2. He’s Dangerous

Erica

 

“What’s going on?”

 

I turned back around to face the owner of that cold and smooth voice, like silk, and said, “What's going on is that you are trying to steal my dessert.”

 

I was glad that the words escaped me in a rush without me pausing and looking at him because when I did look up at him I realized in that moment I wouldn't have been able to speak even to save my life if I had seen him beforehand. I took him in slowly. The man was big and it wasn’t just his height and the wide berth of his shoulders, it was the way he carried himself in that dark suit with silver linings that he wore like a second skin.

 

His face was clean shaved, lips smooth and turned up in a natural arch but it wasn’t a smile more like curled in curiosity of a jungle cat before he jumps at the rabbit. And out of nowhere came a thought that if I faltered even for one single second then he would think of me as a rabbit and consume me whole. His jaw was squared, strong, which was clenched shut and visibly cut as if made of marble. The nose was pointed straight and chiseled. The skin was naturally tanned in color and he looked beautifully masculine with his short raven dark hair, standing out differently among the other men.

 

“I paid for it.” The man said in his deeply accented voice.

 

“I saw it first.” I replied automatically, even though I was enamored by his beauty I wasn’t going to lose.

 

“Seeing and buying are two different things, Miss.” The way ‘miss’ rolled off his tongue was like a curse.

 

I narrowed my eyes at him and gritted out, “I was going to pay but apparently this man,” I gestured at the man behind the counter, “is too chicken shit to tell you no to your face.”

 

“And for that very fact he’s not stupid unlike you.’

 

My temper flared and I could feel my sister admonishing me at the back of my mind, saying ‘Rica, anger isn’t always the right way to express yourself.’ I ignored my sister’s words and stepped forward, gritting my teeth, I hissed at him. “Wearing branded suits doesn’t give you any right to bulldoze your way in the world. And specifically not me.” Those shrewd eyes narrowed at me, looking contemplative and calculating at the same time. His lean fingers tapped against his leg in a rhythm of two tips, one tap and two tips. The golden watch wrapped around his wrist glinted in the overhead lights and if I wasn’t mistaken there were real diamonds on his cufflinks. “I have seen men like you and people might’ve been intimidated by your wealth but I’m not one of them. So why don’t you take a hike and let me enjoy my dessert.” I leaned closer and said, “Looking at you, I don’t think you need it. With all the bitterness dripping off you, two pieces of dessert won’t make a difference.”

 

I watched as his jaw worked and even though there was no sign of his temper on his face, the rhythm of his fingers changed on his leg and his voice was more chilled than before as he said, “Pick up the bag, Kaze.”

 

“That’s mine!” I shrieked, uncaring of the audience. Ignoring me, the man picked it up. “Keep your bloody hands off it.” I threatened and the man paused looking uncertain as he looked at me and then turned to the man who stood in front of me with all the bearings of a king. I glared at him, ignoring the tingle of warning that went up my spine at the way he glared at me. “Take your minions and leave.” I said to the man, folding my arms across my chest.

 

After a long moment, he leaned closer, his head dipped and he said, “I might be bitter, but considering the curves you have in all the wrong places, I suggest you cut in your intake of dessert.”

 

I bit down on my tongue as I felt my whole face heating up, without thinking I pulled my hand back to slap him but just before my hand could connect with his cheek, he grabbed my wrist and pushed me back just as his uniformed guards took protective stance on either side of him as if ready to shoot me on the spot. His voice was low and dangerous as he said, “I don’t know if I should applaud your brave stupidity or put you down on your knees and show the world what happens when someone dares to go up against me.”

 

Believe me when I say that I had never felt the kind of rage I felt in that moment, looking at this stranger. Even when my sperm donor— aka my father, tortured me and made me pay his gambling debts, I never felt the need to murder him the way I wanted to this man standing in front of me. Feeling cornered, I looked for something to elevate my anger and unfortunately for this arrogant arsehole, a waiter that was passing nearby caught my attention. With a sly smile, I plucked the glass of coke from his tray and threw it at the man.

 

He rewarded me with a thunderous expression and the hold he had on my wrist tightened to the point I was sure he would break my bones then and there but as always my sister came for my rescue, “Rica!” She called out, her voice high pitched with alarm.

 

And the man’s eyes turned to my sister and Ami. As he turned, his eyes flashed bright yellow like fire for just a second before turning to light brown and darkening. “Mr Rossi!” Summer exclaimed. She tugged the scarf from her neck and tried to dry his suit jacket. “Let me help you, Antonio.”

 

Finally he released the death grip on my wrist, I knew there would be a bruise there come tomorrow but I didn’t give him the satisfaction by rubbing my aching flesh and showing him my weakness.

 

“Mrs Wolfe.” He nodded in greeting and then softly grabbed her hand unlike the way he had almost crushed mine and stepped back from her touch. “It is okay.”

 

“I see you have met my sister.” Summer said, trying her best to fracture the tension, giving me a glare.

 

“Your sister.” Antonio stated as if testing the words, his dark eyes glanced at me, jaw still clenched. “Fascinating.” He murmured like it was some kind of revelation to him.

 

“Would you like to join us? I’m sure Gabriel would be happy to meet you.” Summer said, making me pause as from her words I was starting to gather that they knew each other.

 

“Not today. Maybe some other time.” He nodded in farewell and then turned around, his hand going to the brown paper bag but before he could grab it, my hand shot out and I snatched it away.

 

When he looked at me, I plastered a wide smile on my lips and said, “I will be so happy to tell my brother in law that you bought us dessert.” I turned to my sister, ignoring him completely. “Come on, let’s go.” Grabbing both Ami’s and Summer’s hands, while tucking the brown paper bag under my arm, I tugged them away from the man whose eyes I could feel stabbing through my skull. I turned my head sideways to glance back and when I saw his face that looked like he was just a second away from ordering his men to kill me, I winked at him.

 

“I swear, Rica, if he shoots you from behind, I won’t even cry.” Summer said as if reading my mind.

 

“I don’t want to die.” Ami said. “I could feel him seething, and he looked dangerous too.”

 

“Oh, he is dangerous alright.” Summer said.

 

“Oh come on, what is he? Another duke?” I asked, not caring whoever the entitled arsehole was.

 

“Nope. Not a duke, dear sister.” Summer turned to face me as she pulled me to a stop and said, “He is the Italian mobster, who deals in illegal weapons and he is also the one who kinda saved the day back when Gabriel, me and Raphael were in danger.”

 

“Then, he is a friend.” I said.

 

“No. He is not.” Summer answered. “He just had an interest in killing the Mexicans and he has some sort of cold, friendly type rivalry going on with Ellison’s husband Brandon, but he is not particularly a friend, Rica. And now I have the feeling you have turned him into an enemy.”

 

“Oh…” I murmured but then shrugged, “Well then, he’ll probably go back to Italy to mob around and we are not going to see him again. So chill out.”

 

It was the universe who took my words as a challenge. That bîtch was always after ruining my life.

 

 

 

A. Gupta