Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“We’re leaving,” Dad roars from the front lawn. “This house. Hear that, Leo? This house!”
Dante stands at the door, watching them go, shaking. Their cars screech away, kicking up smoke. Dante turns to me, his mouth twitching.
“What?” I whisper.
He glances at Leo.
“You can say it, whatever it is,” Uncle Leo says, sounding tired.
“We just started a war,” Dante says fiercely.
Leo sighs, nodding. “I’m afraid you’re probably right, but you did it, Dante, for Mia?”
“For Mia,” he says. “I didn’t want to have to lie to you, but I couldn’t let him hurt her.”
Uncle Leo nods, looking at me. I can tell he’s searching me to see if I really want this. Maybe he’s comparing me to how I was with Vito.
Maybe he can see the love in me. The love? The whatever-this-is, then. I almost laugh. Ruby called her relationship with Luca that once, but we’re not the same. We agreed that.
“Then thank you,” Uncle Leo says, looking at Dante. “You did the right thing. You saved her, but if there is anything romantic, it should end here.”
I gasp. Dante swallows, his throat bobbing. He looks even more tense.
“If Tony chooses war, it’ll be a political battle. He’s got some sway. Not much, but if one of my enforcers is seen dating his daughter…”
Dante swallows again. He’s got that ready-to-unleash rage look on his face, his posture, his everything. “That’s not his choice to make for her,” Dante snarls, “and it’s not yours, sir.”
“It’s what’s best for the Family,” Leo says. “I’m not saying forever, but while we wait to see what Tony does.”
So Dad is still in charge, but I can see Dante’s about to make a mistake. He’s all flooded with anger from the standoff. He opens his mouth like he’s verbally going to destroy Uncle Leo.
“We get it,” I quickly cut in. “Don’t we, Dante?”
He turns to me, his eyes wild, biting down.
“Don’t we?” I say, hoping to make him think of his mom and everything on the line.
“During the war,” Dante groans, “but after that, she makes her own decisions.”
Uncle Leo waves his hand. “I’m not like my brother. I don’t care who marries who. Just give me some time.”
Dante’s eyes shift, some of the savage leaving, but it’s still there.
“Somebody should give you a ride to Colt’s house, Mia,” Uncle Leo says. “That’s where you were going, right? Colt Walker’s house?”
“Yeah,” I mutter.
“Somebody…” He glances at Dante. “Else should give you a ride. Shall I call Colt?”
Dante looks at me, and I shake my head subtly. It’s like we’re having a conversation just by looking at each other. It’s a level of intimacy I never dreamed I’d have with a man. I didn’t think it was possible to want it, let alone have it.
“I’ll see you soon,” I tell him.
Dante nods, heading for the door. He pauses and turns. I can tell how badly he wants to kiss me. Just as badly as I want to make it happen.
“How did you know him?” Dante says, his voice gruff and dark, with an edge to it. “Ritchie? Your dad’s pal?”
A tingle of darkness touches me. It’s warped, but it’s also right. It’s making the world better. “Remember what I told you on the way here?”
“Yes,” he says gravely.
“Once, that man saw something. Instead of doing anything, he threatened me. Scared the hell out of me.”
“Who’s this? Ritchie Amato?” Uncle Leo says.
“Yes, but I didn’t know his name. It’s him. I’ll always remember him.”
“Mr. Marino,” Dante growls, his teeth gritted, “if there’s going to be a war, we’ll need hostages. We’ll need people who will talk about Tony. If those people happen to be scumbags who deserve it, then that’s even better.”
“You’d have to be quiet about it. Make it look like he lost his nerve and skipped town.”
“I can be quiet,” Dante says gruffly. “I can be silent.”
Uncle Leo nods, and Dante looks at me one last time before leaving. Alessia wraps her arms around me in a big hug. “You’ve been through too, too much, Mia. Oh, sweet girl. You don’t have to say it. You don’t have to tell me. I saw that look. That hate.”
I wrap my arms around her, holding her close against me.
CHAPTER 18
Dante
As I drive back toward the city, I call Colt over speakerphone. My heart is thumping hard from the standoff with her dad. It took everything I had not to rip his face off right there. I was close to blacking out when Leo told me to leave, my vision flickering, but then Mia spoke to me. Her voice jolted me back to reality. She’s the one who will always bring me back.
I grind my teeth. I’ve just spoken to Carter. Mom’s awake, doing a crossword. There’s a meeting about potential homes. The old Dante would’ve had nothing else to distract his attention, but I can’t let this go.