IX. Strange Behavior.
. . . . .
I find myself seated alone at a round table, a silent observer amidst the vibrant atmosphere as everyone dances the night away.
It's not your typical party scene, there are no wild displays of dance moves like you'd see in a typical club. Instead, they are engaged in a slow dance.
They sway hand in hand, their movements fluid and elegant— a beautiful sight to behold. The soft melodies weave through the air, wrapping around them like a gentle embrace.
Yet, I must admit, I'm feeling quite bored watching them dance. The sight of those adorable couples, all of whom I know are husband and wife, stirs an unexpected sense of jealousy within me. It's not just their closeness that tugs at my heartstrings. It's the longing for that same connection.
Moreover, it was surprising to see everyone rise to dance at my father's request.
It seems that the pursuit of enjoyment is an intrinsic aspect of human nature, even among those notorious for their criminal affiliations or ties to mafia factions, they too carve out moments to savor life's pleasures.
As I sat there, my attention was drawn to the wine bottle resting on the table, a thoughtful gesture from Franklin, our family's butler. The bottle gleamed under the soft lighting.
I poured a liberal serving of wine and took a sip, relishing the rich taste of the red liquid. It delighted my palate and the enticing aroma intensified my yearning for another sip. "Ah, this is truly a way to unwind. . ." I remarked contentedly, speaking only to myself.
I have spent the last two hours at this gathering, merely sitting and watching the other attendees as they engage in lively conversation and graceful dancing.
A quick glance at the clock reveals it's 9:12 PM. The realization that I left my phone in my upstairs room fills me with a pang of regret. Without my beloved device, I feel adrift, stripped of any form of amusement or distraction.
'Maybe it's about time I retire to my room.' I thought to myself as I slowly stood up.
But before I could even react, that man I so desperately avoided is already standing behind me— Dangerously close behind.
With a slow gulp, I murmured, "Mr. Dakari. . . What brought you here?" My voice was hushed, my eyes fixed forward, unwilling to meet his gaze. His breath was a warm whisper against my neck, sending involuntary shivers down my spine, a sensation that both thrilled and terrified me.
"We meet again, Lucrezia." he said, his voice smooth yet laced with an unsettling familiarity.
I felt a growl rise in my throat, "Mr. Dakari, I don't remember granting you the liberty to address me so familiarly." A gasp escaped me as he closed the distance, his presence pressing against my back. "Step back." I commanded with unwavering firmness, trying to mask the tremor in my voice.
He laughed in a dark manner. "Right. Sorry about that. . . Someone pushed me, you see that man over there." He pointed casually at a servant scurrying away from us. "Blame him."
'Smart bastard.' My right eye twitched in annoyance.
To my relief, he finally stepped back, granting me some much-needed space. Seizing the moment, I turned around and shot him a scathing glare. "I'll ask you once more, Mr. Dakari, do you have any business with me?"
"Yes, would you mind sparing some time for a private conversation?" A playful smirk danced on his lips.
Suspicious.
A private talk? Those rarely end well, especially not with him. A shiver ran down my spine as memories of that night at the annex flooded back.
He's unhinged!
I shook my head decisively. "Find someone else to bother." I said with an air of indifference, trying to mask the unease creeping into my voice.
As I turned to leave, he clutched my arm tightly, stopping me in my tracks. "I don't accept 'no' for an answer, Lucrezia."
I looked at him incredulously, my expression twisting into a grimace. "Excuse me??" Is he even hearing himself right now? Is he seriously doing this in front of other people? In my house?
The audacity of his actions left me momentarily speechless, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
I glanced around and noticed that no one was paying any attention to us. 'That explains the audacity of this jerk,' I thought, clenching my teeth in anger.
The guests were too busy dancing, lost in their own revelry, and too intoxicated to notice anything amiss. Some had already departed, their laughter fading into the night, while others remained blissfully indifferent to the tension brewing just a few feet away.
I attempted to remove his hand, but he forcefully pulled me closer, restraining both of my arms and preventing any movement. He leaned in close and whispered, "This concerns your younger brother, Lorenzo Viviana."
At the mere mention of my brother, a flicker of concern eased my anger momentarily. But my anger rose again because it came from his damn mouth.
"There's no way out of this, is there?" I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Let me go." Looking up, I stared intently into his deep cerulean eyes. "I'll listen. I'll come with you, just tell me what you know about my younger brother."
I knew I needed to remain calm to coax him into releasing me. He regarded me with a blank expression, his brows furrowing slightly as if considering my words carefully. Eventually, he released my arms and simply said, "Come." motioning for me to follow.
I complied, remaining silent the entire time, convinced that nothing could go wrong.
Exiting the main hall, he led me outside the manor.
Despite my skepticism about him, I was confident he couldn't harm me.
As we stepped into the moonlight, my gaze drifted ahead, and I spotted a tall man standing at a distance, hands on his hips and a wide grin stretching across his face. His hair was a striking ginger red, catching the light in a way that made it almost glow, while his eyes sparkled with a vivid shade of green that seemed to dance with mischief.
"Who is that?" I asked, breaking the silence that enveloped us as we walked.
"Aiden Blanche." The devil replied casually.
I don't know him. I do not recall there's a mafia under the surname of 'Blanche' nor is he any affiliate to our family. Is he a boss? An heir? Or one of the anonymous mafias?
"Stop overthinking things, princess. Get your mind out of the gutter."
I pursed my lips into a thin line and glared daggers at the back of his head. "Don't call me that." I hissed.
Yet, he did not react.
As we drew closer, the tall figure bowed his head respectfully at both of us. "Boss, and. . ." He glanced at me, a knowing smile creeping onto his face. "Hello to you too, young heiress."
'Oh.' It dawned on me. This man is his assistant, his confidant. I nodded at him and opened my mouth to speak, "Now that we're here. What is it that you want to say, Mr. Dakari?" I started.
Aiden crossed his arms over his chest, furrowing his brow upon realizing Dakari had no intention of speaking. "Well. . . Madam, we have received reports that the previous heir of your family has been seen in Russia."
My eyes widened in shock. 'He went to Russia?' I questioned internally.
Lorenzo hadn't disclosed his destination when he abruptly left. The thought that he might venture to Russia, where the Dimitris reside, was unfathomable. 'What could he possibly be thinking!?'
Starting to feel irritation and annoyance building. I bit my lower lip, hard. That it almost bled. 'I swear if I see that guy.' What if they perceived it as something negative? The last thing we needed was for Lorenzo to attract unwanted attention or stir up trouble in a place teeming with danger and intrigue.
The Dimitri's always overreacts.
That was my realization after all that has transpired and observations about how they take drastic measures just to ease their worries.
I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I became oblivious to my surroundings. Aiden Blanche had to wave his hand in front of me. "Madam? Ma'am? Ms.? Ms. Lucrezia? Hello?" He brought his hand closer to my face. "Earth to Lucrezia Viviana."
I came out of my reverie. "What?"
"He said, Lorenzo Viviana is chasing after a girl."
What? A girl?
Did I understand that correctly?
"Excuse me?" I asked again.
Aiden Blanche smiled broadly. "The former heir is in Russia, wooing a girl."
Okay. What? It hasn't even been a week, and he's already there, troubling a young woman. I was left speechless in astonishment.
"Lucrezia," Dakari's deep voice resonated. He moved closer, towering over my petite form.
I took a step back to create distance and cleared my throat. "Well. . . Is that all, Aiden?" I ignored Dakari, focusing solely on Aiden. "As long as he's not causing any trouble," I added.
"Lucrezia."
My name echoed again from his lips.
Aiden stayed quiet, gesturing for me to address Dakari. But I didn't want to.
"Lucrezia."
Silence. I retreated further.
"Lucrezia, look at me."
What was he trying to achieve? My gaze remained locked with Aiden's, whose eyes seemed to plead with me to divert my attention. The last thing I wanted was to engage with him.
Realizing I wouldn't shift my stare, Aiden spun around to depart. "Boss, I'll wait in the car." he announced before hastily exiting.
'Damned ginger.'
"Lucrezia."
I avoided his gaze and turned away. "The darkness has swallowed the once luminous sky, Mr. Dakari. It would be wise for you to depart now with Aiden Blanche and return home."
I departed.
"Look at me, Lucrezia. . ."
I halted in my tracks as his voice grew tender. 'What the— I must be losing my sanity.' I dismissed the thought and continued on my way.
This time, he didn't attempt to halt my departure or coerce me into compliance.
"Lucrezia. . ." His gentle tone seemed to beg for my return.
I have a soft spot for sorrowful things in certain situations. I struggled against the impulse to glance back at him.
Which apparently, I lose.
I turned to look at him in the eye and asked, "Why are you calling my name in such a way?" My voice was soft as well as I said these following words, "What do you need, Dakari?"
During that moment, his usually stern gaze softened— a detail I couldn't help but register. This man has the ability to appear gentle, even though he's known for his tough exterior.
"Well?. . . Speak. I'm listening," I prompted him.
Yet, instead of speaking, he simply turned and walked away as if our exchange had never occurred.
'Seriously, what's with that guy?' I thought, watching his back as he departed. "He's just wasted my time, hasn't he?" Frustration bubbled up, marked by a throbbing vein on my forehead as I marched back into the manor, visibly annoyed.
The event continued until 2:00 AM, but I had retreated to my quarters by 11:00 PM, seeking refuge from the chaos. Yet, rest eluded me. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, predominantly fixated on Dakari's inexplicable behavior.
What exactly was his problem?
I agonized over the evening's events throughout the night, replaying every interaction in my head. His piercing gaze, the way he called my name, and that brief moment of softness— it all felt like a puzzle I couldn't quite piece together.
Finally, at 4:00 AM, when the last of the guests had vacated the premises of the manor, I found a semblance of solace. The house was quiet, the echoes of laughter and music replaced by a heavy stillness. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, hoping that sleep would finally claim me as I closed my eyes.
Dakari Dimitri? He's one strange man.