It was time to hit back and hit back hard. No more trying to send cute messages. No more fucking around.
I was going to kill Vlas for this, one way or the other.
I growled, bent over, and began to drag the dead guy toward the back door, leaving a long line of blood in our wake.18AidaI couldn’t sleep that night. Biagio dropped me back at the house, made sure I got inside safe, then drove fast back to the city. I was left alone for the first time in a while, not a single guy left to guard me.
Some part of me wondered if I could run. But instead, I stripped off the dress, shoved it in the closet and pulled on comfortable clothes. I sat downstairs on the couch, ignoring some old Western movie, while drinking a big glass of wine.
Hours slipped past. By three in the morning, I was ready to go to bed and hoped that someone came soon. I was so afraid that Dante got hurt, or that they got arrested, or worse. I didn’t know what to think, and although I was tempted to call him or text him, I knew he was busy and couldn’t talk.
Just as I finished my glass of wine, the front door opened. I stood, fear slicing through me, as I wondered if it was the Russians coming to finish me off.
Instead, Dante walked into the room, looking pale and haggard. He had on a fresh shirt, but I could tell he was hurting.
I rushed to him, relief flooding me. He winced as I hugged him and I pulled back immediately. “Are you okay? What happened?”
He shook his head. “I’m exhausted,” he said. “Need a fucking bath.”
“A bath?” I blinked, surprised.
“Helps relax me after shit like this.” He gestured with his head. “Come on.”
I followed him down the hall and up the steps. He moved slow, like he was in pain. We reached the very top and went into his room. The master bathroom had a marble floor, marble vanity, and a large jacuzzi tub with a huge standing shower stall next to it. I figured the tub didn’t get used much, but he turned it on and sat down on the edge for a long moment.
I hesitated then knelt down in front of him.
He looked at me and his hand touched my cheek. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“For what?” I started to unbutton his shirt, gently and slowly.
“I put you in danger again. All because I felt bad.”
“That wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known.” I bit my lip and shook my head with a sigh. “Honestly, Dante. It wasn’t your fault.”
He looked away as I got his shirt open. I sucked in a little breath as I looked at the bandage on his side. He followed my gaze. “It’s not as bad as I thought,” he said. “Only a few stitches.”
“You’re a mess.”
“Yeah.” He laughed then winced. “I am. How about you?”
“Ears aren’t ringing this time.”
He nodded. “Good. Getting used to it.”
I smiled and ran my fingers down his chest. “Not sure if it’s a good thing to getting used to hearing gunshots, you know.”
“This isn’t what I wanted for you.” His voice was low and heavy with exhaustion. I helped him up and helped him get his belt off, his slacks off. He threw the clothes on the floor then took off his boxer briefs. I stared at his muscular body, at the tattoos on his skin, at his long, thick cock.
“What did you want then?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a sigh and stepped into the tub. He sank down and let the water fill in around him. I stared at his body and felt a thrill. I sat on the edge and ran my fingers through his hair. “I know what it means to be with a man like me.”
“I don’t think I do,” I said.
“It means danger. It’s exciting, it feels good, but it might get you killed. You know it as well as I do. You’ve seen it twice now.”
“This just… it’s a bad time. It won’t always be like this, right?”
He smiled a little, his eyes on the water as it rose up around him. His bandage got wet, soaked through, but he didn’t seem to mind. I slowed the water down to a trickle, but didn’t turn it off.
“Maybe,” he said. “Depends. Leone Family hasn’t been at war for years, not seriously. But things change, and the Russians are getting stronger. If this doesn’t end soon, it might escalate into something more as the other Capos get involved. I don’t know what the Don’s thinking or where this will end.”
I nodded slowly and leaned on the ledge of the tub behind him. I ran my hands down his chest and he took them in his own. I kissed his hair and breathed his smell deep into my nose. “I don’t know what I want,” I admitted. “I don’t know if I want to run away or stay.”