A Burning Flame by Daniella Kunz (book recommendations txt) 📕

Daveon

Ok, good don’t go anywhere, I got word Enzo left Chicago this morning and I didn't see it until now. I don’t want you going out at all. Stay home, I'm on my way.

My stomach feels sick as I look at his texts again. Too late. Turning around, I pull out my makeup. Setting it on the counter I begin to cake it on, not wanting Daveon to notice it.

I wince at the pain when my fingers lightly circle over my flesh. When I am done, I inspect my work in the mirror. If I lower the lights, I don’t think he will be able to notice anything. I just can’t let him touch my face or kiss me. Sighing, I place my hands on the counter letting my head drop, noticing the ring on my finger as I do. Shit, how am I supposed to hide this? Enzo said it monitors my heartbeat. How am I supposed to keep that under control. Anytime Daveon is within close proximity, I feel my heart pick up, let alone if he is to kiss me or put his hands on me. Then what? Will Enzo notice and come?

I hear the sound of the front door opening and my body freezes in place. Shit! I don’t have time to figure something out. Looking around the bathroom, my eyes land on a box of band-aids in the corner. That will have to do for now. Spinning the ring so the diamond faces down towards my palm, I wrap a band-aid around it. It looks a little silly but he might not give it any attention.

Drawing a deep breath through my nose I walk from the bathroom. As I make my way down the hall, I hear Daveon shuffling through the bags of groceries I had still left out on the counter, forgotten. With an apple in his hand he lifts it up, taking a bite out of the shiny red flesh. “I’m surprised you left the groceries out. When did you get back?”

“Oh, ugh, earlier I just got busy and forgot about them.”

He gives me a confused nod as he goes back to his apple. Moving past him I dim the lights slightly, which causes him to look at me again. “I have a headache.” I say, shrugging my shoulders. Not wanting him to keep looking at me, I busy myself putting everything away. Trying my best to keep my bandaged finger hidden from sight.

I can feel Daveon's eyes boring into me as I do, knowing he is probably sensing something off with me already. “So, how was your day?” I say, trying to distract him.

“Since when do you ask about my day?” He asks, suspicion in his voice.

“Since I just did, do you have to be an ass about it?”

He chuckles at my sassiness. “It was okay. I was really busy until I noticed my phone was on silent and I had a bunch of missed calls from Marina. She was trying to warn me Enzo was leaving Chicago. To be honest, I panicked a little knowing he could already be here.”

“Who is Marina?” I ask.

“It’s Nico’s sister.”

My hand stalls on top of the fridge door as I turn to face him. “Wait, Nico has a sister?”

“Yeah, technically she is his half si.-” He pauses as his eyes shift to my hand on top of the fridge. “What happened to your finger?” He asks, getting up to come to me. I turn back into the fridge grabbing things from the bags to keep it out of sight.

Fuck so much for that. “Oh, just cut myself this afternoon cutting an apple. No big deal.”

“Here let me see it. Do you need stitches?”

“No really, it's fine. It’s barely anything.” I try to keep my voice even as my anxiety rises.

“Gianna, you could be bleeding to death having punctured an artery, and you would tell me you’re fine. Now get up and let me look at it.”

When I don’t comply or respond, he reaches down grabbing my waist. He hoists me up, spinning around he sets me down on the counter in front of him. Now face to face with him, I try to control my breathing. Without fail, he looks down, noticing my split lip. Reaching out he places his thumb gently over the cut causing me to wince at even the soft graze. His eyes harden as he looks back up to meet my eyes.

“Gianna, what the fuck happened?” When I don’t respond his eyes find my finger again, and his nostrils flare. I try to pull my hand back but he is faster than me as he snatches it up in his grasp. Pinching the bandage between his fingers he tugs on it, ripping it from my finger to reveal the ring. I feel as the loud growl reverberates through his body in my hand. His eyes cut up to my face before he reached behind him, turning the light up all the way.

My eyes squint at the intense light shining down on us. He sucks in a ragged breath as his body shakes in front of me. “Do you care to explain to me why you have another man’s ring on your finger and why your fucking lip is split?” His voice takes on an unnatural darkness. The danger in his tone is evident and I want to shrink away from him.

“I, my father.” I start and stop not sure what to say. Grabbing my hand he holds it up between us.

“Enzo?” I nod, not able to find my words. Grasping the small circle of metal he moves to pull it from my finger. Panicking, I jerk my hand out of his hold.

“NO! You can’t take it off.” He watches me silently as I feel the danger looming between us.

“What did you just say?” His voice is so low it's almost inaudible, and goosebumps raise across my flesh at his tone.

"You can't take it off, it monitors my heartbeat. As soon as