Chapter 3
Iwake up the following day feeling like I got hit by a truck. My whole body is sore, my head is pounding relentlessly, and I have a nasty, dark bruise on my cheek from where Dimitri”s goon viciously backhanded me. I don”t want to get out of bed; I just want to curl up under the covers and hide. But I know I can”t do that. I have to put on a brave face and pretend everything is normal, even though I”m utterly exhausted and in pain. I know I can”t show any weakness in front of my family, especially my father. I am Sara Amato, only daughter of Mario Amato, one of the most powerful and ruthless Mafia lords in the city. I refuse to be intimidated or broken. With a sigh, I drag myself to class and plaster a fake smile when I see Martha waiting for me in our usual seats. She immediately senses something is off.
”Hey girl, you okay? You”re looking a little rough this morning,” Martha says, her brows furrowing in concern as she looks me over and notices my bruise.
I force a smile and wave her off. ”Oh yeah, I”m fine. Just super clumsy as usual. I crashed into my open closet door while I was looking for something to wear. You know how uncoordinated I am,” I say with an exaggerated eye roll, hoping she buys my lame excuse.
Martha purses her lips, clearly not entirely convinced, but she doesn”t push me on it. ”Girl, you”re a mess. I swear, you”d trip over your own feet just walking down the sidewalk,” she says, elbowing me playfully.
I”m grateful when she changes the subject, launching into a dramatic retelling of her awful date the night before. Martha has a knack for making me laugh. Her witty impressions of the pretentious grad student she went out with have me giggling into my hand.
Just then, our portly, balding finance professor shuffles into the lecture hall. Martha immediately puffs out her chest and lowers her voice to imitate his droning tone. ”Good morning, class. Today we”ll be reviewing the riveting world of accrual accounting and inventory valuation methods.”
I can”t help the loud, snorting laugh that escapes me. Martha joins in, and we laugh until Professor Dalton glares in our direction.
”Is something funny, ladies?” he asks sternly, pushing his glasses up his nose.
My laughter immediately dies, and I feel my cheeks flush. ”No, sir. Sorry, sir,” I mumble, avoiding eye contact. Martha stifles her grin beside me.
After Professor Dalton returns to his lecture, I discreetly jab Martha in the side with my elbow and mouth ”I hate you” at her with a suppressed smile. She just winks and gives me a thumbs-up.
”Ugh, finally. I thought Professor Dalton”s lecture would never end,” Martha groans as we shuffle out of the stuffy classroom. ”I was about two minutes away from slipping into a coma.”
I laugh. ”Yeah, that was brutal. I”m glad he gave us the rest of class to work on that group project.”
We pause outside the lecture hall doors as students stream past us towards the exit.
”So, since we”ve got the rest of the day off, want to come over to my place for a girls” day?” Martha asks, looping her arm through mine. “We can order pizza, binge watch trashy reality shows, do face masks – the works!”
I hesitate, my smile faltering. As tempting as it sounds, the thought of leaving campus makes my stomach knot with anxiety. My father probably has people watching me, and I want to avoid Dimitri and his men as much as possible.
“Oh, um… that sounds really fun but I think I”m just going to hole up in the library for a bit,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. ”I”ve got a paper to read for my elective class in a couple hours.”
Martha pouts dramatically. ”Lame! We never get random days off. Come on, live a little!”
I force a laugh. ”Rain check, okay? I really need to get this reading done and I know I”ll just get distracted at your place.”
”Ugh, fine,” Martha sighs. She points a finger at me. ”But I”m holding you to that rain check, missy. We”re long overdue for a girls” day.”
I smile, but it doesn”t quite reach my eyes. ”Absolutely. I promise, soon.”
We hug goodbye, and I watch Martha walk towards the parking lot, envious of her ability to move freely through life. Once she”s out of sight, I turn and head in the opposite direction, towards the library.
My shoulders immediately relax once I”m safely amongst the quiet rows of books. I can almost pretend everything is normal here, tucked away at my favorite corner table.
I flip open my textbook, but the words blur together on the page. I”ve keep reading the same sentence without absorbing anything. With a huff, I lean back in my chair and rub my temples.
Staying here all day is really tempting. I could hide until the library closes, then sneak into one of the study rooms and sleep here. It wouldn”t be the most comfortable night, but at least I”d be safe...
I try to focus on the textbook before me, but the words swim across the page. I sigh and lean back in my chair. Maybe a short break will help clear my head.
I gather my things and wander into one of the nearby aisles, trailing my fingers along the dusty book spines. As I turn down an emptier row, the hairs on my neck stand up. I have the distinct feeling that someone is watching me.
I pause, listening intently. All I hear is the soft hum of the lights overhead. I”m being ridiculous. I”m safe here. Taking a calming breath, I randomly select a book and flip through the pages.
”Well, well. Fancy seeing you here.”
I nearly jump out of my skin as the book tumbles from my hands. Whirling around, I find myself face-to-face with Dimitri. He”s leaning casually against the shelves, regarding me with an amused glint in his icy blue eyes.
”Did I scare you? My apologies,” he says, clearly not apologetic at all. He bends to retrieve the fallen book, glancing at the cover. ”Ah, quite the page-turner, I”m sure.”
My heart hammers in my chest as I take a step back. ”What are you doing here?” I hiss, eyes darting around to see if we”re alone.
Dimitri sighs, wagging a finger at me. ”Now, that”s no way to greet your future boyfriend.”
”You”re definitely not in my future,” I spit back as my hands ball into fists.
His eyes flash dangerously momentarily before his expression smooths back into casual amusement.
”Not yet. But soon, my love.” He caresses my face, and I smack his hand away.
”Don”t touch me,” I snarl through gritted teeth, glancing anxiously towards the end of the aisle. I can”t cause a scene here.
Dimitri notices my nervousness and steps closer, backing me against the shelf. He braces one hand on the books beside my head, caging me in place as he leans down to whisper in my ear.
”Did you miss me, Sara? I missed you, a lot. It’s been a long fucking day and I couldn”t stop thinking about our... quality time yesterday.”
His hot breath on my skin makes me shudder with revulsion. I turn my face away, glaring at him.
”Leave me alone,” I grit out quietly, afraid to draw attention.
Dimitri tuts, trailing a finger slowly down my arm. ”I just want to talk.”
I jerk my arm back, my heart pounding. ”I have nothing to say to you, Dimitri.”
His eyes harden, and his jaw clenches so tight I can see the muscles strain against his skin. For a moment, I think he might actually hurt me right here. But then his stony expression smooths back again into his perfectly crafted amused smirk.
”Let”s not fight here and cause a scene, hmm Sara?” He glances meaningfully around at the quiet library. ”Why don”t we go somewhere more private to... chat?”
Before I can protest, his hand clutches my wrist in an iron grip. I struggle in vain as he drags me swiftly through the stacks towards a secluded corner. We pass by a small study room just big enough for a table and two chairs. Dimitri shoves me inside, and I stumble, bracing myself against the table.
He steps in after me and shuts the door firmly, flipping the lock. The click echoes with dreadful finality in the cramped space.
I back away until I hit the far wall. My heart is pounding so fast I feel it might explode. Dimitri prowls towards me, caging me in place with his arms.
”There, much better,” he murmurs. ”Now we can have a proper conversation.”
My mind races, assessing my options. I”m trapped here alone with him. I have to keep him talking and distract him somehow.
Swallowing down my fear, I meet his icy gaze. ”What do you want, Dimitri?”
He smiles slowly. ”I think you know exactly what I want.”
His eyes rake over me, and I suppress a shudder, straining to keep my voice steady. ”You”re wasting your time.”
Dimitri”s expression hardens. He grabs my chin roughly. ”I told you yesterday that you are mine. I don”t give a damn about that fucking bastard you are betrothed to. I want you, and I always get what I want.”
I jerk my face away. ”Well, I”m certainly not an object, so I fear I do not fall into the category of things you can own.”
Dimitri slams his hand against the wall beside my head, and I flinch at the sound. A tiny part of me worries about his hand. I can’t help but feel a certain attraction to him, which I unfortunately made him aware of last night. ”What would happen if your ”daddy” were to find out that his little virgin daughter was in a locked closet with a man like me. What do you think would happen?”
He leans in close, his breath hot on my skin.
”Why are you doing this?” My voice wavers despite my efforts.
Dimitri strokes my hair almost gently. ”Because you intrigue me, Sara. And I want you. You playing hard to get is not going to make me want you any less.”
His hand trails down to grip my waist. I strain away from him.
”It won’t stop me fighting you,” I warn, glaring up at him.
Dimitri”s mouth curves into a smile. ”Good. I do love a challenge.”
His head dips towards mine, and I press back against the wall, turning my face away. His lips graze my neck instead. I squeeze my eyes shut. I can feel his hot breath against my skin, sending shivers down my spine despite myself.
”Sara,” he murmurs softly, his voice like velvet. ”You want this.”
My heart hammers in my chest. ”No, I don”t,” I lie, my voice barely a whisper.
Dimitri chuckles softly. ”Oh, but you do. I can see it in your eyes.”
His hand slides under my top and his fingers feel cool against my warm skin. He caresses my side, then cups my breast through my bra. I stiffen and try to pull away, but he holds me fast.
”Don”t fight it, Sara,” he whispers, his lips brushing my ear. ”Let yourself go.”
His hand moves lower, slipping beneath the waistband of my skirt. He strokes me intimately, and I gasp, arching against him against any better judgement. He”s right. My body is betraying me.
”See?” he murmurs smugly. ”Your body can”t lie.”
Dimitri removes his hand and smiles at me. ”You can lie with your mouth, but not with your body. If you don”t want me to call your fiancé and tell him what you”re doing, you better cooperate with me.”
I feel a chill run down my spine at the thought of Lorenzo finding out. I know he would be furious, and I don”t want to risk it.
”What do you want from me?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Dimitri”s expression darkens. ”You ruined my plans for our future Sara, by getting engaged. Now I have no choice but to take you the ugly way.”
I feel a lump forming in my throat at his words. I don”t know what he means by ”the ugly way,” but I have a feeling I don”t want to find out.