Chapter 38

Chapter 38
Veronica

He was actually scared, the big bad wolf was scared of a  Tilt-A-Whirl. A ride kids probably begged their parents to go on  at least five times a night. Even a two-year-old would hop on without thinking twice.

“That’s shocking. I bet those men you were negotiating with would love to know their terrifying Don is afraid of kiddie rides.” I laughed and his eyes flickered. 

It was not out of anger but as if he flushed. 

“I’ll pass. If you’re done we can go now.”

I laughed then jumped out, walking past him and towards the rest of the carnival. The place was bubbling with people and filled with so much life. I never expected someone like him to find interest in it. 

Maybe he didn’t.

We tried a few games after that—ring toss, balloon darts, the usual carnival stuff. I sucked at every single one.

“Cheater,” I grumbled when I missed for the third time and he landed all his rings in perfect silence. “You’ve obviously done this before. Or bribed the guy running the game. Admit it.”

Dante smirked as he took his tiny, ridiculous prize, some neon green plush toy that looked like a radioactive duck. He handed it to me with mock formality. “For your efforts, doll.”

I snatched it, pouting.

I was mid-rant, still sulking when I bumped into someone—hard. The ice cream collided directly with my nose.

“I’m sorry.” He quickly said. 

And then I turned, expecting to see Dante already there, already dragging the guy by the collar or throwing one of his scary threats. But instead I heard something else.

Low, deep and deadly intoxicating.

He laughed. Actually laughing. It was normal but it felt so drowning coming from him. 

I paused. Staring at him completely dazed. 

Snapping out. “You’re unbelievable. Where’s that threat you talked about earlier?” I muttered.

Finally, he stopped, handed me a handkerchief then leaned in slightly, voice low and warm against my ear. 

“Don’t worry, Principessa. If he had touched you on purpose, he’d be dead. I just figured you had that look—like you were seconds away from handling it yourself.”

I stared at him.

And for some stupid reason… I smiled.

After that, we grabbed funnel cake—hot, messy, and drowned in powdered sugar. I tried to be graceful about it, but two bites in and I already had sugar on my nose. Dante didn’t say anything, but I caught the tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth as he handed me another napkin.

For some unknown reason, I found myself… actually enjoying myself.

Enjoying him. It was strange. Insane, even. 

But I didn’t feel trapped like he was holding me against my will. It was different from all the other times, no others just free will. 

I didn’t know if I was plain crazy or just dating, but somehow I had a normal evening with a mafia Don who made my stomach flutter and churn at the same time. 

By the time the night ended, the car pulled up to take us back. I was sitting beside him—sticky with sugar, sore from laughing, and still gripping that stupid radioactive duck like it was a trophy.

And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like I was in a spot against my will. And he was all about control, at least the him I saw before now.

The car ride back was silent. But not as awkward as it was when we first came. 

I leaned my head against the window, fingers playing absently with the ridiculous green duck in my lap, and let the quiet stretch between us.

Thirty minutes later, the car came to a stop in front of my apartment.

To think, I hadn’t once thanked him for the apartment. It was hard to find a nice place so close to the city. But I knew I never did because I never wanted to feel indebted to him. The house, my mom’s, everything he’d done I made sure they redirected all the bills to me instead. 

I reached for the door handle, already halfway out when his hand shot out and wrapped firmly around my wrist.

I turned, breath slightly hitched from his hold. 

His eyes locked into mine, though they darkened along with his expression. 

“What I said last time—I meant it. Stay away from Lorenzo.”

The chill that slid down my spine was instant.

And just like that, the air changed.

That tone. I hated it so much. It was so commanding and possessive and made me feel controlled. 

My expression hardened as I yanked my hand away.

“I should’ve known. Was this evening  your way of trying to make me bend to your will? A different approach? Sweet talk me into submission?”

I stepped fully out of the car now, one hand on the door. “I don’t have to listen to you, Dante. I’ll do whatever I want.”

“Nice try, Dante. But it didn’t work.”

I tossed the duck inside the car. Then I slammed the door shut. Hard.

I didn’t look back as I walked to the entrance of my apartment building. 

I hated how easy I let myself  forget what he truly was. What he’d done. What he was capable of.  One night of pretending, games and I was sold that easily.  A stupid evening and suddenly the edges of him softened. But they weren’t really gone.

They were just tucked away beneath charm and money and moments that didn’t feel like cages. That was the thing about him. He made you feel like you had choices, like you were free to walk away, right until he reminded you that you weren’t. I should have known better. But still, I’d let myself believe it.

I closed the door behind me. I was back inside. Back to reality.

Back to where I still didn’t know what the hell I was doing—

But I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him control me.