The people in the tavern were shocked by her sudden fierceness.
"What's going on here?" Kate's voice interrupted the awkward silence.
"I'm not sure…" Dante replied, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
He never expected Elena to behave like this at all.
"No, no, no…" Elena muttered to herself repeatedly.
She grabbed Dante's second arm and ripped his clothes further.
"What the hell has gotten into you, Elena? Are you that desperate for a man?" Kate asked, annoyance laced in her voice.
"You don't understand, Aunt. He was the one who saved me from Gerald. I'm sure he's the one—"
"I'll handle her," Dante cut in, giving Aunt Kate a stiff smile.
He dragged Elena to the back of the tavern.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Of course I'm not!" Elena yelled angrily.
"Hmmm… I should have known," Dante replied, tapping his chin lightly.
"Girls who are extraordinarily pretty tend to have a few screws loose."
"Then you must have had a lot of experience with pretty girls," Elena huffed.
"I've had my fair share of them," Dante replied with a smirk.
A firefly landed on Elena's arm, causing her to swat it away angrily.
"Relax… Why are you so mad? What exactly is your problem with me?" Dante questioned.
"Everything! You made me look like a fool out there!"
"You were the one coming at me with strange accusations! And let's not forget the fact that you tore my shirt off." He pointed at his clothes hanging loosely from his body—his well-defined physique.
Elena quickly averted her gaze.
So what if he's handsome and has an amazing body? His personality is trash—pure trash!
"Just admit you're the one who rescued me yesterday!" Elena yelled.
A faint red line was still visible on her neck, gotten from the fight.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I heard about the fall of the local gangster, but I had no idea you were involved in it."
Elena dropped her hands, the initial adrenaline gone. She sat down on a barrel.
"I was so sure it was you…"
Not many people knew she had been there when Gerald was killed.
When she returned to the tavern after the fight, Aunt Kate made her wash herself up and treated her neck. Just when Elena thought her aunt actually cared about her, she dropped the bombshell.
She didn't want anyone to know what had actually happened because it might draw unnecessary attention back to them.
That unnecessary attention being that Elena might be misunderstood as the cause of Gerald's fall. This would make both allies and enemies of Gerald come after them and do the most unimaginable thing—destroy her precious tavern.
"As much as I would like to take credit for what happened out there, we just met, and I don't think I'm stupid enough to risk my life for someone I barely know."
"But you stood up for me when Gerald harassed me back then in the tavern…"
"That was because I didn't know he was that powerful," Dante interrupted.
Elena became even more downcast.
Dante crouched down to her level and placed a palm on her back.
"Look, from all the things you've been rambling about, I can gather a few things. You're looking for the person who rescued you. I'm not that person, but I'm sure I can help you find out who he is."
Elena turned to look at him tiredly. His dark eyes held concern.
Flashes of the masked man's eyes surfaced in her mind as he urged her to leave. They were so similar to Dante's.
She lifted her hand to cover the lower part of his face, but he stepped away from her quickly.
"What do you think you're doing? Just because we're having a touching moment doesn't mean I've fallen in love with you or anything. But I won't blame you if you already like me. After all…" Dante said, using his fingers to brush through his luxurious hair.
"Not many girls can resist my charm."
Elena exploded in anger.
This bastard thought too highly of himself.
She clenched her fist and stood up to face him.
"I know what you're trying to do right now, but it won't work," she said, stepping closer. He stepped back.
"Gerald had access to a healer who healed his arm when I broke it. I'm sure you did the same."
"Advanced healers like that are hard to find—and very expensive. So unless I'm a royal, a noble, or a gangster involved in shady business like Gerald, I wouldn't have the money or influence to hire such a healer, even if I were the one who rescued you, as you claim," Dante explained.
"Besides, no matter how advanced a healer is, he can't get rid of scars—which, by the way, I don't have."
Elena stepped closer and grabbed his arm, inspecting it carefully under the lantern.
He was right. His arms had not a single scar on them.
She sighed, defeated. "I'm so sorry… I was obsessed with finding any information about him. And you remind me so much of him. My instincts are hardly wrong, which is why I pursued the matter. I'm sorry about how I behaved."
"It's fine. I get how you feel. You'll find your hero one day…"
"Yeah…" A genuine smile crossed her lips, startling Dante.
"Why are you smiling like that? It's creepy," he asked, squinting suspiciously.
"Nothing… I just think you're interesting company to keep around—when you're not being an egotistical fool. I'm willing to take you up on your offer to be friends," Elena replied, raising her arm for a handshake.
Dante smiled and shook her hand.
"Elena!!!" A shrill voice echoed through the tavern.
"I have to go now… See you later!" she said hurriedly before disappearing back inside.
Dante watched her go. His charming smile faded, replaced by a sudden seriousness.
If not for his quick wits, Elena would have discovered who he really was.
***
A/N
Hey guys!
I just wanted to inform you all of my update schedule.
I don't update on weekends, only weekdays.
4-5 chapter per week.
If I miss a day, I'll update two chapters the next day to compensate for the day I missed. Thank you.