Vince’s POV
The car drives into and stops in the courtyard when I see the familiar figure of Annette standing and looking around.
I signal to Luca to let me out and he does, holding out my briefcase.
I stride towards her, taking in her appearance; she is wearing a skirmish red party dress.
For the first time since I have known Annette, she has a full makeup on and her hair is packed beautifully behind her with a diamond ribbon.
“Hi,” she waves at me shyly, tucking her tiny black purse closer to her. This is when I see her lips too. Colored in red.
Dammit!
“Where are you going?” I ask immediately.
“To a party,” she replies sharply. I came out when I heard your car coming in. I was actually waiting for you to come back before I leave.”
A party? In that dress? What the hell?
We kissed two nights ago at the penthouse and I have been avoiding her since then. I do not have a tangible reason for doing that but I did anyway because I believe that was purely a mistake.
Aside from that, I am embarrassed.
I have never initiated a kiss with Annette. For doing that now, I don’t want to give it any meaning or believe I did that because of what Kyra said.
Hence the distance I am trying to keep between us.
Just a few days apart and then things will return back to normal.
That was the plan but now that she is here, dressed this way, with the intention to go partying, when I have lots of things to worry about, I am rethinking my decision.
I can’t stop her from going wherever she wants to go.
I can’t keep her locked in here forever.
And I can’t watch her leave, knowing full well that anything can happen, anytime.
Even though things have been really smooth for a while now, I know it’s just a matter of time before another attack happens. Especially from the Silicones who have been way too quiet for weeks.
They are planning an attack and we are still trying to get their location. Once we do, we attack first but if we don’t before the months end, there is going to be an attack.
Aside from that, I can’t let her go. Not this way.
“Luca can go with me if you are worried about my safety,” she smiles at me as she talks, making me inch closer.
“No!” It comes out in a harsh tone but I couldn’t care less.
“No?” She furrows her brow, anger seeping in. “What do you mean no?”
“Luca can’t go with you…”
“Then I will go myself,” she replies loudly, attempting to walk past me, but I grab her arm, stopping her.
Before she can say a word, I chip in. “I’m coming with you.”
Disbelief crosses her expression before her gaze softens and she smiles. I almost shake my head at the sudden smile.
She is an enigma.
One minute, she is fiery, the next minute she looks intimidated. One minute, she is completely mad at me and the next minute, she is smiling.
Does she like me?
Nah!
But she didn’t push me away when I kissed her. Does that mean she wanted the kiss too? Aside from kissing me, she doesn’t give me a clue as to whether she likes me or not.
I just want to believe she is acting this way because I am her husband and this is normal between couples.
I take the car keys from Luca, waving my hand at him as a signal for him and others to follow. I can’t risk going to a night club with Annette knowing full well that is one of the easiest places to get attacked.
She doesn’t need to know they are coming with us, which is why I want to drive her there.
I drop my briefcase at the back of the car before opening the door for her. She slouches in with another smile that has my heart skirting around with a strange feeling.
Excitement?
“I really do not know what Tessa is busy with these days. She barely has my time. Is Fernando bombarding her with too much work? How good is your friend?” She asks the questions in one breath.
With a shrug, I reply as I start the car. “I have no idea.”
“You have no idea if he is a good man?”
“Good? In what manner?”
“I mean, is he a good employer? It seems to me like he is bullying Tessa with too much workload.”
A short laugh leaves my mouth. “Because she didn’t agree to come with you to a party doesn’t mean she is still at work. Maybe she is with her boyfriend or busy with something else.”
She remains silent, looking thoughtful.
Suddenly, she repeats. “Boyfriend? Tessa doesn’t have one.”
“Maybe she has now.”
“She didn’t tell me…” she pauses and closes her agape mouth. The rest of the rise is in complete silence.
When we get to the nearest club, I halt the car and come out. Before I can get to her door, she already stepped out, looking excited with a wide grin on her face.
Turning around, I see Luca’s car parked right behind ours. I signal to him again before following Ann into the club.
They need to look around for sign of threats. If there is any, I have a good reason to tell Ann so she can leave. I’m sure she won’t hesitate then.
The colored lighting, the glowing trays of drinks, the music and the overall atmosphere of the night club makes me wary.
Ann is already shaking her body to the music. When she looks back and sees me walking behind her, she grabs my hand, pushing into the crowd.
My left hand is firmly on my Glock.
I wouldn’t want to be caught unawares.
We get to the VIP spot and she stops. “Would you like to sit or dance with me?”
Letting go of my Glock, I wrap my two hands around hers before dragging her to the empty seats.
We both settle down but her eyes are fixated on the crowd dancing to the loud music.
“We can just watch them from here. That sounds better.”
She snaps her head towards me, watching me like I have grown two horns. “We are here to party, Vince. I want to dance. Are you coming with me or not?”
I can’t think of something to stop her. She seems so determined so I shake my head slowly.
“I’m just worried. It’s crowded…”
“Let go of your worries for once, Vince. This is a club for crying out loud. I am here to enjoy myself, to dance and get drunk, ok?” She leans closer, forcing me to nod in agreement since I can’t look at her any further.
When she leaves my sight, I let out a long breath of relief. Not relieved because she is gone. But I’m relieved that I won’t have to kiss her again.
The wave of desire running through me at the sight of her in that skimpy dress is making me go crazy.
Realizing what I am doing, I sit upright, gulp down loudly before glancing around for the sight of Ann. When I see her a little bit far from the crowd, dancing among a few people, I sigh again.
I don’t take my gaze off her, even as the waitress approaches. I shake my head in response to ordering.
Annette seems lost in a world of her own as she dances away, completely oblivious to my presence and intense stare.
When she jumps up, I can see her cleavage clearly. I adjust in my seat, just as I feel a throbbing in my pants.
She continues dancing, swirling around with her hands up in the air, her air moving around slowly in circles, like it happens in movies.
Instantly, everything seems to move slowly. The shake of her hips, the movement of her long, creamy legs, the swirling of her black straight hair, the stretch of her arms and the exposure of her cleavages.
For the first time since I have known Annette, I admire her figure. She is not just beautiful but also curvy with the right figure.
As if knowing my thoughts, she turns around, giving me a clear view of her round ass in the tight dress.
Shit!
I look away for a second to catch my breath. When I glance back, there is someone behind her with his back to me.
He doesn’t touch her until she twirls around to see him behind her. Instead of pushing him away as he utters something to her, she smiles instead.
My eyebrows fly up.
His hand touches her hand and he raises it to his lips. He spins her around, grinding himself on her behind.
Anger vibrates beneath my skin, my blood pulsing hot as I shoot to my feet and take four long strides towards them.
I tap his shoulder and he turns. I raise my fist in the air to slam it into his jaws for touching my woman that way. But Ann steps in between us, leaving my fist hanging in the air.
“Vince?” The softness of her voice seems to dissipate my anger.
I look over her head at the jerk. He looks young and good-looking. He is wearing a shirt and blue jeans. His hair is tan and he has a lovely smile on his face which has disappeared already.
“She is my wife. Get lost!”
He scrambles off, leaving me with Ann, who has her arms folded around her bosom.
I shouldn’t have let her go the first time. If I was here dancing with her, like a husband should dance with his wife, that jerk wouldn’t have the gut to dance with her.
I stretch my hand at her and she raises a brow at me in confusion.
With my heart beating too fast, I ask her. “Will you dance with me?”