Chapter 39 Behind the Mask

Chapter 39 Behind the Mask


Jasmine:

“Hold still,” came Ana’s gentle but firm voice as she adjusted the final pin in my hair.

I sat in front of the vanity, watching her through the mirror as she worked with careful precision. The soft glow of the lights reflected off the delicate fabric of my dress, and the shimmer catching with every small movement.

Tonight felt… different. It was not like Nikolai’s usual events. There were no whispered threats beforehand, no tension in the air, no capos or mafias trying to show off.

It was just a normal masquerade ball with normal people… or at least, as normal as anything in Nikolai’s world could be.

Ana then stepped back, scanning me from head to toe. Then a small smile formed on her lips.

“You look really beautiful Miss Jasmine.”

I let out a quiet breath. “Thank you.”

She tilted her head slightly, studying me.

“Nikolai is lucky to have you.”

The words lingered longer than they should have. Lucky? If only she knew.

I reached for the mask resting on the table beside me. It was elegant, black with subtle gold accents, just enough to conceal but not enough to hide.

I lifted it slowly and placed it over my face. For a moment, I just stared at my reflection, and a stranger stared back. Keeping my true identity from everyone was one thing, but keeping Dante, the truth about my kidnap, was something dangerous and if Nikolai were to ever find out… I’d be dead.

I felt a flash of unease passing through me as that thought crossed. I didn’t know what to expect tonight. But one thing was certain. I needed to stay alert.

Moments later, Nikolai and I had arrived. The ballroom was alive. Music played as masked figures moved gracefully across the dance floor. People laughed, conversed, clinked glasses, it all just blended into something almost dreamlike.

My hand was in his, with Nikolai’s presence beside me steady and commanding. Even behind his mask, I could feel him. Most people in the room probably didn’t know who he was, but they moved aside for him as if they knew who he was. Eyes followed us. Perhaps power didn’t need a name here. It was felt.

A few minutes passed while I was quietly observing before a man approached us, a capo, judging by the way he carried himself.

“Don,” he said, inclining his head toward Nikolai. “A word?”

Nikolai glanced at me briefly, and I smiled.

“It’s fine,” I said softly.

I leaned in, pressing a light kiss to his lips.

“I’ll get us drinks.”

His hand lingered at my waist for a second before letting go.

“Don’t take long.”

I nodded and turned away. I had barely made it halfway across the room when a hand suddenly gripped my wrist and pulled me into the shadows.

My heart jumped. I turned sharply, and froze.

“Dante?”

His expression was hard… urgent.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered.

“No time,” he muttered. “Listen to me carefully.”

Something in his tone made my stomach drop.

“What is it?”

His eyes searched mine.

“He knows.”

“Who knows what?”

“Nikolai,” Dante said. “He knows who you are.”

My breath caught.

“No… that’s not possible.”

“If he didn’t,” Dante continued, his voice low and intense, “you’d already be dead for what your family did to his.”

My chest tightened. “What are you talking about?”

Dante stared at me like he couldn’t believe I didn’t know.

“Your father,” he said. “Your family.”

My heart started pounding.

“They killed his mother.”

His words hit like a physical blow.

“And put his father in a coma.”

I shook my head slightly, trying to process it.

“No… no, I—”

“You didn’t know,” Dante realised.

The shock in his voice matched mine. I felt like the ground had disappeared beneath my feet.

All this time… all this time I had been living in his house, in his bed, in his arms… and I had no idea.

Dante stepped closer.

“It doesn’t matter now,” he said firmly. “What matters is that he knows who you are.”

Fear crept up my spine.

“But if he knew… he would’ve—”

“Killed you?” Dante finished.

I swallowed.

“Yes.”

Dante’s jaw tightened.

“He’s probably too in love that’s why he’s still deliberating on that. And that’s what I’m trying to prevent.”

My mind raced. Nothing made sense anymore.

“Oh my God…”

“You need to leave,” Dante said. “Tonight if possible.”

I shook my head slightly.

“I can’t just—”

“You can,” he cut in. “And you will.”

His voice softened just a fraction.

“I’ve arranged everything. Meet me where I’m staying. We’ll go back to Italy before this turns into something we can’t control.”

Italy. A place I never thought I’d go back to in years. My chest ached at the thought.

“Dante…”

But he was already pulling back.

“Act normal,” he warned. “Don’t let him suspect anything.”

Then he disappeared into the crowd, leaving me alone, shaken, heartbroken, and terrified.

I stood there for a moment, forcing myself to breathe, to think.

If Nikolai knew… then everything between us, every touch, every word, every “I love you”. What did it mean? Was it all real? Or was I just… a target?

No. I couldn’t think like that. Not now, not in a place like this. I needed to be smart and careful, just like Dante said.

So I did the only thing I could. I walked to the bar, ordered two drinks, and forced my hands not to shake as I carried them back.

Nikolai was exactly where I had left him. Composed and unreadable. But now…I saw him differently. And I wondered what he saw when he looked at me.

I walked up to him, offering one of the glasses. Our fingers brushed, and his eyes lingered on mine.

Was it suspicion? Or was I imagining it?

I smiled to cover the thought.

“Thought we could use this.”

He took the glass slowly, still watching me. My heart pounded. Then I lifted mine slightly, clinking it gently against his.

“To you,” I said, my voice steady.

There was a small pause. Then I added, 

“Your La Prescelta.”

His expression shifted a bit. He was surprised for a second, then he smiled, and leaned in to kiss me.

The gesture looked perfect, convincing. To everyone watching. But I felt the tension beneath it. The unspoken truth between us. As we pulled apart, I glanced across the room.

On one side was Francesca, watching, her eyes filled with pure loathing.

And on the other, Dante. He was rigid, unhappy and almost… jealous. Our eyes met, just for a second.

Then I gave the smallest nod. It was a silent answer.

Yes.

When the time came, I would leave. Even if it broke me. Because now I knew the truth, and nothing between Nikolai and I would ever be simple again.