble out of the church from the sound of the gun.“Run” I tell them “Go – now!”They were hesitant to leave me behind but my sister pulls my mother out and a subtle relief ripples through me except it didn’t last, because just as they run out another
“So you want a marriage of convenience?” I watch him light another cigarette and takes a slow drag, exhaling the smoke in a lazy, deliberate motion “And let me guess, with no strings attached?”“I’m not going to be some puppet for you to control and do as you please. We get married for show, you pay off my father’s debt and we keep up the charade for a year at least and I go back to Paris, back to my life”He let out a soft chuckle, the sound low and dark, sending a shiver down my spine but I wasn’t done yet “I have rules, rules that we have to abide to if we want this to work”He doesn’t take his eyes off me “Speak Helena” why did he always have to call my name like that? causing the hairs at the back of my neck to stand at an awkward angle. I couldn’t meet his eyes anymore, whatever courage I had managed to summon in the last minutes was slowing dying with each second he fixated his dark eyes on me.I took a deep breath, steadying myself before I spoke “Rule no. 1, sex is off the tab
I shivered slightly when he gripped my neck, his hands sliding upwards into my hair, then he pulled my face to his and it was so close his breath fanned my lips, hot with a hint of cigarette smoke.“Spread your legs” his command was cold in my ears and with a shaky inhale, I did as I was told.His hands ran up my legs, pressing him thumb into my inner thigh with a harshness that made my insides tighten in a way that I did not expect. My legs were spread and I felt the cool air brush my panties and I became suddenly aware of how wet I was. He pulled me closer until my bare breast grazed his chest. My breathing was erratic as he growled in my ears“God – Helena. I want you so bad it pisses me off” and then he bit my neck – hard.I whimpered at the impact, feeling the zing on my neck but the pain slowly morphed into pleasure when he pressed down on my clit through the fabric of my thong. He forced my head back and then he sucked a nipple into his mouth.I quivered, a soft moan escaping m