Page 59 of Cruel Delights
I try to protest, but he grabs my hand and leads me two at a time up the cascading stone steps.
“Are you crazy?” I mumble as we go. “We’re not about to do what I think we’re about to do… are we? Kaden, it’s closed. The opera house is closed. We can’t break in—oh my god, we’re breaking in! I’m too sober for this.”
“Shhh.”
Kaden stops in front of the grand doors leading into the famed opera house and then taps his knuckles on the glass.
Taps. His. Knuckles. On. The. Glass.
At this point, I’m gaping at him. My eyes are wide and my mouth hangs partially open and I’ve wrenched my hand from his in case I need to run for it. The last thing I need is to get arrested for trespassing, and he seems hell bent on forcing our way inside.
The security guard standing in the polished marble lobby startles at the sudden noise. He’s standing against a marble column with his arms folded over his pigeon-shaped chest but jerks forward once he hears Kaden’s tapping.
Thankfully, he seems as confused as I am. His brow creases and he glances around, like he’s checking if anyone else sees what he’s seeing. Since he appears to be alone in the lobby, no one does. He walks toward us from the opposite side of the door with stilted movements.
More than once, I spy his hand hovering near the walkie and baton clipped to his belt.
“Can I help you?” he asks upon unlocking and cracking open the door.
Kaden is unfazed. “I need access to the Grande Stadio.”
The security guard double-blinks. “It’s closed. The entire opera house is closed. You’ll have to visit the box-office when it’s open if you’d like tickets—what the hell are you doing?!”
Kaden’s pried the door open, catching the guard by surprise. He breezes through the now-open doorway, snatching hold of me by the wrist as he does.
“Stop! Stop right there!” the guard cries out, fumbling for any of the tools on his belt. “I have a stun gun and I will use it!”
Kaden stops on a dime. He spins around with a dark, venomous look on his face. Similar to the one he wore the night he and Grady got into it.
The expression sends chills down my spine now like it did then.
“I am Kaden Raskova,” he snarls. “And I am authorized access to this building at any hour I wish. I am here exercising that right. Is that understood?”
The security guard snaps into a military-like stance, rigid and straight, with his chin lifted. “Y-yes, sir. Yes, it’s understood. Mr. Raskova, of course. Please, s-stay as long as you’d like.”
Kaden doesn’t dignify him with an answer. He simply drags me along the rest of the way through the long, tunneled lobby comprised of polished marble. I’ve lost my voice for the moment as we go, too busy studying every detail of the place.
I’ve been dreaming of seeing the Easton Opera House since I was a little girl.
“Can’t you behave yourself for five seconds? How many times do I have to tell you to sit straight?” Mom snarls. She pinches my elbow between her fingers to force a yelp of pain out of me. “You wonder why your posture is so awful. Look at you. You better not act up on the plane.”
I bow my head and keep my gaze in my lap.
I want so badly to look out the car window. To see the Easton Opera House.
But I’m so small, I need to climb up on the seat and press my face to the glass.
The car lurches as we reach the next stoplight. I sneak a look over at Mom.
She’s smiling at him. The man who makes my life even more miserable than she does.
He pats her on the thigh but remains as composed as ever. Mom’s lovey dovey eyes go unreturned.
I twist in my seat for another look at the Opera House. I’ll be scolded for it… but the pretty domed building feels like something out of my dreams.
Maybe… someday…
Kaden pushes open the doors to the largest theater, the Grande Stadio. The doors fall open and we step inside. My heart flutters and a dreamy, surreal wave washes over me at the wondrous sight.