You touched her

I felt my breath stopped for a while, and time seemed to get slow. The club’s loud music felt faded into the background. The only thing I could hear was the dull thump of my own heartbeat. His gray eyes were about to land on me, and I felt nervous. For a minute, I didn’t want him to see me, here, in this setting. My fingers curled tightly around the glass in my hand.

And then, using my quick reflexes, I turned away.

I was Mafia Princess after all, and Papa taught me all the skills required for my safety.

I took a deep breath, and didn’t dare to turn back for a moment. Elara caught my actions. And she gave me a confused glance but didn’t question it. She asked in concern, “Val, are you okay?”

“Of course.” My voice came out steady, though my heart wasn’t. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Elara raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. Thank God.

Still, my eyes betrayed me. Even as I pretended to sip my drink and listen to her chatter, my eyes followed its way back to him. He looked so hot standing there in his tailored black sipping his drink. Rowan and Axel talked beside him, but his attention didn’t seem to be fully on them.

I wondered if he was still thinking about me. I could feel the butterflies fly in stomach all the way to my heart.

But then I saw. A woman.

She appeared out of nowhere. She had long and slender legs. Her Blonde hair shone brightly under the neon lights. Her dress clung to her curves like it was made for her. Without hesitation, she leaned closer to Raven Blackwood, and rested her a perfectly manicured hand on his arm.

He didn’t pull away.

I felt the sharp sting of jealousy that made my stomach twist. She whispered something to him, and although I couldn’t hear a word, his lips moved in response. He smiled a little, although it was not quite a smile, but it was enough to make my chest ache.

In an instant, thousands of questions formed in my head. I wondered her name and her relationship with him. Raven Blackwood never let a woman talk to him, let alone have her so close to him. It didn’t take an idiot to guess what their relationship was. I realized I needed to leave. I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing after watching him with another woman.

My heart broke in millions of pieces. I turned to Elara, and forced my voice to stay calm, “Elara, I want to go home.”

“What?!” She blinked in confusion. “We just got here.”

“I know.” I tried to smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m just not feeling it. Please?”

Before she could argue, Trance returned with our drinks. “Fruit punch for the ladies.” He smirked handing us the glasses. “And yes, I made sure there’s nothing else in them.”

Elara rolled her eyes. “You’re no fun.”

“I’m the only reason you’re in here without getting kicked out. You’re welcome.” Trance replied.

I barely heard them. My mind was still on Raven Blackwood and that woman. Did he know her? Was she his date? The questions swirled in my head, making it impossible to focus.

“We’ll finish our drinks and then leave,” I murmured, not trusting myself to say more.

But just as I lifted the glass to my lips, a loud voice interrupted.

“Well, well, what do we have here?”

Three guys approached us, their smiles were dripping with cockiness. They looked around the college students, one wore a leather jacket, the other a tight shirt that strained against his muscles. The third, clearly the loudest, had bleach blond hair and a grin that sent a chill down my spine.

“Ladies, are you lost?” Blondie asked, his eyes sweeping over me with an unsettling gleam. “Or did you come here looking for some fun?”

Trance immediately stepped ahead of me. “Back off.”

Blondie’s grin widened as he looked at Trance. “Relax, man. We’re just being friendly.” His gaze lingered on Elara, then it shifted back to me. “Especially with this one. What’s your name, sweetheart?”

I didn’t answer.

“Not interested,” Trance said firmly. “Move along.”

But they didn’t. Instead, Blondie stepped even closer, his fingers pressed against my arm. “Come on. Don’t be shy.”

My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to stay calm. “I said, I’m not interested.” My voice was low, I just needed to go home. Not create any drama here for god sake. If Papa got to know where I was today, I would be done for.

“Oh, feisty. I like that.” His fingers traced an invisible line down my arm, sending a wave of discomfort through me. “Maybe you just need a little convincing.”

Elara also snapped in anger. “She said no, asshole!” Her voice was louder than the music, which caught a few curious glances from nearby tables.

Blondie’s grin faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. He laughed like it was all a joke.

“You girls are no fun.” He stepped back, raising his hands in surrender, but it felt like he was mocking us. “But hey, if you change your mind…”

I didn’t wait for him to finish the sentence. I quickly grabbed Elara’s hand and turned away. I wanted to be anywhere but here.

But before I could take another step, the music suddenly stopped. And Club’s light turned from neon to white, lighting the whole space instantly.

I paused in my steps, and blinked my eyes to adjust to the light. People had stopped dancing. Conversations were stopped. It was as if the entire club held its breath.

‘What was happening?’ I silently wonder to myself.

In the utter silence, I heard footsteps. They were heavy and slow.

‘Please not Raven. Not him.’ I prayed in my heart, it could be anyone, but him, right now. But clearly, luck was not on my side. I heard a rough voice, “What’s happening here.”

I didn’t need to turn around to look for the source of this voice. I knew it in my heart, it was Raven Blackwood’s voice. It had been years since I last heard him, and now I heard it, up so close. I couldn’t help but feel my heart would leap out of my body if this continued.

In the next second, another voice came. If I wasn’t wrong, it was Blondie’s voice. He stammered. “Hey, man.. We were just….”

My grip tightened on Elara’s arm. I didn’t dare to either leave or turn back. Leaving was dangerous, so was staying. Either way, he could recognize me. So, I stood my ground, not doing anything.

“You touched her,” Raven Blackwood’s voice came. It was calm, too calm like the ocean before Tsunami. And that was what made it terrifying.

“It.. It was nothing. A joke.. Just a joke..” Blondie’s voice cracked, his bravado crumbled into air.

“Leave.” Raven Blackwood only said one word.

Blondie didn’t need to be told twice. With a little apology, he ran out of the club, and his other two friends followed behind.

I felt blood rush to my brain as I felt the tap on my right shoulder. “Valerie.”

If Raven Blackwood’s voice was scary with Blondie just now, it was even more terrifying as he called her name. What the heck? What was up with his difference in treatment? At least he should talk warmly to her. But it was cold. My heart dropped into the abyss. I turned around slowly, almost Robotically. My head hung low. I didn’t dare to look up at his face. I knew it would be even more scary than his voice.