Chapter 11

Melanie’s point of view

When we got to the boutique, Aria practically jumped out of the car and ran inside like she was chasing candy. I stayed behind with my mom, trying to fix my hair in the car mirror. My mom was already stepping out, humming some old Spanish song.

As we entered, this woman in a tight black dress with shiny black hair and a name tag that said Uriela walked right up to Dante.

“Oh! Dante…” she practically purred, flipping her hair behind her shoulder.

I swear, she almost licked him with her eyes. I felt my cheeks heat up, and I looked away quickly.

Dante just gave her a slow nod, like he was used to women acting like that.

“Are you here for Aria?” she asked, her voice all breathy.

He nodded again. “Yeah.”

When we stepped inside Aria was already shouting from the racks, “Maria! Melanie! Come see this one!”

I started to walk over, and my mom held my arm. I couldn’t help but notice the wide smile on her face.

“Why are you smiling like that?” I asked.

“Doing this all over again reminds me of your quinceañera.” She said softly. “You were so beautiful in that dress… very, very beautiful.”

I laughed a little, feeling shy. “Mom… stop.”

She just shook her head, smiling at me. Then Aria yelled again, “Mariaaa! Melanie!Come on!”

“Coming!” my mom called out, releasing my hand. I followed a few steps behind her, and just as I was about to cross over to the side where dozens of dresses were spread out my eyes landed on Dante and Uriela.

They were in a office at the corner, leaning against a desk, her body was pressed close to his like they were sharing some dark, private secret. The door was wide open, so I could see them properly.

Dante moved his hand to her waist, and she spread her legs a little. My heart literally stopped. Was he serious? Right here?

I watched as his hand slid between her thighs. Then, oh my god he pulled out his gun.

What the actual hell?

She opened her legs even wider. He moved the gun lower, running it along her inner thigh. I felt my whole body freeze.

Was he… was he going to do?

My brain started screaming. No, no, no. That couldn't happen.

I couldn’t have Dante shoot another person in front of me. Surprisingly, he didn’t shoot her; he kept running his gun between her legs and Uriel let out this small moan.

At that moment Dante leaned forward, blocking my view. It felt he was jabbing his gun between her legs because her moan increased. It was low, almost inaudible, but I could still hear it.

I swallowed hard. My stomach twisted. I felt sick and weirdly hot at the same time. What if he accidentally pulled the trigger? Boom. Bye-bye coochie.

I wanted to stop watching but my eyes wouldn’t move.

Then he suddenly pulled away and pocketed his gun. He shifted a little and I could see Uriela properly now.

Dante’s hands trailed down her unbuttoned blouse, she stiffened as he got to her skirt. With one good look at her, dropped to his knees and lifted her leg.

“Melanie! Come see this!” Aria yelled.

I jumped like I got electrocuted.

I didn’t want to go, but if I didn’t, she would keep yelling and Dante would realize I’d been staring.

I forced myself to walk over.

Aria was twirling in front of a mirror, trying on a giant princess dress. She looked like a cupcake.

“Do I look like a queen or a fairy?” she asked, turning around so fast I thought she’d fall.

My mom laughed. “You look like both! You are so beautiful.”

Aria grinned. “I feel like a Disney princess!”

“Try the pink one next!” my mom said, handing her another pile.

Aria disappeared into the dressing room.

I leaned against the wall, trying to stop my brain from playing Dante’s scene on repeat. My mom was talking to the sales assistant about how she used to pick out dresses for me.

Then Aria came back out, this time in a big fluffy pink dress. She was literally sparkling.

“I feel like cotton candy!” she squealed.

My mom clapped her hands. “Perfect! You will look amazing at your quinceañera!”

“I don’t really think it’s that good,” she said looking at the mirror.

“Why don’t you try another one?” My mom urged and she nodded.

Aria kept on trying dresses, and I paid less attention to her or my mom. I wondered what Dante was doing.

Why did I fucking care so much? I was acting like he was my poodle and I had let him outside for the first time.

Finally, Aria tried on a last white dress with gold embroidery.

Dante showed up then, sitting down like nothing had happened. He cleaned his gun, and I couldn’t help but notice the white stain on it.

So he fucked her with it. Nice

I don’t think I’d ever have the guts to let a man do that to me. But to be with Dante… maybe you have to grow a pair. Not that I wanted to be with him anyway he was a jerk face.

My eyes returned to him and I watched as he slipped his gun into his black blazer .

God, he was sexy. Dangerous.

Ugh. Why was I even still thinking about him?

Aria came out and ran up to Dante.

“Where did you go?” she asked.

“Work,” he said simply.

She pouted. “This one’s my favorite. What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful,” he said.

“I was thinking you should buy the short one too, incase you want to go out with your friends after the party.” My mom chipped in and Dante glanced at my mom.

“She’s not your daughter. Know your place.”

I felt a sharp stab in my chest. I wanted to say something, but Aria grabbed my arm first.

“Melanie, why don’t you try a dress too?”

My mom pulled out a red dress from Aria’s pile.

“Rosso è il tuo colore preferito.” She said. Meaning red is your favorite color

I laughed, taking it. “Thanks, Mama.”

Then her phone rang. She answered with a big smile.

“Federico…” she said sweetly, stepping aside.

I stepped into the dressing room, and just as I started tugging at the zipper of my dress, I realized it was stuck.

“Fuck!” I muttered, struggling to get it to roll down. I was about to give up. when I heard a voice behind me.

“Need help?”

I spun around so fast I almost fell into the mirror. Dante stood there, leaning on the doorframe like he owned the whole damn world.

“I—I can do it,” I stammered, but my voice sounded weak even to me.

He stepped inside anyway, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click.

“Turn around,” he ordered.

I obeyed before I could stop myself. My fingers trembled against the zipper. His hands brushed mine away, and he started unzipping me, so slowly it felt like torture.

His fingertips traced my spine lightly as he pulled the zipper down, making goosebumps explode all over my skin.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured, so close I could feel his breath on my neck.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.

He pushed the fabric off my shoulders, letting it pool at my waist. I felt completely exposed, standing there in my bra.

His hand slid up to my neck, then down over my collarbone. I sucked in a sharp breath, my whole body locking up.

“Red really is your color,” he whispered, so close his lips brushed my ear.

I felt dizzy, like I might collapse right there.

He picked up the dress and started helping me slip into it, but his hands didn’t move like a tailor’s—they wandered. His fingers skimmed the sides of my breasts, as he pulled the fabric up.

My breath hitched.

“Dante…” I tried to warn, but it came out more like a whimper.

He chuckled darkly. “Shh…”

He zipped the dress up, pressing against me from behind, his chest felt warm. His lips hovered over my neck, close enough to make my knees almost buckle.

Then he tilted his head, his nose brushing my hair as he inhaled me deeply.

I didn’t know if I wanted to run or lean back into him and let him do whatever he wanted.

His hand slid to my waist, gripping me tight, like he was fighting the urge to do more.

“A choker,” he finally whispered, his mouth grazing my skin, “would look perfect on this pretty little neck of yours.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, my heartbeat going wild.

Then, just as suddenly, he pulled back. I felt cold without his heat.

I turned around quickly, trying to catch my breath, but he was already stepping back, his face back to that cold, unreadable expression.

My mom’s voice called from outside, “Melanie, are you ready?”

Dante’s eyes locked onto mine one last time, a dark smirk playing at his lips.

“Don’t take too long,” he said softly, like a threat.

Then he slipped out, leaving me alone, shaking in the middle of the dressing room.

I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to calm my breathing.

What the hell just happened?

I looked at myself in the mirror. The red dress fit like it was made for me, but all I could see was his touch, his eyes, that smirk.

My head felt like it was on fire.

I wasn’t sure if I hated him or wanted him even more.

“He’s a jerk Melanie!” I whispered stepping out of the dressing room. “A big one who wants to steal your mom’s happiness don’t forget that.”

The minute I stepped into the room my clapped her hands. “This one! You must take this dress.”

Aria nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! It’s perfect!”

I nodded, turning to look at Dante. He smirked, almost like he was approving me.

He turned to Aria. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes!” she squealed.

“Good.”

We headed to the register. Uriela was back, acting all professional.

“Did you see any outfit you like?” she asked, eyes only on Dante.

We nodded. My mom took out her wallet after Dante paid for Aria’s dress but Dante stopped her.

“Put her dress on my tab,” Dante said suddenly.

Then he leaned close to my ear.

“It’s a goodbye gift.”

I felt my knees go weak.

He leaned back, walked away, and we all went to the car.

On the drive home, my mom started talking about Aria’s hair.

“You should wear it half-up, half-down—”

Dante cut her off sharply.

“You’ll never be her mother. Don’t overplay your part.”

I turned to look at him so fast. “That’s enough, Dante! Aren’t you tired of making my mom feel like shit?”

“No!” he snapped, his voice sharp and merciless. “I’ll always remind her of her place.”

Then he scoffed. “She won’t be around for long anyway. Better she learns not to get attached to things she’ll never keep. I’m doing her a fucking favor.”

I clenched my fists, my whole body trembling. “You’re going to swallow those words sooner than you think.”

He looked at me in the mirror, his eyes cold and amused. He didn’t say anything afterwards, just kept driving.

When we got home, he left without a word.

I noticed my mom looked sad. I tried to cheer her up when we settled in the living then Federico came in and hugged her. I slipped away, letting them talk.

In my room, I couldn’t stop thinking about Dante. About the gun. About his touch. About my mom’s face after he said those words.

I needed a plan. I needed something to use against him so he could finally get off my mom’s back.

As I took a bath, an idea came to me. I’d search his room. Maybe I’d find something incriminating and threaten him with it.

It was crazy but I had no choice but to do it.

I got dressed quickly and snuck toward his room. The secret path by my wardrobe seemed blocked—of course he would do that.

I put on a dress and quietly stepped into his room.

I started going through his drawers, and I found letters and some documents in weird languages.

I snapped pictures of them quickly.Then the door slammed open. I heard sloppy kisses and laughter.

I froze, my heart hammering in my chest.

Oh God…