Chapter 5 - THE SHADOW RISES
The moment Maya’s knees began to unbend, Dante moved.
He pushed his heavy mahogany chair backward. The wooden legs scraped against the polished floorboards with a loud, sharp screech that cut through the restaurant’s quiet.
Dante rose to his full, imposing height of six-foot-three.
In the low, amber glow of the brass lamps, his broad-shouldered frame loomed over Maya like a mountain of dark wool and muscle. The relaxed, helpless posture he had held minutes ago was completely gone, replaced by a dark, intense energy that caused the air in the alcove to drop five degrees.
Maya instinctively froze, her back straightening, her hands tucking behind her black apron as she braced herself.
Near the kitchen, Tony took two rapid steps forward, his weathered hands tightening into fists, his face pale with worry for his waitress. Marco reflexively backed up against the host podium, reaching for his phone before remembering who was standing in the alcove.
Dante stepped out of the booth. His leather shoes clicked sharply against the floor as he closed the short distance between them, stopping less than three feet from Maya.
He was so tall that Maya had to tilt her head back to look him in the eye. Up close, she could see the faint lines of exhaustion around his pale gray eyes, the tight set of his jaw, and the subtle, dangerous aura of a man who lived every second of his life on the edge of violence.
Maya’s pulse hammered in her throat, but she didn't step back. She held his stare, refusing to look down, her quiet dignity standing firm against his overwhelming physical presence.
"Did I... did I do something wrong, sir?" Maya asked quietly, her voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through her veins.
Dante didn't answer immediately. His gray eyes swept over her face—taking in her plain white blouse, her faint brown eyes, her unadorned hair, and the utter lack of fear or deceit in her posture.
May you like
He reached out his right hand.
Maya braced herself, unsure if he was going to grab her, push her away, or signal his men at the bar.
