Chapter 3 Dance

Alessia’s POV

I knocked on Silva’s door an waited for a response from within, rubbing my hands together in both fear and anticipation.

“Come in,” I hear from within. Well, here we go. I straighten my spine and walk into th room.

Silva’s office smells like cheap whisky and stale cigarette. It’s adorned with worn-out leather brown chairs and a wooden desk. He sits behind the desk signing papers, not even glancing up.

“Do you need a job?”

“Yes, sir.”

He opens a drawer on th side and brings out a skimpy dark red black dress, tossing it at me. He glances at me briefly.

“Go and change in the girls’ rooms upstairs. You start tonight.”

I took a deep breath. “Oh Dios, thank you.”

A job for the moment.

And a roof over my head.

For tonight at least I can sleep well.

Th club music got louder as the day progressed, almost drowning my thoughts. The music throbbed, neon lights flashed, bodies gyrating on each other, dancing to the tune. I must confess the DJ is good, as I find myself cha-chaing for a moment. “Focus, Alessia,” I snap out of it, clutching my tray. I return to the bartender to get the next round of drinks.

Then the air seemed to freeze all around me for a momen. I looked around, interested in knowing what was going on. “ Why the sudden change.”

“Boss just arrived. He is making his way through the dance floor now.” I glance at the dance floor and there, striding confidently forward, is a man that screams:

Danger.

Sin.

Sex.

I don’t know who he is, but every man seems to stand taller as he passed. The ladies stared at him with hunger.

He is quite tall, at least 6 ft plus with broad shoulders and a trim waist tucked into jeans that seem as if they were made for him alone, He is handsome with a chiseled jaw and eyes piercing as dark as the night. The whole room seems to stop and wait for him to move, every head facing his direction. He didn’t look or acknowledge anyone; he just walked as if he owned the world, not only the club.

I tried to remove my eyes off him, I truly did, but I couldn’t. My hands trembled. As he made his way off the dance floor and into a room on the right, I finally exhale and face the bar to compose myself. Phew, Mamma Mia what was that about, and why do I feel so warm all of a sudden?

My palms are slippery with sweat. I look at the bartender and give him a fake smile, not wanting to let him know just how affected I am by the Boss's arrival. My tray shakes in my hand as I straighten it so I don’t pour the drinks on the dance floor. I turn around to carry the tray and deliver the next round of drinks when I am approached by a guard who walks up to me and says, “The boss wants a dance.”

My stomach drops. I just started, I don’t know how I stutter, but he grips my hand firmly and steers me toward the private room.

“You don’t say no to him,” he tells me.

I was led into a smaller lounger with dim lights and a single chair in the center. He sat waiting, one leg folded on the other, his cigar in his hand.

“Dance…”

I don’t know when my legs started moving. He commands the very air just by breathing it  that is how much power radiated off him. Music started playing and my sicilaian blood took over. I danced like I was in front of my mirror alone and nobody was watching, I danced like my entire life counted on it, I danced like it was the last thing I was ever going to get to do in my life and he was fascinated. His eyes never glued to mine until the song came to an end and I landed a gracefully in front of him. I raise my eyes defiantly and look him square in the eyes.

His face taking my breath away  Mamma mia, he is gorgeous  and my heart starts hammering in my chest with excitement as I am caught in his gaze.

Then he speaks:

“Alessia Molano.”

I gasp, my heart freezing. Who is he? And how did he know?Is he working with the Sirrano's? I move to get up and he uses his hand to keep me in place.

“Did I say you could get up?” His tone cold and menacing.

He is still sitting on the chair , staring at me with his intense gaze , and smoking his cigar. His hand reaches out and catches my wrist dragging me close against him. My heart races and my blood feels like it’s on fire by the small body contact, but I don’t allow him to see just how he affects me.

He whispers, “You hide very well, cara mia, but not from me.”

I shake my head vigorously, trying to get a word in.

“You are mistaken, my name is not-”

“Am I Alessia? I am never wrong…” His lips brush over my pulse point on my neck and I shudder.

I feel a cold stone settle in my stomach from the finality in his words. My breath comes out fast and choppy. My every instinct telling me to move away.

“ My Name is Alex Ferrini, Remember it because From tonight onwards, you belong to me….”

I nearly collapsed on the ground; if he wasn’t holding me up I probably would have.Shock reverberated to me like fireworks .

My world tilts in its axis.

And in that moment the only thing that comes to my mind is :

Run for your life, Alessia.