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Grazie a Diothe police interrupted that fucker before he--. I squeeze my eyes shut and chase away the horrific thoughts. Relief floods my chest as I thank the God Mamma so fervently believes in. Me? I don’t believe in a higher power, except for maybe Satan. I’ve seen enough bad shit in my life to believe he’s real all right. Hell, I’ve seen the devil in myself.
Rose’s puffy eyes lift to the broken door. “I should probably call someone about that.”
“I’ll handle it; I’ve got a guy. And by the way, Tony’s already standing guard outside. No one’s getting in here tonight, sweetheart.”
She nods, a glossy sheen to her lifeless eyes.
Dio, I hate seeing her like this. “What did you tell the cops?”
Her gaze flickers to the small window to the fire escape. “I didn’t tell them about Mark.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because I can’t lose my job, Dante! We’re not all super wealthy gangsters around here.”
The corner of my lip twitches, a hint of amusement for the first time tonight settling over my scowl. I pause, considering her words. “Good. If you didn’t tell the cops about him then no one will think twice when they find his mutilated body.”
CHAPTER11
BOSSY MOB BOSS
Rose
“You can’t just kill Mark.” I unfold my legs, tighten the tie around my bathrobe, and scoot closer to Dante.
“The fuck I can’t.” Rage burns across those bottomless irises, and something else too. Worry? Did the great Dante Valentino actually care about me?
I don’t even know why I texted him. I could’ve called my dad, my brother or Maisy. Hell, even Stella might have answered if I calculated the time zones right. But my fingers had zipped over my phone on autopilot. Thank gawd I didn’t delete his number like I’d fully intended on doing. “I’m not even a hundred percent sure it’s him.”
“Sixty percent? Seventy? I’ll take anything over fifty, sweetheart.” A wicked gleam flashes through those midnight orbs.
Heat radiates from his form, and I can’t help but lean into him. A chill has settled into my bones, one so deep even the shower didn’t help much, but for the first time all night, it’s starting to dissipate. Dante is untouchable, indestructible. I know if I said the word, Mark would be nothing but a pulpy mess by tomorrow morning. That sort of power is alluring, addictive.
“Rosa, please.”
My name on his lips is enough to chase away every dark memory. I glance up and meet smoldering irises. He cups my cheek, running a calloused thumb over the tear stains. Half-moon circles are carved into his palm, fresh blood along the cuts.
“Say the word, and I’ll gut thebastardofrom throat to tailbone.”
As tempting as it sounds, I remind myself I’m Rose 2.0 now. I can’t sentence a man to death without proof. Did the dickhead deserve it for his stalkerish tendencies? Maybe. Either way, I couldn’t stomach the thought of condemning an innocent man.
I slowly shake my head. “He was wearing a mask, had a creepy voice disguiser and put a hood over my head.”
He lets out another string of curses, his warm hand falling from my cheek. “If it wasn’t Mark, Iwillfind out who it was. I’ll have every rapist tracked down and questioned until I have thepezzo di merdain my hands.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, and my fingers wrap around his hand. I’m careful not to touch the fresh cuts.
His eyes dart to mine, and something unreadable flashes through the never-ending darkness. “Never keep something like that from me again, Rose. Do you understand?”
I nod.
“I made Stella a promise, and I intend to keep it. Please don’t make me a liar. I’ve fucked up enough with my future sister-in-law.”
“You know, Stel never told me what you did….”
His lips press into a tight line, and the tendon beneath the layer of dark stubble tenses. “I’m surprised,” he finally mutters.
I want to ask so badly. I just need a distraction from my own fucked up life right now. I’ve drilled Stella about it for months, and she always refused to spill. I suppose it’s because she feels some sort of loyalty toward her future brother-in-law for saving her and Luca’s lives.
