Page 8 of Blossom in Shadows

I watch Zinnia move in the cage as it hangs above the writhing bodies on the dance floor. The music is pumping, and I should be doing something other than stare at her, but I can’t. Every twist of her hips and roll of her body demands my focus.

I knew it was a mistake to give her the job, but I also knew she wasn’t going to let it go. At least if she’s here, I can keep an eye on her until Constantino comes back. Even after he returns, I can make sure she’s watched over while giving her something which brings her joy.

When I carried her out of her shithole of an apartment last night and took her home, she fell asleep in the car as I drove. The way she trusted me to let herself go, even if she didn’t realize it’s what she was doing, made me feel something I haven’t felt before. It was a different kind of purpose and protectiveness. It was so much more.

When I picked her up to carry her into the house, I was hoping she would stay asleep, but she stirred in my arms. I put her down once we stepped into the foyer and I was able to watch her take everything in. She couldn’t hide her reactions from me, and it was adorable. She was adorable.

Watching her made my chest ache. For a moment I considered if I was doing the right thing by bringing her into my world. It’s dangerous and she will be at risk the moment her involvement with me is known to anyone in the city who thinks they can ruin me through her. There are more people who would consider it than I’d like to admit.

I might have made it sound like the arrangement was temporary when I carried her out of her place, but it’s not. The thought of letting her go back to her life, one filled with pain, no matter how much she tries to mask it, made the ache in my chest grow. There’s no way I could ensure her safety if she left.

The only way to make sure she has the life she deserves is to keep her close.

She looked around my home with awe and appreciation in her eyes. I’ve seen the way some women have looked around at my life before. They were hungry for the money and what it represents. But not Zinnia.

I led her straight up to my room and then proceeded to undress her, even as she eyed me warily. When I pulled a t-shirt of mine over her head and kissed her softly, she relaxed against me. There was something in the way she sagged and the look in her eyes which had me on high alert.

“What’s wrong?” She shook her head and my voice turned hard, “Don’t lie to me. I can tell something is bothering you.”

She sighed and shuffled away from me to sit on the edge of the bed, our bed. She started to twist her fingers together as she stared off into space as if recalling something far away, something she could no longer touch and experience.

“Ballet was always my dream.” She sighed and I was enthralled with her soft words, they struck my chest with the impact of a bullet even though they were shaped like a feather. “I don’t remember anything before dance. I don’t know if I tried a million hobbies or not, but the moment I put on tights and leotards and slipped on simple ballet flats for little girls, I was hooked. Even when I was awful, it felt like flying and it seemed to come naturally to me.”

I couldn’t stay away from her, I walked over to where she was slumped over on the bed, sadness engulfing her, and dropped to my knees before sliding my hands up and down her bare thighs. Touching her skin was a temptation, but the sadness and pain in her eyes kept my desires in check.

“Zinnia,” my voice was strained.

She shook her head, a small smile on her lips. “I worked hard to make it. Do you have any idea how many little girls start ballet classes, but then it never goes farther?” It wasn’t a real question, so I just stared at her. “I was lucky,” her voice broke, and tears welled in her eyes, but none of them fell. “I got my dream. I put in the work, and I made it. I was getting paid to dance ballet on stage in front of people.” She sighed, “I shouldn’t have become so accustomed to having what I wanted the most in life.”

“What happened?” I felt rage fill me. If someone fucked with her, took away her dream, I was going to hunt them down and make sure they could never dream again.

She reached up and cupped my face. “This isn’t a problem you can solve with rage and,” she took a breath and let it out slowly, “I’ve felt enough as it is.” A tear broke free and slid down her face. “Six months ago, I was injured. I’ve done the recovery, and everyone says it should be fine and I’ll get my strength back. It’s a lie. I know my body and I’ll never be the same again.”

“You’re in pain,” I didn’t pose it as a question because it wasn’t. I could see it etched on her face; it was an agony which reverberated in my soul.

“Some days are worse than others. There are times when I forget and then I’ll step wrong or turn or do,” she paused, “something and the pain will shoot through me again.”

“Zinnia,” I started, having no fucking idea how to finish what I had started to say.

“It’s okay.” Her smile was sad and watery. “I’ve made my peace with it, for the most part.”

“Is that why you auditioned?”

“Well,” the smile on her lips was genuine, “that was really a matter of some things falling together in the right way. Yes, I thought it would be a way for me to dance in a low impact environment, but still dance. I shouldn’t have even known about the audition, but I’m friends with Briar who has met the owner a few times and she’s in a relationship with someone who works with him from time to time.”

I furrowed my brows together, wondering who the hell her friend knows. “Who is Briar with?”

“His name is Jericho.” She cocked her head to the side while my blood ran cold. “Do you know him?”

Know him? Jericho is an assassin, one who worked for my father for a long time until he earned his freedom from being tied to one crime family. I knew he’d done some work for Constantino recently and I know he’s in town and staying because of a woman.

“Yes,” I kept my voice even. “I know him and it’s my brother who owns Sala, just so you know.”

She smirked at me and nodded. “I figured that out pretty quickly.”

Even though I wanted to bury every thick inch of my cock inside of her, I also wanted her to know this wasn’t all sexual. Once I prove that to her, I’ll be able to do what I please and whenever I want. Like bending her over every surface of the house and plowing into her until she’s screaming my name and begging for more.

I could feel her exhaustion and as much as I wanted to take her and drive her right back to the edge where the shadows dance, I didn’t. I stripped and climbed into bed with her and pulled her against my chest. I could feel every inch of her body mold against mine.

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