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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.
Taking out Tony Marino is an act of war. Fornow, he’s off-limits, but not this piece of dirt, and Tony won’t make it out of this alive. I’m playing this tactically because my woman looked at me with her eyes big and angry, reminding me who the boss is.
If Tony somehow makes it out of whatever gunfight he finds himself in when this mafia scuffle happens, I’ve got a bullet for him. The consequences can go to hell.
“Where are you guys?” Colt says, answering the phone. “Luca says you ditched him.”
“Mia wanted to confront her dad. She had to do it.”
