Chapter 30 No sleep
Dante's POV
I had just about survived that conversation. All through what I would call that awkward conversation, I felt the pressure off her. I was a few seconds from finally ending this very eventful night then she just had to stop.
I stopped too with my left leg still hovering over the ground slightly. I turned to her slowly and spread my hands wide like what the hell is this now. "What happened? Why'd you stop?" I asked.
Serena didn't say a word at first. She just stared down at my trousers, then flicked her eyes back to mine, then down again—like she was putting together something in that little head of hers.
I glanced down too at my pants too, confused as shit. "What's the problem? Thought I explained everything already."
She shook her head slowly, then let out this dry, sarcastic laugh that prickled right under my skin. "I'm just wondering... why your zipper's down," she said slowly with her eyes down on my trousers.
My eyes shot wide open. Fuck.
I looked down quickly and sure enough, it was fucking open like the mouth of a damn fool. Heat crept up my neck, but I zipped it up fast and as casual as I could manage.
How the hell did I miss that? After Isabella, the rush out, the crash, it was certainly the last thing that could have come to mind.
For some reason, I had this strange feeling in my gut. Maybe, just maybe she could connect the dots, then figure out I'd been with someone else.
No. I couldn't let that blow up now.
"It's nothing," I said with a steady voice, brushing it off. "Must've slipped during the fight."
She laughed again. Pretty dry with no real humor behind it. "Slipped during the fight? That's the best you could come up with Dante?" She asked with a shake of her head.
Actually, now that I think of it, that's pretty lame.
I pondered to find something else but nothing came back, at last, I gave up with a shrug.
"Whatever," I said after my carefree shrug. Then I tried to play it cool. "Maybe forgot to zip after taking a piss. What's the big stress about it?"
"The stress is you're not telling the full story." She replied immediately, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes at me like she could see right through me.
And that's when it hit me, why am I entertaining this conversation?
Here I was, standing outside my own goddamn penthouse at the ass-crack of dawn, explaining a fucking zipper to her. Debating like we were equals, like she had any right to question me after the night I'd had.
Who the hell did she think she was? The girl I pulled from the hands of death, the one I claimed. My piccola, my possession. Not my partner. Not someone to grill me like this.
My voice hardened quickly, turning sharp and loud. "Whatever I do or don't do is my fucking business, not yours! Mind your place in this building!"
Her eyes went wide as her mouth flew open. She was probably preparing to shoot back with some defiant bullshit.
But I cut her off before she could get a word out. I grabbed her arm and yanked her close till our chest touched slightly.
I could feel her breath against my neck. Then I spoke through gritted teeth. "Don't forget the manner of our relationship. Never step beyond that."
Before she could say a word, I pushed her back firmly, careful not to let her stumble over, but enough to make the point stick.
"Dante—" she called as she stumbled back.
I took one last look at her widened eyes, noticing the quick flash of hurt crossing her face before she masked it. Then turned on my heel and stormed inside, rubbing my hair fiercely like it was the cause of my problems.
I slammed the door behind me as I entered, the sound echoed through the hallways. A few servants came rushing out at the loud bang sound. A few of them mumbled quick greetings with their eyes down while others just watched in shock.
I ignored them completely, storming past like they weren't there.
What the fuck was I doing out there, I thought. Trading words with her? She's just another girl. I pulled her ass from death, gave her a spot in my world, and now she's questioning me?
It's my fault entirely. I gave her too much rope, let her think she could pull this shit. Time to reel it in, set things straight. No more soft spots.
The clock on the wall caught my eye as I passed. 5:15 a.m.
"Shit," I cursed under my breath then headed straight for my personal room. The one I kept off-limits, my personal sanctuary.
No one stepped foot in there, not servants, not women. I had never slept with anyone on that bed. It was mine, sacred. Reasons why I left the other bedroom for her.
I pushed the door open, letting it bang against the wall. Then stripped down immediately, taking out my cracked up phone and dropping it on the bed. I need a new one.
I took off the jacket next, tossing it on the chair before ripping off the shirt and ignoring the slight pain from the bruises.
I kicked away with my shoes, then took down my trousers before taking off my shorts and standing naked in the middle of the room.
I walked around a bit to ensure all was in place before stepping into the shower and cranking the hot water to full blast. Steam fogged the glasses around as water poured down, burning my skin.
And consequently, it brought my pain out as it washed over the cuts and scrapes from the crash. My sides and legs burned while my shoulder hurt as I raised it to get the soap, But I could pretty much care less.
For all I care, let it hurt, let it wake me up.
I scrubbed everywhere more than I needed to till I felt my body frailing up. Only then did I rinse up and step out from the shower. I pulled the towel down roughly and dried off my body, holding in the pain as I went over the open injuries.
I cleaned up quickly, took out a set of fresh bandages and plastered them on the worst spots. Brushed my teeth and combed my wet hair back.
After so many hours, I finally felt human again, or close enough atleast. I laid down on the bed, not bothering to put on any clothes as I sunk into the mattress. It wasn't long again before sleep came flooding over me.
But just as I could feel myself slipping into that peaceful world, my phone by my leg rang violently, vibrating off the sheets.
"Arrghh!" I groaned angrily and rolled away from it.
I ignored it till it cut off. But it rang again. Cut and rang again.
I took a deep breath and forced myself up before angrily grabbing it off the bed. "Spero che sia importante, altrimenti?”