Chapter 1

Marissa

The low tune of instruments in the background is mixing well with the low murmur of voices and clatter of silverware surrounding us. Tonight my mom and dad have gone all out and booked a table at one of the more fancy restaurants in the area we’re living in. It’s not the most expensive but enough to make me feel that this day is special.

I smile as I throw a glance at my mom who sits opposite of me. She is dressed in her nicest dress and cheap, fake jewelry. My dad, who’s sitting next to mom, has dressed up as well in a suit that must have fitted ten years ago but now strains in the seams to contain him.

But all that doesn’t matter today. I’m sure they had to save months in advance to afford the table. They did all this for me. Because today is my eighteenth birthday! My smile grows and I bite my lip to prevent a happy giggle to escape and look down on the dessert menu.

My dad leans in towards my mom and I sneak a peak over the edge of the menu. He whispers in her ear and she blushes. He leans back in his seat with a pleased smile on his lips. But then something behind me catches his eyes. The smile falls immediately and I see fear flash before he quickly conceals it.

The hair at the back of my neck rises and goosebumps rise on my arms as I feel someone walking up behind me. That someone comes to a stop at our table and I look up to see who it is. The most gorgeous man I have ever seen stands next to our table with his eyes plastered to my fathers face and my menu is quickly forgotten. 

He has dark eyes, almost black in the dimed light of the restaurant. A straight nose, prominent cheekbones and a strong jaw gives him a manly look. His black hair is styled to perfection and he has a dark five’oclock shadow covering his jaw. I can see that he’s older than me, perhaps in the late twenties or early thirties, but at the same time he looks ageless.

He is wearing a dark gray suit which looks more expensive than my whole bedroom. It strains to contain his body, but not for the same reason that my dad stretches his. But because of his lean but muscular build and the perfect fit. The gold cufflinks at his wrist hold a red ruby, that surely is real, and on his wrist is a large gold watch.

He’s not alone. Two other men are standing behind him like bodyguards, not that it looks like he needs them. He looks deadly on his own, like a god of wrath coming to deliver his verdict.

“Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Mason. It’s a pleasure to see you here.” The man smiles down at my parents, but the smile doesn't reach his dark eyes. His voice is deep, confident and filled with promise of pain and fear, but also pleasure. I know immediately that you don’t want to end up on the wrong side of this man’s favor. A shiver of fear runs down my spine, but behind that fear I feel attraction and lust. How do my parents know someone like him?

“Mr. Falaguerra. It is very nice to meet you.” My dad's voice comes out nervous as he quickly stands up and reaches out his hand to greet the stranger. My mother rises as well. “Are you also here to dine?”

“No. This is one of the many businesses that I own.” He shakes my dad's hand and then takes my mom's hand, bringing it to his lips to give it a light kiss. I see her cheeks blush slightly from his attention and I can’t blame her. Then he turns his eyes to me and I am happy I have not risen to my feet yet. Had I been standing I’m sure my knees would have buckled. “And who might this young beauty be?” I take a deep breath, scold my expression into a polite smile and stand up to greet him as well.

His eyes travel down my body as he takes my hand and brings it up to his mouth to give it a kiss. I gasp at the intensity of his gaze and the warm touch of his soft lips on my skin and a blush paints my cheeks bright red. I feel the kiss all the way to my core that clenches in wish for his attention. It is safe to say that I have never felt such an attraction to another person before.

“This is our daughter, Marissa.” My mom quickly rounds the table to stand beside me and puts her arm protectively around my shoulders. Almost as if she knows what kind of reaction he wakes in me. “We are here to celebrate her eighteenth birthday.” The man's gaze is holding me captive as he looks deep into my eyes. I see the tip of his tongue come out to wet his bottom lip. When he doesn’t let go of my hand I give it a small tug. He increases his grip momentarily, and his eyes flare with some emotion I can’t identify, before he finally releases me.

He turns his attention back to my dad. “I must imagine that it is hard work to keep hungry boys from such a beautiful daughter.” All blood rushes from my dad’s face and he wrings his hands together while his eyes go back and forth between me and the man. The man gives my father a smirk that has my stomach churning with unease.

His eyes turn to me again and the hunger burning behind the darkness scares me more than an open threat would do. “I will leave you to your celebration. The note is on me so make sure you choose something delicious for dessert.” He holds out his hand to ask for mine once again. His aura doesn’t leave room for defiance so I place my hand in his and he gives my hand another kiss. “Until we meet again.” Then he leaves.

It takes several minutes before my dad turns towards me and my mom. “I guess we should choose our dessert.” He says with a nervous smile before he sits down and nervously picks up the menu. My mom and I do the same.

“Who was that man?” I ask as we wait for our dessert to arrive.

“Oh. Ehm. He's just an, eh, acquaintance of mine. No one that you need to worry about.” My dad’s smile is forced as he speaks to me. “Now let’s just enjoy the rest of the evening.”

I give my dad a suspicious glance and then look at my mom who is very preoccupied by looking at the pattern of the tablecloth.

“So have you, Steph and Josie made any plans for your journey?” My dad changes the subject. I narrow my eyes at him, but he refuses to meet my gaze. I sigh and accept the change of subject. It is my birthday and I don’t want an uncomfortable meeting to ruin my evening.

Instead we talk of my friends and mine’s plans for our summer break. My friends and I are planning a roadtrip when we graduate high school. I have worked extra hours at a diner not far from my school to save up enough to last me through the summer. This will be our last summer as kids before going off to college. Steph is moving across the country to follow her dreams, but me and Josie are staying in Chicago to study. As we discuss every important landmark we want to see and everything we want to do, the meeting with the man is quickly forgotten.

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