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A wave of exhaustion suddenly splashes over me, and my head lolls on Dante’s shoulder. His arm settles around me, and a yawn parts my lips.
“Dormi, Rosa, sei al sicuro con me.Nessuno ti farà mai più del male.” Dante’s whispered words float like a prayer in the background as I drift to sleep.
* * *
My eyes snap open as a phantom gloved hand closes over my mouth. I gasp and jolt up off the couch. Scanning my light-filled apartment, I heave in a breath.It was just a dream.
The creak of a door opening sends my heart spasming again until I focus on the half-naked Roman god emerging from my bathroom. “Dante,” I rasp out. The early morning sunlight bathes his perfect form in a golden glow, highlighting each dip and valley of his torso, the intricate patterns of black inked across his chest, and the faint scars buried within.
Gawd, he’s like an Italian masterpiece.
“You stayed?”
“Mmm.” He nods and wraps the towel tighter across his narrow hips. My eyes drop to the deep V disappearing beneath the white terry cloth. “I hope you don’t mind I helped myself to a shower.”
“No, not at all. Sorry you had to sleep on the couch. You didn’t have to—”
He raises a hand, cutting me off. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to, Rosa.”
Noted.
My eyes lock on the massive tattoo printed across his chest in bold gothic writing: Vengeance Is King. A creepy skull with a spiked crown spreads across his muscled pecs. I latch onto the words, almost obsessively, because in that moment there’s nothing I want more than revenge on the asshole who crept into my sanctuary and stole my peace of mind.
“I already spoke to Dr. Winchester and the HR assistant at Palestra.” Dante’s deep tenor pulls me from the dark thoughts. “You’re taking the day off.”
“What? No, I can’t, Dante. I just got the job at Palestra, and I cannot risk losing it.” I shoot to my feet, and my robe slides off my shoulder. I yank it up and tighten the tie around my waist. I need to get some clothes on, but the idea of going into my bedroom has nausea crawling up my throat.
“Rosa, it’s December twenty-third. People aren’t taking yoga classes. They’re buying last minute Christmas presents. You need a few days to recover, and besides, the gym will be closed until the twenty-sixth. It’s just one extra day off.”
“But Dr. Winchester….”
“She said you deserve a break, and she’ll see you bright and early on the twenty-sixth.” He ticks his head at the kitchen counter. The roses are gone and in their place are a fresh set of clothes. A comfy oversized t-shirt and my yoga pants. Tears burn my eyes, but I quickly blink them back. “Get dressed.”
He’s right. I refuse to spend the day wallowing in self-pity. So, I was attacked? I survived, and the asshole won’t get away with it. Between Dante and the cops, they’ll find whoever did this and he’ll be punished. I must believe that.
“You can’t stay here, sweetheart. Where are you spending the holidays? I can have Mickey drive you there a day early.”
My chin dips to my chest, and I wrap my arms around my middle. Iwasgoing to Long Island to spend it with my dad and stepmom until I found out my uncle was in town from Florida. A shudder surges up my spine at the thought of seeing him, especially now. “I’m not going anywhere,” I finally admit.
“Don’t your parents live in Long Island?”
Gawd, how does he know so much about me? After my recent stalker streak, you’d think I’d find it unnerving, but with Dante, it’s quite the opposite. “Not my parents, plural. My dad and step-mom do, but I thought I’d be working so I didn’t plan on going out there.”
“Then change your plans.”
I glare up at the bossy new mob boss. “I’mnotgoing to Long Island.”
“Why?”
“It’s personal, Dante, and I don’t owe you an explanation.”
He scowls and reaches for his black button-down shirt. The same one I drooled on all night. He spears his tattooed arms through the sleeves and eyes me. “You can’t stay here by yourself.”
“You just said you’re going to find the guy, right? And the police are on it. I’ll be fine.” I tighten my hold around myself. If I didn’t hate my uncle so much, I’d go running home. The idea of spending the night alone in this place has fear strangling my insides.
Dante closes the distance between us in two long strides and looms over me. Gawd, he’s tall. “I will find him, but until I do, you cannot stay here alone.”
“Fine, then I’ll go to one of my friends’.” Only everyone I knew had already left the city for Christmas break. Except for Maisy … maybe I could text her.
