Page 23 of The Diávolos: Part One
“Yes.”
“And you have a secret admirer who’s been stalking you ever since you moved back, writing you poetry, and leaving you gifts around your home?”
I bite the corner of my lip, embarrassed, before I reply, “Yes.”
“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK, ANGIE?” she screams as she slaps her hand over her mouth. The car swerves.
?“Keep your eyes on the road,lolos.You’re going to make us crash!” I screech.
“Sorry, sorry. Butwow. You’re being serious.”
“Yes.” I can't seem to say anything else. I look down at my clasped hands resting on my lap, afraid of what Aria is going to say next.
“Oo theé mou.”Oh my god. “You went from being single to having TWO love interests? What happened to my prude bitch?” she jokes.
“First of all,” I say and flip her the bird. “Second, I haven’t seen or heard from Evan since our encounter. We didn’t even exchange contact info, and the conversation with my anonymous admirer kind of ended abruptly. I don’t know if I should message him again. I don’t want to seem desperate.” I look down at the phone in my hands and ponder.
“First of all, how do you know it’s a ‘he’?” she asks, wiggling her brows. “Second, since when do you care? You never give guys the time of day.” She doesn’t look at me, but I can see from her profile that she’s trying to give me THE look. The one she gives me when she wants to kick my ass, even though she's a tiny, little thing.
A giggle escapes my mouth. She’s not wrong. Either way, the thought ofanyonebeing this obsessed with me gives me tingles all over my body. It’s so wrong to feel this way, but I can’t help myself.Let your mommy and daddy issues shine through, girl.
“You’re right. I don’t. And I shouldn’t care about whattheythink.” Even though there’s a chance my guardian angel could be of the same sex, I’m somehow convinced it’s a man.
“That’s the spirit!” Aria says.
“But he’s a stalker, Ri. What if I make him angry and he decides to come into my house and murder me? Then you’ll have my blood on your hands!”
“I’ll take my chances,” she says, smirking, and I smack her shoulder. “No, but in all seriousness, you’re right, Giegie. You need to be careful. As much as I think this adventure is exciting, there’s still a risk and you’ve got to keep your wits about you.”
I agree. I might feel a sense of peace when I think about my stalker, but this person’s behavior is still concerning. I have to stay alert.
We pull up to the valet parking of the shopping strip and Aria gives her keys to the leering attendant. As she’s about to drop them in his palm, the young man winks at her and grabs her wrist. Aria whips her hand back. The look of disgust on her face is enough to make any man fold. He looks nervous now, his bravado gone, as she walks right up to him and points her finger to his chest, looking up at him, and I swear there’s steam coming out of her ears.
“If you want to live to see another day, I suggest keeping your nasty, skeletal hands away from me, or I’ll stick those fingers where the sun don’t shine, capiche?” she spits, venom lacing her tone.
He staggers back, shocked that such a tiny thing could be so terrifying, and I can’t help but laugh out loud. Aria is a badass. She comes from the Kastellanos family, and they’re known to have short fuses and a tendency for violence. I would not mess with her. And it’s not because she has a father, brother, and cousins who will fuck you up if you even look at her the wrong way, but because she would kill you herself.
“Alright, Ri. I think he got the point, right?” I ask him as I grab her by the shoulders to pull her away. I nudge my head toward him for a response, and he nods his head enthusiastically. “Good. Now, park her car and make sure you’re not here when we get back. Just friendly advice, don’t make it turn into a threat,” I add, smiling my most vicious smile. Where Aria is loud and explosive, I’m silent and deadly. We’re the perfect combination.
We step out onto the sidewalk, and when we look at each other, we burst out laughing. We’re always on the same page. Terrorizing pervy men is our specialty. You wouldn’t want to get on our bad side.
We walk to the door of Saks Fifth Avenue, and I decide it’s time to send my guardian angel a follow-up message.
Me: So? Why me?
As I walk into the department store, I put my phone back in my purse, dropping it like a hot potato, and it vibrates even before it has even fallen to the bottom of my Louis Vuitton bag.
Guardian Angel: Why not you? You became my muse the moment you walked into my life. You’re my biggest distraction and will probably be my downfall, but I will drag you into the darkness with me.
My heart flutters from the beauty of his words, both in eagerness and fear. He renders me speechless. I wonder how someone can make my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. My dopamine levels are going crazy.
Me: What if I don’t want to follow you into the dark?
I really don’t recognize myself right now. I’m never this upfront and sassy with a stranger, or with men, especially ones who might try to suffocate me in my sleep. But Aria motivated me—andpotentially steered me directly into the arms of death— to get to the bottom of this.
Guardian Angel: You always have a choice, angel. But don’t underestimate the allure of darkness. Yours is drawn to mine. And we will drown in it together.
My breath stutters in surprise. I’m not an open book, yet he can see right through me. I’ve always felt a shadow looming over me, haunting me with the secrets and memories I can’t remember. I’ve tried my hardest to ignore the black hole in my mind. I’ve learned to live my life without the answers I felt I would never receive. The darkness within me ismysecret to keep. I’ve tried so hard to conceal the damage that has been done to my soul, and for him to waltz into my life and declare that I’m doomed to the deepest pit of hell makes me angry. If he thinks he can drag me down with him, he’s sorely mistaken.
