FaCade (Deception #1)

by D H Sidebottom

  “That’s it baby, sing for me,” he whispered in my ear when I released a long groan of pleasure. I couldn’t help it, it was the only way my body could deal with the overload of gratification Dante always gave me with his touch.

  The boat slowed then come to a stop as we pulled into a small jetty. Dante slid his fingers from me then brought them to his mouth and slowly ran his tongue up the two fingers that had been inside me before he slipped them fully between his lips and sucked them. His eyes closed and he sighed almost contentedly. “I’m sure nothing will taste as good as you tonight.” He smiled when he climbed from the boat and held out his hand to help me step clear.

  I nodded, a shiver racing through me. I could feel the flush on my cheeks. The dazed look I knew I wore was the reason for the small smile that erupted into a humorous grin on his face. He winked at me as he gripped my hand and led me up the dock. “Now it’s time to feed you.”

  I sighed. I had fooled him. We were inland. The boyish grin on his face was such a contradiction to the other side of him, the unpredictable side; yet like this, the playful, happy Dante, made my heart swell in my chest. This is who I could believe I had fallen in love with. However, I blinked and frowned to myself when I realized he’d never told me he loved me. Did he?

  The discovery caused me to stumble slightly. Dante grabbed me harder, halting my fall. “Jelly legs?” He laughed.

  “Yeah.” I nodded with a forced smile. “Something like that.”

  I couldn’t keep my hungry eyes in my head as we meandered up a few streets, the cobbled road under my heels generating a few more stumbles. Dante held me up, his arm secure around my waist.

  “Where are we?” I asked as I peered into numerous shop windows. He didn’t answer me and I turned to him. He smiled but still didn’t answer. “Dante, where are we?” I repeated, to be greeted with more silence.

  I shook off the anger at his ignorance and continued to keep my attention on the variety of goods adorning the mass of stores along our journey. Large stones, a pretty blue in color with specks of red were displayed in every single window and I assumed it to be specific to the island. Pebble jewelry and ornaments incorporated it. I needed to get online, which Dante had so far refused, to find this stone’s origin.

  Dante led me across the road and into a small door. The lighting was subdued, almost too low as we walked through another door. We were welcomed immediately by a tall man in a black suit. “Mr. Troy,” he greeted with what sounded like a French accent, thrusting his hand towards Dante.

  I frowned as my gaze roamed the entirety of the room. It was completely empty apart from a couple sat at the back and two men engrossed in conversation at a center table.

  “Bernard.” Dante smiled widely, taking the man’s hand in his. “Thank you for doing this.”

  “It is my pleasure, sir.” He turned to me with a large toothy smile. “Miss.” He swept a hand out to the side, towards the middle of the room. “If you’d care to follow me, your table is ready.”

  Dante pressed a hand to my lower back and directed me after Bernard who led us towards a small round table to the back of the room. It didn’t escape my notice we were also seated away from the front of the restaurant and windows.

  A man stood from his table when we passed. Dante stiffened so much I thought his spine was going to snap in two.

  “Well, well. Good evening, Troy.” He turned his sneer to me and I shivered. “And your lovely fiancé. Star, isn’t it?” He was mocking me for some reason.

  “Yes, sir,” I answered politely. He knew me as Star…

  His gaze roamed my body, a sickening smirk on his face. “Out for dinner?”

  What the hell was this guy’s problem? What did he think we were doing there?

  Dante slid his fingers around my arm. I winced when they tightened to bruising point. “Yes, Davies. Now if you’ll excuse us, we would like our privacy. If we had wanted company, I would have made sure not to alert you to it anyway.”

  It was my turn to stiffen this time with Dante’s harsh tone and harsher words.

  Fury covered Davies’ face but Dante didn’t wait for him to reply before he continued to lead me over to our own table. I gawped at him but he appeared completely relaxed, smiling at me as he pulled out my chair for me to sit.

  After we were seated, Bernard lifted the bottle of champagne out of the bucket on the table and proceeded to fill our glasses before he placed it back in the ice then left us to it. I scanned our surroundings again to check for more people, an exit maybe I could slip out of. I could find somewhere safe and then call Dante to tell him I needed time.

  Dante smiled at me over the rim of his glass, and as if sensing my question, he answered before it was asked. “I paid for us to have privacy but Davies. He’s a hanger-on. With you being in the public eye, and because he knows me, he thinks it entitles him to some of the notoriety. He’s a fame hungry vulture.”

  Nodding and forcing a smile, I tipped the glass and took a sip of bubbly. It hit my stomach and forced its way back up instantly. I spluttered, coughing like a fool and spitting the yellow liquid all over the table.

  Dante shot up, his hand gently slapping my back. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded, laughing lightly to hide my embarrassment. “I think it went down the wrong hole.”

  He continued to rub my back for a while before he sat back down and stared at me across the table. The conversation was stilted and I gazed around the room, giving my thoughts something other than Dante and Delia to focus on, but they struggled to remain inside me, like the champagne. I snapped my eyes to his and bit the bullet. “Why were you putting your shirt back on when you came out of that building with Delia?”

  His eyes widened before they darkened and a small tic twitched furiously in his cheek. He leaned forwards on the table, his fist propping up his chin as he glared at me. “Have you been spying on me, Belle?”

  “What? No, the studio window looks directly over that way, I couldn’t really miss it… or the way Delia made sure I saw her slip her panties back up her fucking legs!”

  He blinked at me in confusion. “What?”

  “Oh, don’t deny it, Dante. I saw you both. The smug bitch made sure she had my attention, a dirty fucking smile on her ugly fucking face as she shimmied them over her legs.”

  I lifted my chin proudly. Wow, I was feisty. I liked it.

  His confused expression morphed into one of humor. He tipped his head, studying me intently. “I do believe you’re jealous.”

  My mouth popped open. “Of course I’m jealous. You’re my fiancé… or so you keep telling me. Forgive me if I’m wrong but I actually thought when you’re marrying someone that makes you kind of exclusive. I’m not into open relationships, Dante. Nor will I ever be!”

  I couldn’t work out if he wanted to laugh or smack the living hell out of me. He was silent for a while, his eyes dark and intense, making me squirm as I waited for his reaction. I knew this relationship was far from normal, but shit, any other woman who watched the man they were about to marry walk out of a building putting his shirt back on while a bitch pulled on her panties had a right to be fucking mad.

  My body stiffened instinctively when Dante slowly stood up and walked around the table. I kept my body braced for his fury, my eyes fixed on the table as my teeth furiously savaged my bottom lip. I gasped when he dropped to his haunches beside my chair.

  “Star.” I swallowed hard before I shifted my gaze to him. His face was soft, causing me to frown. Was it part of his game; give me a false sense of security before he beat the feisty out of me? “Baby, I have never, nor will I ever in this lifetime or the next slip my dick into the doc.” He took my hand, running his thumb softly over my knuckles. “Yes, she has a thing for me… I mean who wouldn’t?” he joked. “And the only reason I was slipping my shirt back on was because Delia is using me as a guinea pig for one of her drug trials.” My brow creased when he stood up, slipped his jacket off then started to unbutton his shirt
. He turned marginally and lifted his arm. A small suturing stitch sat just below his armpit. As though checking it was real, I reached up and ran my finger gently over it.

  “Oh.”

  He lifted a brow. “Are we okay now?” He re-dressed then slid back into his seat, continuing to watch me as he took another drink.

  “Why was she slipping her panties back on?”

  A waitress appeared beside us and I blinked up at her as though she’d appeared out of thin air. Heat flooded my cheeks, hoping she hadn’t overheard my question. She turned to smile at me. One of the plates slid from her hands and crashed onto the floor, her mouth as wide as the area the food covered on the plush carpet. “Oh my God,” she choked out. “It’s…”

  “What the fuck?” Dante exploded as he shot upright. “You stupid bitch!”

  Bernard hurried over, his round head shaking from side to side. “Gabrielle!” he barked. “Clean this mess up at once!” He turned to Dante, his palms crushed together as though he was praying… maybe he was. “I’m so, so sorry, Mr. Troy. Gabrielle is feeling a little under the weather today.”

  “Miss Avery,” Gabrielle whispered.

  “Miss Avery!”

  Someone shouted from the masses as I stepped out of the limo. Cameras went off everywhere, their flashes blinding and somewhat annoying. “Faye!” various people screamed as I placed my feet on the long red carpet.

  “I love you!”

  “Please, marry me.”

  “You’re so beautiful!”

  “Faye!”

  “Faye, can I have your autograph?”

  I blinked furiously at the screams, the lights, the noise, the atmosphere, all of it overwhelming but usual.

  “Keep moving, Faye,” Frank urged as he slipped an arm around my waist and directed me into the building, Tony flanking the other side as Dave led our group.

  “Good evening, Miss Avery,” the head of house greeted, her large, white toothy smile almost as blinding as the camera lights. “If you’d care to follow me, I’ll show you to your seat.”

  We continued behind her as she looked over her shoulder to me. “I must say, I’m rather excited about this showing.”

  I smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  “We’ve seated you next to Mr. Troy.” She gave me a wink and I clenched my teeth.

  Frank’s arm tightened. “Keep it in, Faye. They don’t know nothing, it’s just gossip.” I nodded without looking at him. I liked Frank, he was a father figure, a friend, and I trusted him implicitly.

  A woman rushed out from nowhere and before I could blink I was covered head to toe in a mass of what looked and smelled like egg and milk.

  “You whore!” she spat. “You will burn in hell!”

  My eyes, although sticky, widened on her when Frank and Tony wrestled her to the ground. Security guards from everywhere stormed the foyer.

  “A woman’s body is holy, she must never reveal its secrets,” she continued to rant as they pulled her away. “You spill your secrets to the world. You are going to hell!”

  I smiled at her and rolled my eyes. “For fuck’s sake,” I murmured with a weary sigh to Frank. “Anyone would think I’d filmed a porno.”

  He chuckled, his head shaking from left to right. “You never know, Faye. Things might be looking up.”

  I elbowed him in the ribs, his laughter growing as Theo rushed over to us. Frank’s laugh stopped immediately as his body tensed. “Oh watch out, here comes, Jack.”

  I shushed him, trying to hide the giggle at his Jack the Ripper nickname he had christened Theo with.

  “What the hell happened here?” Theo barked at our escort.

  “Someone needs to help Miss Avery out of her ruined dress,” a voice said from behind me. I tried to hide the smile from my face before I turned to see my fiancé looking at me with a quirked brow. I knew he found all this amusing and I glared at him.

  “Thank you, Mr. Troy. I’ll get right to it. Please excuse me.”

  “Are you sure you can manage on your own?” he asked, his eyes lit with laughter as they roamed over my now yellow and white red dress. “There are a few guys out there who would love to help.” He gestured with his thumb to the crowd outside.

  “You smell adorable,” he whispered in my ear when he leaned into me. I shook my head and sighed.

  “Be grateful I’m not jumping you here in the foyer.”

  His tongue pushed into his cheek as he nodded. “I’m game, baby.”

  “Ssh.” I giggled as I followed our escort’s lead into one of the side rooms. Her eyes and ears didn’t miss a thing.

  “You and Mr. Troy make an adorable couple,” she gushed as she helped me out of my dress.

  “We’re just friends,” I said quickly.

  “Of course you are.” She winked back at me.

  “For fuck’s sake!” Dante’s loud voice broke me from the memory. “Get this cleaned up and bring us some more food.”

  Bernard nodded eagerly. “Yes, thank you, sir. The meal, of course, is now on the house.”

  “I should think so. And don’t expect a recommendation!” Dante fumed. I blinked, looking around for our waitress but she had disappeared.

  “I’m so sorry, baby.” Dante growled. “I wanted tonight to be special.”

  My gut twisted at the tone in his voice, it was angry but also sad. “It will be.” I smiled at him, I was learning who I was. “It was only the starter. By the time we get to dessert, Bernard will need a new carpet.” I winked at him, trying to lighten the situation.

  His lips twisted before he started to chuckle. “Then I think we need to get to the main course.”

  I frowned at him. “I need a starter first.”

  He ignored me and stood up, pulling his jacket back into place. I stared wide-eyed, my jaw dropping when he took a big breath and dropped to one knee by my side. He took my hand and slowly looked up at me.

  “I know we’re already engaged but I need to do this, to once again signify our relationship. We’ve been together since the beginning of my memories, Star. I can’t lose you, I refuse to lose you. I know the past few weeks have been… challenging and I promised, as I still promise, to get us through to our future. Because that’s all I see, a future with both of us in.”

  My heart thundered in my chest. My throat was restricted, making it difficult for my lungs to do their job. My mind was a chaotic mess, making everything hazy and dreamlike. He reached into his inner pocket and retrieved a small blue velvet box. When he flicked the lid open, I peered at the gold band, a huge blue sapphire glued to the top. It was hideous. It wasn’t me or my taste. I recognized my memories failed me but I knew I would never have gone for anything so gaudy.

  “What…?” I took a deep breath. “Where’s the other ring?”

  He blinked at me, his teeth grinding so hard I could hear the scrape of them over each other. But he ignored my question. “Marry me, Star. Give yourself to me, all of you. Show me you love me.”

  His selfish proposal stuck in my throat. What happened to his previous adoring one, the one my memories actually allowed me to remember? His loving words, his worship as he slid the ring onto my finger down a piece of string?

  “I want you to propose like you did last time. When the time is right. When I know who I am.” I hadn’t wanted to say it but my brain hadn’t told my mouth.

  “Like last time?” He echoed my words, his eyes turning black as his face paled. His eyes were curious, almost accusing as his head tipped to the side and he scrutinized me like I had stabbed him in the back.

  I nodded faintly, aware I had pushed too far.

  “I remembering little by little. I remembered a number earlier when you answered it’s all coming back Dante I just need more time.” To stall! I didn’t voice the last part. He stood up slowly, his action causing my body to brace itself. He brushed at his suit, his fingers sweeping the material as though removing lint that wasn’t there.

  “You know,” he said quietly, too quietly. “T
he previous proposal is forgotten, Star. I don’t care how I proposed last time; I was trying to make a fresh start here.” His voice was growing louder, his tone deeper, his fury higher. “But as usual, you have to spoil it, just like you ruin every other – fucking – thing – I – try – to – do.” I squealed loudly when he snatched a large handful of my hair and hauled me out of the chair. “I’m sick and tired of your selfishness.” My hands lifted to his as I tried to prise my hair from his fingers, the pull burning my scalp. My knees thudded on the floor as he dragged me across the room.

  Bernard stared at us with shock, his huge round eyes and the other diners’ following our journey out of his restaurant. Davies smirked as though amused at my refusal.

  “Dante,” I hissed when my knees scraped over the cobbles. I attempted to stand, but his powerful hold pushed me back to the floor. “I will,” I cried. “I’ll marry you. I’m sorry.” My hands clawed at the stones beneath me until I resembled a dog on all fours scurrying along beside him.

  He scoffed and shook his head. “I’m not sure I want you anymore. You’re nothing but a selfish whore! And in front of fucking Davies of all cunts to be there. He will find this so funny!”

  “I’m sorry!” I choked out as tears blinded my way, not that I needed to see where I was going with Dante’s stern navigation. A man outside a bar, smoking, gawped at us as we passed.

  “Hey!” he shouted. “Are you okay?”

  Dante stilled immediately then turned, his body tensing further. “Keep out of this.”

  The guy stepped forward. “You’re hurting her. She’s not a dog!” His voice was low, accusing but confident. “Let her go and we’ll forget all about this.”

  Dante scoffed, a cold chill emanating from him. “I don’t think we will forget all about this.” Malik suddenly appeared behind us. Where the hell had he come from?

  I gasped as the guy held up his hands when Malik pulled out a gun and trained it on the guy’s head. “Whoa!”

  “Malik!” I wheezed. “What are you doing?”

  His eyes shot to mine and his brow creased as he struggled with his own actions. He shifted his gaze to Dante, then back to the random. “Go back inside if you want to continue living.”