Chapter Three

Vincenzo’s pov

  “Excuse me,”

  Tonight, curiosity will win. Whether it brought trouble or not didn’t matter.

  I was a predator on the hunt, and my prey still had no idea she was being stalked. I followed her closely and waited just outside for her when she disappeared into the restroom. Leaning against the wall, I waited with almost predatory patience.

  Moments later, the doors opened, and there she was, smoothing the fabric of her dress and running a hand through her hair. Her cheeks were flushed, lips slightly parted as if she’d forgotten how to close them properly. The alcohol had worked its way through her system, letting a carefree smile tug at her lips.

  She turned, intending to head back to the party, but the carpet had other plans. Her foot caught the edge, and she stumbled forward.

  It happened in an instant—her body tilting off balance, her soft gasp escaping into the quiet hallway. And then she was in my arms.

  I caught her effortlessly, pulling her against me before she could hit the ground. The scent of her perfume, delicate and feminine, mixed with the aroma of tequila. My hands steadied her, firm and sure, as if they’d known the shape of her all along.

  Her head tilted back, wide eyes meeting mine.

  She blinked, startled, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us. Her chest rose and fell against mine, and I could feel her pulse quicken as she registered exactly who had saved her.

  “Careful,” I murmured, my voice low, the edges smoothed by amusement and something darker. My eyes never left hers, as her body pressed into mine like we belonged together from the start.

  We were impossibly close, my dark eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch. 

  ------

  Red.

  That was the color of her hair. I followed that blur of red through the crowd, never tearing my gaze away from it as I tailed the woman there. I stood against the wall, casually loitering in front of the restroom, watching and waiting for her to come out. It was a bit out of character for me to stalk anyone like this, but her presence had sparked my curiosity. I needed to know who she was, and I wasn’t the kind of man to sit back idly and play the waiting game; I pursued what I desired with relentless determination. It was that very mindset that had allowed me to build my empire in the underworld. If I wanted something, I went after it—no hesitation, no retreat. And right now, I want her...

  A moment later, the restroom doors were pulled open, and she went out. I hadn't realized it earlier, but she had a dimple. A moonshaped mark on her cheek that deepened whenever she smiled. She ran her fingers through her hair. Her movements are sensual. But she tripped almost instantly, and I was there to catch her.

  Strawberries.

  Mixed with alcohol. That’s how she smelt, her body was soft against mine. Fuck, she was so soft as she pressed flat against me, she fit so perfectly in my hold and my heart raced as I pulled her closer to me. But the hard look in my eyes gave nothing away of the fire burning within me. When her eyes fluttered open she barely hid her shock.

  “Careful,” I murmured, my voice low and steady.

  Her hazel brown eyes blinked as she tried to pull herself away from my hold. But I was reluctant to let her go.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.” she had apologized. Her voice was sweet like a melody. I hated how I was acting because of this woman in my arms. I didn’t even know her name and this was the first time I’d seen her here in the club, yet still, all I knew was that I had to have her.

  My lips quirked into a small smile as my grip on her loosened just enough for her to straighten up. But I never fully let her go. How could I? “That’s quite alright,” I chuckled, “I’ve had my eyes on you all night.” I admitted.

  The woman shot me an incredulous look, a subtle flicker of panic flashed in her eyes, but it didn’t last long as her lips curved into the most seductive of smiles, as if she was in control of the situation, refusing to let my overwhelming presence intimidate her. I was intrigued by this, because not many had the courage to stand this close to me without feeling the overwhelming weight of my presence around them, let alone look me in the eye with defiance the way this one did. It pissed me the hell off.

  “Do you say that to all the girls?” she remarked. There was a playful tease in her words that amused me. There was no fear, just defiance that filled her eyes. She probably didn’t know who I was.

  My gaze flicked to her full lips, then back up to her eyes. Her confidence was attractive, I’d give her that “No. Just you, Cara mia.” I purred into her ear and she chuckled softly. The kind of chuckle that made my heart thump. I could not fully understand why this woman was so enthralling to me. I didn’t know why I wanted her so badly. But I knew from the second I laid my eyes on her, even before Lorenzo figured out my interest, even when I had denied it, I knew I would not have slept well tonight if I had not acted on this burning curiosity in me. The way she smiled, her laugh and her voice, all fascinated me.

  “I should get back to my friend,” She whispered into my ear, but she made no move to step away from me.

  My smile was confident as I held her back. We’d begun this teasing game now, it was far from over. “Or,” I leaned closer, “you could stay with me a little longer.”

  My words hung in the space between us, a challenge, an invitation.

  Lena’s pov

  Tonight was meant to be about having fun and letting loose with my girlfriend. Was I drunk? Yes! But at least I was happy. Happier than I’d been for a while now. I felt as though I was on top of the world right now. I was blissfully unaware of the world around me. It felt as though I was in a telenovela, and I was the star of my own franchise. 

  “I need to use the bathroom!!” I had said to Jazz, and she nodded, waving me off dismissively as she started dancing with a random guy that had been eyeing both of us.

  I walked off, my steps wobbly, but I somehow found my way to the restroom. 

  The interior was pristine, unlike bathrooms in regular clubs, this one looked like it belonged in an ad. Soft lights lined the ceilings, full mirrors over the vanity sinks and hand dryers. There were four stalls and two of them were occupied. The grotesque sounds of someone throwing up made me chuckle. At least I knew how to hold down my liquor. 

  As I stood in front of the vanity, I turned to the door to be sure Jazz hadn't followed me. What I was about to do was off limits. I’d been clean for about a month now, but I couldn't resist the itch to make one hit. Just one, I didn't want this feeling to end.

  With a soft click, I opened my clutch purse and pulled out a plastic baggie–Co**ne, Fairy dust, Bolivian marching powder, happy pills, snowboarding, disco dust. Whatever you wanna call it. I just needed the high. I knew it was bad for me, damn it, but I couldn't resist.

  I felt guilty, Jazz had been helping me work things out, to step out of this. But ever since I started doing Dr*gs three years ago, thanks to my ex, it's been a constant roller coaster of ups and downs. I got better, but the thing with addictive habits is that they die hard.

  Taking out a mirror and a rolled up dollar bill, I took it to my nose and inhaled. My eyes dilated and my smile widened.

  “What's the worst that could happen?”

  Once I could feel the effects of the dr*gs kick in, I splashed some cold water on my face. And with a final affirmative nod at my reflection in the mirror, I walked out of space. The pulsating beats from the speakers reached me and I smiled. Running a hand through my bright red hair. It was a giddy feeling, the kind of excitement you get from doing dr*gs. My mind was a bit fuzzy, but fuck did I feel like I was on top of the world.

  The night was still young and all I wanted was to get back to the party. Back to Jasmine.

  But the last thing I had expected tonight was falling into the arms of a handsome stranger. My breath caught in the back of my throat and my body shivered from the close contact when our eyes met. I should have been terrified out of my mind, but there was something about him that felt magnetic, or maybe it was just the dr*gs and alcohol coursing through me. The man was dressed in a sharp ox-blood tailored Italian suit and a black shirt on the inside. He had left a few of the buttons undone, giving me a generous view of his well-formed chest that had tattoos inked onto it, dark hair to match his equally dark eyes, and he smelled of cigars and expensive cologne. I swooned when his muscular arms tugged me closer to him. There was no doubt in my heart that he was a made-man. But it was his voice that truly got me. A rich low rumble that echoed in my ears to accompany the darkness in his eyes.

  “Careful,”

  I blinked as I tried to pull myself away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.” I apologized once I found my voice again.

  From that impossibly close distance between the both of us, I watched how his lips quirked into a small smile to reveal perfectly lined pearly whites. His hold around me loosened just enough for me to straighten up, but he never fully let go. “That’s quite alright,” he chuckled, “I’ve had my eyes on you all night.” he had an American-Italian accent to his words and I smirked, unable to bite back my own amusement. 

  “Do you say that to all the girls?” I teased. Feeling a surge of adrenaline rush through me.

  He leaned closer, and I caught the strong whiff of his cologne mingled with the faint scent of cigar smoke. My heart raced, a mix of thrill and nervousness swirling in my stomach. “No. Just you, cara mia,” he replied, his voice smooth like velvet wrapped around steel. 

  A laugh escaped my lips, playful and light. “I should get back to my friend.” Although I said that, I made no move to leave his side. All night, Jasmine and me had received all kinds of attention from both men and women alike, but nothing felt like the kind of attention Vincenzo was giving me. I wanted to indulge in these new feelings a little bit longer.