“Getting dressed,” I stated the obvious as I yanked my tank top over my head. “I told you, I have an appointment.”
“Bullshit.” He stood up, pulling his shorts back into place. “You’re running away.”
“Why would I run away?” I shot back, deflecting the question with a question. “I’m just busy.”
I turned and headed for the door, needing to escape before I fell apart completely. But Dante was faster, cutting me off before I could reach the hallway.
“Don’t do this,” he said, blocking my path. “Don’t shut me out after what just happened.”
“What exactly happened, Dante?” I demanded, anger rising to shield me from the more complicated emotions beneath. “We fooled around. That’s it.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s it? Is this some kind of game to you?”
“Game?” I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s rich coming from you. You’re the one who pulled away from me on the couch, remember? Now you’re upset because I’m doing the same thing?”
I tried to move past him, but he stepped sideways, keeping me trapped in the gym.
“That was different,” he insisted. “You were upset about something, and I didn’t know what. I didn’t want to take advantage—”
The guilt rammed into me like a bull. I still hadn’t told him what happened that day, that hearing my father’s plan had turned my life upside down, and I couldn’t get that day out of my head. He deserved to know, especially after everything he’d been doing to help me fix whatever it was that was bothering me, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him.
“Look, Dante,” I sighed. “I’ve got things to do, and standing here arguing with you isn’t one of them.”
He shook his head. “Why are you fighting this so hard, Alisa? I know you felt what I felt. I know this meant something.”
The genuine hurt in his voice almost broke through my defenses. But there were reasons for me to keep things secret, and the longer I stayed, the longer I’d weaken.
“Just because we fooled around doesn’t mean it means something,” I said coldly. “You left me once, Dante. I’m not an idiot to think it could be anything more.”
Pain flashed across his face. “You think that’s what this is? That I’m just passing time with you until I leave again?”
“I don’t know what this is!” I threw my hands up in frustration. “And neither do you! But I do know that the last time we kissed, you were the one who pulled away. If I didn’t fight you then, what right do you have to fight me now? Entitled much?”
That hit home. I saw it in the way he flinched slightly, his eyes darkening with something that looked too much like regret.
“Alisa—” he started, his voice softer.
“No,” I cut him off, using anger to mask the tears threatening to form. “I don’t want to hear it. Just let me go.”
For a long moment, he stood there, blocking my exit, his eyes searching mine. Then, with a defeated sigh, he stepped aside.
“Fine,” he said quietly. “Go.”
I rushed past him, not allowing myself to look back as I fled to my room. Once inside, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, finally letting the tears fall. They streamed down my cheeks, hot and angry, as I slid to the floor.
What was I doing? Running away from the only person who’d shown me genuine care since this nightmare began? All because I was scared of being hurt again, scared of the secrets between us?
But what choice did I have? My father was trying to sell me to some unknown family. Dante was Bratva. If I told him the truth, what would he do? Use it against my father? I couldn’t let that happen, especially since I didn’t yet know why my father did such a thing. My father was cold, yes. He wasn’t always there. But he couldn’t be so cruel as to barter me off to get ahead, could he? I needed more information, needed to find out what blackmail my father had against him to be forced to give me up like that.
What was wrong with my father? With Dante? With me?
Why was everything such a plain old mess?
I buried my face in my hands and started to cry.
Chapter 13 - Dante
I pulled up at the warehouse and stepped out of the car.
