Page 41 of Blood Vows

“What is it?” she asked. He didn’t answer, and Elena stepped closer, and then she saw it. The photograph was of her, taken outside her apartment, and it was recent—very recent. On the back, someone had written a date. It was tomorrow’s date, and beneath it was written:

Last chance.

Elena stopped breathing, and Dante turned the card over again. His expression became something she’d never seen before. It wasn’t irritation, suspicion, or anger. It was rage—cold, silent rage.

He slipped the photograph into his jacket and looked at the guards. “We’re done here.”

Elena stared at him. “What does that mean?”

“It means you're not coming back here,” he said.

“This is my home,” she argued.

“Not anymore.”

“You don’t get to decide that,” she hissed.

He turned toward her. “Yes, I do.”

Anger flared through her fear. “No, Dante.”

He crossed the distance between them. “You want to fight me about everything else, fine.” His voice dropped. “But not this.” She opened her mouth, and he cut her off. “Someone took a picture of you outside this building. Someone knows your schedule. Someone put tomorrow’s date on it like they already decided when you die.” His jaw clenched. “You are not sleeping here again.”

She hated that he was right, but hated it more that part of her was relieved. “Where am I supposed to go?”

His answer came immediately. “With me.”

Elena stared at him. “What?”

“You heard me,” he said.

“To Luca’s?” she asked.

“No, not to Luca’s,” he said.

Her pulse jumped. “Then where?”

Dante held her gaze. “My house.” Every instinct told her that was a horrible idea, not because she thought Dante would hurt her. That was the problem. She was starting to believe he wouldn’t, and Elena had the terrible feeling that being alone with Dante Vitale might be more dangerous to her than any bullet.

“My house.” Two words—that was all Dante said. Two words that should have been simple. Instead, Elena stood in the middle of her destroyed bedroom, staring at him like he’d suggested they get married.

“Your house?” she repeated.

“Yes,” he said.

“No, I can’t,” she insisted.

Dante’s expression didn’t change. “Wasn’t a question.”

“And my answer is still no,” she said. He stared at her and Elena stared right back at him. She was getting surprisingly good at that.

“I can stay with Luca and Isabella,” she said.

“No,” he breathed.

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because whoever is doing this has already connected the Camorra and Romano families. Luca’s home is the first place they’ll expect you to go,” Dante said.