Tainted Heart

Chapter 3

I slowly turn around with a big smile on my face. "Oh my gosh, Alessandro, it's so good to see you." I stand up and put my arms around his neck giving him a tight hug. His hands wrap around my waist tightly and he brings his head down to my neck like he used to. He stops half way and pulls away from me with a frown on his face.

"What are you doing here, Nadya?" He says with slight Italian accent. Alessandro was born in Italy, but moved to America when he was 13 after his mom was murdered. His accent isn't as thick, but you can easily tell he has an accent.

"I had a hard day at work, thought I stop by and get myself a drink." I sit and cross my legs; his eyes follow my every movement. "What are you doing here? The last time I heard, you were.... detained." He sits next me and his frown deepens.

"I was let out on good behavior, but I don't want to talk about that. What happened at work? Are you okay?" I roll my eyes and shake my head. Of course, he doesn't want to talk about him. He wants to know if I'm okay, when I've wondered for the past five years if he was okay.

"I'm fine, Alessandro. What I want to know is why this is the first time I'm seeing you in five years? Why didn't you call or write?" He runs his hand through his hair and looks at the ceiling.

"Nadya, not now."

"When then? Because I've waited five years for this answer and I don't want to wait any longer."

"Let me finish this meeting and the we can go back to my place and talk. Okay?" I nod my head and he lean down to give me a kiss on the cheek. Before he could kiss my cheek, I move my head and he kiss my hair. He lets out a sigh and walks away. I watch him walk back to the balcony and turn to find Dante still in front of me.

"I didn't even notice you were still there. Can I have another cosmopolitan? Actually, make two of those, please?" He nods his head and makes me drink.

"How do you know boss man?"

"He's my ex."

"Explains why there was so much tension between you guys. I thought I would suffocate in it."

"Ha-ha." I sarcastically laugh and finish my drink in one gulp. I can already feel the effects of the drink start to kick-in. I'm lightweight and I know if I drink this fourth cosmopolitan will have me more than buzz, but I still down it and ask for another one.

"After this drink, you're cut off. I can't have the boss's lady drunk off her ass."

"One, I'm not the 'boss's lady'. Two, I'm not even drunk." Even though I say I'm not drunk I know that I am. For starters, my speech is slurred and when I held my fingers up for #2, I held up three fingers. I know I shouldn't have drunk so much, but seeing Alex stirred something in me. It's like I wouldn't be able to face him without some liquid courage. Just talking to him ten minutes ago made me heart feel like it was going to jump out of my chest.

"Whatever you say, but you really are cut off. Do you want me to call a cab for you?" I open my mouth to reply, but once again someone beats me to the punch.

"No need for that, Dante. She'll be going home with me." Alessandro says from behind me. I turn around and look up at him. He's staring at me with disapproving eyes, like he always does when I drink too much.

"You don't have a right to look at me like that." I grumble.

"Oh, and why is that?"

"Because you're not my boyfriend anymore and I can do whatever I want." I say while crossing my arms over my chest, making my cleavage more pronounced. His eyes travel down to my cleavage and he smirks. I drop my arms and turn around. Dante is still standing there with a hard look; his face softens when I meet his eyes. "Thank you, Dante, but I'm going to let this brute take me home. Give me a pen I'll write my number down, so we can hang out someday." He hands me a pen and I write my number on a napkin for him. I lean over the bar and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Let's go Alex." I grab my phone and keys and start to head for the door, but I almost fall getting off the stool. Alex wraps his arm around my waist and leans down to my ear.

"Are you not going to pay for your drinks?"

"Nope." He chuckles and pulls a few bills out of his pocket and hands them to Dante. He leads me out of the bar and leans down again.

"You will not be hanging out with Dante."

I scoff, "you can't tell me what to do, Alex. I will hang out with Dante and do whatever I want." I hear him mutter under his breath 'that's what you think.' I hand him my keys and walk to the passenger side. "You're driving."

"Well of course, I am. You can a barely stand." He says while getting in the car.

"No one asked for your commentary, Alex." I lean my head against the window and close my eyes. We both don't say anything the whole ride and the next thing I know, we've pulled into the garage of his apartment. He gets out of the car and comes to my side. He picks me up bridal style and locks up my car.

"Alex, put me down. I can walk, weirdo."

"Let me just hold you like this, okay." I look at him and for once he's actually showing me how he feels in his eyes. His eyes plead for me to just let him hold me, so I sigh and put my head on his shoulder. He holds me the whole elevator ride and carries me to his room. He gently sets me on his bed and I instantly snuggle into his California king size bed. I feel him take off my shoes and he turn me over on my back.

"Lift up, bellissimo. I need to take this dress off you." He gently pulls me up and takes off my dress. I'm too tired to even try and cover myself, but I trust Alessandro. I know he would never physically hurt me. He unclips my bra and stops and stare at my breast. I look at his face and he slowly lick his lips and shakes his head. He rapidly puts me in one his shirts and turns around to change into his clothes. I climb up the bed and snuggle under the covers. I'm halfway asleep when I feel him climb into bed. I feel his hand caress my face and he mumble something, but I couldn't make out what he says.

"I lo........"