Dinner

HAZEL

The next day, I went downstairs for dinner late. I always go a few seconds late. It’s my small act of rebellion, the only thing I can control in this golden mansion.

Tonight, though, I’m furious. My blood is boiling from hours of silence and walls that don’t talk back. So instead of my usual two to four minutes, I make it fifteen. I walk slowly, deliberately, down the marble hall to the dining room, every step filled with defiance.

But when I push open the doors, the table is empty..... No Axel.

He’s always here. Always waiting, always on time with that cold stare, that unreadable expression. The sight of the empty chair hits me like a slap, and I just stand there, caught between confusion and anger.

Why isn’t he here?

I shouldn’t care. I don’t care. But somehow, the thought of him breaking our twisted little routine makes something inside me snap.

I turn around, walking fast and nearly bump into Nico. Axel’s consigliere.

I know every important person there is to know in Axel’s kingdom. There’s Nico, his consigliere, and Luka, his right hand. These two are the most important people in Axel’s life. He’s almost always with one or the other, especially when it comes to his business.

Now, like I said before, I know what Axel’s men think of me. Mostly, they just ignore me, you know, in that kind of way, 'like why would I even bother with you?' Like they’re just tolerating my existence.

But Nico? Yeah, Nico’s different. I really, really think Nico doesn’t like me for whatever reason. He’s never actually said it, never told me outright that he hates me, but the way he looks at me, the way he would refer to me.... God, it’s enough. You just know when someone can’t stand you.

Still, I don’t stop myself. “Is he in his office?” I demand, my tone sharper than I planned.

Nico raises a brow. “No.” One word. Dismissive.

“Where is he?” I press, folding my arms.

He tilts his head slightly, his lips twitching into something between mockery and amusement.

“And who are you, again?”

I blink, caught off guard. “Who am I?” I repeat, my voice shaking slightly. “Don’t you know who I am?”

He chuckles darkly. “All I know is you’re just one of the faceless women the Don goes through. You don’t have any power in this house. So for you to speak to me in that tone, demanding to know where my boss is…”

He clicks his tongue and takes a step closer, “Feels to me like you think you have some kind of power.”

Something inside me tightens, but I refuse to back down.

I know Nico is a dangerous man. A made man. One who’s seen blood and death and probably delivered both. But I want answers

“I just want to know where he is, Nico.” I say, forcing my voice steady. “He’s always here at this hour.”

Nico scoffs. “I’m not the Don’s keeper.... But I do know you’re not his wife. He can go wherever he wants, with whoever he wants.” His smirk turns cruel. “Probably fucking one of his other mistresses right now.”

He says it like it’s nothing, like I’m nothing, and walks away, leaving me frozen in the hallway, heat burning my cheeks.

I’ve heard the whispers before. The servants, the guards, I know what they think of me. But no one has ever said it to my face so plainly.

I walk up the stairs to my room, angry. No, furious.So goddamn angry I can practically feel the fumes coming out of my ears and nose. My face feels hot with rage and humiliation. The moment I’m inside my room, I slam the door shut so hard the walls seem to shake.

How dare he?

God! I have never been so mad. This is all Axel's fault..... I hate him so Godamn much. He takes me away from the man I love, from my life, lock me in here while he goes out there, doing whatever the hell he wants?

How many women has he done this to?

How many women does he have locked up, hidden in golden cages?

I pace and pace, my thoughts spiraling, my anger clawing its way out of me. I don’t even know how long I’ve been talking to myself when I hear it..... That voice.

His voice. Deep and unmistakable, coming from downstairs. He must’ve probably just gotten inside. And yes, I was waiting for it. For him. Because tonight, Axel Morelli is not getting away from me. Tonight, he’s answering my goddamn questions.

I bolt out of the bedroom, my bare feet barely touching the floor as I storm down the hall. And as I reach the stairs, there he is. He’s coming up just as I’m going down.

And I don’t stop. I keep walking until we meet in the middle, face to face, anger crashing against something colder, darker, and far more dangerous.

I look at his face and realize something’s different about him. I can’t pinpoint what it is at first, but he looks… different. Even the way he watches me, he’s never watched me like this before.....

But I push that thought out of my mind as I snap,

“Where were you? Where the fuck have you been?”

He gives me that same smirk, the one that makes me want to slap him....and that’s exactly what I do. I raise my hand, but he catches it mid-air.

“I.....” I stammer, my voice shaking with fury. “I want to get out of here. You’re letting me out of this house today..... Today, Axel.”

Suddenly, he pulls me toward him, my chest colliding with his, and he sneers down at me, that cold, deliberate sneer that says he’s in control. He tilts his head, a dark glint in his eyes.

“Or what, Hazel?” he asks slowly, deliberately, “What exactly are you going to do?”

That’s when I smell it, the faint burn on his breath, and I glance at his face. His expression is slightly off, and then it hits me: he’s drunk.

I try to speak. "I… I…" But no words come out. My voice falters, and I can’t form what I want to say.

He leans down closer, slowly, and presses his thumb against my lower lip. For a second, I’m transfixed, unable to move or think, just staring at him.

But before I can do or say anything more, he pulls me fully against him, and his mouth is on mine. Hard.