Chapter XVI

Dante slowly walked towards me. His gaze was cool and he looked me straight in the eyes. Oh God, if looks could kill. Now he was standing in front of me and the tip of his shoe touched the tip of my high heels.

That was definitely too close for me. He leaned forward and I felt his warm breath next to my ear.

Damn, I hope he can't hear my heartbeat.

"What will I find out after our wedding night at the latest?" he repeated his question now in a lighter voice.

"I'm still a virgin." Came out of my mouth. Wait a minute, I didn't really say that. Still dazed, I saw him straighten up again and look me in the eyes. No, I didn't say that. I mean, I would never have given him such information, even if it was true. A devilish grin now graced his lips.

Or did I? Oh no, I said it. How could I? What is wrong with me? This guy has removed my speech filter, I was sure of it.

"I hope so too, mia cara." He continued to look deep into my eyes. I could have slapped myself. Why does my wonderful brain stop working when he gets so close to me.

Suddenly he leaned over and put his hand close to my ear.

"Don't think that I believe those excuses for even a second." His whispers penetrated my ear canal in waves and gave me goosebumps.

"I don't care if you tell me your secrets, but you should know that I only have two rules. You already know the first one."

He was certainly speaking of his opinion that the esteemed gentleman should not repeat himself. But what was his second rule?

My curiosity covered the rising panic that was building up due to the tension between us and I was able to think clearly again.

Dante came a little closer so that his lip touched my earlobe.

"Tell me before I find out myself, that's my second rule. You've already broken the first one, so you better be more careful with this one."

Then he turned around and walked back down the hall.

I was still frozen, barely able to breathe.

"I said five minutes, you shouldn't make me wait again, otherwise you don't have to worry about your virginity anymore." He said before he disappeared from the hall.

After this sentence I immediately woke up from my trance and my astonishment gave way to the anger rising within me.

The creep didn't say that, did he?! Well, it was my own fault, how could I come up with such an excuse and then tell the truth. Who would lie by telling a different truth? And then he didn't even buy my excuse, or at least not that I should tell him this before the wedding night.

Lucca stood next to me and looked over at me in shock.

"You do realize that was just right for Oscar, right?" He shook his head in amusement and was about to walk past me when I stopped him.

To him, the whole thing looked like a love drama, he hadn't heard what his dear brother had whispered to me. And I would leave it at that!

"Promise me that you won't tell anyone. Ever." Luca turned to me again.

"If a woman prefers to talk about her virginity rather than her seizures, then it must be serious."

He grinned at me. Great, I'm amusing the whole family. Then his expression became serene again.

"I promise, but I still think you should tell him, because sooner or later he'll find out anyway."

I pushed that thought away and went to the patio door. I didn't see Luca anymore; he had vanished into thin air. On the patio I bumped into a hard chest. I knew that tonight wasn't going to be a good evening, but my nerves were starting to fray. I looked up and there stood a brown-haired man with equally brown eyes. If my life hadn't turned into a nightmare tonight, I would be happy about the number of men I keep meeting.

"Signorita Romanov, Signore Martinelli is waiting for you." Great, now Dante is sending for me. Oh God, his threat from before comes back to mind. My legs tingled for a moment at the thought.

"And you are?" I asked the man in front of me to distract myself.

"Pablo Signorita, I am Signore Martinelli's right-hand man." I rolled my eyes.

"You don't have to call him Signore Martinelli, I know his first name, Dante is enough."

He just nodded and with a "Very well, Signorita" he told me to follow him.

When is this evening going to end? I haven't greeted a single guest yet and I could already hide in a hole in the ground.

I saw Dante standing opposite an older couple. When he saw me he held out his hand to me.

Very nice, now the gentleman wants to hold hands too, as if I hadn't been punished enough today.

I surrendered to my fate and took his hand. It was warm and soft and oh God, what am I thinking? He pulled me towards him and separated our hands to put his hand on my hip.

"Darling, I'd like to introduce you to my uncle Angelo and my aunt Marcella, you already know their son Fabio." His grip tightened when he took Fabio's.

I smiled at them both and took his uncle's outstretched hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Signore and Signora Martinelli, I'm Anastasia."

Then I shook his wife's hand too.

"Oh, child, please call us by our first names and you, we'll be a family soon."

I just nodded. They were really nice and their smiles seemed genuine and friendly. At least there was no further awkwardness here.

Valeria suddenly appeared next to Marcella and greeted them both as well. The three of them fell into a conversation about the last family reunion, so I switched off and looked around.

I felt a warm breath on my ear and shortly afterwards Dante's deep voice rang out.

"If I had known that my threat would bring you to me so quickly, I would have said it much earlier."

I pushed him away in outrage, which only earned me a deep laugh from him.

I think that was the first time I've heard him laugh so carefree and of course it was at my expense.

Valeria and the other two left us alone and went inside the pavilion. Will I make it that far this evening? So far I've never got further than the garden.

Dante pulled me close again and got my attention back on him. I was just about to free myself when I heard a voice. Pablo had come to stand next to Dante. The two of them spoke in Italian until Dante turned to me.

"You already know Pablo. He is my best friend and right-hand man. If something happens and I'm not there, he's the first person you turn to." He didn't make it sound like a recommendation, but rather like an order. Great, the old Dante is back. I was already worried. I just rolled my eyes.

Pablo gave me a quick nod, which I responded to with the same gesture.

"Daaaante, there you are." And I had already wondered why it was so quiet. The snake came strutting towards us, swinging its hips more violently than the stern of the Titanic.

"Leonora," said Pablo with a disgusted undertone.

I think Pablo and I might become good friends after all. I just have to get rid of this Signore and Signorita thing.

The snake pushed itself between Dante and Pablo and hacked into Dante.

"I'm bored, babe. Let's get out of here."

If the old woman doesn't shut her mouth right away, she'll disappear without a trace.

I couldn't understand Dante's answer because at that very moment Marco appeared next to me and held a piece of cake under my nose.

"Cake?" He asked me knowingly and winked at me. I could kiss him for this nerve food.

I took the plate from him and also the fork that he pulled out of his pocket. Marco looked at me apologetically and amused at the same time.

I looked at the fork skeptically for a moment, but decided not to think about it any further.

The chocolate cake melted on my tongue and I simply blocked out everything else.

"Oh, darling, comfort eating has never helped anyone, I mean it only damages your hips, although..."

The Barbie examined my hips critically until she saw Dante's hand, which he still had around me. She gave me a nasty look before she continued.

"Do you know what helps me when I'm sad?" she asked hypothetically.

Before I could even get a word in, I heard Marco's voice next to me.

"A bottle of Moet and a new pack of batteries?"

I choked on my cake. I hadn't expected such a dirty sentence. Marco and Pablo laughed, while Dante just had a dirty grin on his face. With anyone else, I might have stood up for them, but in front of me stood the idiot himself. The spawn of hell. So I took my hand and clapped Marco.

The snake turned bright red, I'm telling you, spawn of hell, and punished Marco with a venomous look before storming off.

"We're rid of them for now," he whispered to me after he had calmed down from his fit of laughter.

The rest of the evening was quiet. We greeted the rest of the family and business partners. But I wouldn't remember all of their names quickly. I mean, how can you have such a big family?

After most of them had left, Dante accompanied me to my room. At the door I turned to him. A few moments passed in which we simply looked at each other. In my head I was already playing through all the incitements, lectures or reprimands that he could throw at me. This man hardly managed to let a second pass without nagging me or my behavior.

But the silence between us didn't end.

I looked expectantly into the deep blue of his eyes again, but found nothing but peace there.

Then he cleared his throat and wished me good night before he went on.

In my room I changed and fell onto the bed.

I just can't figure out this man.

I went back to reviewing the evening when my thoughts stopped at the conversation with Luca.

Oh God, the wedding night.