Page 138 of Ruthless Sinner

“You did but I can't help but think that you wouldn't have stopped if I didn't demand for you to do so. Or if you weren't caught.” His face hardens. “Serenity, I don't know if you quite realize how much danger you could have been in. The man is a member of Russian Mafia. That should have been enough to tell you to stay away. I didn't grow you up to associate yourself with men like him. I'm not sure what drove you to it in the first place. Enlighten me, Serenity. Was it to get to me?”

It's funny that he should ask me this question now instead of when he ripped into me the other day.

“Not everything is about you, Dad. And I wouldn’t do that.”

“Then why? You can tell he’s dangerous just from looking at him.” He looks at me as if the concept was as obvious as walking into a fire.

“He was nice to me.” That’s the truth. Dantewasnice to me and he was everything you would imagine for a fairytale girl guy.

The girl meets Prince Charming who sweeps her off her feet and my God, did he sweep me off my feet. Everything that happened next was the whirlwind romance you hear in romance books and movies that become classics, win Oscars, and go down in history for being the best of the best. That's what he was to me. Dad wouldn't understand that if he thought Matthew would have made a good husband for me.

“But it's over now.” My voice sounds distant and I actually feel the sting of that lie.

Dante and I seem like we’re only just beginning, but I don’t know what’s about to start.

I haven’t seen him since last night and all I’ve gotten is a message letting me know he’ll contact me. That’s it. Like a business deal.

“Hopefully you will have better sense in the future. I don’t think I need to point out that could have been a scandal neither of us needed. And very bad for me as governor if the press found out.”

I can’t even argue with that. It’s true. “I understand and it won’t happen again.”

“Good, well. Let enjoy dinner. We have a long week ahead of us with Natalie's engagement party. I need you to be a part of it and celebrate Natalie. She deserves that. Okay?”

Yes, Princess Natalie deserves the celebration. Dare I forget. “Sure.”

I don't want to be a part of anything to do with those people, but I’m agreeing because these might be the last days that I spend with my father on the outside of a prison.

Chapter39

Serenity

I reach home just after ten. When I step into my apartment, I take a moment to absorb the scent of my air freshener. Magnolia and honey. The scent reminds me that I'm in my own space. I'm not locked away. I'm in a place where I can be myself. This is my space to breathe, think, and collect myself so I can be stronger tomorrow.

Earlier I got back I was only here for a little while. I changed my clothes and dropped off the other stuff Dante got me, then I had to go straight to the restaurant.

I didn't get the chance to revel in the feeling of just being home, being back, being free. Well, as free as I can pretend to be within the confines of my home.

I walk up the stairs, eager to get to bed. I'm exhausted, both emotionally and physically.

The rest of the time with Dad went as well as it could be for us, in the sense that we didn't argue, but of course the looming threat was hanging over my head.

I’m worried about the rest of the week. I almost wish I could just be concerned with the awkwardness of being around Melissa and Natalie, but they're small fry in comparison to what's actually going on in the background.

I continue up the stairs, but when I get closer to the top, that feeling had weeks ago of someone watching me suddenly washes over me.

Not someone. Him. Dante.

The feeling is so strong when I look behind me I expect to see him emerging from the living room.

But it’s just me. I keep going up and the feeling gets stronger.

That's when I it dawns on me that presence of him is in my bedroom.

If I haven’t lost my mind to paranoia and I’m right, that’s where I’ll find him.

My breath stilts and I stop my stride, taking a moment to compose myself. Weeks ago when I sensed his presence I was right. I think I’m right again. My heart is beating too fast for this just to be a trick of my mind.

If my wild imagination hasn’t gotten the better of me, then I know he's not here to talk.

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