Page 2 of Claimed By The Devil

“I’m fine,” she says but my question reignited whatever fire her stepmother lit in her and her eyes become glossy.

“Come over here and sit with me for a minute,” I tell her as I pat the bench with my hand.

“I don’t even know you,” she answers but I can tell that she isn’t going anywhere.

“Danny Dimarco,” I hold my hand out to her.

“Diavolo,” she mutters.

“Where did you hear that, little girl?” I ask brushing my hair over my scar.

“That’s what they call you, right?”

“Some people do but you can call me Danny. Now, come sit down. You can’t go back in there with tears in your eyes.”

She hesitates, looking down the hall toward the ballroom.

“Deirdre, come sit down,” I say a bit more forcefully.

Her leg rubs against mine when she sits down, and I swallow the desire to put my hand on it.

“Why are you crying? Did your father’s new wife upset you?” I ask her.

“Every day,” she moans.

“What does your father have to say about that?”

“As if he cares. The only thing we share is blood. It wouldn’t matter if I lived or died,” the tears well up in her eyes again.

“What about your real mother?” I ask and the damn opens completely.

“She died when I was two. That’s the only reason my father took me in, If he has another kid that’s it for me. He’ll find some wise guy to pawn me off on and forget all about me,” she whimpers.

“You’re an adult now, right? What are you? Twenty-one?” I ask.

“Twenty.”

“Soon you’ll be out of the house and on your own,” I try to console her.

“You know better than that. You don’t get out of these kinds of families. When you’re a girl, you just get married off to a different branch,” she rolls her eyes.

“I had a rough childhood, too, but trust me. The older you get, the less it affects you. One day, it won’t even seem real anymore. You’ll remember things and wonder if it was just a dream.”

“I hope so,” she answers but I know she doesn’t believe me.

“I’m telling you, baby, this is almost a distant memory for you. You’ll see.” This time I put my hand on her leg. She looks down at it but doesn’t flinch.

“So, what? Are you going to take me away from all this?” she smirks.

I know that she’s joking but I can’t help myself and say, “I’m thinking about it.”

She searches my eyes for any truth in my comment, and I involuntarily lean forward. I just met this girl a few minutes ago, and I’m going to kiss her. She looks down at my lips as I inch closer. She doesn’t move a muscle. She’s going to let me taste her warm, soft lips. I almost made contact when Jimmy’s voice bellows from behind her.

“Danny! It’s time,” he shouts at me.

“We’ll finish this later,” I whisper to Deirdre. I take her by the hand and help her to her feet. “That smile that you’re wearing right now, keep it and go back in there with your head held high. Don’t give them the satisfaction of knowing that they shook you. Remember what I said. It’s almost over.”

“Thank you,” she smiles.

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