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“Dante,” she breathes. “I just had to see with my own eyes that you were okay,” she explains, taking a couple of steps forward.
“I’m fine,” Dante barks, looking into her face. “You need to leave.”
Felicia pouts. “But I just got here.”
“And now you’re just leaving,” Dante says, taking her arm roughly and pushing her out the door.
“You’re really okay, Dante?” she asks before he closes the door and he sighs.
“I’m really okay,” he says in a kinder voice, and then shuts the door in her face.
I glare at him. “Why is Felicia Nunez visiting you?”
“Mia, don’t start—” he begins, but I’m seething.
“Women can’t just come intoourhouse like that,” I snap.
“I didn’t let her in, Nico did!” Dante argues, trying to make light of the situation but I’m not having it.
“Dante, who is she to you?” I demand to know.
“She’s... a friend,” he hedges.
“What kind of friend? A friend with benefits?” I say wryly.
“Not anymore,” he says, taking a few steps toward me and putting his hands on my shoulders. “There’s only you, pretty girl.”
I soften at the look in his blue eyes, but I still don’t like it. I’m fuming at her wearing that skimpy shirt, too. Who dresses like that to go visit someone ailing?
“I’ve got to go,” he says gently, and kisses my forehead. “Please stay with Nico. Promise me.”
“I promise,” I say, and I’m telling the truth. After what happened, I don’t even want to go anywhere by myself.
Dante presses a wad of cash into Nico’s hand. “For whatever she needs.”
Nico nods and then Dante walks out the door.
I look at Nico. “You wanna play cards?” I crack, and Nico laughs. He looks much younger when he laughs.
An hour later, he’s creaming me at gin rummy and I throw down my cards.
“Remind me never to play cards with a criminal,” I joke, and Nico chuckles.
“I’m better at stud poker,” he says.
I raise an eyebrow. “How much better? I’ve got a pretty good poker face.”
“Let’s play.”
“Quarters,” I suggest, and Nico reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of various coins.
“How about nickels?”
I laugh and nod and we start an ante.
I win all his coins in under an hour and Nico throws down his hand in disgust.
“Remind me never to play poker with a mafia princess,” he jokes.
