-𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀-

I felt someone pull me away from my father and was looking at the back of a pair of broad shoulders that belonged to Dante.

"You don't slap nor push a woman against the wall. You said she was alright with being marked off. I won't marry her until I know she's alright with it. I'll take her out a few times... and we'll see where this will go."

"Going out with her is pointless. She's..."

"Tempestuous?"

They both looked at me and my father shook his head at my suggestion of word choose before he looked at Dante again.

"A heinous bitch."

Dante his fist balled up and I saw he was about to swing. I grabbed his wrist and he turned his head to me. I shook my head with a neutral expression but I guess he saw the panic in my eyes. If Dante would hit my father I would probably be knocked out tonight. He turned around fully and brushed a few strands behind my ear. I immediately pushed my hair back so my father wouldn't see my piercings again.

"You should wear your hair behind your ear it shows your piercings... they look good on you."

I widened my eyes as I heard my father groan. I started running out of the dinning hall and up to my room as I heard my father's loud scream.

"DELLAPHINA! COME HERE YOU DIRTY HOOKER! I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!"

I hadn't been fast enough as I felt his hands tighten around me neck. Slowly black circles started coming around my eyes before the hands disappeared and Dante had saved me again. I breathed heavily and locked myself in my room. I packed all my belongings in my suitcase and 2 bags. Luckily I didn't own that much to be honest. I locked myself in my bathroom and sat against the wall. Where am I supposed to go? I don't feel safe with anyone... I dialed a number and soon the voice of the last person I thought I would call picked up.

"Hello? This is Charles."

"Hey..."

"Della?"

"Yea..."

"Are you okay? You sound like you're crying?"

"I'm not actually. I uhm... I need a place to stay for a little. I need to get out of here... I know we aren't on good terms but uhm... you're the only person I can think of staying with right now..."

"I'll send you my address."

"Thank you... I'll see you in a few hours then..."

"I'll be waiting..."

We hung up and I swallowed. I went out of the bathroom and grabbed my things. I sighed before unlocking my bedroom door. I walked to the front door with all my stuff and grabbed my Porsche car keys. I threw my stuff in and when I was about to step in my father stood in front of me furiously.

"You messed up Dellaphina. He's my biggest business partner and he blew everything because of how this all went."

"You did that yourself father."

"Where do you think your going?"

"Away and I won't be coming back."

"You'll come back eventually."

I shook my head before I drove away towards Monte Carlo. The ride wasn't long enough to get all my thoughts straightened out and when I had parked my car in Charles his 2nd underground parking spot I saw him walking towards me. I was still sitting in my car and I rubbed my hands over my face. I sighed once again and shook my head softly as I felt tears sting in my eyes. I got out of my car and Charles stood in front of me in a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. He looked at me with a frown on his face. He didn't say anything and he just grabbed my stuff with me and walked me up to his apartment. He leaded me to a separate room with a bathroom.

"Stay as long as you need to okay? There's no rush to go anywhere else. Make yourself feel at home... let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you Charles."

"No problem..."

I had staid in my room almost the whole day. I did get out to eat dinner with Charles and helped him with the dishes both of us not saying a word.
Later that evening when I was wearing my sweatpants and an oversized shirt with my hair in a messy bun I heard a knock on my door.

"Yea?"

Charles opened the door and he didn't look all too happy.

"There's a guy for you at the door..."

"For me?"

"He said he knows you... he also told me his name was Dante."

"What in the actual fuck?!"

I shot up from my bed and walked to the front door with Charles behind me. I opened the door and was met with the Dante who had saved me earlier today.

"What are you doing here? Are you stalking me or something?!"

"I'm here to check up on you."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I tracked your phone darling."

He walked in past me softly nudging me to the side with his shoulder. Charles looked at me a little furious. I closed the door and walked after Dante.

"You know it's rude to barge into someone's house unannounced."

"You know it's also rude not thanking someone who helped you out."

"What is it?! Asshole day?!"

"Close."

He grabbed my chin with his firm hand and tilted it upwards as he started inspecting my neck.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yea..."

"I can tell... his hands are starting to form on a bruise on your throat."

I slapped his hand away and looked angrily at him.

"Don't mix yourself into this. You have no right to do that!"

"I think I do have that right."

"You don't now get out."

"You know you're not as mean as you think you are."

"You're not as badass as you think you are."

"Oooh someone's got her panties in twist."

"Don't for one minute think that you had an effect on that asshole."

"Then what did I have an effect on?"

He stepped closer to me and we were only inches apart. As I said my next sentence I took a step closer looking a little disguised to him.

"Other then my upchuck reflex nothing."

"That's your boyfriend I guess?"

His British accent started to annoy me more and more as he nodded to Charles.

"Definitely not. We're coworkers."

"That's how it always starts."

"In this case it's also where it ends."

I looked at Charles and something a blink of sadness had filled his eyes before disappearing just as quick as it came. I looked at Dante again.

"Get out and leave me alone. I'll survive. I don't need you around me in fact it will only make it worse. So go on... leave!"

He placed a kiss on my cheek before silently leaving my apartment. I closed the door behind him and flashbacks flew into my head from earlier with my father.

(1181 words)