7-The blood-ink pact

   

      [ IRIS’S POV ]

The room fell into dead silence .

My father’s head snapped towards me , his eyes narrowing with sudden suspicion. Blood drained from my face . My heart is beating loudly against my chest. Salvatore was exposing our meeting , but why? 

Sofia’s stare burned into my skin . She has asked me . And I had lied.  That I hadn’t seen him . That he wasn’t there with me . That I had never come face-to face with the beast wearing human skin.

“ You were in the library?” My father’s voice slid over the room like a blade wrapped in gold. 

“ What did we say about you sneaking off there late at night, Iris?”

“ Looking for a book ,” I said , the lie cracking as it left my mouth .” I didn’t see anyone, not the guards , not sir Salvatore.”

He turned towards me as soon as the word sir left my mouth . A ghost of a smirk playing at his lips , the kind that makes my nerve flare and blood ache at the same time. His look tells me he would like me to repeat the word sir later , when it’s just the two of us. I looked away from him. If he thinks he can implicate me . Then two can play.

“  My gaze flicked to Sofia. I needed her to believe me . Needed her to believe I hadn't seen Salvatore. My eyes unconsciously went back to the beast.

“ You told me, he wasn’t there with you yesterday when I asked Iris, Was that a lie?” Sofia looked at me like an investigator trying to drag the truth out of a criminal. My body was shaking lightly, but I need to make myself believable.

“ Like I said Sofia, he didn’t see him. He must have walked into the library without me noticing. You know how much of a living ghost he can be, if he can slip past the trained guards. Then who am I to notice he was even in the library with me.”

“ That’s right Iris. Am sorry for doubting you there for a second. I hope you’re not angry with me sister,”

“ No it’s fine Sofia.” My gaze went back to the devil.

His lips curved just barely . A smirk that never reached his eyes. Like he was enjoying this, watching me twist under the weight of his revelation.

That was when I knew that he saw Sofia last night. And him saying I was at the library yesterday was to set me ablaze.

“ Precisely,” Salvatore said calmly,” If I can get in easily, an assassin can get in .”

He paused. Let it sink.For all in the room.

“ Starting tonight , my personal security details will guard every door . Every window. Every…” His gaze slid to me , slow and steady .” …. Member of this family.

    

   “ We have our own guards….. “ My father started his pride wounded . He knew our guard was nothing compared to the Moretti’s . But still he would bleed rather than admit.

Salvatore’s hand slammed onto the desk , the sound like a gunshot in the small room. The inkwell rattled .” My bride-to-be must be protected,” Salvatore said, his voice dripping with a fake sincerity that made my skin crawl . What a liar, I thought.” And her sister . Especially her sister. She’s …. A flight risk, delicate , isn’t she Lorenzo? We wouldn’t want her getting lost before the wedding would we?”

My father looked between Salvatore and me . He was a greedy man , and the prospect of Moretti soldiers guarding his house meant he could move his own men to the front lines of the docks . He saw it as a tactical advantage. He didn’t see the wolf marking his territory.

“ Fine,” my father grunted.” Add the clause . And don’t forget you will also be here as per tradition.”

What tradition is he talking about , why would Salvatore stay in our house till the wedding. I moved my back a little from the wall. Since I got here I am finally getting interested in whatever they are discussing. 

“ Yes, I am going to be in this household as per tradition Lorenzo. Making sure everything and everyone is in order.” He said his eyes on Mine.

Salvatore bent over the paper. He didn’t just sign his name ; he carved it into the paper with enough pressure to leave an indent on the wood beneath . He scribbled a jagged, aggressive script that looked more like a threat than a signature.

 As he finished, he clicked the pen shut . The sound was final . His eyes flew to my side . And I looked away.

The deal was done . On the paper, he belonged to my sister . But as the men began to shake hands and pour more bourbon, Salvatore walked towards the door. He had to pass me to get out.

He slowed his pace. As he brushed past me , his shoulder hit mine , a hard , intentional contact that knocked me slightly off balance . He leaned into my ear , his scent of sandalwood and danger enveloping me.

He wasn’t touching me , but I was visibly shaking at his close proximity towards me. 

“ Check your balcony tonight , Little mouse ,” he hissed, his breath hot against my ear .” My men are already in place . And I will be the one watching the feed.”

He didn’t wait for a response. He walked out , his long strides carrying him away with the confidence of a man who had just bought a kingdom and intended to burn it down.

Sofia ran over to me , her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and jealousy.” Did you hear what he said , did you hear that , Iris ? He’s so protective of me ! He’s already obsessed with me , with our safety. And good thing you didn’t lie to me about seeing him at the library.”

I looked at my sister , at her ivory dress and her naive smile. She thought she was the center of the world . She doesn't realize she was just the curtain Salvatore is using to seal his prize .

“  Yeah,” I whispered, my hand trembling as I touched the locket hidden in my dress. 

I looked at my father , he was busy chatting with Vincenzo . My gaze moved to Vicenzo and his deadly eyes were on me . What is the deal with father and son?

Sofia  was about to go back to father , to celebrate and drink to the deal they just signed.” Sofia,” I called and she turned back to me . Without talking or giving her a reason for stopping her. I walked out of the study with a smirk on my face. Giving her a taste of her own medicine.

 That night , I didn’t go to the garden , I sat on the edge of my bed and looked at the black dome of the security camera newly installed in the corner of my ceiling. The little red blink once.

Somewhere in this house or in a van outside , or in the van outside , or in his own dark bedroom , Salvatore was watching . And for the first time in my life , I realized that being “ protected “ by a Moretti was the exact same thing as being hunted.

My gaze flicked back to the camera , and I gave it my middle finger . Fuck you. I mouthed