“I’m not sure,” I mumble nonchalantly.
“He will,” vows Jackson optimistically. “Just keep yourself strong in the face of what he throws your way. He wants to break you, but I know better, Ryleigh. You’re stronger than he thinks. If all else fails, lie to him. He’ll get over it when he thinks he’s broken you. Fake it.”
He’ll get over it when he breaks me. Sad thing is I told him that he couldn’t break what was already broken, but I think he managed it.
The moment he walked away was the moment I found a new breaking point.
11DANTE
How can I be fucking nervous right now? How?!
I’m the bastard here; the one who trampled all over a girl because she fucking terrified me with one simple sentence – I could learn to love you.
I should’ve embraced what she said, but my defenses kicked in and the only thing I know to do happened – I ran. Never has anyone told me they loved me who isn’t family or Jackson and Jodi, and they’re classed as my family, so there’s no reason to fear commitment. I couldn’t lose them if my life depended on it.
But with Ryleigh, it was different – completely and devastatingly different. She had the power to beguile me, to force me to feel what I never have, but with it all, I hungered for all she offered me. She has proven me wrong countless times that she is like no other. I subconsciously knew that months ago when I had first started watching her, but I didn’t known the extent to which she would captivate me.
And it was strange to say that, for once, in my turbulent life, I found my calm.
And I threw her aside.
I have been brought up strictly, or sheltered, as some might say. I don’t do love, so I will not learn it. I’ve never known compassion, so I do not offer it. I don’t know eternal happiness, so I never seek it. What I do know is white-hot vengeance. What I do feel is undying loneliness. What I do hunt is total corruption. What I do, do is women, hard and fast. I don’t take hearts, but I steal orgasms.
It’s a much simpler existence.
I wanted to believe that Ryleigh Turner could change it all, but it’s not in me to hold such faith alive. Instead, I allowed a coping mechanism to initiate and I walked away from her – twice. I watched devastation befall her beautiful face, and I was the devilish culprit of it.
What I hated most was that I liked it. I managed to garner an emotion that was capable of ending some people on the one person I had set out to destroy.
I study the road ahead and allow the thought to burrow into every cell of my brain and fester like an illness. I was finally on the right track where Ryleigh Turner was concerned, and I wasn’t going to break away from it easily.
The only thing that makes me swallow the thought is the door opening and Ryleigh’s body bending and maneuvering to slide into the car. She’s dressed smart yet casual in black skinny jeans, a pair of black heeled boots, and a black top with a leather jacket. I take her all in, drinking in every inch of her being as she sits. She settles into the passenger seat, closing the door promptly behind her, but she doesn’t look at me once. I remain twisted in my seat, waiting for a reaction or any semblance of a welcome, but she’s yet to make the first move. I understand it, but fuck me if I don’t expect it.
“What, no hello tonight, little wolf?”
“No, just wondering why a guy needs a car for every day of the week,” she replies but doesn’t look at me. “It’s obscene.”
“I have money, and I’ll spend it,” I remark dryly, pressing the button to start the engine. “I like my cars. No harm in that.”
“If you say so,” she mutters, her tone clipped.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, noticing how off key she seems. She thinks I don’t pay attention to her emotional needs, but I do. “You seem quieter than usual and a lot moodier.”
“I’m fine,” she murmurs, reaching out to toy with the hem of her shirt. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m fucking asking,” I respond, my voice dry. “It’s going to be a long evening if we’re not on talking terms.”
She starts to chew on her lip, a sure sign she’s as nervous as I am. This is our first meeting since I carried Amelia out of Dynasty and since I showed Ryleigh my most callous side. It’s also our first true meeting since Ryleigh admitted she could learn to love me.
The words still bitterly burn.
“Where do you want me to start?” she asks, looking at me finally. I say nothing, offering her the floor to talk. “The last time I saw you was when you publicly announced that I had to get out of your bar because you didn’t want to see me... so excuse me if I’m not prepared to be all too willing to suck your cock and let you fuck me every way you can think.”
“But it was fun and you’re yet to suck my cock,” I say, wagging my eyebrows as I tease but ignore that one thing that destroyed that perfect evening. “You can’t deny you loved the way I made your body sing.”
“Shame the ending was enough to make me hate it all.” She’s muttering now, and she looks away. “Are we going to go anywhere?” she asks me. “’Cause if we’re going to be sitting in your car, I’d rather leave now.”
“Why?” I ask her, leaning in a little. “Can’t handle the closeness?”
“That’s exactly it,” she admits, her words wrapped within a whisper. “So, can we go?” She looks up at me, her usually bright eyes now doleful. “Please?”
“Yeah,” I say, unable to withstand the look she fixed me with. “Let’s go, cara.”
***
“Where are we?”
I laugh as we step out of the car and throw my car keys at the valet staff.
“Park it in one of the garages and make sure you don’t scratch it,” I order, walking to make it to Ryleigh’s side. “We’re at the Valentino mansion.”
“But why?” she asks and looks at me wide-eyed and shocked. “There’s clearly an event going on right now, and I’m not dressed for the occasion.”
“Don’t you worry about that, cara. You just follow me,” I gently instruct her, guiding her toward the grand stone stairway that leads to the front door.
“Why do I feel like I’m being led into the lion’s den?” she asks me, the nerves wracking her voice. “Because I’m feeling pretty certain that I’m not going to like what’s on the other side of the door.”
“You’ll see soon,” I remark, keeping my lips sealed.
We walk into the foyer of the house and I look at Ryleigh as she stills. She’s taking in the architecture of my family’s home; artifacts and photos of the Valens showing how it has grown over the passing decades fill the foyer alone. I don’t allow her to stay here long as I look at the grand clock on the wall and see that we only have thirty minutes. She follows me up the staircase, bypassing people who have gathered, and remains close by my side. I walk down the hallway, and I’m sure passing the many doors must be killing her curiosity. I make it to the door I’m headed to and walk straight in.
“I know you’re going to have a lot of questions,” I say, going over toward the large table in the middle of the room. “Close the door, please, Ryleigh.”
She does as instructed and turns back to me. I watch her eyes.
“It was my grandmother’s dressing room years ago,” I comment, offering her some insight. “Tonight it’ll be yours.” Now, she looks at me in absolute horror. “I want you to wear this. I have things for you to accessorize with and makeup you can use, but I want you to look drop-dead gorgeous.”
“Why?” she asks, her question a light breath in the night air.
“Because you’re going to be my date.”
“No, I’m not,” she states, shaking her head. “You’ve got to be joking.”
“I’m not,” I respond dryly, realizing this could be a harder feat than I anticipated. “It’s my grandfather’s seventieth birthday, and I was advised to show up with a lovely little lady on my arm. Seeing as you’ve committed yourself to me, you’ll do as I say.”
&nb
sp; “And what do I get out of this?” she asks, placing her hands on her hips. “Me be your whore on the side?”
I snigger. “You’re no whore. I just need a deterrent of sorts.” I laugh a little harder as she fixes me with a perplexed look. “Look, my grandfather is of ill health and wants for the remaining heir of the Valens to be wed before he dies. I don’t want that and never will. He wants me to create the newest bloodline, and you’re going to give him that hope... even if we know otherwise.”
I watch her become increasingly uncomfortable, and I hate that I’ve helped make it so. She is now well aware that she is a pawn in my life. I must make her feel like she’s nothing but something to toy, and I guess I should be pleased. After all, that’s all I wanted, but I’ve lost my way as I reveled in her strength.
“Okay.”
“What was that?” I ask, scared I heard her wrong.
“I said okay,” she comments, offering a small smile. “How long do I have to get ready?”
I lift my hand up, checking my watch.
“Just under twenty-five minutes. Is that enough time?” I ask, and she nods. “I trust you to be quick and not let me down.”
“I won’t,” she replies, playing it sweet, but I see the glint of something else in her eyes. “But once I step out of this room again, you’re going to hate the girl who’s going to give your grandfather the most memorable act of his life.”
“We’ll see... Marcello is not a very easy man to trick.”
A glint sharpens in her eyes, showing how devilish she plans to be. “We’ll see about that one. Now, leave and I’ll get myself changed.”
“I’ll be just outside the door,” I tell her, offering her privacy. “Or can I watch the show?” I ask, cocking a brow, keeping the running joke alive. “I can pay... I know you can cope with that.”
“Fuck off, Dante,” she mutters, taking off her jacket and tossing it over one of the chairs.
I watch as she starts to unbutton her jeans, wishing I could stay. But I leave, snickering as I go. I could be the asshole who takes a seat in the corner and watches her change, but I want a little surprise tonight. I’ve imagined what she would look like in that dress, and now I want to see.
I pull the door closed and go to the opposite side of the landing space. I turn, watching the door intently, as I lean against the wall. Having worn suits a lot of the time around her, she clearly didn’t notice that I was already dressed and ready, but then again, she didn’t seem to notice much tonight.
I hope tonight will serve as a distraction for us both. I want to forget about that night, but I know that’s not all that’s bothering her. I also know she won’t be willing to confess anything to me anymore.
The click of the door startles me. Had I been that enthralled in my thoughts that I’d lost track of time?
I gaze at the door, prepared for what she’s made of herself. I watch her step out of the room; it’s at this moment I find I can’t breathe. The sight of her is breathtaking and mesmerizing all at once, and I know I am fucking screwed for the rest of the night.
She comes out dressed in a full-length, body-hugging black grown, the top embedded with thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels. Her makeup is complete with bedroom eyes and a pop of red lipstick. I immediately feel myself react – my cock hardens and my mouth dries.
I had lusted over, craved, fucked, and discarded this girl, and she was still here, still by my side, still willing to do my bidding. I was a lucky son of bitch that she even wanted to give me the time of day after all I had put her through.
And what I am still willing to put her through.
"Are you just going to stare at me or are you going to leave so we can get this evening over with?"
“I’d rather just eye fuck you than go down there, if I’m honest,” I admit, rubbing my jaw as my eyes roam over her body. “I thought you’d look gorgeous, but I didn’t expect you to look quite so fuckable.”
“I’m glad I’ve ticked the boxes for you,” she replies, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Now, we should go. I was already over the time you gave me.”
She breezes past me, settling into a stride to join the party that is only getting louder beneath us.
“Before we go,” I say, reaching out for her wrist. “There’s something I need to give you.”
I reach inside my pocket, my fingers falling onto the card. Carefully I drag it out, my fingertips feel the creases in it, and I close my eyes to garner some poise. As it pulls free, I pass it over to Ryleigh who just stares blankly at it.
“Why are you giving me that?”
“It’s the ace of hearts,” I enlighten her, still holding the card out. “All good, honorable Valentino men are meant to hand it to the woman they vow to protect.”
“All good, honorable Valentino men?” she asks, disregarding the card to look at me. “And you fall into that category, do you?”
I won’t lie. I feel myself blanch at that comment, but only because she’s right.
“I want to, I just don’t know how to, but it’s a Valens’ custom.” My remark forces her to look at the card once more. “You take this... you have my protection.”
“And here I was thinking I was just here for you to toy with,” she remarks coolly. “After all, all you want is for me to sacrifice myself to you to have your wicked way with me.”
“And I’ll make sure it’s the safest sacrifice you’ll ever make, Ryleigh,” I say. I take a step forward, forcing her to take one back. She looks worried as she finds I have her pinned delightfully against the wall without even laying a hand on her. “I’m a man of my word. I’ll bend you until you break, but I’ll make sure no other man has the opportunity to do so. You’re mine.”
“I’m not yours,” she states, arguing with me with the most fucking delicate tone. “But you could well be mine.” She now grins, a lashing of wickedness dances across her entire face. “You should watch the promises you make because I may just help you break them.”
“After your little admittance the other night at the fight club, I don’t think so.” I notice a flash of pain lance in her eyes, but she’s quick to cover it up. “That was step one, you know?” I ask her, reaching to cup her chin to force her to look at me. “That moment you said those words was you breaking beneath me. It was just the start.”
Now, she can’t hold back the hurt. I smirk at her while, inside, I’m a mess of wayward emotions. If she wants to love me, then she can, but she shouldn’t wear her heart on her sleeve for me. It’s good that she’s finally seeing that.
“How do you know you can trust my every word?” she suddenly asks, catching me off guard. “You think you’re the only one playing a game here, Dante, but you’ve not taken a moment to see what game I am actually playing.” As she finishes talking, she pushes me away. “You shouldn’t trust a girl who doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”
She takes the card finally, opening the clutch I bought to match the dress, and slots the ace of hearts into it. She snaps the bag shut and looks up at me with a suave, collected look. The corners of her mouth begin to twitch, but she resists the smile.
“Now, what do I have to do tonight?” she asks, waiting for me to react. “Do I laugh at your jokes, pour my undying attention on you, allow you to place me on any pedestal you so wish?”
“You’ll be my queen,” I state, finally falling into rhythm with her. “I know you’re capable of playing that role without disappointing.”
“And if I do disappoint?”
“There’ll be hell to pay,” I remark, my words coming out dryly. “Now, shall we go downstairs?” I ask, putting my arm out for her.
“Lead the way, Mr. Valentino,” she says, threading her arm with mine. “I believe your people are waiting.”
“For tonight, little wolf, they’re your people, too,” I comment, catching a small smile creeping onto her placid expression.
As we descend the staircase, all eyes fall upon us. I feel Ryleigh tighten her grasp on my arm
, showing me she’s still uncomfortable with being the center of attention. But if she wants to be by side and at my peril, she’ll have to learn to love it quickly. I look at her just as she gazes up at me, and I offer her a reassuring wink. If I’m honest, I’ve never felt this at ease going to one of my grandfather’s parties. Never has a woman felt so right on my arm, but Ryleigh fits me like a puzzle piece. I guide her through the gazing crowd, knowing that before anything, I must greet my grandfather. If I don’t, then I’ll pay for it.
“Marcello,” I call out to my grandfather as he stands with his men.
“Dante, nice of you to finally grace us,” he replies, keeping a bitter smile on his lips. “What kept you so long?”
“I had business at the club to deal with before I picked up my date,” I state, pulling Ryleigh forward a little so she is directly by my side. “Marcello... this is Ryleigh Turner.”
“Ah, yes,” he utters, settling to take Ryleigh’s hand. “You’re the beauty everyone said you were, Miss Turner. I’ve heard about how you took down Shawn Gordinsky. You impressed a lot of men that night.”
“Just showing them that I am not like any other girl,” Ryleigh replies, allowing my grandfather to place a kiss on her knuckles. “It’s lovely to meet you, though, Mr. Valentino.”
“Marcello, please,” my grandfather corrects her politely. “For tonight, we are family.”
“Allowing young, naïve women into the family without a proper proposal are we, Marcello?” a voice creeps into the conversation from behind my grandfather, and it doesn’t take long for my eyes to befall upon Salvatore Abbiati. “I thought you knew better than that?”
“Any woman willing to get blood on her hands for one of my own is a woman willing to be a Valens for one or two nights without full-term commitment.” My grandfather’s face lights up at the thought. “I thought you’d agree with that, Sal, seeing as that daughter of yours has a way of making men fall at her feet in the deadliest of ways.”
Trigger (Pericolo #3) Page 15
