Chapter 19
19
Holy shit.
Damien is here.
I break our eye contact as I scurry offstage with the other dancers and into the dressing room. Everyone is riding the show high, hugging and telling each other congrats. We busted our asses in practices for this. It’s my first show in a while since I spend so much time helping my mother.
After removing my makeup, I change into sweats and a sweatshirt before heading toward the exit. I wasn’t lying when I told Damien I don’t like people coming to my shows. With my mother and Lanie as the exception, I’ve never had a man I was dating attend one.
I told my mom and Lanie they didn’t need to come tonight, and my father hasn’t attended one of my shows in over a decade. Not that I’d invite him. I’m always scared he’ll embarrass me. Probably ask people for spare change.
Alex, my dance partner, stops me for a high five. “We killed it tonight!”
“We did!” I hug him. “I couldn’t have done it without you. ”
He brushes his hand through his curly brown locks. “Have a good night.”
This was my first ballet with Alex, and so far, we’re getting along well.
When I leave the dressing room, Damien is standing in the lobby, a bouquet in his hand.
He walks over to me, holding the flowers over my head, and presses his lips to mine. “You’re perfection.”
“How’d you know?” I ask, grinning as he hands me the bouquet of red roses.
“Something to learn about me: I always know everything .”
Call it cliché, but no one has ever brought me flowers after a performance. It’s nice to feel like someone cares.
Damien makes me feel special.
This is the fate I wished for.
But deep in my gut, I’m scared it won’t work out. He’s dangerous. His line of work could get me killed. It did his family. The odds of us having a real relationship aren’t in our favor. Right now, us seeing each other like this, is doing more harm than good to my poor heart.
He leads me to his car and praises my performance on the entire drive to my apartment.
“You were breathtaking.”
“I’ve never seen someone dance so beautiful.”
“I had to stop myself from grabbing you off that stage and dragging you into the dressing room to worship your body, baby.”
When we’re back in my apartment, he locks the door, his demeanor changing. Annoyance lines his features.
“Now, I know you were the star of tonight’s show, but you need to atone.”
I drop my bag on the floor and gape at him. “Atone?”
“For lying to me.” He strolls through my apartment and falls on the couch. Every movement reminds me of the first time he was here. He spreads his legs wide, resting his elbows on them. “You’re going to suck my cock for that, and then, after I come in your mouth, you’re going to dance on my dick until you come.” His tone turns stern. “I told you I don’t like liars.”
He doesn’t wait for me to reply as he starts unbuckling his belt.
“The longer you take, the harder I’m going to fuck that gorgeous face of yours,” he warns.
Even though my body is sore from tonight, I strut toward him and fall to my knees between his spread legs.
“That’s my good little dancer,” he says, raising his hips to lower his pants farther. As I make myself comfortable, he grabs a handful of my hair and pulls me closer to his crotch.
I take his entire cock in my mouth.
Deep-throat him. Gulp down his cock.
Damien is bossier tonight than usual.
“Go slower, baby. I want this to last longer.”
“Less teeth, more suction.”
“Mmm … my good girl takes directions well.”
He doesn’t only come in my mouth. He stops me, making me tip my head back, and comes on my face. Then, he helps me to my feet, stands, and throws me over his shoulder, carrying me to the bedroom.
He undresses me and bends me over his knee.
My next punishment.
I’ve never been spanked before. In fact, I’ve stated on several occasions if a man ever attempted to spank me , I’d drop-kick him.
But I like it with Damien.
I moan, telling him harder.
Asking him for more.
He spanks me until tears are in my eyes and I apologize.
He makes me promise I’ll never lie to him again.
Then, he kisses each cheek before bending me over the bed. I moan as he fucks me mercilessly. With each stroke, he slaps my ass again.
And then, after I come, he falls on his back.
“Ride me,” he says. “Dance on this cock like I said.”
I crawl across the bed to him, and he guides me to straddle him.
It’s my turn to take over.
To dance for him .
I grind our bodies together.
I move up and down.
I ride him so damn hard that I know his hips will be bruised.
I fuck him hard because I’m falling for him hard.
And I love every second of it.
Two Weeks Later
I walk out of Brew Bliss and am checking my phone when a man dressed in a black tee, jeans, and blue-mirrored Ray-Bans stops me.
“Pippa?” he asks, blocking me from seeing inside the coffee shop.
I stare at him uneasily, seeing my reflection in his glasses. “Who wants to know?”
He shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out a police badge. “I’m Detective Kinney. Can we talk?”
I cross my arms. “What’s this about?”
He waves toward the outdoor seating area. “Let’s chat.”
“Am I under arrest or something?”
“Of course not.” His demeanor is so indifferent, hard to read. He strolls toward a table, sits, and pats the chair next to him.
Not knowing what else to do, I follow .
“Alllll riiiighty,” I say dramatically before sitting.
Not in the chair he patted.
The one across from him.
There’s only one man who’s allowed to boss me around, and it sure isn’t this one.
“How do you know Damien Bellini?” he asks.
My body stiffens in my chair, and I wish it hadn’t. “Why?”
“You don’t have to answer that. We’ve watched him with you.” He runs his hand over his trimmed facial hair. If he wasn’t playing Twenty-One Questions, I’d probably take the time to appreciate his attractiveness. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that he is extremely dangerous, along with the Lombardi family he works for.”
I cross my arms and immediately uncross them, not wanting to appear defensive. “I have no idea what you mean, Detective.”
He lowers his voice as two men take the table across from us. “They’re a crime family.”
“Damien and I have had dinner together a few times.” I shrug. “That’s it.”
He scoffs. “I don’t think that’s it .”
I shrug again. “I don’t have anything else to tell you, Detective Kinney.”
“You talk, and we’ll reward you greatly. All we need is for you to wear a wire?—”
I immediately stand, hefting my bag over my shoulder.
“Wait,” he says, jumping to his feet and gesturing for me to sit back down. “Give me five minutes.”
“You have two.” I hold up two fingers but don’t sit back down.
“You help us put them behind bars, we’ll pay off your father’s gambling debts.”
“Don’t try to use my father against me just to get me to lie,” I snap.
“Lie?” For a moment, he sounds out of patience with me until he corrects himself. “You know they’re dangerous. They commit crimes. Kill people . I’m not asking you to lie. All I want is to put these criminals behind bars. We’ll provide protection for you, your mother, and sister. We’ll give you a better life away from here.”
I hold up my hand to stop him from talking. “I have nothing to tell you. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“You think of anything, you let me know.” He hands me his card.
I take one look at it and crumple it before tossing it onto the table.
He scoffs. “Stay safe, Pippa. You’ll need it.”
I glare at him. “Damien keeps me plenty protected.”
“He will until you cross him.” He raises his brows. “Once he doesn’t need you anymore, he’ll dispose of you.”
I storm away from him, the urge to flip him off heavy. But I don’t. He is a man of the law and could easily find a reason to arrest me. I survey the scene around me, as if feeling people’s eyes on me.
Damien and I don’t discuss his job , but I’m not stupid. Before I even googled him, I knew he was involved with the Lombardi crime operation. I’m also convinced he’s high up in the ranks, though I’d never ask him. From what I read on the blog, his family has been involved with the Lombardis for decades.
“Asshole,” I mutter, kicking a rock on my way home.
I feel like people are coming at me from everywhere.
My father, asking for money, favors, and access back into Lucky Kings.
My mother, wanting to rant about my father and help me figure out a way to open a new studio.
Cernach, who wants me to become a Mafia-ordered bride.
I won't be the one who pushes Damien and me apart. It’ll be the forces around us.
Damien has slept over every night since our dinner date, though he pleads with me for us to crash at his place. But sometimes he’s back late at night, and other times, it’s early morning. His schedule is chaotic.
He attended another one of my shows, this time with my knowledge. It didn’t make me nervous. It actually did the opposite, making me feel a sense of pride. Although now, I have Alex asking me hundreds of questions about our relationship.
When I make it back to my apartment, two men are standing in front of my door. One has a serious case of bad odor, and the other’s eyes are so bloodshot that I’m surprised he can see.
As soon as I see them, I attempt to turn around and flee.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” red-eyed guy says, grabbing me by my braid.
He jerks me back, and I fall on my ass.
I try to fight the man off my hair, but he only tightens his hold on me and slaps me in the face with his free hand. He’s holding my braid so tight that it hurts my scalp.
“You Paul Elsher’s daughter?” the other guy asks.
“Nope.” I’m not in the mood for this shit.
He retrieves a gun from his pocket and points it at me. My breathing becomes shallow as I continue to struggle with the man.
“The bitch is lying,” the man holding me snarls. “I saw pictures of her in his wallet.”
BO guy stoops to my level. “Where’s your father, cunt?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say, grimacing at the pain.
The man finally loosens his grip on my hair, and I manage to break out of his grasp. He doesn’t attempt to grab me again, but he does block me from running down the stairs.
“Go away, or I’m calling the cops,” I warn, raising my voice in hopes that someone will hear us.
BO guy chews on a toothpick and laughs. “Word is, you pay your dad’s debts for him. Since we can’t reach your father, we’re here to collect the payment from you.” He motions toward my door. “You can either give us the cash he owes or I’m sure we can come up with other ways you can pay it off.”
The other laughs, and they exchange creepy smiles.
I take this moment to ram my knee into his balls. He screams, falling to his knees, and I jump over him. Red-Eyes grabs the strap of my bag, attempting to drag me back, but I shrug my purse off. As bad as I don’t want them to have my shit, I don’t want to be around them more.
I run outside and stop the first person I see on the sidewalk. The man removes his headphones from his ears and raises a brow.
“Can I”—I struggle to catch my breath and bend at the waist. Maybe Damien had a point with all these stairs—“use your phone?”
The guy laughs. “Good one. I’ve already had that trick pulled on me and got robbed.”
“I’m serious,” I say, tears gathering in my eyes.
“Sorry, find someone else.” The guy plugs his headphones back in and mutters something as he walks away.
I turn at a car door slamming. The man who escorted me to Damien’s office, Emilio, comes charging in my direction.
“What happened?” he asks.
“Two guys …” I inhale breaths. “They’re in my apartment.”
“Stay here,” he orders, storming past me into my building.
I scurry behind him. He flies up the stairs, taking two at a time, and I’m about ten behind him as I follow. When I reach my apartment, the door is open. I peek inside to find Emilio punching BO guy in the face. Red-Eyes attempts to charge toward him, and Emilio stabs him in the stomach. The man doubles over, wrapping his arms around his torso, and falls to his knees.
Oh my God .
Emilio snatches BO guy around the throat, rams him into the wall, and stabs him next.
Jesus, I am definitely not getting my deposit back.
Once both men are on the ground, bleeding and not moving, Emilio spins around to face me. “Damien is on his way. Stay in the hallway.”