Chapter 3 - “I don’t care if you’re a monster.”
Dante stopped moving.
“Tonight, to my brother, you’re an angel.”
For several seconds he held her without dancing.
Something changed in his face.
Desire.
And something more painful.
“I’m no angel.”
His voice was rough.
“You should be careful about thanking people.”
Elena frowned.
“Sometimes…”
Dante’s eyes darkened.
“…the hand that feeds you is the same hand that starved you.”
Before Elena could ask what he meant, Dante released her.
The sudden loss of warmth felt physical.
“Guest bedroom.”
His tone became formal again.
“2nd door on the left.”
He looked toward the hallway.
“It locks.”
A pause.
“Use it.”
Elena stared at him.
“A car will take you to the hospital at 7:00 a.m.”
“You’re not…”
She looked toward the bedroom.
Dante understood.
“I told you what I wanted.”
He turned toward the city.
“A dance.”
“A conversation.”
His back remained toward her.
“The transaction is finished.”
Then:
“Sleep.”
Elena stood there for another moment.
Power surrounded him.
Yet he looked profoundly alone.
“Good night, Dante.”
He did not answer.
Elena went to the guest room and locked the door as instructed.
She lay beneath silk sheets worth more than most of her apartment furnishings.
May you like
Sleep never came.
She kept wondering why a man who appeared to own everything looked as if he had spent years asking forgiveness from someone who was not there.
Related Stories
