The Devil's Angel

5- In Which She Gets Bold

'In Which She Gets Bold'

not edited ;)

The restaurant was very elegant. Lights twinkled from the ceiling and the tables were covered in thick cloths that looked unbelievably soft to the touch.

I followed Alessandro's lead as he lead us up to the host. 

"Mr. Romano, I have your table ready right away." The host said, sending me a quick look before bringing his attention back to Alessandro. "Please follow me."

He tightened his grip on my arm, following as the man led us to a nice corner table with low lights. A cluster of candles sat in the middle of the white table cloth. 

I took a seat as Alessandro rattled something off to the host in Italian. When the man left, he looked at me with a smirk. "Candle light suits you Bella." He murmured sitting opposite me.

I narrowed my eyes. "Amarlee." I corrected. 

He chuckled. "Right, Amarlee."

Hearing my name fall from his lips did unthinkable things to my sexual thoughts. I regretted correcting him.

The host briefly returned, with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He set the bottle in a bucket of ice and set both glasses in front of Alessandro. 

Alessandro mumbled something I couldn't hear, and the Host was on his way, leaving us in silence. Alessandro popped the cork of the bottle, filling both glasses half way before setting one in front of me. "Drink, we will talk."

I took a sip of the wine, ignoring how my taste buds reveled at the taste.I knew it was expensive and fancy. I wanted to talk. I wanted to understand what the hell was going on. If he wasn't going to kill me, I wanted to know what he was planning to do with me. 

He waited a beat. "I trusted you, Amarlee."

I widened my eyes. Was he going for the guilt trip? "I trusted you." I reiterated. "I believed that you were who you said you were. I had no idea you were a murderer. "

He waved my allegations away. "Be that as it may, we had a deal. I said I wouldn't come after you, in return you were supposed to keep your mouth shut. You didn't hold up your end."

That was true. I didn't keep my promise. Because I couldn't. Because Alessandro had hurt me, so I wanted to hurt him. It was really stupid when I thought it all out. "I said what I had to say, because I thought you were going to kill me as well."

It was a harsh thing to say, but it wasn't completely false. I had thought he would kill me. 

I could see hurt flash in his eyes before he covered it with coldness. "Let's not split hairs. The point is, you're a liability now. I can't have you on the streets running your mouth, I also can't let you go unpunished."

I widened my eyes. Punished?

His gaze trailed to my mouth again as he continued his speech. "My guys have seen you, I can't have them thinking I'm going soft. SO, you will stay in our custody."

He said it like it was the simplest thing. "For how long?" My voice was soft and full of fear. I was surprised he even heard me. But he did.

"Until your sentence is up." His gaze slowly trailed up to meet mine. "That's how it works.  We leave for Los Angeles tomorrow morning. You will be going with us."

I shook my head. "I can't just up and leave my life."

He held a hand up as a waiter came over, dispensing two bowls of what looked like soup in front of us. With another Italian mutter, the waiter walked away stiffly. 

When we were alone again, Alessandro continued. "I already know you have no ties here." He spoke, spooning through his soup. It resembled a clam chowder. 

I had told him about my lack of family when I had met him. After a couple of drinks, I got way too personal. Thinking of this, I eased my wine to the side. Instead I picked up the spoon and scooped up my soup. I moaned quietly when the first taste hit my tongue.

Alessandro glared at me, and I could see the lust in his eyes. "Nevertheless, you have no say in the matter. I have a room in my compound being prepared for you as we speak. "

I couldn't live with him. I wasn't stupid. I knew he still wanted me. And considering the impact his presence was having on my psyche I knew that it was only a matter of time before I gave in and let him have me. I'd be damned if that was going to happen. "That's pathetic."

He didn't react the way I had expected him to. I'd been hoping for anger, instead he responded with conceit and confidence. 

"It is what it is. Finish your soup, the second course is coming out."

******************************

The dinner passed by excruciatingly slow with me being dazzled by all of the food Alessandro had ordered. After the final course He simply rose from the table and held out a hand for me.

I reluctantly lowered my hand into his grasp and allowed him to pull me out of my seat. 

I had dabbled a bit too much with the wine and my head was a little fuzzy.  As we made our way to the elevator, I gained confidence and began to question him.

"How did you find me?"

He rolled his eyes. "Very simply."

The elevator closed around us. "When this is over, you'll just let me leave?"

I don't know what possesed me to say that, but it had been on my mind the entire dinner. It didn't seem likely that he would just allow me to walk freely from captivity.

He didn't answer my question, and the only sound was of the elevator smoothly moving up the floors. 

"Why did you lie?"

He sighed. "You had more than your share of wine, Bella. "

I pushed myself away from him. "No, I want to know. Why did you lie. Why did you act like a totally different person. who is Alex?"

He ran his hands through his hair, trying to calm himself down. "This is not the place for such questions."

The elevator doors slid opened and we were immediately inside the penthouse that I had been calling home.

"Gage will be up soon." Alessandro said, not stepping out of the elevator.

"I don't want Gage. Where is Val."

His eyes darkened again. "Don't temp me, Bella. It is a very dangerou game you are playing."

I was sure he saw confusion in my eyes as he sighed. 

"I will send you a different guard. Goodnight. We will leave early in the morning."

I simply nodded as I watched the doors close.