Dance of Madness: Chapter 24

Have you ever had a dream so vivid you woke up convinced it was real?

Because last night, I dreamed someone was chasing me. Through a dark house, maybe. But then I think it turned into a forest? It’s fuzzy now. But I remember the way it felt, like something between terror and pure adrenaline.

And when I got caught, I knew it was you. Like, I just knew it was.

I know that probably sounds deranged, but you’re the one who asked what makes me feel alive. So… there you go.

What makes me feel alive is that sensation somewhere between fear and thrill. Between feeling scared and feeling immortal.

You know, like the feeling you get when you tell your pen pal that you had a chase-kink dream about them, lol.

-Me

So this is Nero’s house.

His actual one, not the one where we play. It’s a stunning, modern-meets-mid-century-meets gothic townhouse on Central Park West, not far up from Papa’s place. It’s right next to the infamous Dakota building and just across the street from both the John Lennon and Iggy Watts memorials in the park.

“Would you like a drink?”

I shake my head, hugging myself as I lean against the kitchen counter behind me. Across the kitchen Dominic, the guy who drove me here in silence from the bar in midtown, nods wordlessly. He turns and opens the fridge, grabs a bottle of water, then shuts the fridge again and leans against it.

He takes a sip, neither of us saying a word as a slightly awkward silence descends over the dimly lit kitchen.

“So…” I clear my throat. “You’re Nero’s driver?”

“Consigliere.”

“Oh.”

“And you’re what’s got him twisted up these days, I assume.”

I blush and look down at my feet.

“I—we’re not⁠—”

“Oh, no, of course not,” he says, smirking. He studies me carefully as he takes another sip. “Does Marko Kalishnik know his daughter is hanging out with the likes of Nero?”

I arch a brow. “I’m sorry, isn’t Mr. De Luca your boss?”

He grins. “He’s also my best friend. So I can ask. So… I’m asking,” he says, more pointedly. “Does Marko know about this?”

I shrug. “My personal life is none of my father’s⁠—”

“Oh, I don’t think either of us really believes that,” he says flatly. “Italians and Russians just don’t usually play well together, if you’re curious why I’m asking.”

“They don’t?” I smile. “I’m not sure that Kir Nikolayev and Nero got that memo.”

The second I say it, my mouth clamps shut.

Like, what the FUCK, self.

Dominic says nothing at first, just eyes me cooly as he takes another sip of water.

“What do you know about that,” he finally says, a curious note in his voice.

I shrug. “I know they hang out.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I’ve seen them.”

Dominic’s brow furrows. He sets the water down on the counter and folds his arms over his chest. “I’d not mention that if I were you,” he growls.

“Who are you talking to?”

I jolt, turning quickly as a dark-haired girl walks into the kitchen wearing…

Not much.

She’s in a somewhat skimpy camisole top that’s a little on the see-through side, with just a pair of boy-short panties on underneath. And for a second, I see red.

Green.

Maybe both.

But then she suddenly realizes I’m standing there, and shrieks a little as she whirls and stares at me wide-eyed.

Suddenly, it clicks.

This is not some girl.

This is Gabriella De Luca. As in, Nero’s sister.

We’ve only met once, sort of, at Doomsday. But that was…over a year ago? Still, the second I see her, it’s obvious she and Nero are family. Same face, same nose, same dark hair, the exact same piercing green eyes.

Hers go wide as she jumps back and scrambles behind Dominic.

“Who the fuck are you?!”

“Milena,” I smile weakly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She exhales, still clinging to Dominic, who looks more than slightly uncomfortable.

“All good.” She flashes a killer smile and then glances down at herself. “I just…didn’t realize anyone was up. I came down for water.” She glances up at the back of Dominic’s head and tugs on his arm. “Give me your jacket, Dom. I feel like a fucking stripper.”

“Dressed like that? Really?” he mutters sarcastically, ignoring the way she elbows him in the back until he shrugs off his suit jacket and hands it to her.

She’s swimming in it when she slips it on and closes it around herself. “Well, that was embarrassing,” she mutters before she waves a hand limply. “I’m Gabby, Nero’s sister.” She glances at Dominic again, frowning. “Where’s my brother?”

“Out.”

“Very helpful, thank you, Dom,” she says dryly before turning to me, frowning slightly. “Okay, so what are you doing here?”

“She’s—”

“Waiting for your brother,” I say.

“Okay…” She nods.

“Go back to bed, Gabriella,” Dominic growls.

Gabby holds her middle finger right up to his face, still looking at me, her brow arched. “Are you…”

Heat floods my face before I can stop it. Gabby relaxes a bit as a grin creeps over her mouth.

“Ahhh, I see,” she smiles. Then she peers at me again. “Wait—Milena Kalishnik?”

I smile even more weakly. “Yup.”

Gabby frowns slightly. “He’s not jerking you around, is he? Nero, I mean.”

“I…don’t think so?”

She nods, still frowning. “He doesn’t date, that’s why I ask.”

“Oh,” I blush. “I’m…not sure if we’re⁠—”

“Gabriella,” Dominic interrupts. “Now is not the time. Go back to⁠—”

“Eat me, Dom,” she blurts casually, still looking at me. “Girl-to-girl, mafia princess to mafia princess…” She eyes me up and down, sighing heavily. “You’re either dating or you’re wasting your time. And you are way too hot to have your time wasted by someone like my brother.”

I grin, rolling my eyes.

“Umm, thanks,” I mumble.

“So, force him to give you a real answer,” Gabby shrugs. “Otherwise?” She makes a tsking sound, shaking her head. “Seriously, way too hot to be wasting time on my brother being a dick. Know what I mean?”

“She knows what you mean,” Dominic mutters darkly as he looms over her. “And it is time for bed, Gabriella.”

She smirks as she turns to him. “Wanna tuck me in, Dom?”

He blushes.

Deeply.

Gabby turns back to me. “Nice to meet you. Sorry for walking in like a skank. I honestly didn’t know anyone was down here.”

I get the impression she didn’t know I was here. Dominic is maybe another story.

“She’s…” Dominic clears his throat once Gabby is well out of the room. “An interesting character.”

“Seems it,” I grin.

Just then, I hear a door shut, then heavy footsteps. A few seconds later, my pulse quickens as Nero stalks into the kitchen with a grim look on his face. He nods at Dom, then turns and strides over to me. My heart flip-flops in a strange, unexpected way as he takes my hands in his, those green eyes lancing into mine.

“Come with me,” he growls quietly.