Page 103 of Blood Vows

“Good.” Hale reached inside his coat, and Elena’s heart jumped. Dante had told her exactly what to do. He told her not to wait for the weapon, but to move. She stepped back. “Hale.”

His hand emerged from his jacket without a gun, but holding a phone. He held it up. “Before you decide how brave you are, you should see this.” He turned the screen toward her, and Elena stopped breathing. He was showing her a live video of Luca’s estate. It was in flames.

“Oh, my God.”

Hale smiled. “I told you that they’d be looking in the wrong place.”

Her stomach dropped. “You set the house on fire?”

“Not all of it,” Hale said.

Isabella. Elena’s heart slammed against her ribs. “Where’s Isabella?”

“Hopefully somewhere safe,” Hale said.

Rage tore through her. “You son of a bitch.”

“Now give me the documents,” he ordered. Elena looked toward the shadows, searching for Dante, but she couldn’t see him, and she couldn't signal without exposing him.

Hale stepped closer. “The documents,” he shouted again.

“No.” He reached beneath his coat again, and this time, he pulled out a gun. Elena froze. Hale aimed it at her chest.

“Your father made the same mistake,” he said. “He thought I wouldn't kill family.” Elena’s fear disappeared—enough, but not completely.

“You’re not my family,” she spat.

His expression hardened. “Give me the papers.”

“I don't have them.”

Hale stared at her. “What?”

“You really thought I’d bring the originals with me?” she asked.

“You stupid—” A gunshot exploded. Hale’s weapon flew from his hand, and he screamed. Elena dropped instinctively to the ground as Dante emerged from the shadows with his gun raised. He looked cold, lethal, and terrifying.

“Step away from her,” Dante shouted.

Hale clutched his bleeding hand. “You.”

Dante moved closer. “I’ve been waiting a long fucking time for this.”

Hale laughed through the pain. “I made you who you are today,” Hale said.

Dante’s expression didn't change. “No.”

“You pulled the trigger on Antonio because I told you where to point the gun,” Hale reminded. Elena saw the pain hit him, but he didn't let it control him. She had asked him not to. Dante kept his weapon steady.

“You used me,” Dante spat.

“Yes,” Hale admitted.

“You murdered her father,” Dante said.

Hale smiled. “No, you murdered him.”

Dante’s jaw clenched, and Elena stood. “No.” Both men looked at her, and she stepped beside Dante. “He pulled the trigger.” Her voice shook. “But you loaded the lie that sent him after my father.” Hale’s expression changed, but Elena kept going. “You framed my father. You used Dante. You used me.”