C56 Don't Push Me

Annabelle’s fists clenched at her sides as Mikhail’s ridiculous words rang in her ears.

“Dante’s pet?” she repeated, her voice low with disbelief. “What the hell makes you think I’m anyone’s pet?”

Mikhail’s smirk widened, an infuriatingly amused expression spreading across his face. “Who said I thought it?” he asked as he shrugged lazily. “I probably picked it up somewhere. Can’t remember where though”

She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms as she stepped closer. “You’re lying.”

His hand pressed to his chest dramatically, his tone mock-offended. “Me? Lie? Never. I’m an honest man, princess. Pure as freshly fallen snow.”

Annabelle glared at him, biting back the urge to stomp her foot. “You’re the most dishonest person I’ve met today.”

“That’s an easy fix,” he replied smoothly. “Why don’t you become my girl? You’ll have all the time in the world to confirm I’ve never lied in my life.”

The audacity of his words made her mouth fall open in shock. “What?”

“Unless…” He tilted his head, his grin widening. “Unless you’ve already got someone. If that’s the case, I’ll have to kill him, you know. No hard feelings.”

Kill him? Pfft. She was more than certain that he couldn’t pull a fast one on Dante.

The thought jolted her, and she shook her head quickly to clear it.

She scowled at Mikhail. “You’re crazy.”

“You’re acting suspicious,” Mikhail teased, wagging a finger at her. “But hey, you’re not anyone’s pet, right? So there’s nothing to worry about.”

Annabelle had reached her limit. “I don’t have time for this,” she snapped, turning on her heel to leave.

But before she could take a step, Mikhail’s voice stopped her. “If you walk away, I’ll follow you right back to… I suppose that’s your sister and the doc, yeah? Perfect,” he said lightly. “I might even introduce myself as your man.”

Annabelle froze, panic flashing across her face.

The thought of Cathy meeting someone like Mikhail right now after the fragile progress she’d made was enough to make her stomach twist.

Her reaction sent Mikhail into a fit of laughter. “You’re afraid people won’t believe you could snag a gorgeous man like me, aren’t you?”

Annabelle glared at him, though she couldn’t stop the reluctant smile tugging at her lips. “You’re impossible.”

“Guilty as charged,” he replied with a grin, but the charm faltered when her hand accidentally brushed against his injured arm as she turned back to him.

He winced dramatically, clutching the sling. “Ouch. Annabelle, you’re breaking me in half here.”

Her guilt flared, and she stepped closer instinctively. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

He cut her off with a pained sigh, his voice heavy with mock suffering. “You’ll have to make it up to me, princess. Keep me company a little longer. If you are not going to elope with me now, a walk is fine for now.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You were faking it.”

“Maybe,” he said with a wink. “But are you really willing to risk it? What if I die of heartbreak?”

Annabelle huffed but gave in, motioning for him to walk with her.

If a few minutes of indulging his nonsense would keep him away from Cathy, it was a small price to pay.

The gravel crunched beneath their feet as they strolled toward the front of the main house.

The sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the ground in patterns of gold and green. Annabelle’s frustration began to ebb, replaced by a begrudging amusement at Mikhail’s antics.

But her focus shifted when she noticed a familiar large man trailing them at a distance.

“That’s Sal,” Mikhail said casually, noticing her glance. “He’s my babysitter. Makes sure I don’t get into trouble.”

Annabelle’s brows furrowed. “Babysitter?”

“Bodyguard, right-hand man, whatever you want to call it.” he clarified, his tone light but edged with something darker. “Same difference.”

Annabelle thought of Dante, thinking that Angelo probably played the same role for him. Her thoughts must have shown on her face because Mikhail grinned again.

“You look cute when you’re thinking so hard,” he teased.

“I’m not cute,” she replied automatically.

His laughter rang out, rich and unrestrained, and Annabelle found herself smiling despite herself. But her smile faltered as the sound of an approaching vehicle reached her ears.

Her eyes snapped to the driveway, locking on the sleek black car pulling in.

The tinted windows revealed nothing, but an unexplainable chill ran down her spine.

Her breath hitched as the door opened, and Dante stepped out.

Dante’s expression was cold, his dark eyes unreadable as they swept over her and Mikhail. Annabelle’s heart slammed against her ribs at the sight of him, her relief tempered by unease.

He was as imposing as ever, but there was something in his gaze that made her pulse race for an entirely different reason.

Mikhail’s carefree demeanour shifted subtly, his grin dimming as he looked at Dante. “I’ll catch you later, princess,” he said, his tone light but lacking the usual teasing lilt.

Annabelle barely registered his words, her attention fixed on Dante.

Whatever Dante said to Mikhail as he was about to pass, it was low enough that she couldn’t hear it.

But the way Mikhail’s shoulders tensed before he walked away sent a ripple of unease through her.

Angelo, who had followed Dante out of the car, had a grim twin look as his boss. Apart from a glance from Angelo, neither man spoke to her as they headed inside, leaving Annabelle standing there, bewildered.

Annabelle turned toward the garden, eager to return to the one constant in her life: Cathy.

But she hadn’t taken more than a few steps before one of Dante’s men approached her.

“Ma’am,” he said respectfully. “Boss wants to see you in his office.”

Annabelle hesitated, unease bubbling in her chest. “Now?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Reluctantly, she followed him, her nerves tightening with every step. When they reached the office, the guard opened the door but didn’t enter.

Annabelle stepped inside, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.

The room was darker than normal, the heavy curtains drawn against the bright afternoon sun.

For a moment, she thought the room was empty. But then a hand grabbed her, pulling her off balance.

She reacted instinctively, twisting to defend herself as Angelo had taught her.

But the hand disarmed her effortlessly, spinning her around until her back was pressed against a solid chest.

She tried to struggle still, panic streaking through her body as she felt the budge behind her.

“Don’t,” Dante’s voice growled, low and rough in her ear.

Her breath hitched.

His tone wasn’t angry, but there was a tension in it that sent a shiver down her spine.

She wanted to turn around to ask what this was about. No such luck.

“Don’t move,” he commanded, his breathing harsh.

Annabelle froze, her pulse thundering in her ears. She could feel the strain in him, the barely restrained control that hung heavy in the air.

“You will never let another man get close to you again,” he said, his voice cold and hard. “Because if you do, I’ll kill him.”

Annabelle’s heart stopped.

Dante’s grip tightened slightly, and his next words sent ice through her veins.

“I’m one step away from hunting your fucking stepfather down for daring to touch you. Don’t push me.”

Her mind raced, fear and confusion warring within her.

Dante inhaled deeply, his lips brushing against her hair. “Maybe I should just fuck you,” he said, his tone almost casual. “Get you out of my head.”

Panic, horror, and something else she couldn’t name swirled in her chest.

She went completely still, unable to process the casual cruelty of his words.

He suddenly pushed her away from him.

Annabelle was turned enough to see the glint of his eyes in the semi-dark room.

“Run,” he said quietly, his tone deadly.

When the word didn’t register in Annabelle’s brain immediately, he let out a harsh breath like a man at the end of his tethers.

“If you know what’s good for you…”

Annabelle didn’t wait for him to complete his threat.

She turned and fled, her heart hammering as she bolted from the room.