ADELINE'S POV
"You're so weird Dante." I say folding my arms across my chest, goosebumps appearing on my skin as I stand in front of the transparent cage. Inside is probably the biggest python I have ever seen and my eyes widen in pure dread when the python opens in mouth wide as if to yawn.
"How could you like snakes? They're so scary and crawly and yucky." I complain making Dante chuckle lightly as he wraps his arm around me.
"I think they're strong." He says admiring the creature. "They have no legs, no arms but still they're one of the deadliest animals on earth. Fascinating, isn't it?"
I furrow my brow and offer hm a disgusted look, scrunching my nose and poking his hard chest with my index finger.
"Now I know why you are the way you are." I state with a mischievous grin.
"What do you mean?" He turns towards me with a raise of his brow, taking one step closer to me, towering over me like a giant.
"You know…" I shrug with a coy smile. "All dark and broody and uptight." I say and he chuckles lightly folding his arm across his chest.
"Oh, you think I'm too serious because I like snakes?" He asks.
"No I think you like snakes because you're too serious." I say with a teasing laugh making Dante wrap his arm around me playfully. He lifts me off the floor and spins me around effortlessly and finally puts me down to whisper in my ears.
"You know just for that, I'm gonna make sure to get a pet snake." He teases.
"Yeah I'm going to have to break up with you if you do that." I say with a soft laugh as Dante brings his face impossibly close to mine. He nibbles on my bottom lip and brushes his tongue against it. It makes me shiver as I go weak in the knees. This is such an inappropriate place for him to make me horny.
"You're crazy if you think there'll ever be an end to what we have." He says with a deep and serious tone, trailing kisses up and down my neck. The python in it cage staring straight at us, oblivious to what is going on around him.
"Carful Mr. Russo." I say breathing heavily as I start getting aware of all the people in the room with us but Dante doesn't even seem to care. He pulls me closer to his body, not once letting go.
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you're obsessed with me." I say with a shaky breath when he nibbles lightly on my earlobe.
"You have no idea." He says, his deep voice resonating in my chest and in between my legs.
"I think we should go see the other animals now Dante." I say in an attempt to get him off me because as much I want to feel him all over me, there are so many people in here now and unlike Dante, I'm already getting very shy.
"Mmmh…" He makes a sound and pulls away from me, grabbing me by the waist, his hand dangerously close to my ass, and pulls me close to him. He softly and gently collides his lips with mine and lets out a deep breath.
"You're so fucking perfect." He whispers with a grin, but then his smile immediately falls and his body tenses all over when he glances behind me. On instinct I turn around but I can't seem to figure out who or what he's looking at since there are so many people in here now.
"What's wrong Dante?" I ask him with a worried look on my face. He glances down at me, a contemplative look on his face as if he's trying to decide whether or not he wants to tell me what's wrong.
"Tell me Dante." I insist and he closes his eyes shut for a second before looking back at me. He lets out a deep sigh before speaking.
"There was a man behind you just now. It was Adrian's body guard." He states and my brows furrow in confusion. I can see the dread, horror and anger in his eyes as he looks at me. I shake my head as I try to make sense of what he has just told me.
"Um okay. So, Adrian's bodyguard is at the zoo. Big deal." I say with a shrug but the serious look on his face makes me understand that Dante thinks otherwise.
"I think he was following us, Adeline." He states.
"What?" I whisper loudly in all bewilderment. "Why would he be following us?"
"I know it sounds crazy princess but I'm a hundred percent sure he was following us. Don't ask me how I know, I just do." Dante says and I nod my head slowly because honestly, I wouldn't put it past Adrian to do something like this. He threatened me and he threatened my parents. He's far from the angel he's presenting himself to be in front of my parents, so what Dante is saying might be true.
But it brings me nothing but great worry to know that Adrian is psychotic enough to have his body guard follow Dante and I around. It's sickening and it makes me feel nauseous.
"Why would he hire someone to follow us?" I ask.
"Because I have something he'll never have and it drives him crazy." Dante says calmly, as if this entire situation was normal. I have no idea how he doesn't it. I can see the worry and anger in his eyes but unlike me who worries and worries, Dante seems to always be calm, analyzing every situation before making a move.
I'm so angry and frustrated. Because of Adrian and my parents, I couldn't even enjoy my double date with Liam and now because of Adrian, I can't even enjoy a simple day at the zoo with my boyfriend. It's getting out of hand and I want and end to this.
It can't have come this fat to the point where Dante and I are being stalked by Adrian's body guard. It makes me wonder and think of all the other sick things Adrian is capable of doing just to get what he wants.
"Don't worry Adeline." Dante says when he notices the worried look on my face.
"You're with me, okay?" He says and I nod my head slowly. "Nothing's going to happen to you. Not on my watch. I don't want this to ruin our day okay. We came here for the animals. Let's focus on that." He smiles at me and I wrap my arms around his neck.
His entire being brings me comfort.
For the rest of the day at the zoo, I don't spot the body guard but Dante does. I have no idea how he can be so observant while watching animals with me but as we get into his car to drive home, Dante makes me understand that the body guard followed us around all day.
"What if he follows us home Dante?" I ask worriedly as Dante fastens my seatbelt.
"That's not going to happen." He says with a smirk. "Because I'm going to lose him."
He starts the engine and just as I thought, there's a car following strongly behind Dante's car on the highway as we drive back home. I didn't want to believe it before but Dante was right. Adrian really had his body guard follow us but how the hell did he even know we were at the zoo?
I suddenly remember that my mom sent me a message today asking where I was because she and my father apparently went to my old house. They don't know I've moved in with Dante but I mentioned I would be at the Zoo today. My mom must have told Adrian and Adrian must have told his body guard.
So, if you really think about it, the primary reason this man is following us right now, is because my mom gave Adrian my whereabouts. My blood boils as I sit in my seat.
I shake the nasty thought away for now and focus on Dante. He drives gracefully, increasing his speed as he slowly loses the guard in the car behind us. He swerves and I scream when he almost hits a few cars but after so many twists and turns, Dante finally loses the man following us and successfully gets off the highway and into the direction of his house.
Even if Adrian did manage to find out where Dante leaves, it would be impossible to get in unless you force your way in. Dante has agate surrounding the property that only opens with a special remote Dante keeps with him at all times. The gate is tens of meters high and even though you get past the gate, the actual house is even more difficult to get in.
I know I'm safe with Dante, but I'm still in shock at everything that has happened in my life lately and I suddenly feel bad for dragging Dante into this.
I keep wondering how long it would be before Dante gets tired of dealing with all this drama. I keep wondering if he'll ever get tired of always fighting over me with my parents or with Adrian. I keep wondering when all this is going to end.
"I know that look you have on your face and I want you to forget about it." Dante says, his eyes fixed on the road. "I'm never leaving Adeline. We're in this together till the end."
Once again, I feel assured. Once again, I remember Dante is never going to leave me, and I believe it.