AMARA
"This has to be a joke."
Except it wasn't. When I'd been silent in the face of Dante's question, he'd quietly started the car and started driving off. At first, I thought he was lying when he said he'd take us to one of his safehouses. I didn't think he'd actually go through with it.
Dante turned to me. "And you're the clown."
I sent him another glare but he didn't seem affected by it. I'd sent him quite enough this time around. He stopped to discuss something with the security before driving into the compound.
"Why did you bring me here?" I folded my arms.
He didn't bother, simply stopping the car in front of the house. Then he turned to me. "Mind getting your ass out of the car?"
I flinched back a little before narrowing my eyes on him. It was hard keeping my hands in place. I wanted to just strangle him at the moment. Like having my father on my tail wasn't bad enough. I had to be given solace by none other than Dante DeLaurentis a.k.a the Devil's apprentice. Damn it.
Without a word, he got out of the car, slamming the door shut. I did the same, air hitting my face and hair instantly. Dante ran a hand through his black hair. He easily towered over me in terms of height, steel eyes watching me carefully. Without a word, he began making his way into the house.
"Hey!" I called after him, hurrying into the house as well. "You haven't told me why you brought me here."
"Would you pipe it down?" He put his fingers to his ears.
"How about no?" I sent him a fake smile before settling back to my glare again.
All amusement was gone now. The usual snarl was back on his face. It felt like the room had suddenly gone closer.
He inched forward, stopping just a small distance away from me. "You owe me your life for saving your sorry self back there."
I scoffed in his face. "The only thing 'sorry' is whatever bullshit image you have of yourself. Yeah, you helped me back there. But don't think it makes you some messiah. You're a piece of shit and that's what you'll always be."
He inched forward once more, our faces now dangerously close to each other. "And what'll you do when they come after you again? What? You don't think this is it, do you?"
"No shit, sherlock. You think I don't know that?" I clicked my tongue and turned away from him.
The image of Philip's corpse hit my head again. I had to hold back the tears that were now forcing themselves to my eyes. My father had killed Philip. All because he wanted to help him.
It was like the hole in my chest was only growing bigger. I wanted to scream. Lash out. This wasn't fair. Why couldn't I choose what I wanted? Right from birth, I'd never been given the luxury of choice. And the one time I actually try to do something for myself, they decided to take it away from me.
Dante cocked a head, eyes watching me carefully. "What? Did I strike a nerve?"
I let out a breath, turning back to me. There was still something I could do. It was crazy, but now, I didn't have any other choice.
"I want your help with something."
The silence was deafening. Then slowly, Dante's face curled into something indescribable. "Oh? The high princess at my mercy?"
I bit my lip, pushing back the gnawing feeling of humiliation. I knew he was enjoying every single bit of it.
"Only for a year," I went on. "I want you to pretend to be my fiancé. My father wants me to marry Sevro Rinaldi. But I'll be damned if I let that happen."
Dante didn't say anything, but his eyes never left me even once. I took that as my sign to continue.
"We'll pretend to be engaged for a year. I just need you to buy me a bit of time. That's all I need."
Dante leans his weight back on the chair behind him. "And why should I help you?"
I inched forward. "Not everybody can say they're engaged to the Vitale heiress. You'd get the status and every other thing that'll come with it. I don't believe I have to tell you what you stand to gain."
For a while, Dante doesn't say anything. I can tell he's letting the idea roll over in his head. Worse case, he'd refuse. I'd have to find another alternative. The timeframe was pretty slim and I knew I had to do some—
"Okay."
I raised my eyes to meet his. "What?"
His lips tugged up once again. "Let's get engaged."
Dante had made the fastest stop to the jewelry store. He'd ordered me to wait in the car while he got in the store. I wanted to argue with him on it but he'd locked the car doors without a word.
"Fucking bastard." I huffed.
Some minutes later, I found him making his way back to the car. Without a word, he got back into the car and driving off.
"You're really not going to say anything?" I snapped.
He spared me a glance. "You wanted to get engaged right? That's what we're going to do."
I thought of asking something else but held off on it. When the car finally came to a stop, I held my breath.
Why did he bring us to the Empire State Building? He turned off the engine, and got out of the car. Slowly, I did the same.
"What are we—"
Before I could finish, he'd pulled out ring box. His grey eyes seemed to glisten under the glow of the night.
"Here's to a new alliance." He pulled out the ring. "You've dug your own grave. And there's no way of clawing your way out."
I fixed him a hard stare. "I'd say the same for you. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
The small diamond was enough to leave anyone stunned. How much had he gotten it in the first place?
He held out a hand to me. I'd chosen to make a bargain with the devil. And sooner or later, the regret would hit.
I placed my hand on Dante's, the cold sliding down my spine instantly. He tightened his grip on it, eyes glinting with a promise of danger as he slid the ring onto my finger.
"Welcome to hell, Amara."