7. Neve
CHAPTER SEVEN
Neve
“ I need to get out, but we have to figure out a way so that the reporters don’t follow me.” I huff.
Dalila’s voice carries through the phone. “Are they still at it? It’s been almost two weeks.”
“They’ll be at it until people are bored with the story or until we finally figure out where he is.”
“I hear you. They really are vultures. Ok - let me make a plan and arrange for a driver for us. I can come fetch you underground in a car they don’t recognize, and we can go for a drink?”
“That sounds like exactly what I need. I’ll go crazy if I have to stare at the walls of my apartment for one more day. I want to feel normal for a second.”
“Be ready at eight. I’ll confirm details later.” She says, and we say goodbye and hang up.
I breathe a sigh of relief. She has no idea how much I appreciate her.
Last night I invited Denver over. Damion’s brother.
Denver is a splitting image of my brother, Luke. Not physically, but in personality.
He’s stiff, uptight, poised and groomed to perfection.
His father has been grooming him since young to take over his business when the time comes, like my brother has been groomed to take over my father’s political career, and I think his entire personality has become enveloped around his father’s expectations of him. Denver and Luke could be twins in that regard.
I wanted to be subtle about questioning him - not to cause alarm for his family. But I still can’t shake the idea that there was foul play somewhere along the line. I wanted to find out if Damion was involved in something he shouldn’t have been.
Denver and him aren’t very close though and he couldn’t tell me much. His answers were very politically correct and cautious. It’s how it’s always been - every conversation I’ve ever had with Denver has been stiff.
It makes him a difficult person to communicate with and to be honest I was relieved when he left.
And also no closer to finding out what has happened to Damion.
It seems his own family is trying to keep the entire fiasco as quiet as possible because the media coverage is not helping his dad’s campaign. I reckon if it was boosting his numbers he would be more interested in solving it. It’s pretty disgusting if you ask me - to be so dismissive of your son’s disappearance.
Last night Denver told me that Damion once disappeared for two months, right before starting college. He fell off the map and didn’t have any contact with his family. He went on some sabbatical telling no one - climbed Machu Picchu and took ayahuasca in the desert somewhere. He wanted to ‘find himself.’
I’m not convinced though. Even though getting married is a big thing that will change your life drastically, I still don’t think Damion would do that to me.
As promised, Dalila messages me to let me know she will be downstairs at eight to steal me away for our night out. I can’t wait. I get ready at six because I’m so excited to get out.
By eight I’m standing inside the door of the underground parking lot, partially hiding myself in case there are any reporters around, until Dalila’s driver pulls up, and she pushes the back door open, grinning at me.
“Hey, you need a ride?” She laughs.
“Oh my word - yes.” I exclaim, hurrying into the car.
“Wow, you look incredible.” She says, reaching out and touching my little black sequin dress. It’s a little short, but I love it. It glitters when I move and makes me feel gorgeous .
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” I eye her up and down with a smirk. Her pale silver dress is going to get her a lot more attention that I think her husband would be pleasure about. “Nevio is going to have competition tonight.”
“Not a chance.” She shakes her head. “Besides, I asked him to meet us there when he’s done with the work he has to get through.”
Stepping into the night club is like stepping into another world. Music pulses over my body, setting goosebumps flickering over my skin. Thick base beats in my chest, vibrating against my rib cage.
I grin. This is exactly what I needed to clear my head. I’ve been so consumed by worries - I need to let it all go for one night so that I can think more clearly tomorrow.
People don’t function very well when they’re stressed.
“Let’s get some shots.” Dalila says, tugging me towards the bar.
She leans over and shouts something I can’t hear to the barman and I stand next to her, already dancing a little and fully prepared to let my hair down tonight.
A few minutes later she hands me a tequila. “Oh dear.” I grin.
“For tonight - you are relaxing - ok?” She says sternly.
“Agreed.” I nod.
We clink the glasses together and I throw my head back, letting the tequila burn like fire down my throat.
I shudder and squint against the unpleasant taste, then bite down on a piece of pineapple splashed with tabasco. It’s the only way I will ever have tequila.
Dalila nods, and grabs my hand and pulls me towards the dance floor. I don’t argue one bit. I came here to dance. This is how I relax. I need this more than anything.
As predicted - guys are all over Dalila. She keeps having to glare at them, or blatantly push them away from her while she’s dancing. Once or twice someone tries to make a move on me, but mostly I am free to dance and enjoy myself .
When we take a break and head to the bar for another drink, I laugh at her. “You attract a lot of attention.” I tease.
“Oh, speak for yourself.” She laughs.
“Whatever, you have guys falling over you.”
“Did you not notice the row of guys trying to dance behind you?” She says, her brows knotted.
“Not really.” I shrug.
“What does a guy have to do to get the attention of a gorgeous girl like this?” Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome sides up behind Dalila and wraps his hands around her waist. She grins, recognizing her husband’s voice immediately.
“You came.” She says excitedly, turning to kiss Nevio.
“Can I get you two a drink?” He asks, grinning at me. “How are you, Neve?”
I shrug. “As good as I can be at the moment, I guess.”
“We aren’t allowed to talk about bad things tonight.” Dalila waves her hand at her husband, letting him know the rules. “We’re here to have fun.” She raises her brows, and he holds up both hands in defense. “Fun it is then.” He chuckles.
After another round of tequila’s Nevio leads us to the VIP table he arranged and the two of them sit down to catch up a little.
“I’m going to dance for a bit.” I shout over the music.
“I’ll be there soon.” Dalila grins.
“No rush, enjoy yourself.” I smile and turn away, making my way to the dance floor alone. I want to get lost in the music again. I want to dance until my feet ache and I’m so tired that I have no problems falling asleep tonight.
I’ve been dancing for about half an hour when hands run up over my waist. I turn, expecting to see Dalila wiggling through the dance floor to come and join me, but I find myself face to face with Celso.
My heart stops beating for a second and my lips drop open.
“What are you doing here?” I stammer .
He smirks, his lips curving up at the corners, creating dimples on his cheeks. His bright blue eyes are catching the lights and the look he’s giving me is making me think some very inappropriate thoughts.
I try to step away from him, but the dance floor is too crowded, and I bump into the guy behind me. Celso grabs me around the waist and pulls me tight up against his chest.
The way he handles me, it’s so forceful, so deliberate. It really turns me on. Until I met him, I never knew I would be attracted to a man who takes control.
Damion was always a little too polite. Slightly disinterested. It was almost a duty for him to be romantic with me and I really felt it.
With Celso, the way he hunts me down - it’s so primal. Like the look he’s giving me now.
“This dress—” he growls. “Did you wear it for me?”
“I - I didn’t know you were coming.” It’s a stupid answer. The answer should be no, but I’m mesmerized by him and the tequila isn’t helping me think straight.
His hand runs up my back, running over my spine and sending a heat wave through me that settles between my legs like a pulsing, urgent need.
I swallow hard.
Fuck. I need to create some distance between us before I do something stupid.
Celso is not the guy you get involved with.
I bite my lip and try turn my head away from him, but he moves boldly, wrapping his hand around my jaw, his long fingers digging into my cheeks.
Celso leans forward and presses his mouth over mine.
For a moment I can’t breathe. I am consumed by the kiss. I don’t even try to fight it or deny him.
My entire body is on fire.
But my logic snaps back into place and I manage to push him away from me.
“What the fuck?” I snap angrily, wiggling from his grasp and turning my back on him .
I don’t wait for his reposes, instead I storm off to the bar to get another tequila to numb away this heightened sensation of desire flooding me.
The last thing I need right now is the media getting a photo of me kissing some mafia goon only a week after my wedding fell apart.
“Tequila.” I snap at the barman, then feel bad for being rude. I throw him an apologetic smile. He doesn’t seem to notice my attitude or my apology.
Celso slides into place next to me, leaning against the bar as though he owns this city.
“What do you want, Celso?” I demand, agitated by his presence and the things it’s doing to my body.
“I want you, Neve. And it’s about time to admitted that we should be together.”
“Be together?” I ask, exasperated by his confidence.
“I know you’ve been hanging out with other guys and I’m warning you to watch your step, my angel. You belong to me. Don’t forget that. ”
I narrow my eyes at him as my desire turns into thick anger at his audacity.
“I belong to you?” I snap. “Belong?”
What the fuck is wrong with this asshole?
“Neve.” He says, with warning his tone that turns me on even more. Even my anger isn’t enough to quench that need.
“Celso.” I hiss back, rich with sarcasm.
His eyes grow darker than I’ve ever seen them before.
He steps closer and talks down to me. “You are mine. The sooner you accept that the easier it will be for you. Don’t push me, angel.”
I shove him hard, my hand pressed against his muscular chest, he hardly moves but I’ve made my point because he takes one step away from me.
I pack up laughing.
His arrogance needs to be checked.
“You think that you and I would ever be a thing? You - some mafia criminal with no future and no proper place in society. Girls like me don’t date guys like you. We date status, money and class.” I blurt out my words in an angry string of insults.
His lips curl, his jaw muscles feathering. The five o’clock shadow of dark stubble only make him hotter.
Turning my face away I shut my eyes to get my hormones under control.
Celso is livid, and he’s not even trying to hide it.