Page 27 of Blood Vows

“I’ve known you too long for you to lie to me,” Luca said.

“She’s under my protection,” Dante said.

“She’s under Camorra protection,” Luca countered.

“Same thing,” Dante mumbled.

Luca stared at him. “No. It isn’t.” Dante’s jaw tightened, and Luca stepped closer.

“You want to protect her because I told you to, fine.” Dante said nothing. “You want to fuck her; that’s your business.” Dante’s eyes narrowed. “But if you start making decisions for this family based on how you feel about her, then we have a problem.”

“I don’t make decisions based on feelings,” Dante insisted.

Luca almost laughed. “You told me no earlier.”

“That was a tactical move,” Dante lied.

“Still calling it that?” Luca asked.

“Yes.” Luca studied him for a long moment, and then his expression shifted. He became less of a boss and more of a brother, and that was somehow worse.

“Dante, I’m not telling you to stay away from her.”

“Good,” Dante breathed. Because he was pretty sure that was something that he couldn’t do.

“I’m telling you to be careful,” Luca said.

“I’m always careful,” Dante said.

“No, you’re controlled.” There was a difference, and Dante knew it, even though he didn’t like hearing it.

Luca continued. “Control works until something matters enough to break it.” Dante’s mind immediately supplied Elena beneath him while bullets ripped through the safehouse. He remembered her blood on his hands, her fingers gripping his jacket, and her voice shouting his name when shots went off upstairs.

He shoved all of it aside. “She’s a job.” Luca’s expression said he didn’t believe him, but Dante didn’t care. He barely believed himself.

“Fine,” Luca said. “Then do your job.”

“I plan to,” Dante hissed.

“Start by getting some sleep,” Luca ordered.

Dante frowned. “What?”

“You look like shit,” Luca said.

“Thanks,” Dante grumbled, rubbing his hand over his face. He knew that Luca was right, but he wouldn’t be able to sleep while Elena was in danger.

“I mean it,” Luca said.

“I’m fine,” Dante lied.

“Bullshit.” Luca walked toward the refrigerator. “You’ve been awake almost twenty-four hours.”

“I’ve done longer,” Dante said.

“Not while emotionally compromised.”

Dante’s head snapped toward him. “Say that again.”