Defiant Ari

***************

CHAPTER 21

~Arianna’s POV~

Little fire!

Tsk. I did as he asked. Usually, one would have expected him to place an order for me when the waiter came over but he barely threw me a glance until now. 

Regardless, I was glad to be free from that boring discussion.

As I slipped away from the booth, Damon’s gaze lingered on my back, sending a shiver up my spine.

The nickname—little fire—still echoed in my ears, a mix of mockery and something far too intimate for my liking. 

I shook it off and made my way toward the bar, grateful for even a brief reprieve from his suffocating presence.

The bar was crowded, the air filled with chatter and laughter, contrasting the tension in Damon’s private booth. I ordered a simple cocktail—something light and sweet to take the edge off.

As I waited for the drink, I couldn’t help but glance back toward the booth. Damon was still there, listening to the men around him. One of them leaned forward, gesturing animatedly, but Damon’s attention never faltered.

When the bartender handed me my drink, I turned back to face the crowd, hoping to blend in, even for a moment.

“You look like you don’t belong here.”

The voice startled me and I turned to find a man standing beside me. He was tall and well-dressed, with sharp features and a confident smirk.

“I could say the same about you,” I replied, keeping my tone cautious.

He chuckled, raising his glass. “Fair enough. But I’m not the one who looks like I’d rather be anywhere else.”

I glanced away, not wanting to engage further.

“I’m Lukas,” he said, extending a hand.

“Arianna,” I replied reluctantly, shaking his hand briefly.

“So, want that anywhere else to be a place with you and I... alone.” He added a bit of base to his one, hoping to get my insides tickling but my look of confusion made his bravery falter.

Before the conversation could go any further, I felt a dark presence behind me. 

Damon.

“Enjoying yourself?” His voice was low, but the edge in it was impossible to miss. He was angry and barely holding it in.

I half turned to face him, drink still in hand. “Just getting a drink, as you suggested.” I lifted it for him to see.

His eyes flicked to Lukas, who immediately stiffened under Damon’s gaze. The easy confidence the man had exuded moments ago evaporated.

“Scram,” Damon ordered and his tone left no room for argument.

Lukas nodded quickly, mumbling a hurried apology before disappearing into the crowd.

I sighed, setting my drink down. “Was that really necessary?”

Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly, his jaw tightening. “You’re with me tonight. You don’t entertain anyone else’s company.”

“Entertain?” I repeated, incredulous. “I was making small talk, not—”

“Arianna,” he interrupted. “You have no idea what kind of people linger in places like this. You don’t trust anyone. Understood?”

His intensity made it hard to argue, but the fire in me refused to back down completely. “Maybe if you’d just tell me what’s going on, I wouldn’t feel so out of place.”

Damon’s gaze softened, just barely, but his grip on control was evident. “You’ll know when you need to. Not before.”

“I can take care of myself,” I shot back.

“Aria…” Before he could argue further, one of his men approached, leaning in to whisper something in Damon’s ear. His expression darkened instantly, the shadows in his eyes growing deeper.

Quickly, I snuck away, taking this moment to entertain myself and prove I was capable.

It didn’t take long for me to weave my way to the centre of the dancefloor, where bodies moved in a hypnotic rhythm.

The pulsating beat of the music vibrated through the floor beneath my feet, and as I stepped into the throng, my heart raced—not from fear but from the exhilarating thrill of defying Damon.

If he wanted to control every moment of my life, he’d have to try harder.

Bodies pressed around me, swaying to the rhythm of the music, freely. For the first time in days, I let myself get lost in the moment, moving to the heavy bassline.

A guy with a confident grin stepped in front of me, his hands landing on my waist without hesitation. His touch was too familiar, but I didn’t push him away.

Instead, I danced, letting the music drown out the nagging voice in my head telling me this was a bad idea.

I snagged a drink from a passing tray without even caring what it was and took a swig, the fiery liquid burnt its way down my throat.

The guy’s grip on my waist tightened as he pulled me closer, his breath brushing against my ear as he murmured something I couldn’t hear over the music.

It was when his hand slid lower, brushing against my backside, that I froze.

Before I could react, there was a loud, sickening crack, and the guy groaned in pain, stumbling back.

I turned, my heart leaping into my throat as I saw Damon standing there, his hand still clenched in a fist, his eyes blazing with fury.

The guy doubled over, clutching his hand, and I realized Damon had snapped his fingers like they were twigs.

“Touch her again,” Damon growled, his voice low and lethal, “and you’ll lose more than your fingers.”

The guy tried to straighten, his face contorted in pain, but before he could say anything, Damon’s fist connected with his face in a brutal punch, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as people scrambled back, giving Damon a wide berth.

He turned to me, his jaw tight, anger flashed in his eyes, and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“We’re leaving,” he bit out.

“Damon—”

“Now,” he snapped, grabbing my wrist and yanking me toward the exit.