Aurelio stretched out his hand and Claudia gladly took hold of it, letting him help her off the stage and away from the multiple eyes that were trained on her. The applause was still yet to die down. Claudia fought the urge to rub her neck, her throat hurt after the performance she just gave. It had been one of her best performances so far and she hated that it was in front of those types of men. Men like her father. Mafia men. Dangerous men.
Killers. They were all killers. The tailored dark suits and ties will never be able to cover up the amount of blood on their hands. Their smiles were akin to a shark flashing its teeth. There wasn't a drop of softness in the expression. She was raised surrounded by those types of men. Her father paraded her around them every opportunity he got. It was almost an obsession at this point. It was why she was made to perform in front of them when she would rather be anywhere else, it was why she was always shoved into the spotlight at every event her father hosted.
Aurelio didn't lead her back to her seat, he took her in the opposite direction instead. She didn't protest nor asked questions. Their arguments were only for behind closed doors. They were both raised in this life, hence they knew how their father expected them to act without being told.
Claudia followed Aurelio in silence. He was taking them to their father. She realized this too late. She couldn't turn around or walk away because their father already spotted them. Right after Aurelio deposited her in front of their father, he spun around and walked away.
Their father, Gabriele Santoro, was all smiles at the sight of her. The fact that he was seemingly in a good mood did nothing to lessen Claudia anxiety. The demeanor the man in front of her exuded didn't match that of her father's. The man she knew as her father didn't smiled at her like that, like he actually enjoyed having her round. When he looked at her, there usually wasn't that glint of pride that now shone in his eyes. He never tried to make an effort before so why try now? Who was he trying to impress?
Standing next to her father was a man she hadn't met before. One look at him was enough for her to know he was just like every other person in the room, perhaps even worse. He wore a tailored black suit that accentuated the width of his shoulders. His dark hair was slicked back. His shoes were Italian leather. But his eyes were those of a killer, cunning and sharp. He was a scary looking man but there was something about him that was undeniably familiar.
Claudia's father rested a hand on her shoulder, his focus still on the man beside him.
" This is my beautiful daughter, Claudia Costanza." Gabriele finally turned to address his daughter. There was a gleam in his eyes that deeply unsettled Claudia. " And Claudia, this is Salvatore Kane. A long time friend of mine." He chuckled fondly at that.
Claudia's thoughts came to a sudden halt. Kane? Salvatore Kane. Dominic barely spoke of his father to her but from what little she had gotten it was obvious that they weren't close. Salvatore's name was whispered in every part of their world and the fact that she hadn't met him before now didn't stop her from knowing who he was and what he was capable of.
Salvatore was the type of evil that ravished a home at the dead of night, leeching away every ounce of joy and happiness it once held.
It was impossible to exist in the world that they did and not be aware of Salvatore. But it was even worse having him standing a few inches away, smiling like he doesn't kill people with his bare hands for merely disrespecting him.
Salvatore moved in closer and took her hand in his. His smile never wavered. It was as though he found humor in a situation that she didn't truly understand. Did he know something she didn't? Did he know about her relationship with his son? He stared at her like he saw through her, down to all the vulgar thoughts she had about Dominic.
" I watched every second of your performance tonight. You are as talented as you are beautiful." Salvatore said. Claudia barely registered his words through the shivers that coursed down her spine at his touch. He was dangerous; her mind seemed to scream. He shouldn't be touching her. She wanted to pull her hand away and storm out but fear had her rooted in place. Fear of how Salvatore would react if she forcefully pulled her hand out of his grip, fear of how her father would punish her for the outburst. It wouldn't happen because Claudia remained still and quiet, nodded whenever the conversation required it. That was the extent of her contribution to the conversation.
Her mind had begun to wander. She tossed furtive glances around the room, at the many people mingling with each other. She wondered who among them were actually making friends and forging alliances and those who were there to plunge the blade deeper in their competitor's backs.
" My youngest is about the same age as you. The both of you would get along quite nicely." Salvatore said.
Claudia blinked at him. Words eluded her. If he noticed she hadn't been paying attention before, he didn't bring it up and for that she was grateful.
Salvatore patted her hand once more before returning his attention back on her father. The action said more than real words actually could. She had been dismissed. She had served her purpose and now neither of them had use for her.
She walked away without a word. The air had been clawing and she heaved a breath of relief to no longer be in their midst.