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“Is Tristan up yet?”
Morana shrugged, keeping her face deliberately blank, ignoring the way her body reacted to the simple name of the man. “I haven’t seen him this morning if that’s what you’re asking.”
He nodded. “Good. I wanted to speak to you alone.”
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So, he could try and persuade her to stay back.
“Okay,” she assented, feigning ignorance of what she’d heard last night between the two men.
The clear light glinted off his dark eyes as Morana regarded him over her rim.
“Tristan needs to return to Tenebrae,” he started without preamble, his voice strong and firm. “So do I. He wants to take you with us and while I have absolutely nothing against you, I need to explain some things first, without Tristan muddling the issue so that you can make an informed decision.”
Morana put the hot mug of coffee to her lips, taking a small sip as gratitude filled her, for this enemy’s son who’d shown her kindness when she’d been hurt and who was still giving her kindness, even if for his own reasons. The ability to make her own choices had been denied to her for so long, she treasured it now, and felt a flash of respect for Dante for giving her the tools in that moment.
“I’m listening,” she encouraged him to go on.
“Amara told you everything,” he stated coolly, even as a myriad of emotions flickered over his face before he reined them in.
Morana nodded, not mentioning anything more.
“And since you’re still here, I’m assuming you and Tristan have come to an understanding?” he asked.
“That’s really not your business,” Morana stated softly, putting a stop then and there to any questions about what had transpired last night between them.
Dante inclined his head. “What is my business, though, is the Outfit. I’ll be clear with you, Morana. Someone is setting Tristan up real bad. And it’s somehow connected to what’s been happening to the Outfit for the past few weeks, just like you found out.”
Morana gulped down some more of her beverage, keeping her eyes on the man a few feet from her.
“This is not the time for Tristan to be stubborn,” Dante continued, blowing out a breath. “His life is on the line and one wrong move could end it. And bringing you to Tenebrae with him? Wrong move. A few months ago, I would’ve been fine with it. Would it have been problematic? Hell yes. But we could’ve worked it out. But right now, with the way things are?” He shook his head, taking a breath before continuing.
“Not to mention, my father,” Dante sneered at the word. “You think your father’s the shit? Trust me when I tell you, he’s got nothing, absolutely nothing, on Lorenzo Maroni. My father would invite you into his home like a gracious host and slit your throat while you smiled back. He’s got no love, no affiliation for anything or anyone. Only power, power, and more power.”
Morana already hated the man, only from everything she’d heard about him.
Dante took a deep breath before speaking again. “Whatever history you share with Tristan is moot right now, Morana. You’re still your father’s daughter and still the enemy for Lorenzo Maroni. Tristan bringing you into his territory without permission, without any knowledge, especially after what he did to your father last night…” he stopped abruptly.
Her heart started to pound.
“What did he do last night?” she asked, half-afraid of the answer, pulse throbbing in her ears.
Dante sighed wearily, running a hand over his face. “Doesn’t matter.”
It did.
It did matter. But she didn’t bit the question back, not say anything.
Dante inhaled, his huge body becoming bigger for a split second. “What matters is what you want to do. Whatever you decide Morana, know that you’ll have my protection either way. If you wish to get away somewhere else, I can arrange that too. If you wish to come, we’ll work it out. And if you refuse to leave, Tristan won’t force you.”
Morana raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Really?”
Dante chuckled. “Oh, he’ll try to intimidate you into going his way. But he won’t force you.”
“So, he’ll let me be if I choose to stay here?” Morana asked, completely serious, wanting to know his thoughts.
Dante mulled over her question for a long moment, his eyes on the beautiful view outside, before turning back to face her, completely serious as well. “He will never let you be, Morana. You both are bound together by things I don’t even think both of you understand. However, the question is do you want him to let you be?”
