Falling for the Don

Chapter 4

Tabitha’s POV

I walked back into the club, the pulsing music washing over me like a wave. But I didn’t feel the same. The air felt charged now, heavier somehow, and I knew it had nothing to do with the crowd or the drinks. It was him.

I tried to ignore it, tried to slip back into the carefree night Cat had promised me, but my mind kept drifting back to Fabrizio. The way his eyes had lingered on me, the way his presence had made the world around me feel smaller, quieter. I wasn’t used to feeling like this—unsettled, drawn in by someone who seemed so… dangerous.

“Hey, where’d you disappear to?” Cat’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see her weaving through the crowd toward me, a mischievous grin on her face. “Don’t tell me you left me alone to flirt with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.”

I laughed, though the sound felt shaky. “I needed some air.”

Cat raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying my excuse. “Air, huh? Or maybe you needed to cool off from that stare he gave you.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t deny the truth of it. There was something about the way Fabrizio looked at me that made my skin tingle, like I was standing too close to the fire. It was thrilling, and terrifying all at once.

“Well, you’re back now,” Cat said, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the bar. “Come on, let’s get another drink. You need to loosen up.”

I let her pull me along, trying to focus on the noise and energy around us instead of the knot of tension that had formed in my stomach. But as we reached the bar, my eyes found him again—standing a few feet away, his gaze already locked on mine.

I froze for a second, my breath catching in my throat. He didn’t move, didn’t smile, but there was something in his eyes that held me captive. A silent invitation, maybe. Or a challenge.

Before I could make sense of it, Cat nudged me with her elbow. “You should go talk to him.”

“I barely know him,” I muttered, tearing my eyes away from Fabrizio and focusing on the bartender as I ordered a drink.

“Exactly,” she said, grinning. “That’s why you should talk to him. See what’s under all that brooding s*x appeal.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple,” I replied, but even as I said it, my pulse quickened. Nothing about Fabrizio seemed simple. He was a puzzle, and every time our eyes met, I felt like I was getting pulled deeper into something I couldn’t control.

The bartender handed me my drink, and I took a sip, letting the cold liquid steady me. But when I turned back toward Cat, Fabrizio was already there—standing close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body next to mine.

“You never did tell me what brought you here tonight,” he said, his voice low, cutting through the noise around us.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “My friend dragged me out. Said I needed to have some fun.”

His lips twitched, like he was amused by my answer. “And are you?”

“Am I what?”

“Having fun.”

I hesitated, not sure how to answer. Was I? There was a thrill in the air, a feeling I couldn’t quite name, but I wasn’t sure if it counted as fun. It was something more—something sharper, more dangerous.

“I’m getting there,” I finally said, my voice a little breathless.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me with those dark, unreadable eyes. “Maybe I can help.”

The air between us felt thick, the noise of the club fading into the background as we stood there, inches apart. I could feel the heat radiating from him, the tension crackling between us like static electricity. Part of me wanted to step back, to put some distance between us before I got too close, but the other part—the part that was drawn to the danger in his eyes—wanted to see how far this could go.

Before I could respond, Cat reappeared beside me, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, well, well,” she said, glancing between us. “Looks like you two are getting along.”

Fabrizio gave her a polite smile, but his attention stayed on me, his gaze never wavering. “Your friend has good taste in company.”

I felt my cheeks heat up, but I managed a smile. “She usually does.”

Cat laughed, clearly enjoying the interaction, but then she glanced toward the dance floor, her eyes widening with excitement. “Oh my God, I love this song! You two talk—I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the crowd before I could say anything, leaving me alone with Fabrizio.

The silence between us was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was as if we were both waiting for something—waiting to see who would make the next move.

“Your friend’s enthusiastic,” Fabrizio said, his voice softer now, almost teasing.

“She’s always like that,” I replied, grateful for the small distraction. “Full of energy.”

“And you?” His eyes darkened slightly, and I felt the weight of his gaze like a physical thing. “What are you full of, Tabitha?”

The question caught me off guard, and I swallowed hard, trying to think of an answer that didn’t make me sound like the mess of emotions I was feeling. “I guess I’m still figuring that out.”

His lips curved into a faint smile, but there was something in his expression that made my heart skip. “Maybe I can help with that too.”

I didn’t know what to say. The intensity in his gaze, the quiet confidence in his words—it was overwhelming. Part of me wanted to pull back, to break the tension before it swallowed me whole. But another part—the part that had been craving something more, something different—wanted to see where this would go.

Before I could overthink it, I took a step closer, closing the small distance between us. “And what exactly do you think you can teach me?”

Fabrizio’s smile widened slightly, but there was a darkness in his eyes that sent a shiver down my spine. “A lot more than you think.”