Chapter 5

Awareness that his arm was wrapped around my waist as we entered the grand fancy-looking hall flushed through me at the hint of his possessiveness in his actions. A start strand of my hair whisked through the waves and fell upon my forehead. But I couldn’t bring myself to tuck it behind my ear as my lips were sealed shut and my body taut. The way we entered the venue had the attention of most of the people gathered around, some in circles discussing and while others scattered all over the place–just like my stray thoughts.

Silas led us to the middle of the floor, the movement was languorously whisper-light, but the hairs stood at the back of my nape at the awareness that we were so close to each other. My body trembling–and that did not have anything to do with the glacial breeze of the night. Silas slowly turned me to him, his hand on my waist shifting to the bareness of my back. I stilled, not liking the way my body reacted.

His whiskey-neat fiery eyes glistened with something cranial like hunger as they settled on my face. His hand remained on my back, but his gaze touched me everywhere–my face, my lips, my nape, my breasts and my heart. It left a trail of scorching fire that seemed indestructible.

“Stay with me,” his words hinting at an unsaid warning. “This is a special night for me.”

Images of debris from the building, our distorted clothes and injured bodies, his mother’s barely breathing body, Severin’s dead body, and his father’s fractured bones flashed through my mind. The product of experience, not instincts. My emotions suddenly took a one-eighty-degree turn as I averted my eyes from his alluring face. I couldn’t allow myself to feel for this man. “I understand.”

A low, lazy smile tugged at his lips as he pulled me a little closer, close enough I could see the green of his hazel eyes, close enough to crane my neck and admire his soft features, close enough to feel our breaths intertwining together.

“Good girl.” He pulled away, his hand on my waist gliding down lower till it rested on my behind and then like the soft touch of breeze, he pulled his hand away, taking a step back and leaning against the table as he tucked both of his hands in his pockets. The air of Paris did something to me, but all I could focus on was the warm possessive weight of his gaze.

“So,” I cleared my throat, looking around as my heart threatened to leave my chest. “Are we supposed to stay like this? Pretending we are a happy couple?” I lifted my brows trying to ignore how my body shuddered at the eye contact.

“Fake it, till we make it.” A cynical note darkened his eyes. His hazel eyes gleamed with mischief as he stayed leaned against the table, gazing at me with his heavy hooded gaze. It wasn’t foreign to know what Silas felt for me. Staring up at him, I held my breath, his gaze tracking down to my face and then moving to my mouth. The air between us was thick and not-so-breathable, my blood pumping through my veins with high velocity.

“Well, well…” Our heated trances broke to a sudden voice. Silas’s eyes lost the teasing glitter turning cold in an instant as he casually straightened himself, not caring if the person would find his look rude. The man was hind me so, I couldn’t properly see him, but I could feel the tension as Silas moved to stand beside me. I slowly turned to a middle-aged man wearing a beige Arabic Schwab. His greasy grin showed off his fake golden tooth. “Look who finally decided to show up.”

“Ramirez.” Silas, like the damn protective bastard he was, wrapped his right arm around my waist pulling me close to his sides, almost knocking my breath. I gave him a side-eye.

“One and only. I thought you were….“ Ramirez smirked at his gesture, clasping his hands behind his back, his eyes narrowed, and he whispered with a mocking tone.

“Dead?” Silas scoffed.

“Not exactly. Men like you are hard to kill, Anderson.” He sounded like little disappointed seeing Silas. He had enemies, I knew. Silas’s thumb traced the side of my waist, and I sighed. His eyes held Ramirez’s in cold battle.

“Seems like you are taking from experience, Ramirez,” Silas said with the same mocking tone.

“Instincts, Anderson. And who is this? Your date?” Ramirez instantly sensed my presence or he purposely did that to spike Silas. He extended his hand in mock courtesy.

“Sheikh Ramirez,” I hesitated but tried to not look intimidated by him and shook his hand. Silas’s hand around my waist instantly turned stone as he glared at the man in front.

“Sadie Quintin,” I was so stunned by Silas’s touch that my voice sounded unstable.

“Mashallah, you have a beautiful woman by your side, Anderson.” Ramirez fueled the tension as his jaw ticked and Silas’s eyes burned like black coal. “Anyways, care to join me for a drink? I have something to tell you,”

I gulped as Silas just glared at the man. I awkwardly wriggled myself away from his grip and lightly tapped his shoulder. Ramirez smirked and whispered teasingly.

“Relax, no one will steal your woman.” Silas looked at the man for a brief second and then turned into me.

“Stay here, I’ll be back,” Silas commanded, his words no more teasing or mischievous, but serious. I gave him a little nod. Where was I supposed to go even? There wasn’t a secure place for me anymore. I took a seat on the side as I watched Ramirez taking Silas with him.

The party was so boring except for the occasional flirty glances some men threw my way. I was not interested, however. I wonder what was taking him so long. Ramirez didn’t look like a good man, and Silas wasn’t better himself, but two bad men together meant only one thing. A disaster.

I sighed unconsciously playing unconsciously with the necklace on my neck. I had never been to such parties or gatherings. And this one was no better than the one I was expecting. People flaunted their wealth, not in a very sensible way. Women were either materialistically trapped around obsessive and greedy men who viewed them with the eyes of goods. It disgusted and angered me to think I was once such exclusive property of a man I assumed I was in love with. Thinking about Silvio always brought a pinch of helplessness in me with a thrilling twist in my heart. I was here–without my job, my ruined career, away from my family–just because of him. He was the man who was responsible for my situation yet I couldn’t bring myself to hate him.

I was too indulged in him that it scared me.

It scared me to know how much he had consumed me. My every thought that didn’t involve him seemed abnormal for some reason. It was scary how dependent I was on him–emotionally. And to realise I was never going to see him again, infuriated me as much as it should relax me.

I was a literal mess when it come to him. Oh god! I took a deep breath calming my nerves.

Grabbing the alcoholic drink, I took a large gulp and winced at the taste. Almost immediately, the panicked buzzing of my thoughts quieted down. The tension gripping my temples calmed down as I took another sip. Another gulp and my mind are completely empty.

The atmosphere here suddenly became more unpleasant and I immediately stood with trembling legs and looked for an exit. The sudden disquietude was overwhelming that K almost rushed through the doors we walked in. I fought against the building anxiousness, of course, but it wasn’t enough to cause the next moment I almost lost my footing and the heel of the shoes I was wearing twisted at an uncomfortable angle. My mouth opened to leave a startled yelp and my eyes widened as my hands flared in the air as I tried to catch something to hold onto.

The next. The moment my eyes closed instinctively as I stumbled a few steps before landing painfully on my knees. I was crouched down on the grassy floor as I inspected my ankle. It hurt to even move it. It was definitely going to swell up. I hissed as I twisted it. Sprain.

I was trying to get up when a tall figure stepped in front of me.

“What do we have here?” The man I couldn’t bother to look at said. I could sense mock and curiosity in his voice as I gritted my teeth. Another predator is to feed on the innocence of women. I felt his intention before he could extend his hand to help me. Obviously, I rolled my eyes and managed to pull myself up on the broken heel and swollen ankle. Naturally, I stumble a step or two before standing straight. He was standing with his back to the building and the lights coming from the party made it a little difficult to look at his face.

“Move,” I said harshly. The cheesy grin on his face twisted into a mocking smirk as he tilted his head and stepped forward. The alcohol in me boosted my spirits and I stood my ground. I was not gonna get scared by a leech-like him. Men like him feed on the fear of women like me, if I back down now, he’d have the upper hand and his male ego would be boosted.

“What if I don’t?” Gosh! My fists clenched unknowingly as I narrowed my eyes. “What are you gonna do about it, doll face? Do you know who I am?”

Was he being serious? He raised his slanted brows, the light blue of his eyes gleaming vividly contrasting against his sandy blonde hair as he took another step forward.

I scoffed.

“I don’t, and neither would I want to. Men like you are power-hungry greedy hypocrites, who think this world revolves around them.”

Instead, he chuckled.

“Practically, it does. Money can buy anything.” I eyed his expensive Cartier watch. His fingers were gilded with shining gold rings holding diamonds in their captivity. The fabric of his designer suit looked luxurious. Was it Armani? Gucci?

He was covered with money, I could tell.

“Then buy some self-respect too.” The amusement on his face diminished into a scowl as he stepped forward invading my personal space. I could smell his cologne. Something that reminded me of slum areas back in New York.

“Let’s see if your tongue will still work after this night.” I scoffed crossing my arms over my chest.

“What can you do?” The chilled air whisked past my ears and I held back a shudder at his gaze. Obviously, he didn’t reply instead his threat lingered in the air.

“So many things.” Raising his left hand he moved it to touch my hair as he twisted the loose strands around his forefinger and sniffed. I slapped his hand away and glared at him.

“If this is your way to getting laid, find someone else, I’m not a whore you’re looking for.” The motherfucker just snickered. “What’s so funny? Never heard ‘no’ from a woman before?” He shook his head and tried to stop reaching out to grab me but I just backed away not wanting to get his hands on me.

“Well, you’re first, but,” I looked around at the dark lawn. There was no one, and if this man decided to molest me in here, there was very little possibility for me to run away. Maybe walking around alone was a bad idea. Amidst the chaotic thoughts, I didn’t notice him approaching me. A gasp left my mouth as I felt his hand wrapping around the back of my neck as he placed his mouth over mine. The whole ordeal took me off guard and for a moment I couldn’t breathe. And when the shock slowly turned into sheer panic, I struggled against him.

“N-No!” I mumbled into his mouth. I curled my nose in disgust as his tongue swept across my lips. A nauseating feeling cramped up my gut and I slammed my fists against his chest. Let go, you bastard!

Instead, he groaned against my mouth and grabbed my waist with his free hand. His touches grew bolder, moving his hands away from my waist to my hips. A sudden bone-chilling sensation ran down my spine before I felt his body stiffening and to my relief, I felt his body being ripped away from me. The sudden force and the sprain of my ankle sent me stumbling several steps back.

Panting I looked up and immediately froze. The man who just kissed me forcefully was being held by the neck, his feet almost dangling off the ground.

I was so stunned and disoriented that I couldn’t move for a second. And by the time I did, I was already backing away. My mouth parted as I took several short breaths, and my eyes widened. My broken ankle burned with every step and I struggled to breathe as I recognised the steel gaze and hard features of the man in front of me.

Silvio Salvatore.

My destruction.

And he was frenetic.