An hour after my fight with Dio, I hear loud laughter and the clinking of glasses coming from downstairs. Curious, I make my way down to see what's going on.
"Alora! Alora!" Dieci's voice booms over the noise.
As I step into the room, I see all the Ignoto men staring back at me, their eyes bright with celebration. Dieci strides over with a wide grin, placing a glass firmly in my hand.
"Drink, Alora! We're celebrating!" he announces, his energy contagious. There's something so unique about Dieci—how he can flip between being intimidating and acting like a carefree kid on a sugar rush. His enthusiasm is so genuine, it's hard not to smile along with him.
Before I can say anything, Dio raises his glass, standing tall despite the rowdiness around him.
"For Alora!" he shouts, his deep voice commanding the room's attention. "For Alora, the woman who made today's success possible."
The men cheer and raise their glasses in unison, drinking to me. It feels surreal. I glance over at Dio again, and for a fleeting moment, he smirks at me—just the smallest curve of his lips, but it sends my heart racing.
"Alora, you did great back there. Wouldn't have been possible without you," Dieci adds, his praise warm and genuine.
I return his smile, grateful for the recognition. "Thank you, Dieci."
The celebration stretches on for a couple of hours, and while I'm only tipsy, the others are well beyond drunk. The camaraderie feels comforting, and for the first time, I feel like a real part of the Ignoto. My nerves from earlier are long gone, replaced by a growing sense of belonging.
Suddenly, Dieci shouts over the noise, "Motherfuckers! I want to fuck some bitches—who's with me?"
In an instant, the men drop their glasses and rush out the door, stumbling and laughing. I can't help but laugh too, the sheer absurdity of the moment catching me off guard. The room falls into a sudden, peaceful silence after their chaotic departure, and my ears take a moment to adjust to the quiet.
As I scan the room, I notice Dio slumped in an armchair, his head tilted back. Is he passed out? I walk over, crouching in front of him to get a closer look.
"Dio?" I whisper.
He slowly opens his eyes, locking his gaze on mine. He doesn't say a word, just stares at me with a kind of intensity that makes my stomach twist. His silence feels heavy. I reach up, placing my hand on his forehead, and he frowns, as if trying to figure out what I'm doing.
"You're burning up," I say, concerned. "Do you want me to help you get to your room?"
"Move. I can help myself," he mutters, his voice rough.
I roll my eyes, unimpressed by his stubbornness. "I'm just trying to be nice."
He gets up from the chair, swaying slightly. His movements are clumsy and uncoordinated, a far cry from the controlled, dominant presence he usually exudes. It's almost entertaining to watch him stumble, but I step in quickly when he's about to lose his balance.
Before he can protest, I slide under his arm, putting it over my shoulder to support his weight. "You're not going anywhere without help," I say, my tone firm.
He grunts but doesn't fight me, and together, we make our way out of the room, his arm heavy around me as we move through the halls. It's strangely intimate, helping him like this, and for once, he seems vulnerable. I try not to think too much about it, focusing on keeping him steady instead.
YOU ARE READING
Ignoto
RomanceIn the shadowy underbelly of the Ignotos crime syndicate, Alora finds herself entwined in a world of power, desire, and dark secrets. After losing her family to ruthless killers, she seeks vengeance and is drawn into the complex life of Dio, the eni...