I felt that flush come back to my cheeks again and hated myself for it. I hated the way he made me feel, confused and excited, angry and disgusted and full of pure, unabashed lust. The man was sex walking, with a handsome face, muscular arms, and a dangerous mystique about him that drove me wild. I wanted to get the hell out of that house, but the way he stared at me, the way he drew me in with his eyes, wouldn’t let me go.
“What do you want with me then?” I asked, trying to keep my anxiety out of my voice, and failing. I picked up my coffee mug to try and mask the look on my face.
“Nothing,” he said.
“Then I can just leave,” I said. “I can get up and leave.”
“You can. But truth is, you have nowhere to go.”
I narrowed my eyes. “My apartment. I can go home.”
“No,” he said, his voice soft, almost apologetic. “You can’t.”
“What are you talking about? You just said—”
He interrupted me before I could finish. “I told you I don’t want anything from you, but it’s not safe for you out there.”
I blinked for a moment. “My father’s dead. Why wouldn’t it be safe for me?”
He frowned, like this actually pained him a little bit. He put his mug down on the counter and crossed his muscular arms over his ripped chest. “Until Vlas accepts my little peace offering, I have to assume that anyone related to your father is in danger. As far as I can tell, you’re the only person still in his life.”
I flinched. “He had friends.”
“He didn’t.” His face didn’t change as he spoke, but I could sense something beneath the words. “You were all he had, and he was willing to give you away just to save his own life.”
I shook my head and leaned forward onto the island. “That was my idea. He just… he just let me.”
He snorted. “Same thing. Look, you can leave if you want to, but if you go back into the city right now, I’m not sure I can protect you. Vlas is a stupid, brutish man that can’t think more than one step ahead, but he’s also violent and impulsive and vengeful. He’ll come after you just because it’ll make him feel better for a few minutes.”
I continued to lean forward on the top of the island as his words slowly sunk in. “He’ll kill me,” I whispered.
“Maybe,” Dante said with a gesture. “Or maybe not. I’m not going to take any chances, which is why you’re here. This place is a secret and I can keep a guy here to watch over you all the time. If you want to leave and take a chance on your own, I highly recommend you get the hell out of the city and go somewhere far from here. I bet Florida is nice right now.”
I could hardly understand what he was saying. My heart was racing and I could hear the blood pulsing in my ears.
“So I’m trapped,” I said.
“Trapped,” he repeated and rubbed a palm along his face. “Something like that.”
I looked up at him, anger flaring again, hot and deep. “Why are you doing this?”
He looked away like he couldn’t handle my rage. “Frankly, I don’t know. I think you’re beautiful, and I like your anger. But you’re definitely a liability. If Vlas finds out I’ve been keeping you from him, that’ll only make him want you that much more.”
“Then I’m better off leaving.” I sat up and stood. He didn’t move, just watched me again, his eyes narrowed.
“No,” he said. “You’re not. You’re better off staying here and letting me take care of you.” He stepped toward me, moving away from the counter with a surprising grace.
I balled my fists and watched him. He didn’t come closer, just moved into the center of the kitchen and stared at me, his eyes roaming my body. I hated him, hated him so much, but everything he said rang true. I didn’t think he was lying to me, and I really did believe that he felt bad for me. Men like Dante didn’t become a Capo without having some kind of ruthless streak in them, and taking care of stray girls probably wasn’t something he did often.
Which made me so much angrier. I didn’t get why he would make an exception for me. I didn’t get why he’d bring me here, tell me I can leave, but also tell me I shouldn’t.
Like I’m supposed to choose to stay with my father’s killer.
“I’ll take my chances,” I said and turned away.
I walked to the door. I heard him follow, which made me walk faster. I almost made it, almost touched the doorknob, before he caught up with me and grabbed my wrist. I let out a little gasp as he pulled me from the door. I stumbled and ran up against his body, his warm body, slightly damp with sweat. His eyes were hard as he stared down at me, and he held my wrist with a surprising strength.
“You’re hurting me,” I whispered.
He didn’t loosen his grip. “If you leave, you’re going to die,” he said. “I understand that you hate me. I’d hate me too, if our positions were reversed. But don’t throw your life away out of pride. Stay here in this house until things blow over, then I’ll let you loose.”
“Tell me why you’re doing this and I’ll consider it.” I stared into his eyes. “And don’t lie to me.”
He looked right back. “I feel sorry for you,” he said, his voice soft. “And I want to fuck you. Is that what you want to hear? I want to taste your soft, wet little cunt. I want to feel your legs wrapped around my waist.” He reached up with his other hand and pressed his palm against my cheek, sliding his hand back, sending a chill down my
