Locked Hearts

Chapter Thirty

Twenty eight and a half years ago.

"V, come on. Stop!" He shouted behind the running girl.

"You have to catch me, my love." She shouted, hands holding up her dress as her bare feet hit the grass.

Dante sped up, but his dress shoes were uncomfortable and Violetta was fast on her feet. He'd come immediately after work to see the girl, having been away the entire week. He had missed his fiancée terribly, but as usual she made him work for her attention. She may have been sweet and innocent but Violetta Mancini had a mischievous and playful nature as well. Dante saw it first hand, teasing him was her favorite pastime.

"Are you getting old, my love?" She teased, coming to a stop.

Dante bent, breathing heavily. "I can't run in these shoes, il mio tesoro."

Violetta tsked. "Excuses."

He stood straight, staring right into those pale blue eyes that had captured his heart since he had been nineteen. She was his world, always had been in one way or the other. They met when she was ten and him, fourteen. They had forged a unbreakable friendship then, gradually falling in love as they got older. Dante waited until Violetta had turned eighteen before confessing, only partially surprised when she accepted.

In their world if a suiter wanted to marry a girl, he'd go to the parents. But Dante wanted her to accept him, not her parents. Their families had been friends for decades so, again not a complete surprise when both families agreed with elation at their decision.

"I missed you like hell, amore." He smiled softly at the girl.

"So much that I haven't seen you all week?" She pouted at him.

"My apologies, but I'm all yours now. So please, no more teasing." He took a step forward while she took one back. "Amore," he said cautiously.

"It's not that easy with me, you should know by now, my love." She took off again.

Dante groaned, yet loving their little games. He took off after her, trying to catch his love.

"Why are you doing business with him then?" Violetta asked as her head rested on her fiance's chest.

"I'm not, but he's not taking no for an answer and papà is tired of him."

She trailed her finger over his bare chest, her ring catching her eye. "Two more months." She murmured.

"Two more months." He repeated.

●●●

Violetta waited for Dante at the cafe near her home. He was never late but today, he was. She sat sipping on her coffee, understanding that sometimes things happened. She busied herself thinking about the life to come with the love of her life. They both wanted kids but decided to wait a few years. They were still young after all, some time to enjoy their marriage was a good idea.

"May I sit here?" A man with a slight Russian accent interrupted her.

Violetta looked up, her pale blue eyes locking with hazel ones. She'd always been a good judge of character, it had been her mother's favorite thing about her. Which is why, the minute she looked into this man's eyes, she felt cold.

"I'm sorry, I'm waiting for someone." She replied, keeping a polite smile on.

"I don't see anyone." He boldly sat anyway.

For the next ten minutes, she endured his persistence. Even after telling him she was engaged to another, the man wouldn't budge. She had been raised to be kind which is why she sat until Dante got there.