Chapter 118 The Bet
Dante POV
I spent most of the week at work because I had a double hit involving two brothers and
apparently they were leading a trafficking point near the harbor and shipping girls from Italy to America before they were put on a new
transport ship to France.
I was paid extra to make them suffer and so they didn’t die from bullets but torture.
Having the work was a respite for me because forgetting about Isabella wasn’t easy but It wasn’t possible, actually.
When I returned to home, I almost considered going back to France and starting over because this city reminded me of her, and I hadn’t stepped foot inside her art room at my apartment because I couldn’t bear to look at her leftover supplies and easels.
I couldn’t stand to see her absence. It’d been over a month, and I hadn’t been with another woman. The idea didn’t sound appealing to me, but now that I knew we were truly finished, I knew I had to get back out there.
Sinking into warm pussy might make me feel better even if that pussy wasn’t hers.
Rex called me when I’d been home for about an hour. “How’d it go?”
“The same as usual.”
“So you got both brothers?”
“Yeah.”
“And documentation to prove it wasn’t a swift kill?”
“Got it on video.”
“Great, so what are you up to? Catching up on sleep?”
I hated sleeping because I thought about her until the darkness descended and then I dreamed of her beautiful eyes and part of me wished I could erase her completely so I could move on with my life but I knew I would never want to lose those memories.
“I’m going out. Hitting a bar or something.”
I could pick up a woman, fuck her, and try not to think about Isabella, just to get the first lay out of the way.
It would get easier after that. “I’ll join you. It’s been a while since we’ve done something besides talk about work.”
“You know that’s all we ever talk about.”
Rex and I got inside quickly and moved through the crowd of people.
Women wore heels and short dresses and the guys were dressed in collared shirts and slacks.
I wore a t-shirt despite how cold it was outside, wanting to show off my ink and It was always a conversation starter.
We hit the bar and ordered our drinks. “Did they beg?” Rex asked.
“They always beg.” I skipped the beer and immediately went for scotch, needing something stronger these days.
Beer just didn’t cut it anymore as my arms rested on the bar, I spotted a woman in the corner with dark hair and brown eyes, she reminded me a little of Isabella. She had a petite waistline in her skintight black dress, long legs, and an obvious aura of confidence.
She was definitely my type. “I just got the funds into my account. I’ll wire them to you in the morning.”
“Works for me, no rush.” I didn’t just do that kill for the money but for the distraction and when my eyes turned back to the woman, I saw her looking into my eyes, her brown eyes settled on mine, warm like coffee in comparison to the ice in mine.
Her friends continued the conversation, but
she seemed more interested in me.
“So, what’s up with you and Isabella?”
The mention of her name shattered my eye contact and I turned back to Max, no longer thinking about the woman I would probably take home tonight.
“I’m not seeing her anymore.”
“You aren’t?”
I shook my head. “We’re over.”
He stared at me in surprise, both of his eyebrows raised. “You alright?”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, my voice packed with bitterness and pain. “So…you aren’t alright.”
“She doesn’t want to be with me, and that’s just fine. She can do whatever she wants.”
He patted me on the back sympathetically.
“I’ve never seen you be with one woman for so long and I know this must be tough for you.”
“I’m fine,” I said for the millionth time. “I’m going to find a beauty to take home tonight, and I think I already know who it’s going to be.”
“Yeah?” he asked. “Who?”
I nodded to the corner. “Brunette in black, she’s got curly hair.”
Max turned to the bar and took a drink as his eyes flicked in her direction. “You’re right. She’s cute.”
“She’s more than cute.”
He turned back to me. “Then go for her.”
“I’m gonna wait a bit. If I move too quickly, it comes off desperate.”
“I guess.”
“What about you?” I asked. “See anyone you like?”
He leaned against the counter and looked across the packed bar, seeing people gathered around the tables and couches. The lights were low, and some women were wearing dresses that were so short their ass cheeks hung out. I liked seeing skin, but not everything.
“There’s too many to choose from,” he said. “I’ll wait until a lady comes to me.”
“Like that will ever happen.”
He shot me a glare. “A woman will come to me quicker than they’ll come to you.”
“You willing to put money on that?”
“Hell yeah.” He extended his hand. “three hundred bucks.”
I took his hand. “You’re done.”
“Alright.” Rex drank his beer again, a slight smirk on his face and my eyes moved to the brunette making eyes at me, but she was gone and her friends were gone too.
They probably moved to another place in the club or maybe another guy made a move or she’d forgotten me as quickly as she noticed me.
I turned in another direction, and that’s when I noticed she was coming my way, her eyes were locked on me and she had a nice smile, perfect teeth contrasting against red lipstick.
“Looks like you owe me three hundred bucks.”
He didn’t register my words because he seemed more absorbed in something else going on near the entryway. “I’m pretty sure Isabella just walked in here.”
I immediately severed eye contact and looked over my shoulder. My heart quickened instantly because I needed more blood to my muscles, needed more adrenaline to the rest of my body even without seeing her, just the
idea of her presence stole my complete attention. “Where?”
“She’s wearing teal. She’s with two other girls.”
My eyes found the only woman wearing teal, and I confirmed what he had just said, It really was her.
My first instinct was to walk away and blow her off and head to Isabella but then I remembered that us being in the same room together didn’t change anything because we were over.
This was my life now, so I was here to pick up a woman, and she was here to pick up a guy.
As depressing as it was, it was the truth and I had to let it be. Rex turned his gaze back to me. “What are you going to do?”
I watched the woman get closer and closer, eagerness written all over her face. “I’m going to win this bet.”