Page 13 of Blossom in Shadows

My voice was a broken whisper, “How?”

I was very aware I hadn’t known the man for even two days. My mind whirled over how it was even possible and why it was happening.

He chuckled and shrugged like I wasn’t struggling with how to process what he was showing me. “It helps to have power and money.”

“I guess it does.” I whirled around and looked at him before I slammed my hands down on my hips. “Are you trying to buy me, Elio?”

He prowled closer to me, his movements fluid like a predator who had their prey in their sights. I hadn’t even realized I had moved deeper into the closet and away from him. His eyes flashed with possession. It was the same look I had seen in his eyes the night before as he fucked me in the shower while remembering the men who, he believed, were watching me all night. What he didn’t seem to understand was that the only eyes I felt on me were his.

His voice was a gentle rasp, “Is it working?”

A coy smile played on my lips, and I dropped my eyes, “Maybe.”

He chuckled before wrapping me up in his arms and kissing me until I couldn’t breathe. It seems to happen a lot around him. If he’s not kissing me, touching me, or showing me things about my body I didn’t even know with the passion he fills me with, then he’s shocking me with his softness and his adoration. Every moment feels like a surprise with Elio.

I’m still shocked that he gave me the job. The way the air cuts around my hips as I swing them around and turn in the cage, careful of my knee, I’m reminded again that he’s given me an outlet for dance I didn’t have before. He’s gone against his own instincts, the ones which he has told me scream at him to shut me away in a tower and never let anyone else see me, to make me happy.

It’s heady what this man does for me. I can feel myself falling for him, deeper and deeper.

I felt it the moment I saw him at the audition, and I looked into his hazel eyes. He surprises me, he pushes me, he demands of me, he ensures I’m safe and he makes me feel free. What more could I want?

But is it too much? Is it just a matter of time before the other shoe drops? What does that even look like?

He’s shielded me from parts of him, which I’m grateful for because there are enough rumors throughout the city as to what the Agosti family is involved in. I’m not too keen to be involved in everything the man does. When it comes to illegal activities, I’m going with the ignorance is bliss approach.

I’m a little surprised when the cage starts to lower. I hadn’t even realized I’ve been dancing for so long, lost to the rhythm and the feeling of soaring which pumps through my blood and body as I move. It’s a contradiction—to feel so free while being caged.

When I step out, another dancer is standing there ready to take my place. We rotate through so that the cages are always filled, the entertainment seamless except for the few minutes when we switch out. The music is still pulsing around me, and I’m tempted to step out into the throng of the dance floor to keep moving, but the way my hair clings to the back of my neck reminds me I need some water and now is my chance to grab some.

I don’t feel Elio’s eyes burning into me, but I’m not surprised. His brother is coming back from his trip tomorrow, and he told me he would be in the office for most of the night to make sure everything is in order. When I look up, Sergio is watching me closely and I give him a little smile as I make my way over to the bar to grab a bottle of water.

Normally, I would slip into the back and grab a bottle there, but there’s something electric in the air tonight and I don’t want to let go of the feeling quite yet. I want it to singe my skin and sink in deeper to touch my soul.

I haven’t felt this good since I got injured, before then even. I don’t know why the dream I had became tarnished, but it did. I didn’t want to admit it to myself. I didn’t want to believe something I had dedicated my life to wasn’t giving me the joy I thought it would.

I was in pain long before I was injured, but I masked it. Then when everything went down with my knee, one wrong move and a collision that cost me so much, I blamed the pain I was experiencing on the physical instead of the reality of it being soul deep.

I’ve never felt closer to having my dreams at my fingertips again than I do right now. The reality that it isn’t ballet, it’s not a sold-out show, and it’s not name recognition bringing me joy is not lost on me. I’m just not sure what it all means.

I take a big gulp from the bottle of water and feel an arm snake around my waist. When I glance over, a handsome man is leering down at me, and I recoil. I glance around, but I don’t see Sergio which has fear spiking inside of me.

“Hello, gorgeous,” the man leans into me and purrs in my ear to ensure he can be heard over the music pumping through the speakers. “You’re sexy as fuck. I’ve been watching you dance since the moment I came in tonight. It was just my luck that you walked right over to me.”

My eyebrows shoot up and I try to step back, but his grip on me doesn’t allow me to put much distance between us. I hate it. The high I was feeling moments before is crashing around me.

“I just needed some water,” I put on my best fake and friendly smile.

Men like him don’t like to be turned down, it makes them vicious. I’ve seen it so many times. I’ve experienced it more than I’d like to admit.

“You don’t need to pretend with me,” he sneers the words as if his attention on me should be a gift.

It’s not. I feel dirty just with him talking to me.

I shouldn’t be afraid for this man’s life, but I am just a little. Elio’s threats to other men ring through my ears. I have no doubt he would follow through with them. He would get away with it too, his power would demand it, and no one would stand in his way. Especially not here, in a club his family owns.

This man has a death wish he’s not even aware of.

“You need to let me go,” I force strength into my voice and hope there are too many people around for this to backfire on me.

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