four

Dante's POV

She was incredibly light; if one looked at her, one would think she weighed a lot more than this. Kicking the door behind me shut, I walked up to my bed and laid her down on the soft material. I knew damn well I could have taken her to the guest room, but I knew she would be more comfortable in my bed. Besides, I haven't had a guest in ages; I don't even know the state of that room.

I made sure she was comfortable by adjusting her head on my pillow and angling her body into a more suitable position. Once that was done, I did nothing but stare at her face. The strange girl looked so at peace when she was asleep, but when I found her in front of my restaurant, she was so alert and vigilant. like she was ready to spring into action and fight anyone or anything she deemed dangerous. 

From the moment our eyes connected, I knew she was using everything within her power to stay conscious. She was bleeding badly and had taken quite a lot of damage. Something about her wounds told me that they had been inflicted by a man, and that angered me for some reason.

Who would do such a thing to a girl like her? I know I did not know her all that well; for all I know, she might as well be a criminal. But still, why bring her this much harm? Wasn't there a better way to get her to atone for whatever it is she may have done?

I did not know my fists were clenched until a tinge of pain shot up my hand. I released my fists and stretched my hands. Shaking my head with disbelief, I turned away from the girl and headed towards my bathroom to freshen up. I made sure to lock my bathroom door, not because I was scared the girl would attack me but to save us both from the embarrassment of having to deal with her catching me naked.

But something in me told me that there would be no embarrassment, but rather something else...

I shook my head vigorously to stop my mind from straying too far. What was I thinking? I just met this girl, and I was already having thoughts of us showering together, her pink, cut lip on mine, and her feather-like body pressed against mine...

It was times like these that I really wished Capone was here; he would have given me the right punch to bring me back to my senses. Sighing to myself, I stepped into the shower in hopes that the water would cool my raised mind. The steam from the boiling water clouded the glass around me, and I shut my eyes for a brief moment. As though the world were trying to taunt me, her silver eyes flashed within my mind, and a groan tore through my throat.

All the blood in my body rushed down to the big man under, and I ran both of my hands down my face. I could not believe this was happening to me now. After my aggravation shower, I turned off the shower and stepped out of the tub. I took the towel that hung on the wall and wrapped it around my waist before exiting the steam room.

The first thing my eyes caught was Eleanora's sleeping figure; she appeared to be having a good dream considering the little smile that stretched her lips. If only she knew that there was a perplexed woman shooting daggers at her with her eyes.

"It's very weird to stare at someone while they sleep, you know," I said to Nicki, causing her to jump slightly with surprise. Her dark eyes narrowed into a glare, and she folded her arms above her chest.

"Can you blame me?" "She looks like someone that had just been run over then stepped on by a herd of elephants."

That was true.

"I see your point," I said, just as a chuckle left my lips. I walked past the shorter woman with ease; I could still feel her eyes on my back as she spoke.

"Who is she?" Nicki asked me.

"Eleanora," I answered blankly.

"What happened to her?"

"I don't know," I answered with a shrug. Pulling open the doors to my wardrobe, I pulled out a pair of my favorite gray shorts before heading back to the bathroom.

"Where do you know her from?"

"She was on the floor in front of the restaurant." I explained before shutting the door.

I could actually picture her eyes bulging out of their sockets as she said, "And you just brought her in?" And into your room?

I unfolded the towel around my waist and quickly put on my shorts. "What did you want me to do?" She was bleeding really badly. "Would you have preferred I left her out there to die?"

"Of course not, but you could have treated her and sent her on her merry way."

"Yeah, but I was barely finished when she passed out." "I had to carry her up here," I said, as though I did not enjoy it.

I returned to the room to find Nicki staring at me with worry in her eyes and saying, "I don't like this." She said this skeptically before directing her gaze to the sleeping woman on my bed. "As soon as she wakes up, get her out of here."

My brow rose slowly at her words and tone. "And since when were you my boss?"

Her eyebrows shot up to the top of her head, and her dark eyes widened with surprise. "Oh, sorry. "Just trying to help."

"Thanks, but I didn't ask for it," I said, and I hated how rude I was speaking to her. But the thought of getting Eleanora out of here irritated him for some reason. He at least wanted to know she was safe and no one was after her. and maybe get to know her a little more.

"Okay," Nicki answered monotonely before clearing her throat. "I've locked up the place." I'll see you tomorrow." The small woman did not bother to wait for a response before rushing out of the door.

My eyes stayed glued to the door as though I was expecting her to return. Then my gaze shifted to the woman on my bed. I sat beside her, and I did not know what had gotten into me when I leaned closer to her.

I just wanted to get a better glimpse of her face; something in me was screaming at me to pull away. Because if she woke up and saw how close my face was to hers, how could I possibly explain myself? Yet that was not enough reason for me to pull away; it was almost like I was being pulled toward her. But by what? I did not know.

But if there was one thing I knew as I stared at her angelic face, it was that this girl was trouble.