Sophia felt as if she had woken from a dream, suddenly understanding the source of her inner turmoil. She lifted the hem of her dress and turned to run.
She wanted to escape, to get as far away from him as possible, to never be bullied by him again!
But just as she took her first step, he grabbed her arm from behind. With a quick tug, he pulled her back, and she collided into his familiar chest.
His heartbeat was still strong and steady, yet it felt distant, almost unreal.
"Why are you running? I just wanted to ask my Juliet for a dance. Why make it seem like I'm some kind of monster?"
Capone wasn't surprised that Sophia wanted to escape. He knew he'd hurt her in that moment months ago when he'd demanded her compliance in the car. Watching her stumble out, he realized he'd made another mistake, one that even regret couldn't undo. He truly desired her, and even if she was likely to betray him, he couldn't quell that desire.