Chapter 40 Paying Her a Visit
Dante's POV
I watched as she warmed herself into my touch. It was a sensitive topic, I knew that very well and even though I couldn't see why, I knew the effect it would have on her, especially after everything.
My arms stayed loosely around her waist even though I had lost that spark. She pressed her back into me, pulling out that warm feeling against my chest.
She tilted her head a bit to have a clearer view of my face and had that playful spark in her eyes. "Oh, and where are we going today, daddy?"
I didn't jump to answer immediately. The words got stuck somewhere in my throat, piercing through me as I fought to bring them out.
How do you drop news like this after a morning like ours? After finally connecting without the usual walls, after a slow and passionate moment. She'd laughed, talked without her usual walls. Why ruin that now?
But holding it back from her any longer felt wrong too. Would be such a scene if she only got to know when we landed. I took a deep breath and kept it gentle still. "Get dressed."
Then stepped away, heading straight for my crumpled clothes pile from last night. I had tossed carelessly on the floor.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw her staring at me with a pretty heavy look.
"What is it?" She finally asked.
I ignored her and pulled on my trousers slowly, zipped up and then turned back to her. Her face had shifted from the bright and happy smile to a grim look again.
I ran a hand through my hair, messing it up more. "We are going to see your mother."
Serena's POV
"We are going to see your mother."
The words invaded my ears like a distant whisper. I almost felt it coming from outside. Or did I hear that right? I felt like my ears were playing tricks on me.
When I noticed they weren't. I waited for the punchline or some quick joke to follow. But nothing. I turned to his face and there was no grin, no "I'm just kidding" look on his face. His grim look met me painfully.
He was just standing there with a dead flat expression and no smile to soften the blow. I refused to believe it still, I waited a second longer. My heart was already picking up the beat, but there was still nothing.
So slowly, I turned to him. "Wait, what did you say?"
He held my gaze for a second longer before dropping his eyes to the floor and the message hit like a punch in the gut. I turned away quickly, cursing under my breath, "shit."
Then I cursed louder, "shit!"
But I couldn't bring myself to say anything else. I went back to rubbing cream over my body, my hands moved like they had a mind of their own while my actual mind was frying fast.
Questions piled up at every corner, how did he find her? Where exactly did he find her? Why spring it up now, after all this time? But they remained where they were, stuck in my throat, too heavy to let out. I didn't want to push, not with that look saying back off.
I slipped on my underwear, pretending like he wasn't just a few steps away from me. It was a simple black set, nothing fancy.
I caught the sight of him stepping closer to me, just in trousers and a slim fit singlet that clung to his frame. "I know you have a lot of questions."
"Why are you just telling me now?" I burst out immediately, losing my grip over my mind.
"I didn't know how to since I got the info. And besides, I didn't want to ruin the moment," he replied calmly.
I shook my head, feeling the anger boil up. "You should've told me."
He nodded once, not protesting.
I rolled my eyes at his casual behavior and turned away. "Where is she?"
"The team found her somewhere in Peru. The exact location was sent to my system. We'll be heading there on my jet," he explained.
"And Nico?"
"He'll be coming with us, and a few men of course."
I hummed low, still trying to hold down my emotions. Peru? After three years... what if she's moved on? What if she's not alone? What if she doesn't want to see me again?
"Okay," I managed to give back to him in response.
He went silent for a while and we just stood there awkwardly. I could tell he wanted to say something and I didn't want to push it.
Then he stepped forward weirdly. "I know how hard this may be for you," he said unnaturally.
I sat on the edge of the bed and buried my face into my hands. Those words coming from him just irritated me the most. "You don't understand anything," I gritted out.
"No, I understand how you feel."
That was it. After everything, he thinks he can just pretend to get it? "No, Dante, you don't!" I yelled. I paused, realizing that I'd just yelled at him. "No offense, but thank you for arranging this. I'm fine. Let's get it done with already."
He nodded slowly and turned, walking out without another word.
Now alone, everything came crashing down on me. The tears pricked hot at the corners of my eyes.
Why now? After last night's mess, why snap at him when things were looking better? I rubbed my eyes roughly and pushed it all down.
I got up, dressed up in a red fancy silk gown that hugged my curves perfectly. It had a low V-neck, dipping just right without showing too much, long sleeves hanging loosely to my wrists with the hem falling mid-calf with a side slit.
I paired the dress with black strappy heels, high ones. I kept my hair in loose waves, framing my face with them and applied light makeup.
After everything, I was ready to face the woman who pushed me out three years ago. For a second, I considered packing a bag, but I kicked against the idea. I won't spend an extra night there.
I stepped out afterwards, my nerves tingled under my skin as I made the long walk to the elevator. I met Dante along the hall. His eyes widened at the sight of me like he hadn't expected me to clean up nice, before he masked it quickly. Typical Dante.
"You look great," he managed instead.
"Thank you," I replied softly. Then I admired his look too.
Coincidentally, he was dressed in a red suit jacket that fitted over his broad frame perfectly and a black shirt underneath with the top button undone casually and no tie. The red pants matched perfectly with the black polished shoes.
"You look great too," I offered back and he nodded. It was a bit awkward between us but I'm sure we'll find a way around it soon.
We headed to the elevator together and as the doors slid open, I remembered my phone.
"Shit," I cursed and turned around quickly. "I forgot my phone, I'll be back quickly."
And I hurried back without waiting for his response. It was terribly hard to run in these heels as I nearly twisted an ankle but I got there in one piece.
I searched the room quickly for the phone, from the bedside, then under pillows. Then ultimately found it on the table.
And as I picked it up, the screen flashed on and a message popped up. A message from the mystery guy.