I could still feel the goose bumps on my skin even long after the party had ended, with Dante's last words still echoing in my ears. His voice ran deeper than usual, an unusual scruff encasing his voice that proved he truly wasn't bluffing.
And I do not bluff
Of course he doesn't bluff, he wasn't bluffing when he brutally divorced me five years ago and desperately clung to his slimy ex like it was his last life line. I could still see the dangerous glint in his eyes glaring at me, laying claim at what he had discarded years ago. He didn't what other men touching me, I didn't want other women touching him either but he went ahead to do whatever he pleased, just like he always did and I couldn't complain, I couldn't lay my own claim because I didn't matter.
Now that I was back better and prettier, he wanted me back. He didn't want me at my worst, what made him think he deserved me now that I was better. I knew I couldn't stay, not with him closer than ever now that Vivianna was getting married to his cousin. Not with the heat of his treacherous stare following me across the room, watching me and ready to chop of the hands of the man that dared to touch me.
I huffed immediately, pulling out the little box I traveled with and began piling my clothes back in when Vivianna barged into my room without even the decency of a knock, I stopped mid throwing a flannel shirt in the box and her expression mirrored mine – confusion.
"What are you doing?" she was still dressed in her party clothes, her dainty hand holding a bottle of wine which I assumed she was going to share with me but my selfish act was ruining the sister bonding. She held no wine glasses, so it was obvious she wanted to fill my head with stories of her doting fiancée while we drank straight from the bottle till our heads swam in the clouds.
"I'm sorry Viv – "
"You just got here and it's still like a week to the wedding, what the hell are you doing Helena?" she tried to keep her tone light but the undertone of annoyance was glaring brightly. I felt the pang of guilt in my chest, constricting and spreading to grab me by the throat but my need to be far away as possible from Dante was even more.
"I need to leave Vivianna, I can't stay – " I tried to stay but she cut through before I could go through with my words
"So what now? You're going to miss my wedding because you can't stand to be in the same room with your ex husband?" she was brutal, but did I deserve it? I guess so.
My face fell, my heart even broke further, how could I explain it to her that she'll understand that this wasn't about her. There were secrets – dangerous secrets that I wouldn't be able to keep if I kept flocking around Dante and giving him the opportunities to lay claim on me and I couldn't afford that because each passing second that goes by with me still being in Algreen Cove was extremely crucial.
"You still love him, don't you?" she blurted out, catching me off guard and I couldn't help the stutter.
"What – no – no I don't – it's complicated Vivianna"
She rolled her eyes, stepping further into the room and dropping the bottle on my night stand with a kind of resignation but I could still see the defiance in her eyes, the annoyance and the fact that she wasn't going to let go until I told her everything, but at the same time I couldn't tell her anything.
"It's complicated and I wish I could explain everything but I can't. You know how it is with the men in our town, a mere divorce is not going to keep Dante off my radar. I was once his wife and he is always going to see it that way"
"How about you just ignore him until after the wedding"
"It's not that simple" it was never that easy with men in our town, they were like scavengers, like predators and Dante's threat was as good as a promise. I couldn't let him deep his fangs into the suppleness of my flesh, I couldn't because I would let him and he would drag me through the fiery heat of hell – and I would let him.
Vivianna sighed, her eyes casting down with sadness but I dropped the flannel shirt into my opened box and rushed to her, taking her hands in mine, cupping the heat of my face with them and I could feel her resolve melting even though I knew she would never forgive me.
"So what now? When do you leave?" she looked at me
"Tomorrow, 3pm. I booked the flight already"
"Then you can stay for the wedding brunch tomorrow" she blurted out immediately and my mouth fell open, with no words escaping them. Her eyes bored into mine and she was daring me to say no. The words were just at the tip of my mouth, my blunt refusal, my utmost need to put my own need first, but I couldn't, not with those eyes daring me.
"It's the least you can do Helena, quick brunch and you can run away as far as you want" it was honestly the least I could do. Dante was going to be there, I was sure of it and taunting me with his presence. His piercing eyes watching me, following me with the darkness I had once loved but at the same time had pushed me further into the depths of hell, but I was going to ignore it.
I looked at her, she looked back at me and she was right. It was the least I could do so I nodded.
"And then when you're far away, you're going to tell me about this secret that is so terrible that you have to miss my wedding to hide it"
It was a short nod because I didn't mean it, how could I tell her and let anyone find out that five years ago, I had boarded the plane to Paris knowing fully well I was pregnant with Dante's child and worse part, I no longer had claims to the child because I wanted nothing to remind me of Dante.
How exactly could I tell her that, and risk Dante finding out.
How?