[Music: Love Is a Knife By Artemas]

I clenched the cutlery tightly, my vision blurring but not from exhaustion. There was a scorching fire devouring my insides, my blood boiling beyond degree.

The weighty urge to shoot fire from my eyes has never been more welcomed. I wish I could. Then I’d just sit here and watch until he was reduced to ashes while cackling like a fucking witch.

I was told to dress up for dinner with Zade. I would’ve tossed my blade if it had been that bitch Lisa who delivered the message, but it was a maid.

She told me that if I didn’t abide, she’d suffer the consequences. The fear in the poor girl’s eyes made my stomach clench.

That was a dirty trick. And the only reason I’m here, dressed in a short chiffon a-line dress and heels, looking all dolled up with my hair tied in a ribbon.

Of course... I had another reason to confront him, yet at the moment of truth, I just sat there and thought of a million ways to roast a snake.

"When will your brothers be joining us?" I broke the cold silence. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

I much prefer unwanted company as long as I don’t have to be alone with him.

"They won’t..." Zade murmured, lifting the fork to his lips and taking a bite out of his steak. "You haven’t touched your food."

I clutched my fork and stabbed it into the steak, the table vibrating from the impact.

Zade pinned me with his eyes that moment, and I took the knife next, aggressively trying to cut through the steak while picturing I was dissecting him.

"What’s the matter?" he asked, a mocking sharpness to his tone.

My eyelid twitched. "What could be the matter?" I threw the question back. "I was just trying to cut through this hard meat. Your cooks need work."

He took the glass of wine, bringing it to his stretched lips and sipped. "I’ll be sure to tell them."

My chest rose and fell heavily, the neckline of my dress tightening against my breast, straining as if to break free.

"Please do..." I said through clenched teeth.

He set the glass down and leaned back on the chair, tilting his head slowly. "Although something tells me the texture of the meat isn’t what got you flushed like a tomato."

"Why don’t you guess? Since you’re the expert when it comes to knowing about people’s business."

His slitted eyes bored into mine for far too long until he replied. "I don’t guess. I know."

"Then you know..." I murmured with weight in my tone. "You said you’d let him go."

"And who are we talking about? You’ll have to be more specific..."

I swear to God—! This snake is toying with me.

I closed my eyes, mentally telling myself to remain calm, but I had no idea how I could afford that.

When I opened my eyes, the candlelight blurred everything, but I could clearly catch that arrogant smirk plastered on his lips.

I’m seconds away from screaming like a madwoman, but that’d be what he wants. To watch me crumble, to watch me... break.

Suddenly, the chair screeched loudly as Zade pushed to his feet, checking his Rolex as if he had somewhere to be.

"Enjoy the rest of your dinner." His gaze flickered to my untouched plate. "I’d hate for the cooks to be dismissed... simply because you chose not to finish your meal."

Now he’s threatening me to eat?

He moved, and my eyes followed, my breath growing harsher, and when he walked past me, I lost it.

I was quick on my feet and flung my heel straight for him. Only when it struck his back did I realize what I had done.

What happened to staying calm, Anastasia?! Well, screw calm!

"We aren’t done talking, Don Salvero."

Something in the air shifted when Zade threw a look over his shoulder. My first instinct was to back away, but my butt pressed against the edge of the table like a barrier.

He turned, eyeing the heel on the floor and then at me with a look that screamed... ’Did you just toss a fucking shoe at me?’

Oh yes, I did.

He moved, and my heart pounded heavily in my chest, but he halted midway, gaze dropping to the knife I pointed at his abdomen.

"That-That’s about close enough..." I said, attempting to sound menacing, but my voice came off shaky.

"Haven’t you learned your lesson?" His gaze pinned me in place. "Using sharp things isn’t safe."

All I heard was a loud clatter as my knife dropped to the floor. The world rocked as he spun me, the force nearly sending me crashing if my hands hadn’t braced against the table for balance.

I rasped when his body pushed against mine from behind, shrouding me completely. The sensation of him being so close caused goosebumps to ripple across my skin.

Silence lingered, with only the sound of my sharp breathing filling the air, spiking when his hand closed around my neck, and his rings dug in, making me groan from the chilly, uneven texture.

I felt his cold breath feather against my neck, then my cheek... lingering there for a while, lips grazing that spot, leaving behind an icy sensation like my skin was being prickled by ice shards.

The heavy mix of smoke, and mint hit me all at once, dragging a dizzy feeling.

"You’re a reckless little thing, aren’t you?"

I chewed the inside of my mouth when his body crammed more into mine until I felt the hard mass of muscles, like a wall was closing in on me, and almost crushing me completely.

I wondered if I could hold out long enough, but his massive body and the darkened edge in his tone made me numb.

"A warning, little kitten... before you had the chance to use your knife, I would’ve broken your wrist... and then your neck."