Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
CHAPTER 8
Emilia
“Shit,” I mumble under my breath.
“What is it?” Zoe asks.
It’s only then that I notice I’ve grabbed hold of my best friend’s hand with a death grip. I should let go, but having her close helps calm me. Instead, I loosen my grip and then tug on our hands until she follows my lead and helps me hide them behind us. I don’t know why I first started having panic attacks, but luckily, Zoe understands. I try to keep them hidden from everyone I can. I lean close to Zoe and whisper in her ear.
“Dante is heading over this way.”
“Can we make a break for it?” she asks, and I can hear the annoyance in her voice. She alone knows how pushy Dante has become. He’s like ancient compared to me. I think he’s almost thirty. Though, I haven’t really cared to find out. I have no interest in Dante—even if he was my age. He’s so slimy that he makes my skin crawl. Sometimes, when he looks at me it feels like I’m naked. It makes me want to run and hide.
“Too late,” I groan.
“Emilia, you look beautiful tonight.”
I force myself to turn and face Dante. “Thank you.” I can hear the way my voice trembles and I hate it. I need to be stronger. Why am I like this? “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.” It’s more like I prayed he wouldn’t.
“I wouldn’t miss my best girl’s birthday. Are you going to save me a dance tonight?”
“I uh… don’t really dance.”
“Now that’s a shame. A woman so full of life like you should dance and dance often,” he smoothly interjects.
“She has two left feet,” my friend responds. I should be offended, but I try not to laugh instead.
“That’s okay. They’re beautiful feet,” Dante responds smoothly.
I want to gag, and Zoe actually makes the noise. I blush, feeling heat bloom over my face. I know what’s coming next and for the millionth time, I wish I was more like Zoe.
“Feet are not beautiful not even Emilia’s—at least they’re not unless you’re some kind of pervert with a fetish. Is that what’s going on, Dante?” His eyes narrow as our classmates and their dates who are around us do a bad job of hiding their laughter.
“One of these days, that smart mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble, Zoe,” Dante says, his anger bleeding through in his tone.
“Probably. Some day. I doubt you’ll be around to see it, though.”
“I’ll be around. I’m not planning on going anywhere.” He sounds bored, but the look in his eyes is pure anger. The depths of it can be seen easily and it makes me shiver in reaction. I rub my hands over my shoulders, trying to chase away the trace of fear I feel.
“I doubt it. You’re a lot older. You’re what more than twice mine and Emilia’s age?”
“You—”
“Zoe, did I show you what your father had delivered today for my birthday?” I interrupt in a panic.
Dante is dangerous. I don’t want Zoe on his radar. I wish I wasn’t on it. I sure don’t want my best friend getting that kind of attention.
“I—uh—”
I know she’s stalling because her father sent flowers. She knows because she already confessed that she ordered them for him. He didn’t come tonight because he had to work. I doubt he would have come anyway. He loves me—I know that. He doesn’t like crowds and he doesn’t like the men in my father’s business. My gaze moves to my father’s office, and I see him and Niko coming out the door. Niko looks at me, making me shiver again. This time it’s not about fear—not really. I’ve rarely spoken with him. He’s always cordial and he never looks at me the way Dante does. I never feel like he’s undressing me with his eyes. I’d never admit it to anyone—not even Zoe—but there’s a part of me that wishes he would. Niko is really hot, probably the best-looking man I’ve ever met in my life. I mean, I’m not insane or even delusional. I know he’s out of my league and way too old for me. I am also aware that I wouldn’t know what to do with a man like Niko. I don’t even want to try, not really. Still, what girl wouldn’t want the hottest man in the history of hot men to notice her and think she was desirable?
I push the thought aside because I need to concentrate on the here and now. I’ve completely lost track of the conversation going on around me. I realize this immediately when Dante takes my hand and tugs on me.
“Isn’t that right, princess?”
I blink, looking down in panic as Dante continues to hold my hand. I tug against his hold, trying to disengage as I inwardly recoil from his touch. He doesn’t drop it, but he does stop trying to pull me to him.