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Then I stand up, smooth my clothes, and go back to the party.

The bass hits me first when I step back into the lounge. Then the lights. Then the eyes.

Cruz sees me before anyone else. He’s leaning against the bar with a drink in his hand, and his head tips when I come in, slow, like a wolf catching scent on the wind. His mouth curves into a grin, and he raises his glass at me.

Eli is in the corner booth where Marco left him. His green eyes track me from the door to the center of the room, and his jaw locks so tight I can see the muscle jump from across the lounge. The glass in his hand is empty.

Brady spots me last. He’s by the speakers with Jonah, laughing at something, and when he turns his eyes flash with what I can only describe as desire.

And across the room, by the doorway to the back hallway, Dante leans against the wall with a fresh drink in his hand. He catches my gaze and smiles, and I can almost hear his deep, sinful voice saying,This is just the beginning, baby.

I take a breath that fills me up. I smile back.

And I walk into the room like a woman who is finally in control.

12

DAKOTA

The address Dante texts me is a brick walk-up on the edge of town, third floor, blue door. I climb the stairs with my heart doing things it shouldn’t, palms damp against the strap of my bag.

He opened a door inside me last night. The cross. The cuffs. The way he held me after, like I was something rare instead of something used. I haven’t slept right since. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt phantom leather on my wrists and his mouth at my throat.

I knock.

The door swings open, and Dante stands there in gray sweats and nothing else, his chest still damp at the collarbones like he showered five minutes ago.

“Baby.” He cups the back of my neck and kisses me like he’s been waiting all day to do it. “Come in.”

I step inside and freeze.

Cruz is on the couch. Beer in one hand, shirt riding up to show a stripe of inked stomach, and his face does the same thing mine just did. The two of us stare at each other while Dante closes the door behind me.

“What the fuck?” Cruz sets the beer down. “Dante.”

“Sit down, sweetheart.” Dante’s hand stays on my neck, thumb stroking the soft place under my ear. “Both of you. I want to talk.”

I let him guide me to the couch. The cushion sinks under me, and Cruz is right there, close enough that his thigh presses mine, his cologne mixing with the soap smell coming off Dante’s skin.

“You ambushed us.” Cruz isn’t smiling, but he isn’t angry either. There’s a careful look in his blue eyes, like he’s running odds. “Why?”

Dante drops into the armchair across from us and leans forward, elbows on his knees.

“Because I’m done pretending.”

He looks at Cruz first.

“I fucked you behind the park last week. Against that column. And I haven’t stopped thinking about it.”

Cruz’s mouth curves slowly. “Didn’t think you’d lead with that.”

“I’m leading with everything.” Dante’s gaze swings to me, and my stomach drops into freefall. “And last night I had her on the cross at Eclipse. Tied her up. Took her apart.”

My face goes hot. I look at my knees.

“Christ.” Cruz exhales like he just got hit. “Both of you. In one week.”

“Both of us.” Dante leans back. “And here’s the thing. I don’t want to stop. With either of you. And I know you’ve been with her too, Cruz, so don’t sit there acting blindsided.”