Dark Chemistry : A Mafia Romance

ia's

burns in the mind, festering into an unquenchable curiosity. We may strive to resist, yet the siren call of temptation whispers, "Why not just once?" Our lo

forbidden. It wasn't as if I had a deep-seated desire for danger; I simply wanted to escape, to indulge in a fleeting

alk me even now, their intensity burned into my mind. No matter

ss torment. I had returned home around 9 p.m. after a hastily consumed dinner, and though my parents and grandmother hadn't suspected a thing-thanks to Reema's cunning use of her

se, I threw on a loose navy-blue shirt and black jeans. I brushed my long hair, braided it, and applied a slick of lip gloss to my pale lips. Do

" Dad remarked, his eyes w

, and I'm cultivating it in me,

r grandmother for that," Mom teased,

so tired for the continuous

dad drove me to school, but the foreboding sense of dread clung to me, refusing to loosen its grip. Though I hadn't

was a good idea to invent this subject?" Re

odern world would be impossible," I replied, my

ting the class, you can leave," Mr. Kibria, our physic

again," we stammered in unis

t you to the principal and your parents. U

in, and Sima shot us smug, triumphant smiles. I

air out and slap those smug

her breath, her eyes narrowi

for lunch. We collapsed onto the same bench as the day before, but the

is out to get us lately?" Reema si

es ruined our night," Marjan spat, her

but you didn't listen. Now look at the mess we're i

e go a

o I laid my head on the table, t

g-ho about going in the first place! And we're not even sure th

ng on about how much fun clubs are, so

l my fault? Tha

fault. And right now, I

blaming me!" Marjan turned to m

on my side," Reema interject

. Natalia! Are

ll know you can't swim," Reema thre

l your mom that you shoplift

did!" Reema's voice rose,

the cafeteria now were

I finally lifted my head, m

cting weird today," Marjan asked, he

ing skills. Honestly, you two should join the debate clu

e had only looked at me-intensely, yes-but he hadn't touched me or said anything obscen

tole money from her purse last year," Marjan

one who broke his pookie toy last month," Reema

You swore you wouldn't tell!" I excl

the noise, sharp and unexpected, s

buried in the pockets of his grey jeans, a plain white shirt clinging to his le

ammered, trying to mask the

" he retorted, his tone dripping with

eyes. "What

lone. Marjan and Reema aren't invited." He turned on his heel and walked

the

ut short as we watched hi

Reema muttered, disbe

rying to shake off the cold kn

ight in the club?" Marjan's voice

ewed," I whispered back, my mind racing with

you going to meet him?" Reem

itted, fear curling like

y going to talk about that night, we'll have to lis

de behind the crowd. While we're leaving the place, Fardinn's surprise

rything was normal. He didn

Fine. I'll meet him, but this f

ch time into an agonizing eternity. By the time the final bell rang, I w

" I muttered, my fee

orst he could do?" Marjan tried to reassu

e. Just go and get it over with," Ree

ck, you know who's responsible," I joked, t

!" they called after me as I walked

The football field was deserted, save for a few boys lingering at the edge, but their presence did nothing to ease the tension coiling within me. As I appr

r. I yelped, spinning around to see Fardinn

his voice a dark whisper tha

ell out of me?" I shot back, str

as a nice bonus," he chuckled, his eye

n," I demanded, my voice trembling

d it toward me, my blood ran cold. There on the screen were photos-of me, Marjan, and

?!" I gasped,

o show them to anyone," he sai

What is this, some sick game?" I spat, fury

e me a little credit," he said, h

id you take them in the first place?" My

t club a few nights ago," he replied, hi

ld I tell you?" I shot

erous, filled with people who'd think nothing of hurting so

idn't ask for your concern," I retorted,

is not a club, it's the demon's realm. I know you're mad at me so you wo

I raised an eyebrow, trap

m the high officials for not capturing the murderer of that journalist.

s a believa

u, Natalia. I always ha

stened to me when it mattered. Now, out of nowhere, you show up with

"I know I hurt you, and I hate myself for it. Delilah ruined our friendship, and I

d suspicion. "Why now, Fardinn? Why the sudden c

hen, and I see that now. I'm just asking for a chance to make up for

easy, okay? But I'll think about it.

. But Natalia," he paused, his voi

to that club. It's not a place

r undercurrent that sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through me. As I walked away, the nag

but my thoughts kept drifting back to those photos, the dark warning he'd given me about that club and tha

et me h

s voice was soft, her attentio

woman if she keeps tapping away on that phone," Grann

ght," Ellerie added, he

s k

arted chopping an onion. Bad idea. My eyes burned as

I had prepared pasta, fried fish, and a crisp vegetable salad,

nd sank onto the bed, aimlessly scrolling through social media. But all I could see were headlines and gruesome im

we'd created years ago for just the three of us. I told them

I shut my laptop and headed to the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth, sitti

eat, and I jumped off the counter, my pulse hammering in my ears. I hesitated for

-a storm was brewing. I edged out of the bathroom and toward the balcon

lted, leaping off the balcony and landing gracefully on the large mango tree beside our house. Its thi

at the wild cat as I knelt beside the fall

e leaves. "Don't worry, little one. I'l

asting a warm glow. I slipped into my silk nightgown, the fabric cool against my skin as I unbutton

from the open window sent a shiver

o the floor before slipping into my nightgown. I stood before the mirror, brushing my long hair and we

ntented sigh. As the night wore on, I tossed and turned, sleep eluding me. When I

enderness. The hand trailed down to my neck, then lower, grazing my breast before squeezing it with a roughness

ontinued its slow, deliberate descent, sliding over

furiously in my chest as my eyes darted around the room. The room was dark, shadows da

the open window, the dream still vivi

rt like a vise. I glanced at the clock- past midnight. The s

le from the nightstand. I took a long, shaky drink, trying to steady my

. Something wasn't right. I could feel it in my bones. And deep down