And I’ve found a reason for it in the wrong place.
We’re far from the city now, entering a hilly area with very few houses. My situation grows more dire as I realize he might actually kill me. Before, it was theoretical. Now, it’s highly probable.
I consider how it might go down, and what I might do. But it’s not Dante’s face I imagine hurting me, and that makes no sense because I can feel how dangerous he is. Yet I don’t think he’d ever turn on me. I have no reason to believe that, but fundamentally, I do.
He pulls off at a lookout spot, and my eyes widen at the view of the city. It’s beautiful, Manhattan twinkling in the distance.
I’ve lived in this city since I was six, and I've always loved it. I’ve traveled all over the world, and keep finding myself back here. But seeing it from a distance is the most beautiful. Especially because of the quiet that surrounds us this far out of the city. It takes me back to my years on the farm.
I push away from Dante and remove my helmet, bothered by all of these thoughts that keep returning to me, especially ever since Dante came into my life.
“It’s a shame you didn’t wear the leather jacket I bought you,” Dante says casually as he steps toward the safety rail.
I glare at him. “This isn’t some fucking joyride.”
“Sure it is. It’s always a joyful experience having you on the back of my bike. Especially with that scathing tongue when I take you somewhere nice.”
“Or somewhere you’ll chop my body up into tiny pieces,” I bite back, that slight panic rising to the surface again because I don’t know how to view him. He was a nuisance at first, someone I could fuck to take my mind off things, and now… I'm not so sure.
He pretends to be insulted. “I would never chop your body up. You’re too beautiful for that. I’d attempt some preservationmethod. But I must confess, it’s not something I’ve tried before, so I don’t know how well it’ll turn out.”
My jaw drops.
“It was a joke, Romi.” He laughs at his own twisted humor and then turns to face the scenic view. “Don’t you have some questions for me?”
This asshole is so full of himself. I have no idea how honest he might be if I question him. He could just be entertaining me before he throws me over the cliff, so I make a point to stay farther back, close to the bike.
“Who are you really?”
He leans back against the safety rail, the city lights twinkling behind him, arms crossed over his chest, and there it is again, the predator behind the barely-there mask.
“Firstly, I’m handsome. Intelligent, as well, but that goes without saying,” he begins.
“Don’t play with me!”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise at my outburst, but that arrogant, provocative smile falls straight back into place. “I work for the Italian mafia. Don’t want to toot my own horn, but I’m also pretty high up. You could say I work closely with my boss, making sure business goes as usual, and people stay in line.”
My jaw drops. Of all the things I was expecting him to say, the fucking Italian mafia was not on the list.
What. The. Fuck?
Pieces start clicking together. I want to laugh and say he’s full of shit; however, the more I think about recent incidents, and the weird occurrences around Ara and Lily, I can’t help but consider that I might’ve been left in the dark this whole time. Surely, they’re not somehow involved. But when I consider that Dante was at Lorenzo and Lily’s going away party, I can’t help but have suspicions that I might be further behind than I ever knew.
“What’s your connection to Lorenzo and Lily?” I ask, and something flickers through his expression, irritation perhaps. I have to know, because it feels like a betrayal if Lily, of all people, is in something so deep. I love my friend, but she’s always been sheltered and sweet. I’m terrified by how someone like her might even live amongst the dangers of the mafia. Granted, it’s not like I have personal, first-hand experience with their kind, but I know it’s something that isveryhard to get out of.
“Everyone is always curious about Lorenzo. In my opinion, he’s a fucking bore. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I don’t care much for your friend Lily. She’s only on my radar because my lone wolf brother decided to make her his. I personally think she could do much better.”
Brother?
Fuck. Of course. I should’ve noticed the resemblance. And when I look at him now, I can see it. They’re different in many ways, but those almost-black eyes with a cold expression are the same. Shit. And I thought Lorenzo was good for my friend.
“I need to call Lily,” I fret as I fish out my phone, and my heart sinks when I realize there’s no reception. God, he might really chop me up into tiny pieces.
“I wouldn’t bother, not right now. Despite what you might think, she’s there by choice, so unless you want to ruin another friendship, I suggest you cool down before calling her.”
“I beg your fucking pardon?” I whip my head back up in his direction.
“I mean, you’ve been doing a fantastic job at pushing everyone away and isolating yourself. I think you going in guns blazing will be the nail in the coffin. So, by all means, go ahead. Oh, but you should know, there’s no reception up here.”
