13. Chapter Thirteen Dante
Chapter Thirteen: Dante
I settled my tie, the silk sliding between my fingers with practiced ease. It was a necessary armor for tonight’s battlefield—an art gallery opening with a scientific twist. My reflection in the mirror gave nothing away; the Moretti mask was firmly in place. Tonight wasn’t just about appreciating art. It was about Jade.
Stepping into the gallery, I let my gaze drift across the room, taking in the artworks that flirted with science and tech—a neural circuit here, a DNA helix there. They were breadcrumbs leading to her, to Dr. Jade Bentley, whose mind spun beauty from the threads of biotechnology. The thought tightened something in my chest.
Jade had been cooler lately, her responses to my texts measured, cautious. A game she didn’t know we were playing. It annoyed me, but it also sharpened my focus. I needed her research, and I needed her trust.
“Moretti,” someone called out, pulling me from my thoughts. A businessman whose name I barely remembered. I turned, a practiced smile on my lips. “Didn’t peg you for an art lover.”
“Nor did I peg you for one who enjoys the finer things without lifting them,” I retorted, keeping my voice light.
He laughed. “See you around, Moretti. Enjoy your night.”
“Thought you’d be here,” I said, approaching her. She turned, her gaze locking with mine. Whatever game she thought we were playing, I needed to make sure I won. For both our sakes.
“Do you get recognized a lot?”
“Yes,” I replied. “But you just run into people when you live here. I wouldn’t say I get recognized.”
She raised her eyebrows as someone stopped by and obviously started to listen in on what we were saying. Jade and I weren’t public–I mean, I had no idea what we even were–but I didn’t want to add any complications to her life.
“Well, Dr. Bentley,” I started, aware we were being spied on. My voice carried just the right amount of surprise and pleasure at finding her amongst the throngs of New York’s elite. She stood by an installation that looked like a snapshot of a mind at work—the electric pulse of neurons captured in glass and light. “It is nice to run into you.”
“Mr. Moretti,” Jade replied, her words riding the edge of formality and curiosity. Her eyes, dark pools reflecting the neural network before us, searched mine for an instant too long.
“Intriguing, isn’t it?” I leaned closer, lowering my voice as if sharing a secret. “Reminds me of the complex workings of the brain.”
“Exactly,” she said, her lips curving into a smile that told me I’d hit the mark. “It’s fascinating to see something so intricate represented this way.”
I nodded, watching her with an intensity I reserved for things that mattered—like family business or the woman who stood unknowingly at the center of it all. Her passion was evident, her gestures animated as she explained the parallels between the artwork and her latest research project.
“Your work,” I began, steering our conversation back to her field, her comfort zone, “it must be thrilling to be on the cutting edge, shaping the future.”
Jade’s eyes lit up, and she launched into an explanation about potential breakthroughs and the ethical considerations they entailed. I listened, truly listened, letting her enthusiasm sweep over me. With every word, I wove myself into the fabric of her dialogue, connecting, engaging, ensuring she felt seen and heard.
“Science can have such a profound impact,” I added when she paused for breath. “It’s not unlike art in that regard.”
“Perhaps,” she conceded, her gaze flickering back to the installation. “Both can change perspectives, invoke emotions, challenge conventions.”
“Exactly,” I echoed, smiling at the ease of our exchange. “They both have the power to alter the world around us.”
And as we stood there, surrounded by the hum of the gallery, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Jade Bentley might just alter my world more than I ever anticipated.
“Speaking of change,” I ventured, catching a flicker of unease cross Jade’s face as she glanced at her phone, likely a work-related message demanding her attention. “It’s not all groundbreaking discoveries and accolades, right? There’s a weight to it.”
Jade tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her expression sobering. “Of course, the pursuit of knowledge can be a lonely journey.” My voice softened intentionally, inviting her to open up.
She hesitated for a moment, then sighed. “Sometimes, it feels like you’re up against the world, trying to make a dent in the universe, but the universe isn’t always...receptive.”
Not really the time to bring up my pitch again, but I knew I almost had her.
“Is that how it is for you?” I probed gently.
“More often than I’d like to admit,” she replied, a hint of vulnerability seeping through. “There’s so much pressure, so many expectations. It can get overwhelming.”
I nodded, feeling a twinge of something—guilt, empathy—tugging at my conscience. “I understand more than you might think. In my line of work, the stakes are high, and the path is never clear-cut.”
Jade looked at me, really looked at me, and in that moment, I felt exposed. I was playing a dangerous game, flirting with the truth while keeping her in the dark. But damn if she didn’t make every risk feel worth it.
As I stepped closer to Jade, the electric atmosphere of the gallery shifted. Luis “Rami” Rodriguez sidled up beside us with his signature swagger. I should’ve known he would be here. Rami was intimidating at the best of times, often attending high-profile art shows where the pieces were incredibly expensive. His family was deep in the art business, and the Morettis had helped him with quite a bit of smuggling over the years.
I just wished he hadn’t shown up tonight, especially with the air of annoyance that spelled trouble.
“Moretti,” he greeted me with a curt nod and lightly accented English, his eyes flicking over to Jade with thinly veiled interest. “Didn’t peg you for an art aficionado.”
“Rami,” I acknowledged him evenly, my tone cool. “I appreciate the finer things in life. You know that.” My hand instinctively found its way to Jade’s lower back—a subtle move to establish my presence and claim the space around her.
“Is that so?” His gaze lingered on Jade a moment too long. “And who’s your lovely company?”
“Dr. Jade Bentley,” she introduced herself, extending her hand with a firmness that belied her slight unease.
“Ah, a doctor.” The corner of Rami’s mouth quirked up in a smirk. “Well, isn’t this a treat?”
“She’s a neuroscientist,” I added.
“Good for you,” Rami replied, his gaze boring into Jade’s.
I could tell Jade sensed the undercurrents at play, her scientific mind piecing together clues that something wasn’t quite right. I needed to assert control over the situation before Rami’s veiled threats became more than just insinuations. “Rami was just leaving,” I said pointedly, my body angled to shield Jade from any further discomfort.
“Of course,” Rami replied, though his eyes narrowed slightly. “But let’s not forget—every masterpiece has its price. You know that better than almost anyone, Moretti.”
“Well, enjoy the show.”
“You too. Nice to meet you, Dr. Bentley,” he said.
With one last lingering look, he sauntered off into the crowd. As soon as he was out of earshot, I turned to Jade, searching her face for signs of concern. “Sorry about that,” I offered, though I knew it wasn’t enough to erase the tension.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“Business associate,” I told her. “My family and his are trade partners. He’s really not so bad once you get to know him.”
“It’s fine,” she said, though her voice trembled ever so slightly. “Just...unexpected.”
“Let’s move away from here,” I suggested, guiding her to a quieter corner. “Tell me everything. What’s been happening at the lab this week?”
She regarded me, her eyes narrowing. “You know,” she said. “You ask me a lot about my work, but…you don’t seem that interested in me.”
Her statement hit me like a freight train. I didn’t expect her to confront me so directly, but I welcomed it. It gave me a chance to show her my cards, or at least some of them.
“I apologize if I’ve given you that impression,” I said, meeting her gaze with sincerity etched into my features. “The truth is...I’m interested in you more than you know. Is that why you’ve been so hot and cold with texting?”
Jade blinked, caught off guard by my candor. She opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, her fingers twirling around the edge of her glass nervously.
“Your work is remarkable,” I said. “And it’s…common ground. I can talk to you about what interests you all day long, all night long. You’re such a fascinating person. I just…”
I trailed off, sighing as I looked at her, struggling to find the words. “I just… I’m not good at this,” I finally admitted. “I’ve never been good at opening up, at... letting people in. You are the most interesting person I’ve ever met, but I know that if I ask you questions about yourself, you’re going to ask me questions about myself. And honestly? I don’t want to spook you.”
I watched as a range of emotions flickered across her face - surprise, confusion, sympathy and something else. Something that made my heart pound just a bit faster.
“You think you’ll scare me off?” she asked, her voice softer now.
“I have a feeling you might not like what you see if you dig too deep,” I admitted, my gaze steady on hers.
She took a sip of her drink. “Why?”
“Because it’s easier to be charming and make you come than it is to tell you about my ailing father or about all the pressure I have at work,” I whispered in her ear. “Because you’re stunning, and you deserve someone to sweep you off your feet. You don’t have to deal with my shit, Jade. I can deal with it myself.”
She stared at me for a long moment, her eyes probing mine as if she was trying to uncover what lay beneath my words. Then she sighed, a heavy sound that seemed to echo through the silent room.
“Dante,” she said, her voice almost too quiet to hear. “Everyone has their struggles, their burdens. You don’t have to carry yours alone.”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat, surprised by her empathy. Was it possible she could see beyond the facade, beyond the son of a mafia kingpin who was expected to take over the family business?
“But...” I started, but Jade cut me off with a soft hand on my arm.
“No buts,” she said firmly. “You think you’re protecting me by keeping me at a distance...but you’re just pushing me away.”
“Maybe it’s better for you if I keep you away. Did you consider that?”
“I’m a grown-ass woman,” she said. “And I get to decide if I want to stay away from you.”
And just like that, she pressed her lips against mine—right there, in public—and kissed me.