Page 55 of Vicious Hearts

“Michael?”

Nina comes up behind him and fixes her husband with a pointed look. Tension swirls around us as she puts her big girl pants on. Even she feels that he is a bit much at times.

“What are you guys hiding from me?” he asks. He just will not let it go. Nina sighs in exasperation. Out of respect for the courtesy they’ve extended me to stay with them, I don’t say anything. Instead, I bite my tongue and I’m suddenly glad that I’ve accepted Caleph’s invitation to dinner and an introduction to a contact who’s hiring. Because the one thing I’m sure of is that If I had to stay here any longer, Michael’s toxic nature might just drive me crazy.

51

CALEPH

Isomehow manage to convince Ariadne to go to dinner with me and Dante Accardi, who’s agreed to bring his wife Kingsley. She’s mentioned she’s looking for a personal assistant, someone she can trust, and for some reason, Ariadne came to my mind.

When I pick her up, Ariadne’s wearing an emerald green pantsuit which looks like a million dollars on her. I slide my eyes across the back passenger seat and watch her as she looks out the window.

We weave through the diners, my hand in the small of Ariadne’s back as the waitress shows us to our table and I make the introductions.

“You didn’t tell me we’d be meeting with the Accardis,” Ariadne whispers, leaning into me as we take our seats.

“You know them?”

“Are you kidding me? They’re only like the biggest power couple in the business world.”

I laugh as Ariadne fangirls, her eyes luminous with excitement, then tell Dante and Kingsley they would’ve made an excellent exposé for Ariadne when she was working at the paper.

“That’s right,” Dante says. “You did that piece on Caleph.”

He turns my way and lifts an eyebrow as he smirks and tells me the article did me justice in the picture they took by choosing my best side.

“Prick,” I laugh. “It was a picture of my back.”

“That’s my point exactly.”

“Have you two known each other long?” Ariadne asks, looking between me and Dante.

“And there she goes,” Dante says. “I think it’s safe your girl’s switched to reporter mode.”

Kingsley says something to Ariadne and the two women immerse themselves in a conversation as Dante and I exchange our trademark banter. When Dante excuses himself to answer a phone call, I watch as Kingsley’s eyes lift to follow his retreating back, like the very thought of being without him for even a second pains her. When he disappears out of sight, she turns back to Ariadne and fixes her with a smile.

“So, tell me all about how you and Caleph met.”

* * *

“He kidnapped me,”Ariadne says, as though this is a common enough occurrence.

“Twice,” I point out.

Kingsley blinks rapidly, her eyes trailing from Ariadne to me, trying to gauge if we’re joking.

“Not a joke,” Dante says, taking his seat beside his wife. He slides towards her and pushes a kiss to her forehead. The man cannot keep his hands off her.

“You knew about this?” Kingsley asks, looking at her husband incredulously. He barks out a laugh and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. I don’t miss how she curls into his hand, nor how Ariadne’s lips part, mesmerized at that one simple touch. She is a true romantic.

“I did.”

“How did I not know about this?” she gawks. She turns back to Ariadne and I could swear her face is awash with excitement. “Tell meallabout it!” she squeals. I know this is probably because Kingsley finally feels like there’s someone she can share her own twisted love story with – Dante kidnapped her at her own father’s funeral – there’s not many people that could relate to what she’s been through. They’re like two schoolgirls telling each other secrets as they whisper and chat well into the evening, even after they’ve polished off their desserts and decided on coffee seconds. They seem to be getting along like a house on fire, and I’m glad that Ariadne has at least connected with one other person that could possibly act as a bridge between us when I go away. I will always need eyes on her. Friendly eyes. I watch as the two women exchange numbers and promise to keep in touch. Ariadne adds that she’ll contact Kingsley in a few days about the job, a promising development.

“What did you think?” I ask her, as we climb into the car to head home.

We’ve reached a casual truce and we’re talking much easier than we did a few days ago. I don’t know what the turning point was, but it could have been coming home that gave her a different perspective. Knowing that I wasn’t going to keep her by my side against her will. Although I’d like nothing better than to do that.

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