CHAPTER VIII

My plan of getting along with Dante had not even started yet but it’s already falling apart.

I ate all the food on the table and dressed up in a flattering blue dress. I even blow dried my hair and got to stitching even though I had no idea what I was doing so when he came back, it’d be like it’s the real Caterina waiting for him in his room.

His meeting with Leo lasted for a while that I got so engrossed in the cross-stitch. It was easy enough if you followed the pattern diligently. I was halfway into finishing the flower when Dante came back without Leo. He didn't even say goodbye before leaving. I didn’t know why that bummed me out a bit.

I felt like a doll on display as his eyes raked over my frame. He slightly bobbed his head in approval before leading me outside the room. “Let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer, his broad shoulders stretching his white shirt as he strode swiftly across the long hallway. I struggled to keep up with his pace. The tattoo on his back danced faintly under the bright lights, teasing my mind. The first night I met him briefly flashed through my mind. He had just washed the blood off his body, his torso bared only for my eyes to see. It made me feel kind of dirty witnessing that part of him before we even got married.

He typed the code in on the keypad, his huge back blocking my sight. The door opened with a beep. With his back pressed against the door, he held it open, an expectant look on his face. I hesitated.

“You’re taking me outside?”

“Don’t think for a second that you can get away. I’ll have you slung over my shoulders before you can even leave my line of sight and you really don’t want that to happen while you’re in that short dress.”

I didn’t doubt him and I didn’t want to make a scene in front of his men so I followed him meekly to his car. One of the men was going to open the door for me but Dante beat him to it, putting a hand over my head as I got inside, and shut the door abruptly. He was discussing something with his men. They all looked grim or that’s just how people in this shady business were supposed to be. I tried eavesdropping inconspicuously but the damn thick windows were not letting me.

Is it just me or his guards doubled in number?

Nerves took a hold of me as I sat alone in the car. It seemed as though they were expecting an attack. A sense of deja vu shot through me. This was the same car as the one I got kidnapped in. How swell. I jumped on my seat as the door jerked open and Dante entered the car, followed by the driver and a harsh-looking man on the passenger seat.

He slid closed the partition before leaning comfortably on his seat as he stared out the window. I tried to make conversation with him but he only grunted or replied with very short answers just to make me shut up. At one point I annoyed him about his manspreading just to bring a reaction out of him but he blatantly ignored me, his mind occupied. I didn’t know what his problem was. He was the one who kidnapped him but he’s suddenly acting like he didn’t want me around.

He’s so confusing.

I just copied him and looked out the window and tried to get familiar with the roads just in case there’s hope of escaping from his hold.

~~~

“You make such a lovely bride.”

The seamstress said, taking the words out of my mouth. Just like most girls my age, I’d fantasized about my wedding a lot. The perfect day to get married, the perfect venue, down to the smallest details like the kind of glassware that would tie the wedding up. For me, the first thing I thought of was the dress and staring right in front of the mirror now, it’s like a dream come true.

I was clad in a simple classic tube-styled wedding gown that flared out slightly in elegant swirls of lace. Apparently, Caterina and I shared the same tastes in dress. That’s another detail to add in the creepy pile.

“Mr. Romano is one lucky man.” The old woman smiled proudly at me like a mother.

I shot her an uneasy smile, my fingers reaching up to the ring on my pointer finger only to find nothing around it.

Julian.

I completely forgot about him. I hadn’t even noticed the ring he gave me was gone. I thought I was in love with him and here I was, trying out a wedding dress which wasn’t even mine for a guy I hadn’t known for a week.

I suddenly couldn't breathe.

“I can’t breathe.”

My chest stretched the tube top, creating an expanse of cleavage than I was most comfortable showing to the general public. The waist line was restricting me as though the dress itself was rejecting me. The seamstress clucked her tongue in disapproval as if it’s my fault for not staying slim for a dress fitting.

If only she knew I was a fraud. I suddenly felt itchy all over as though being in my own skin was wrong.

“Can I change now?”

She hurriedly went behind me, afraid that my unfit body would do damage to the dress, when the double doors opened.

“Mr. Romano, you can’t see—”

“Leave us.” His deep voice filled the room and my seamstress left without another word, leaving me still gasping in the dress like a fish out of water.

My heart did a complete somersault as he took me in, causing me to lose my breath momentarily. Thoughts of Julian, my guilt, and insecurities completely vanished as if they didn’t exist at all. I’ve never felt so… wanted.

“They still have to make some final adjustments to the dress,” I said, clearing my throat. I had to remind myself it wasn’t really me he’s seeing.

“Why? It looks good.”

“Yeah, I think that wouldn’t matter as much when the bride passes out before the altar.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up. He walked towards me, his dark eyes holding mine through the full-length mirror. “The ceremony will be at my father’s house so you’re good.”

I swallowed the wave of disappointment in my throat. I’ve always wanted a church wedding.

Again, it’s not really your wedding Lucy.

Dante caught that. “It’s going to be an intimate event since they think you’ve been through an accident so only the necessary people will be there. We can still have the wedding you want after everything has been settled.”

I turned away from him, embarrassed that he saw through me that easily.

“What about her family? Won’t they be there? Wouldn’t they notice anything?”

He stiffened. For a minute he stood there with an unreadable expression on his face.

“They think you lost your memories so you don’t have to worry too much.”

If this wedding was so important, why would Caterina losing her memories benefit anyone?

I found myself confused more than ever but I didn’t ask for more explanation since I knew I wouldn’t get anything but frustration.

“Is that good?” Was all I ended up asking.

“It actually works better in our situation. For now.”

The familiar scent of clean soap and wood pervaded my personal space as his arms slithered around my waist. He tucked my hair behind one ear, his stubble tickling the side of my face.

“In four days you’ll be Mrs. Romano,” he said, his voice soft as if he’s telling a secret. “And that comes with certain rules. I have been patient with you these past few days but that defiance will not be tolerated anymore.”

His words ruined the haze I was in. I pulled away from his embrace.

“Before we go over that, I have a question. My ring. Where is it?”

The muscles in his jaw tightened. “You’re not going to wear another man’s ring in my presence.”

“I’m not going to wear it. I just want it. Where is it?”

“You have no need for such cheap things so you might as well forget about it. Was that all?”

I bit the insides of my cheeks. I was glad that he could be such an asshole. It reminded me not to get too carried away in this arrangement. “Give me an estimate.” When he cocked his head to the side, I elaborated, “Of how long ‘till you can find where Caterina is.”

He ignored me. “Rule one: never refer to yourself as other than Caterina.”

“A number, Romano.”

“Two, you can only call me by my first name.”

“Maybe I’ll just tell your father the truth, maybe that will speed up the process.”

I almost gasped as I was pulled back again to his hard chest. “Trust me when I say this, fiorellino, my father is not as patient as me. Once he learns there’s an outsider in his house, he won’t hesitate to put a bullet through your head. So I suggest you follow the rules I set for you without question.” His rough hands sent trails of fire as it traveled up my body, barely grazing the sides of my breast, and swept my hair off one bare shoulder.

“And that would be number three.” His hand gathered my black hair, wrapping it around his fist. “Am I understood?”

I slightly bobbed my head in answer but he pulled my hair so my head tilted up at him. My stomach tightened and I closed my eyes, afraid of what he’d see in them.

“Say it.”

“Yes,” I blurted, my chest heaving that it felt like they’re going to pop out of my dress.

When he didn’t let go, I slowly opened my eyes. Up this close, his scar was more menacing and yet as I met his burning gaze, instead of fear, a delicious thrill rolled down my spine. One look in his dark eyes and I knew what he demanded of me.

“Yes, Dante. I understand,” I said breathlessly.

“Good girl.”

He finally let go, leaving me burning with hate not only at him but at how he made me feel.