Page 49 of Dario DeLuca

I swallow hard, trying to regain my equilibrium. "Well, we have to keep up appearances, don't we? Play the happily engaged power couple."

The wolfish admiration in his stare steals my breath. Dario DeLuca…a man more dangerous than a pride of lions. And I'm all too willing to let him devour me whole.

"Mia! There you are." Evelyn sweeps up, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. "It's time for the dedication speeches. Where are Marcus and Josephine?"

“Here they come,” I say as my parents make their way over to where we stand.

My mother’s eyes hold emotions and a smile that fills my heart with joy. Oddly, I see the same thing when I look at my dad. Despite everything that has happened, they still manage to remain close.

“Great. Everyone is here. Let’s start the ceremonial part of today’s agenda,” Evelyn announces.

We proceed toward the small dais at the front of the gymnasium floor, a united front for the public eye. The DJ plays through the last song as I ascend the makeshift stage, nerves fluttering in my stomach despite my outward poise. The room falls hushed as the crowd's anticipation mounts. I smooth my blouse and take a steadying breath.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate the grand opening of the Gordon Community Center." My voice rings clear and confident, imbued with the passion that fueled this endeavor. "This has been a dream years in the making—to create a safe haven for our youth, a place of learning, personal growth, and opportunity."

My gaze sweeps across the diverse faces, from prominent city officials to the disadvantaged families this center aims to uplift. "We all know the struggle of making it in this city, of kids getting swept into the wrong crowds and lacking alternatives." I pause, feeling the weight of her words. "But today marks a new chapter. One of hope and positive change."

My focus lands on Dario standing near me to the side, his obsidian eyes locked on me with an inscrutable intensity. A tremor works its way beneath my breastbone as I push on. "None of this would be possible without the generousconstruction efforts of my fiancé Dario DeLuca." I incline my head graciously. "His commitment to investing in our communities is an inspiring testament to creating lasting impact."

"I'd also like to thank my best friend Gabrielle for her unwavering support throughout the planning process." I find the honey blonde and black tresses belonging to my bestie and catch a glimpse of her beaming face in the crowd. "All the late nights and endless pavement pounding to poll the community on what they would like to have wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for her assistance."

I draw a fortifying breath.

"But most of all, I need to express my deepest gratitude to my father, Marcus Gordon." I glance in his direction. "For having the vision and heart to want to give back to the community he came from. This is his legacy, and I'm honored to help bring his dream to fruition."

Tears prick at my eyes, but I blink them back, determined to finish strong.

"Daddy, your love for our people is the foundation this center is built on. I can only hope to make you proud as I carry on your legacy of service." My voice wavers on the last line, the double meaning behind the words settling heavily on my heart. I may not see eye to eye with my father on everything, but we are unwaveringly aligned in giving back. "It's my greatest honor to introduce to you now, my hero, Marcus Gordon!"

Extending my hand, I gesture for my father to join me at the podium. As our eyes meet, a lifetime of unspoken words and conflicting emotions pass between them...

The crowd erupts into thunderous applause as my father joins me on stage. He pulls me into a tight hug before taking his place at the mic. I step back beside Dario, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back.

"Thank you, Mia. I could not be more proud of your unwavering dedication to this project…"

His broad shoulders are drawn back with pride, but his dark eyes hold a complex emotion I can't quite decipher.

The weight of his gaze is like a physical caress. A bittersweet pang twinge in my chest, a longing for the easy affection of my childhood, when he was my whole world—before the business, politics, and the tangled web of criminal allegiances tore us apart.

"Friends, family, esteemed members of the community, today marks more than just the opening of a new building. It signifies the dawn of a new era of hope and possibility for the people of this great city."

Murmurs of agreement ripple through the crowd, and I nod. "For too long, our community has been overlooked, underserved. But no more. The Gordon Community Center is a beacon, a promise that everyone here matters. That their dreams matter."

"My daughter spoke of legacy, and she's right. This center, this…mission, is a labor of love that spans generations. It's a flame lit in my father's heart, one I've carried my whole life. And one I know will continue to burn bright in Mia long after I'm gone."

Dario shifts beside me, and I have to force myself not to get distracted by him. It’s useless because all I can think about is him fucking me senseless at the mixer. I should be angry at him and disgusted with myself for not fighting him off. Instead, I let lust get the best of me.

Clearing my thoughts, I focus on my father’s speech. The night is too important to become derailed by misplaced wants and unhealed wounds.

Dad’s words fade as movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. A figure stumbles through the entrance,limbs flailing, emitting a strangled cry. Whispers of confusion ripple through the crowd as all eyes turn towards the disturbance.

That's when I see it—flickering flames lapping at one of Dario’s men's body, crawling up his torso, hungrily consuming the fabric of his clothes. The stench of singed hair and burnt flesh assaults my senses as he lurches forward.

Screams pierce the air, the roar of panic overtaking the once celebratory atmosphere. Tables clatter to the floor as people scramble in every direction, a sea of bodies crashing against each other in desperation to escape.

My heart hammers as his gaze locks onto mine through the inferno, wide eyes pleading, reaching out a charred hand as if begging me to help me.

Then, the deafeningrat-a-tat-tatof gunfire rips through the chaos, bullets spraying like a perverse kind of confetti.

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