Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 7

Zara

         What the hell was I thinking, telling him my name? Well, not exactly, but kind of. I could've easily come up with some random fake name and it would all be fine.

But no.

I needed to not seem so fragile around him. I wanted to hide how nervous he made me and I just blurted it out, knowing that he was going to recognize the name. I wanted to see him uncomfortable.

As soon as it came out of my mouth, I realized how stupid that move was. I shouldn't have done that. It wasn't worth it. This wasn't the plan. This wasn't the plan at all. I wasn't supposed to make any contact with him yet. And he wasn't supposed to know who I was yet. I had a plan. This never should've happened.

What the hell do I do now? We have to get to the bunker as soon as possible and lay low for a while. I can't let him find me. I killed several of his men and he knows it.

He wasn't exactly how I thought he would be. First of all, when I bumped into him, I kind of expected him to try to kill me. I don't know why. It was a public place and he didn't even know who I was yet, but still. Judging by his reputation, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried something, or if he succeeded.

And then he asked me to dance. At first, it seemed like a good idea, I could find out something more about him and why exactly did he come here. But the longer I was near him, the more my nerves got the better of me.

He distracted me with his touch and his graceful moves. It surprised me that a man his size could move with such grace. His hands, although rough, managed to still be gentle on my waist while we moved to the music. I haven't asked him anything. I couldn't. I wasn't expecting to be even talking to him tonight, let alone dancing with him and it completely rattled me. I didn't like not being prepared and not having my next ten steps planned.

At least after my uncalculated blurt, I got my answers without even asking. As I spoke the word Gina, I saw the recognition in his eyes. Not just recognizing the name in general, as in he has heard of me, but recognizing me as his enemy. I knew then and there what he came here for. He came for me. He came to take me down for taking out his people and I just danced into his arms. Quite literally.

When the realization hit me, I turned around and rushed outside as fast as I could. If he wanted to catch me, he would've probably done so. As I looked behind me, I didn't see him coming toward me. I saw him still standing in the very spot where I left him. My squad was already there at the entrance, so we left abruptly and drove into the night.

And here I am now, sitting in the car, staring through the window and thinking about what happened tonight. I catch myself remembering how tall he was, how he looked at me when he turned around to see who bumped into him. He looked at me as if he was a predator and I was the prey. Ironically, until an hour ago I thought of myself as the predator. I watched him, I tried to get close to him, was preparing to kill him. And now he is after me. I have to admit that the feeling isn't very comfortable.

I stayed in the shadows my whole life, training, preparing to take down the Salvatori family, my enemies not even knowing they were my enemies. It was easier that way. Operating from the shadows and not worrying that somebody will come after you because nobody knew you even existed.

It's different now. Now I'm being hunted just like I hunted my enemies, and by no other than the ruthless Dante fucking Salvatori.

I urge Alex to drive faster even though I know no one is following us right now. He let me go for now, but he'll be back. He will be prepared next time and we will have to be too.