Chapter 4 4

The distant shout from Susan reached my ears, pulling me away from my thoughts. She announced dinner with a hearty call, and I responded by slipping off my heels.

Descending the staircase, I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity that surrounded me. These people were strangers, yet I was about to share a meal with them, a notion that felt strangely surreal.

At the dining table, a man sat with his back to the entrance of the kitchen, exuding an air of authority and intimidation reminiscent of my own father. Susan took the initiative to introduce me.

"Danni, this is my husband, Maurice," she said as I approached the table.

"I'm Danni," I offered a quick introduction, accompanied by a warm smile, before taking my seat next to Susan.

Suddenly, a series of heavy, fast-paced footsteps echoed from the hallway, announcing Ghost's arrival. He entered the room with an air of irritation, his voice laced with anger as he muttered about "Fucking Vipers." He clenched his jaw tightly in a visible effort to regain his composure.

Turning his attention to his mother, Ghost's tone underwent a noticeable shift as he attempted to divert his focus from the weight of his mafia responsibilities. His hands were locked together, his chin resting upon them, revealing the tattoos that adorned his fingers and trailed down his arms. An array of ink marked his hand, and a sleeve of tattoos adorned his arm, hinting at a story etched into his skin.

I decided to focus on my meal, my gaze fixated on the food before me, determined not to engage in conversation or make eye contact with anyone. The tension in the room was palpable, and I preferred to remain an observer rather than dive into the uncomfortable discourse that seemed imminent.

However, my intention to avoid interaction was soon disrupted. Out of nowhere, Maurice, positioned at the far end of the table, raised his voice, and the sudden volume of his speech made me startle slightly. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and I was now fully attuned to the unfolding exchange.

Ghost's frigid stare locked onto his father's imposing gaze, the two men exchanging an unspoken but intense exchange of wills. Inquisitively, Maurice leaned in and asked with a slight, malevolent smirk, "Who's your friend?" His question was laden with a sense of twisted curiosity, and I carefully averted my eyes to avoid his gaze, still maintaining my vow of silence.

Ghost, clearly agitated by the mention of this 'arrangement,' erupted in anger. His voice was filled with fury as he snapped back at his father, his emotions already on edge due to his involvement with the Mafia. "What the hell do you mean, 'who's your friend?'" he bellowed at his father. It was evident that he harboured a deep dissatisfaction with this forced 'arrangement,' and his agitation was unmistakable.

Maurice, seemingly unperturbed by his son's outburst, continued to tease Ghost, goading him further. "That's certainly not the way to speak, especially with a guest at the table," he taunted, clearly enjoying the opportunity to provoke his son.

Ghost stood up, his fists clenched showing me that he was definitely.

"She's not a guest, she's my fucking fiancé" Ghost snarled at his father before storming out.

Ghost's mother sighed defeatedly.

"You always have to wind him up" Susan shook her head disappointedly at her husband.

"He becomes so angry, so quickly" Maurice replied as he rolled his eyes.

"My son has some anger issues, if you can't tell" Maurice chuckled to me as if I was supposed to laugh along. "I think he was right to be angry" I spoke up shyly.

He turned his attention to me, not seeming impressed by my previous statement.

"I think I might have to call your father " Maurice blurted out while he scowled at me. I froze as soon I heard my father's name.

"Maurice!" Susan snapped, scowling at her husband. "Maybe I should ask him, how he got you to keep your mouth shut" Maurice scolded, with a proud smirk. I didn't reply, purely because I was in shock; I didn't think that I had said anything rude.

The conversation in the hallway diverted our attention from dinner. Ghost's deep voice echoed through the walls, instructing someone to go upstairs. A voice replied obediently with a deferential "Of course, Ghost."

Maurice, however, couldn't resist the opportunity to make a disparaging comment. "Is that another one of his prostitutes?" he quipped, accompanied by an eye roll. Susan let out a resigned sigh in response. Maurice's crude remark caused my eyes to widen in surprise, but I quickly masked my reaction to ensure that neither Susan nor Maurice caught a glimpse of my discomfort.

Expressing her disappointment, Susan shook her head, her disapproval evident in her tone. "My son and husband have no respect for women," she lamented, pushing her food around on her plate without taking a bite.

Maurice, seemingly unfazed by Susan's criticism, made a tasteless joke. "Ahhh, leave him alone; it's the only time he's a man," he chuckled, though his attempt at humour seemed to be appreciated only by himself.

I harboured no illusions about Ghost's character and hadn't expected him to halt his activities for my sake. That would have been akin to asking me to abandon my own plans.

Summoning the courage to speak up, I addressed Maurice and Susan with a hesitant tone. "I have a question," I mumbled, nervously bouncing my knee beneath the table. Maurice leaned in, resting his chin on his hand, and asked, "What is it?"

My voice trembled as I made my inquiry. "Can I continue going to school?" I asked. My question was met with an eruption of laughter from Maurice, a reaction that left me feeling vulnerable and uncertain.

Me and Susan stared at him until he tried to calm his laughter.

"Oh wait, you're serious?" He stopped laughing while blinking curiously at me.

"Yes, I enjoy school," I replied, shrugging carelessly. I wasn't afraid to admit that I liked going to school since it was the only place I could get away from my father. Maurice thought about it for awhile.

"At least we wouldn't have to see your face as much," Maurice grumbled as he ate his food. "Go to school", he chuckled under his breath.

"Thank you for the food." I smiled politely as I walked upstairs. "You're too kind, dear," Susan replied, as Maurice was still chuckling to himself.

I can go to school tomorrow.

As I walked up the stairs, I saw a girl who was wearing barely any clothes, leave while tears were flowing down her cheeks. She threw me a nasty look before running out of the house. I widened my eyes as I shook my head.

What did he do to her?

I couldn't stop thinking about Ghost's reputation, and what I had witnessed today had definitely shown me who he was. The whispers about his reputation were correct.

I noticed a wallet on my bed, which I'm assuming was Ghost's. I shook my head, tempted to just throw it out of my room, but I also felt I should return it to Ghost, even if it wasn't his.

I sighed defeatedly as I strolled down the hallway with his wallet in my hand; I think this is his room due to it being the only room with light coming from it. I knocked lightly on the door, scared to disturb him.

"What?" I heard a growl come from behind the door. I slowly pushed open the door to see Ghost standing, shirtless, facing his window.

Danni," he mumbled, my name spilling from his lips so smoothly.

"I didn't mean to disturb you; I found your wallet on my bed, I just came to give it back," I informed him, raising the wallet in the air slightly so that I drew attention to it.

He seemed slightly shocked as he approached where I stood, towering over me.

"You passed the test," He uttered quietly, as if he were thinking to himself.

"What test?" I asked confusedly before raising my eyebrow.

"Whenever someone new comes over, I leave my fake wallet stuffed with money on their bed and see if they take it, but you didn't." He explained with a shocked tone towards the end.

"Oh?" I mumbled with a shrug. I wasn't sure what this meant. He was testing my character, how I was raised. I can only imagine the test was due to our engagement.

His stare was intense as he stood in front of me. He hadn't taken the wallet from my hand yet.

"Ghost, you should be more careful with your money; I could've taken it if I wanted," I stated calmly, holding the wallet just above his hand. He opened his palm, and I dropped the wallet.

He leaned in, his mouth stopping right next to my ear.

Well, that's the point," He whispered before turning around and sitting at his desk.

"Goodnight Danni," Ghost announced from his desk as he scribbled on a piece of paper with his pen. He glanced up at me, waiting for a response. Goodnight," I responded quickly as I walked out, with goosebumps trailing up my arm from him being inches away previously.

I sighed a breath of relief as I shut my bedroom door. Everything about him is intense; From his stare to his touch.