Chapter 50
My fingers instinctively curled around the champagne
“You’ve done well for yourself. Married to Ixute Romano. At least you did something.
Tlooked at him dead in his eyes.” Mathew Drago
thing useful for me
His smirk instantly wiped off his face as he gritted his teeth. His eyes turned red. “Looks like you’ve grown a spine. Have you forgotten how to show respect, have you! Do you think this power can change your place in this world?” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “You may have married a don, but my blood still runs in your veins. No matter how high you try to fly, you are dill mine, Elara Drago”
A dark clnuckle left my lips. “Respect is earned, not forred, and it is Klara Mammano
your reins. You
Mathew’s smile did’t water, but his eyes showed a glint of menace. “Oh, linde bird. You don’t understand, do you I still have your might think you’re free, but I can tighten the reins whenever I want, and you’ll be on your knees“
Klara’s jaw tightened, but she kept her expression cabin. Is that a threat, Mr Dragol
“A promise,” he whispered, sipping g his wine leisurely, “Your new world may slickd you now, but blood ties are eternal. He took a step closer, lowering his voice. Very soon, you will come to me on your own. You will beg me.” His smile was slow, venomous. “And when you do. I’ll let you
know exactly what you have to do”
My stomach twisted a little.
“Oh, what a surprise, Mr. Drago, 1 do hope your leg has healed. I heard the injury was.. quite severe,” Luca drawled, his tone dripping with mock sympathy.
Drago’s jaw tightened, his lips pressing into a thin line as Luca casually stepped beside me, wearing that signature smirk.
“Well, well,” Drago sneered. “If it isn’t Dante Romano’s loyal linde isplog”
Luca’s smirk widened, but his eyes turned sharp, gleaming with something deadly. “Lapdog? Now, that’s just rude, old man, Luca drawled, slipping his hands into his pockets. I prefer the term ‘trusted right hand as a nicer ring to it, don’t you think?”
Drago scoffed, his gaze flickering to me before selling back on Lea. “You’re still nothing but a dog. Barking, biting, doing his dirty work like a loyal
Luca chuckled, but there was no humour in it. He took a step closer, voice lowering to more dangerous.
“You seem awfully brave for a man who was crawling on the ground last time we met,” he murmured. “Tell me, bleeding, knowing you were nothing more than a disgraced has–been?”
Drago’s jaw tightened, his fingers curling into fists. “Watch your mouth, boy
“It’s not Russia, Mathew Drago. You are in Romano’s territory. So behave Luca titell his head, tauming.
how did it feel? Lying there.
Drago chuckled, but it was devoid of humour. His gaze flicked back to me, something unreachable glinting in his eyes. “Enjoy your night, my dear daughter,” he murmured. “While you still–cau”
Then, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, and I just noticed he was limping. A breath I didn’t realise I was holding slapped past my lips.
Luca was watching me closely.
“You okay?” he asked, lus psual teasing edge gone. I nodded once, unwilling to admit how deeply my father’s words had unsettled me. Something sccius off aliout him tonight, I have to be careful. Tim line.”
Luca didn’t look convinced, bin le didn’t pass. Instead, he grabbed a glass of water from a passing waiter and handed it to me.
“Drink,” he said. “Before you shatter that champagne glass in your hand?
1 hadn’t even realised how tightly I‘
I’d been gripping in Taking the water, I sipped slowly, forcing my body to relax
Where is my
“Hoss is with some clients in the VVIP area. He will come down soon. Till then I Mark and will try our best to entertain you. Right, Mark?” He said. looking at Mark who gave a tight–lipol smule.
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id a moment, I murmured, placing the glass slown
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Chapter 50
Luca nodded, not questioning it. But as I turned, I caught him subtly signalling to Mark.
He wasn’t letting me out of his sight. I needed the space, but I also knew better the
than to trust Drago or anyone around here.
I slipped through the crowd, my heels clicking against the marble floors as I made my way toward the restroom.
A few minutes. Them was all I needed.
I exhaled slowly, staring at my reflection in the mirror, trying to push the encounter with my father from my mind.
I turned to leave, pushing open the door. I was about to go out when i collided with someone. A gasp slipped past my lips as the impact sent me stumbling back slightly, my hands catching against a firm chest
Liquid splashed, the e scent of whiskey filling the air,
“Shit the man muttered.
blinked up at him, my lips parting slightly
He was tall broad shoulders, a sharp jawline, and dark eyes that gleamed with amusement. And despite the whiskey now staining the front of his Expensive suit, he didn’t look the least bit annoyed
If anything, he looked.. intrigued.
“My, my,” he drawled, a slow smirk curving his lips. “If you wanted my attention, sweetheart, you could’ve just asked.”
I stiffened. “It was an accident.”
Was it?” He tilted his head, his gaze sweeping over me, lingering just a second too long. “Either way, I think an apology is in order.”
Texhaled sharply. “I just said it was an accident”
“Accidents still require apologies,” he murmured, stepping closer. “But I’ll settle for something else.”
My
y brows furrowed.
He held out a hand, smirk deepening “A dance, perhaps? As compensation.”
What the fuck. This place seems to be filled with crazier people.
“I don’t think so,” I said sinoothly, stepping around him and walking away. I moved towards the bar counter and elegantly sat on the seat with my legs crossed. I didn’t know anyone here expect Luca and Andrew, but most of the faces I had seen often at parties like this. When I was in Russia.
I sighed, looked at the bartender, gave him a sweet smile and gestured for him to come towards me. “A classic martini-”
“A classic martini for me. “A deep voice from beside me said at the same time as me. I glanced toward the voice but rolled my eyes seeing the same man as before
“Yes, Maam and Sir Hearing the bartender’s voice, I turned my attention away from the man, who was also staring at me.
After a few seconds, the bartender set two martinis on the bar counter. “Where’s the napkin?” This time, the man sitting next to me asked the bartender at the same time. I looked at him with anger, and he looked at me with confusion. “Why are you mocking me? We both asked each other
at the same time
He laughed and shook his head in disbelief. I don’t
think either of us is mocking a
anyone else, perhaps we both have similar tastes”
“Yeah, whatever you think,” I said, giving death glares to the bartender, who was looking at both of us with confusion. “What are you looking at, idiot Give me the napkin!”
“Please give it to me, too,” said the man sitting ne
The bartender passed the napkins and he and I moved our hands together to take it. Our hands touched and both of us immediately pulled our hands away, but when I took the glass of my martini, our hands again touched.
I looked at him with murderous eyes, and he was already looking at me. “Look, I’m not really doing this on purpose.” He took some napkins, picked up the glass and placed n in front of me. “Now, please don’t kill me” with an innocem face he said to me By the way, my name is Antonio Greco”
He moved his hand forward for a handshake, and I accepted it. “My name is Elara
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11:45 AM
Chapter 50
“Everyone knew Mrs Elara. You have been the talk of the town, and why not? Dante Romano is no easy man to handle. ”
“Is that so?” I asked him as I took a sip of my drink
“Yes, Mrs. Elara, ever since you entered, all men’s eyes are on you,” he said while pointing towards the surroundings with his eyes.
There was no need for me to look around because I was already feeling heavy stares at me. “It’s Mrs Romano for you”
“With all due respect, Ebra Romano ” He rolled his eyes before suddenly standing up from his seat and looking into my eyes. “There was a rumour going on that Elara Romano is dead, Georges. I didn’t believe it at first, but after meeting your a few minutes ago, I believe in all of it now” He gave me a wink,
“Are you crazy? Everyone is looking at you, sir down, Antonio” I held his hand and pulled him down to his seat.
Wow, I love hearing my
y name from you. He winked at me. I tilted my head from side to side. “You are very weird.”
“Don’t you like it!” He asked with a proud smile.
“Hey, that’s not what I meant-
ΤΗ
I know, it’s not possible for someone not to like a man like me,” he said with confidence, and he gave me a shark grin.
I chuckled. “Aren’t you at all afraid of flining with the wife of the Malla king while you’re at their party?” I took a sip of my drink, watching him with
“Being
of anyone
yone is not my thing at all, Mrs Elara. If I had been afraid to even a point zero per cent, I would not have dared to sit next to you even though this stone was standing behind you,” he said while pointing toward Mark, who was standing behind me
His dark eyes narrowed. “Now, can I get my compensation?” he said and stood up while holding my hand tightly.
*Come on, Elara. One dance doesn’t bum.”
*Aner all, you did ruin my drink and shirt. A small dance seems only falı.
I stared at him for a while. There was something unsettlingly about this man
He moved smoothly, effortlessly, leading me in a slow, sensual rhythm. His grip was firm yet gentle, his gaze never leaving mine.
Why so tense, beautiful! Relax. I don’t bite.. unless you ask nicely.
My jaw tightened. “I’ll pass.” He chuckled. “Shame. Dante’s always been so possessive, wonder if he lets you have any fun.” His fingers trailed along the zip of my dress
“I don’t recall inviting you into our business.” He smirked, leaning in just enough for the air between us to thin. “Oh, but I like making it my business.” His eyes flicked over me, slowly. “Dante’s been careless, leaving you alone like this. Someone could snatch you up.”
Lifted my chin. “Oh, who dares?”
He didn’t answer, instead, started moving slowly and made me wrap my hand around his neck as he wrapped his hands around my waist. Looking at laimi, I slowly started vibing on the song. We drank alcohol from the boules of people around us and perhaps because of this, I got a little tipsy and started having fun, forgetting every fucking thing. I started dancing, clinging very tightly to Antunio. At some point, we had intense eye contact but still kept on vibing
I made lam loosen the hold of his hands around me and turned. Now my back was pressed to his front, his hands were tightly wrapped around my waist. I closed my eyes and started feeling the song
Suddenly, I felt a dark grace on me, so I opened my eyes and looked towards the VVIP section. Plenty of people were dancing there, I moved my jize when and annen met oliek met aner Hens standine leonun bir frun on the caliper, he bed a glass of whisker in his hand, and be use eroring di
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