Page 9 of Capo Dei Capi's Daughter

Since the day Dante moved in and I questioned that moment on the dance floor, things have just been horribly uncomfortable. Every time we wind up in the same room or confined in a car, I relive that moment of sheer embarrassment. Every day I am reminded of what a bumbling ass I made of myself.

Funny enough, the awkwardness has nothing to do with actually thinking that there was something. I’ve read too many of Mom’s old rom coms from the library to explain it any other way, but there was definitely a spark. A connection. A fleeting moment. Something happened that night.

Whatever it was though, he has been very clear that he doesn’t want anything to happen.

Hello, every other guy I’ve met in my life - except for Chad.

To give him what he wants, I am doing my best to keep my distance. Except when absolutely necessary, I try not to be around him. While I usually make small talk with Papa’s guys who drive me around, I keep ours to the bare minimum. No pleasantries.

He’s made a point not to actually look at me. Those gorgeous green eyes look around me, even when he’s speaking to me.

I want to feel them bore through my soul again.

Above all, he is extremely careful about not touching me - ever. There is always ample room for me to pass when he opens doors. He doesn’t extend a hand to help me in or out of a car.

I need him to touch me again, so I can see if it was real.

Having taken three shots while at the club tonight, I’m feeling a tad more brazen than usual.

Fuck embarrassment.

There is no reason we can’t be adults. No reason we can’t talk about this and clear the air.

“Dante,” the sound of his name breaking the silence in this car is almost deafening. I watch as his fingers grip the wheel a little tighter and can see a slight tick in the muscles of his jaw as he ever so slightly clenches his jaw.

“Miss,” his tone is flat, respectful and professional.

“I’m not one for subtleties, so I’m just going to put this out there,” I take a deep breath and word vomit everything that I’ve been thinking for the past couple of weeks, “I’m sorry that I brought up something that made you uncomfortable. I’ve kept my distance and given you space, in hopes that my embarrassment and this awkwardness would pass.”

“Venecia,” my name slowly draws from his mouth as though it pains him to say it.

“I’m not done,” I quickly silence him, “It’s not getting better. It’s actually just getting worse. The more you try not to touch me or look at me, the more uncomfortable you make me feel. So, can you just stop? Can you just pretend I never said anything?”

His fingers flex around the steering wheel until his knuckles turn white as he gives a gruff, “No.”

The nerve of this fucking man…

“No,” my body shifts uncomfortably in my seat, “you can’t be an adult about things and just let it go? Move on?”

The fingers flexing around the steering wheel look as though they are trying to tear it in two. That little tick in his jaw is now a full clench that must be physically painful, and I can see the veins slowly bulging in his neck.

DANTE

Listening to Venecia, my fingers wrap around the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white.

Can I pretend she never said anything?

Metaphorically I bite my tongue, but physically I clench my jaw so hard I am almost unable to speak, “No.”

“No,” she echoes back my reply.

I can hear her fidgeting in the back and feel her eyes staring at me, “you can’t be an adult about things and just let it go? Move on?”

Just let it go?

Move on?

Her words have me filled with what can only be described as rage. My jaw clenches and my fingers grip harder around the steering wheel, both physically painful. My physical pain is the only thing keeping me from inflicting more undue emotional pain on her.

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