Controlled: A Dark Mafia Romance

Chapter 2

Bella

“He just wants to get you into bed.”

Grace could barely avoid snickering. I threw her a quick look before trying to concentrate on what Gregor was saying. “That’s never going to happen,” I hissed under my breath, which the holier than thou choreographer caught. She was right in that the bastard had tried hard during the last three months. When I’d refuted his efforts the last time, he’d begun his campaign to try to make me look bad. That had failed as I’d learned from the best, my mother, how to handle bastards like him. I’d gleaned everything from the former movie star when she wasn’t looking. It wasn’t as if she’d taken any time with me, teaching me things or being a mother. I don’t know why she’d gone through with birthing me in the first place.

Christ. I always managed to fall into an ugly session of self-pity when Gregor reared his ugly head.

“Good for you,” she whispered. “I’ve heard his dick is the size of a peanut anyway.”

She had a way of making me laugh, which we both tried to stifle for fear of facing the harsh man’s wrath. She was almost four years younger, considered a top-level prima ballerina that had almost been lured away from Chicago to the bright lights of New York more than once. Meanwhile, critics said I was aging out, washed up at twenty-seven, which was ridiculous as I was in the best shape of my life. And I’d been given not one but three sought-after roles for the night’s performance, which had baffled me as much as anyone else.

Yes, I was grateful, but concerned the horrible man would think I owed him for his sudden interest in my talent. The thought made my stomach churn. The bastard turned his head toward us, his eyes like a snake’s, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was part reptile.

“Care to enlighten us with your brilliant observations, ladies?” he snapped.

“Why, no, sir,” I said politely while Grace had a difficult time not laughing. “We were just remarking on your extraordinary talents and how grateful we are to have you grace us with your presence.”

I wasn’t usually so mouthy, my little quip obviously shocking the other dancers. Other than my gal pal Tonya and my very best friend and dance partner for the evening, Jonas, he had the others either stuck up his butt or under his thumb.

When Grace made the mistake of snorting, Gregor snapped his head toward her. Jonas whistled from behind me so only I could hear. Suddenly, the prima donna had been placed squarely in the choreographer’s crosshairs.

Grace was one of three dancers I considered a friend in the ballet company, something I’d needed from day one. I’d been a loner for so long, it was tough for me to know how to handle friendships. Grace, on the other hand, came from a powerful family, her father making tons of money. She knew how to socialize, maybe a bit too much.

The moment of tension was broken by a group of dancers walking by the studio, laughing and talking. He was just as annoyed with them as he was with the group dancing tonight. When his phone buzzed, I could tell he was boiling. He always kept it with him, something we weren’t allowed to do. While he didn’t bother heading to the table where he had his things, he did glance toward it, frowning more than usual.

“Big business,” Jonas teased. There were dozens of rumors about the man, none of which were pleasant.

“Maybe,” I whispered back. Was the man sweating? I thought so.

Grace took the opportunity to slide back further into the group of other girls, which was likely in her best interest. When Gregor turned his full attention to the room, he appeared more frustrated than before.

“Please. For the love of fuck, get it right. The performance is tonight, or did you forget that?” There was no doubt Gregor Santiago was brilliant, not only as a choreographer but also as a former dancer. He’d worked with some of the best, his South American roots surprising during a time when various countries had banned certain arts. “Daria, get the lead out of your ass. Gracie, you’re about as graceful as a hippo. Now, we do it again. Bella. Do you think you can keep from appearing as if you’d rather be in the middle of a root canal versus being one of the lead dancers tonight?”

While I admired Gregor for his resume, his work with the Joffrey Ballet incredible, I loathed the man and his brutality. He berated the dancers far too often, today no exception. The sexual innuendoes were something else entirely.

I grabbed a towel, wiping sweat from my face, glaring at him with as much hatred as I had inside of me. I often wondered if Gregor knew how many times I’d slaughtered him in my dreams.

If only I could do that in real life.

“Why, of course, sire dictator.” I couldn’t resist, my nasty words bringing a fit of giggles to the others.

He snapped his head in my direction this time, storming toward me as if I was scared of him. He knew better than to challenge me. I wasn’t the kind of girl to take any man’s crap. I stood my ground, able to glare him in the eye given my height. As he breathed in and out, I could swear I smelled alcohol on his breath. It wouldn’t be the first time or the last.

“Do you have something to say to me, Miss Rothschild?” he hissed.

“I think I already did. You’re not worth additional time wasted.” You bet I was pushing my luck. The fucker had actually tried to insist I sleep with him so I could get the lead role in several of the productions. Not only had I refused, but I’d kneed him the balls followed by going to the director of the ballet. I was a little surprised the man hadn’t been fired. His kind of behavior had never been tolerated.

However, I’d seen the terse conversation he’d had with Marcia, the director’s eyes full of fear when their conversation had been finished. Still, Gregor had avoided fucking with me until today. Yes, the performance was important, several of the ballet company’s benefactors supposedly in the audience, but he wasn’t feeling that kind of pressure. Something else was on his mind.

“Don’t let the shithead get to you,” Jonas whispered in my ear before he and I took our places in the center of the practice room. The sexy man was a happy go lucky type of guy I could count on for anything.

Except for sex.

He was gloriously gay, although upon the request of his parents, or maybe I should say demand, he did what he could to hide his sexuality from everyone but his friends. Even Gregor believed him to be a playboy. Given Gregor’s unwanted advances, I’d used Jonas’ various talents and his beefy brawn since developing our friendship. I wouldn’t want to meet the guy in a dark alley as an enemy. That was for certain.

Whether or not Gregor believed we were an on-again, off-again item didn’t matter but it did keep the vulture from cornering me. For that I was thankful.

“I know. I’m just disgusted that Marcia continues to allow this to go on.” We both took our places, waiting for the start of the music.

“You have heard the rumors, right?”

I glanced at Gregor as he continued fuming, but instead of staring at the two of us, he was actively glaring at his phone. “Not sure. What have you heard?”

“That he’s from some powerful cartel out of South America.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear.” I shifted my head to the correct angle as the music started.

“I wouldn’t except I’ve seen the weapon he carries.”

I wasn’t certain if I was surprised or in actual shock, but I wasn’t able to ask him any additional questions for several minutes. Did I think Gregor was a dangerous man? I had since he’d been hired, but not because he was supposedly connected to some mafia group. A tiny shiver coursed through me even as I fell into the music, becoming the butterfly that I was depicting in the modern piece.

The night’s performance was comprised of both classical ballet and modern works, hoping to attract even more benefactors. I was the lead ballerina in three, but this one was my favorite. Maybe because I was dancing with my bestie. As Jonas lifted me off the floor, spinning me around in perfect timing to the beat, I was able to catch another glimpse of Gregor, his demeanor more demented than before. Or perhaps I was reading more into his ugly look because of what my bestie had said.

I also noticed two men lurking in the corridor, both in dark suits. There was no reason a shiver should course down my spine, but it did.

As the music concluded, I felt confident in our performance, eager for the night to transpire. We remained in our finished positions until the music ended. Instead of his usual critique, Gregor simply walked out of the room.

“Did you see the two goons?” Jonas asked, grinning as we high fived each other.

“Yeah. I wonder what that’s about.”

“Who cares. Maybe poor Gregor is about to meet his maker.” He immediately took a giant step back, his booming laughter filling the air. I lunged forward, smacking him in the chest before he could bolt into the hallway.

“You guys looked great!” Grace commented before we could leave the room. I could hear the continued pain in her voice from what Gregor had said to her. Even calling her Gracie, something she’d asked him repeatedly not to use had taken a toll, more so as of late. The man needed to be stopped.

“Do you want to grab a bite?” Jonas asked.

“I gotta check on Mom.” I hated lying to him. Yes, I spent as much time as possible making certain my mother was comfortable and not causing any trouble for the nice nurses at the decent facility I’d managed to get her into, but I couldn’t go to see her today. I’d been coerced into taking a short shift for a pseudo girlfriend who worked alongside me at my second job. She had a casting call for a play she desperately wanted. I understood hopes and dreams, getting into the Joffrey Ballet all I’d thought about for years, but the timing sucked.

Especially since it was going to be a long night.

At least I had a dance routine prepared, a new one I’d been working on. I could debut it in the afternoon, which would allow me to perfect certain points prior to performing them several times in the upcoming days.

“Oh, yeah. I’m sorry for what you’re going through. How’s she doing?”

“As well as can be expected.” While he headed for the door to the changing rooms, I remained in the corridor, noticing that Gregor had stepped outside with the two other men.

“That’s good. Let’s get changed and I’ll walk you out.”

“You go ahead. I’ll be right there.”

Jonas followed my line of sight and before I could take a single step, he grabbed my arm. “Don’t do anything stupid, girlfriend. I don’t trust Gregor in the least.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not a stupid girl.”

“Just a prissy one.” He ripped at my hair tie, something he’d done since the first day I met him, the silly action always making me laugh.

“Very funny. Go. I’ll catch up with you.”

He did a twirl and a wink before heading into the changing room. I waited, debating what I was about to do. Complaining for a second time to Marcia wasn’t going to win me any points, especially on a performance day, but I couldn’t allow someone like Grace to be lured to another ballet company because of an asshole like Gregor.

I took long strides, avoiding passing in front of the man as he talked with the two others. He was animated in his actions, obviously angry while the other two were smiling. What in the hell was going on?

I made a turn and headed toward Marcia’s office, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door.

“Come in.” Marcia’s voice seemed edgier than usual. Maybe it was all about the night’s festivities. There was a huge after party planned where the benefactors could meet the dancers. I hated the pomp and circumstance of parties but there was no getting out of going. It had been mandated, thousands of dollars spent on the event.

I closed the door behind me, noticing she was glaring at her computer screen. When she didn’t lift her head right away, I waited for a few seconds before clearing my throat.

She finally looked at me, taking a deep breath as if I was already annoying her. “Yes, Ms. Rothschild. What can I do for you?”

It was apparent I needed to take a different tactic with her. “I just wanted you to know how much I was looking forward to tonight’s performance.”

I was shocked how relieved she seemed, her expression immediately brightening. “I’m glad to hear you say that. May I say that I’ve caught a couple of the practices and you and Jonas are true stars. Don’t forget about the after party. Bring your prettiest dress to change into after the performance.”

“I will, Ms. Casper.” I acted all happy as I headed to the door, stopping just before I opened it. “Ms. Casper. Are you okay lately?”

“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

I tipped my head, trying to keep a concerned look on my face. “I don’t know. Since I overheard your argument with Mr. Santiago, you’ve been very tense. I just wanted to make certain he didn’t do or say something to you.”

The glimpse of raw terror I noticed was short lived but long enough that I wondered what in the hell the man had said to her.

“Do yourself a favor, Ms. Rothschild. Don’t get in the man’s crosshairs. He’s dangerous.”

I wanted to ask dozens of questions, but her phone rang and she immediately turned away from me right before answering.

Exhaling, I opened the door, realizing I wasn’t likely to get any additional details from her, but I had a sense she was right. I took my time heading down the hallway, trying to figure out if there was anyone else I could complain to who would take up the cause. As soon as I rounded the corner, I almost ran into Gregor.

He lifted his head slowly, the evil glint in his eyes keeping the chill going. It was knowing, as if the bastard had plans for me.

And nothing he would do was something I’d enjoy.