Page 99 of Dancing with the Devil

My stomach tightened into a knot at the thought of me asking Silvia to say awful things to him.

“Do you want this, Nirah?” he asked again, and my eyes stung with tears.I know he’s not only referring to the ring.

“I’m not here by choice, remember? It’s this marriage, or I’m hunted down by Sylvester so yes, Ihaveto want this,” I lied.

I couldn’t let him hold even more power over me. “But, we made a deal, and I won’t back down now. It’s not fair to you,” I swallowed hard. “So, if you don’t mind, I’d like my ring back,” I put my hand out towards him.

“You can get the ring back when you tell me the truth,” he said, standing up.

“The truth isn’t always something you want to hear, Antonio. So, please. My ring.”

Staring back at him, something soft flashed in his eyes before it vanished—having been swallowed by darkness. He took my wrist, dropping the ring into my hand.

“We had an agreement,” he said and goosebumps rose on my skin

My voice was brittle. “Yeah, we did.”

I turned around and slipped the ring on before leaving his office.What did I just do…

I locked my bedroom door, throwing my handbag onto my bed. I rested my head back against the door, gently rubbing my chest.

A stinging pain of regret shot through my heart. Tears threatened to spill, but I fought back. Hard.I did it again. I hurt somebody who has been nothing but good to me God, why do I always do this?

I dragged myself to my bed, falling forward with my face pressed between my pillows. I squeezed my eyes shut, letting the guilt eat me alive. I rolled onto my back, feeling my stomach twist in regret. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, looking at the ring on my finger. “So, fucking, sorry, Antonio.”

* * *

After a long week of sulking, and not texting anyone back, I finally decided that I needed to get out of the house.

Antonio had made Logan my full-time bodyguard and disappeared the day after. When I had asked what happened to Cesar, he blatantly ignored me and continued talking to Logan.

After I threatened that I’d sneak away from Logan too if he didn’t answer me, he simply told me that Logan had been given ‘special’ instructions for when I tried that. ‘Be my guest’ was the last words he had said to me before leaving for a week.Yes. A week. Has he informed me of where he’d be? No, of course, he hasn’t.

Logan and Rosalia had told me that both Silvia and Jordan came by the house a few times. Without my permission, they weren’t allowed inside, and I was thankful for that. I couldn’t see them right now… or anyone for that matter.

Coming up from the cold water, I pushed my hair back. I wiped the pool water off my face and resurfaced. I put both hands on the edge of the pool, lifting myself above water, then hopped up and sat with my legs still dangling in the water.

I stared up at the sky, admiring the twinkling stars and glowing moon. I smiled, feeling goosebumps spread across my skin.

I missed him so much. But, I let things get too far. I got attached. I let him in, and I promised myself I’d never let that happen. Not again.

My stomach twisted into a knot at the thought of things never being the same again. I ruined everything. He’s never going to forgive me. I dropped my head in regret.

The glass sliding door opened and my head snapped up.

“It’s six thirty, Miss Nirah,” Logan said and I nodded.

“Give me a second.”

He left and I wiped the water from my face. I had asked him to keep track of the time for me so that I could go to the club. I hadn’t been there in ages, and felt guilty about it.

After getting ready we finally left the house. Logan was driving, andUndertaker—my second bodyguard—was in the passenger seat. I didn’t care to learn his name with the horrible attitude he had. The drive was silent, of course, because Logan was not supposed to get close to me whatsoever. I didn’t have the energy to turn him into my friend—like with Cesar—because part of me still felt guilty.Was he okay? Does he still have his job, or did Antonio fire him?

The guys followed me to my dressing room but stayed outside the door as I stepped inside.

I was immediately engulfed in Silvia’s arms as she cried. “Don’t do that!” she sobbed and I held onto her tightly. Her tears brought tears to my eyes as well, but I fought them back. “Don’t scare me like that ever again, Nirah,” she pleaded.

We stayed in each others arms for a little while until she pulled back, noticing my sadness. “What’s the matter?” she asked, pulling me down onto the couch.