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Her nostrils flare, deep red coating her cheeks. “That’s not what he said when he came over last night.”
The smile melts right off my face, and all the air siphons from my lungs. I stand there gaping as she smirks at me. I tell myself she’s lying; she’s just trying to get a rise out of me, but I can’t help the crushing doubt. Dante has been coming home later and later every night. He easily could have been with her.
“You’re a liar,” I force out.
“Guess you’ll never know, will you?” With a satisfied grin, she barrels by me, hitting my shoulder with her oversized Hermes. She angles her head back and wiggles her fingers at my friend. “Nice to see you, Maisy. Hopefully next time, it’ll be in better company.”
“Ugh, what a bitch,” I mutter as she saunters down the street.
“Sorry about that, Rose.” She squeezes my shoulder, her lips pulled into a pout. “I never put two and two together. I’m such an idiot. I knew her and Dante had been on again, off again for a while.”
My thoughts fly back to Christmas to how protective he’d been of me, and how easily he’d dismissed her. Then again, he’d done the same to me only a few days ago. What if Dante’s obsession with me ended the moment he sank his cock inside me?
It had clearly only been about the thrill of the chase for him.
My heart staggers on a beat. Gawd, how could I be so stupid? He’d made it clear from the first night at Luca’s. It was a one-night only thing. He’d gotten what he wanted out of me, and now, I’m old news.
Hot tears prick my eyes. I need to go now before they spill over, and Maisy thinks I’m really nuts. Because what kind of moron falls for an emotionally unavailable, asshole mob boss?
CHAPTER30
ALREADY ADDICTED
Dante
I pace the length of the elevator, eating up the small space at least a dozen times as it makes the slow climb to the penthouse. As much as I’d wanted to run home to see Rose after my run-in with that Red Dragon, I’d forced myself to remain in control. If I’d seen her then, with the bloodlust consuming my veins, I would’ve fucked her raw. All night. All day. On every surface of my damned penthouse. It would have been mind-blowing but risky, incredibly risky and insanely stupid. So instead, I walked every inch of Central Park. Twice.
So now, here I am, sweaty as hell, a mixture of nerves and the hike around the park, despite the thirty-degree temperature outside. At least the rage and accompanying lust is under control. Or at least, I hope it is.
The elevator doors glide open, and I creep into the hallway, listening for noises in my apartment. Tony stands by the door, a gun clenched in his palm. “All quiet, boss.”
“Good,” I murmur. “You can go now.” It’s after midnight, and I’m more than capable of taking care of Rose by myself. Besides, I still have Aldo downstairs for emergencies.
Tony marches toward the elevator, but I reach for his arm before he gets far. He spins toward me, eyes wide.
“Did any of those dickheads at Palestra flirt with her?”
His head dips slowly. “Just a few…. She’s a beautiful girl, boss. It’s only a matter of time until someone snatches her up.” A growl vibrates my throat, and Tony bites down on his lower lip. “Sorry, it’s none of my business.” He whirls around and scrambles for the elevator, jabbing his finger into the call button.
Reining in my temper, I jerk the penthouse door open. The place is quiet, the warm glow of the Christmas tree pervading the darkness. A part of me is relieved Rose is already asleep. I’m a damned coward, and I’m well aware of it.
I creep into the kitchen and grab a bottle of water from the fridge. I take a long pull, my gaze intent on the ugly little tree. For such a small, scraggly thing, it sure brings a lot of warmth to the place. I rise to my tiptoes to see over the marble island, movement catching my eye.
Rose is splayed across the couch beneath a furry pink blanket. Her girly shit has invaded my penthouse now. It seems like it’s expanded in my absence, like she’s purposely trying to take over my home.
I inch closer, my traitorous feet moving of their own accord. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in person in days. Sure, I’ve spent many a night watching her through the surveillance cameras, throttling my cock as I fantasize about the things I want to do to her, but the black and white images never do her justice.
An odd tightening in my chest has me halting a few feet from the couch. I massage the spot, the unfamiliar feeling constricting the blood flow to my withered, weary heart.
A faint sigh escapes, drawing my attention to those pouty, full lips. For the first time since we met, I imagine that mouth against my own, instead of wrapped around my dick.
I move closer and drop to my knees beside the sofa. Sweeping a lock of blonde hair behind her ear, my thumb lingers on her cheek for a moment longer. Before my brain can process my own stupidity, I bend down and press a kiss to those lips. It’s soft and chaste, completely unlike any kiss I’ve ever given.
Her lips are pillowy and perfect with a faint scent of cherry blossoms. I stand there, just staring at her as she sleeps like a completecoglione. My heart swells, the rhythm accelerating with each minute. Am I having a fucking heart attack? What the hell is wrong with me?
Rose’s lids flutter and slowly open, revealing those brilliant blue eyes. “Were you with Caroline?”
Her rough, sleepy voice nearly makes my dick hard before I focus on her words. “What?” I blurt, still kneeling beside her.
