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He sighed, shaking his head. His arm slipped down to his side. “It can’t wait.”
Dante slunk off the bed, zipping his pants back up before tugging his shirt back over his head. I sat up slowly, already feeling empty without him beside me. He tossed me my pants, waiting for me to pull them back on.
Without a word, he yanked the door open, stalking out into the hallway. I bit my lip, not daring to ask him if he felt better. I knew he didn’t. I just didn’t know how to make it better. There were scars that even I couldn’t see—ones I couldn’t even begin to imagine. He never really talked about his past, only giving me bits and pieces, leaving me to stitch them together in some half-finished story. He claimed the beast was a product of his father, but I knew better.
The beast was his protection. The only way he had been able to survive all those years under his father’s fist. The only way he got through this life.
Maybe I never would be able to heal those wounds for him. He’d gone through so much over the years, starting from when he’d been forced to hide in the shadows due to his father’s schemes and paranoia. I couldn’t imagine the damage his childhood had done to his mind, to him. I couldn’t imagine watching my family from a distance, never really a part of it. I’d trained, but not like him. He never told me the details, but I could guess what his father made him go through. Sal Scarano was never like my father.
I just hoped the damage wasn’t too much for him to overcome. I prayed the darkness wouldn’t take him away from me forever.
13
DANTE
David and Killian were in the kitchen by the time we went back downstairs. Killian’s knowing smirk followed me to the kettle as I heated water. David coughed and avoided my gaze entirely. I didn’t really give a shit if they heard what Sienna and I had been doing upstairs. We were married, after all. Hell, Sienna was even carrying my child already.
“I found out what Ivan’s been up to.” I turned to face them as Sienna slid into the chair beside Killian.
“And we know what you’ve been up to.” My brother wagged his eyebrows at Sienna.
“What did you find?” David asked, completely ignoring Killian.
“Apparently, I’ve ordered a shipment transfer,” I said, pouring the hot water over the instant coffee powder. “A job I don’t remember needing done.”
David perked up at the news. “So, you think this is for the Snake?”
“It’s definitely not for me.” I turned, leaning against the counter. “Who else could it be for?”
“Why would Ivan use your name?” Killian asked. “Wouldn’t that basically announce his betrayal if you found out about it?”
“I guess he still thinks you’re out playing vigilante,” David replied dryly.
My hand tightened around the coffee cup. “I wasn’t playing anything.” Sienna shot me a warning look. “But yes, I believe he still thinks I’m out…getting shit done.” I couldn’t help but throw in that last part just to watch David shift in his seat.
“This is a good thing,” David murmured. “If he still believes you’re out of the game, then he won’t expect you.”
“Or me,” Sienna added. “I’ve handed Mateo the reins for now. Everyone will probably think I’m still home.”
“When will this transfer take place?” David turned back to me.
“I’m not sure. My informant only heard about the job, not the details. Once they find out, they’ll send it my way, and we’ll know for sure.” I wasn’t about to give a suit Cain’s name.
“Until then, we can only wait, right?” Killian stretched out his long legs, leaning back over the chair. “What’s there to even do here, Sienna?” That obnoxious smirk was back.
“I could use you for target practice if you’re really bored,” she suggested. The smirk disappeared.
David rose from the table, checking his phone. “I’m going to meet with my guy to see if he can find anything about this job sooner.” I nodded, not really caring where David went or what he did.
Killian edged out of his seat, eyeing Sienna warily. “I’m going to take a nap.”
Sienna’s lips curled. “Good choice.”
There was nothing much to do for the rest of the day. Sienna and I were lounging in the living room as she read a book when David returned, shaking his head. I guessed they weren’t able to pin down the details, which wasn’t unexpected. If this was a legitimate job, it wasn’t as if Ivan would be advertising it anywhere the suits would be able to hear of it. Cain knew, but then again, he and his brothers owned one of the hottest clubs in the underground.
By the time night rolled around, I still hadn’t heard from the fucker. A part of me didn’t think I would. The Arco brothers could be extremely helpful when they wanted to be, but oftentimes that would require money—something I didn’t exactly have at the moment. Whether they helped us out of the goodness of their black hearts was entirely up to them. I wasn’t getting my hopes up. If worse comes to worst, Killian could always go underground and get the information for us.
Sienna went to the kitchen to help David make some dinner for tonight. He’d also gone to the store to get us some instant noodles for our little headquarters. I couldn’t eat, my nerves too tangled to begin digesting anything other than the mess we were in. I stayed in the living room, stretched out on the couch while they ate before cleaning up and heading to their rooms. Sienna paused at the bottom of the steps, waiting to see if I would follow. When I nodded, she headed upstairs.
