𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 ✓ [𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐎𝐍𝐄]

✎chapter nine × cigarettes and hangovers

ᴘᴀʀɪs, ғʀᴀɴᴄᴇ
ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

━─━────༺༻────━─━

   I didn't think I'd ever see him mad. He doesn't seem like the type. Generally jovial and mischievous, but not mad.

  And even as he looks to be seething with rage, he has a soft smile plastered on like badly done grout. It's chipping and likely to crack, but if you stand far enough away, it looks fine.

  "Thank you for keeping Nia company." He stresses my name, like he's the only one who can say it. "She does get awfully bored at these functions."

  Valentin stands in shock for a moment before quickly regaining his composure.

   "Of course. I'm happy to be of service."

Angelo's eyes narrow as Valentin takes my hand and plants a lingering kiss on my knuckles. From behind me, heat radiates off of Angelo in waves.

   "I'm sorry, but I think I have a drink waiting for me. You two enjoy the rest of your evening." Valentin walks off, still confident, but the slight drag in his step and sag in his shoulders show he's a bit defeated.

  I turn to Angelo who still has me in his arms.

"Where were you the whole time? I didn't see a hair of you all night." I lecture.

"Oh, hush. You sound like my mother. And if anything, I should be scolding you. I told you not to get drunk and you can barely stand up." 
  
  "That's not true." I defend. But, my feet chose that moment to defy me as they wobble in my heels.

   Angelo laughs.

"Let's get you out of here then. We have to get up early tommorow and I'd rather you not be too horribly hung over."

  We head outside, where the car is already waiting.

  Maybe it's the alchohol, or maybe the location wasn't far, but it feels like only a few seconds before Angelo is herding me out of the car again. I'm pretty sure my mask fell of at some point.

   The sudden chill of the night air forces my drooping eyes open. The building ahead of us looks ancient, but in a beautiful way.

  The crumbling terracotta colored walls covered in a spiraling ivy. Curtained windows, though large, didn't reveal anything inside.

   We walk through a lengthy gated alcove and exit out into a moonlit garden courtyard. It looks like something out of a Jane Austen novel, but I don't get time to marvel.

  Angelo quickly ushers me through a double-door that he unlocks with a code. He flicks the lights on and a soft orange glow casts over the room.