"What the?—"
I join him at the window and freeze. Dante's crossing the front lawn with Marina thrown over his shoulder like a bag of flour. She's pounding her fists against his back, legs kicking wildly, her hair flying everywhere.
"I can walk! This is kidnapping! Assault! I'll sue your entire family!"
Dante keeps walking, completely unbothered by her attacks. His face maintains that same deadly calm he wears during interrogations.
"Fuck." I head for the door.
Sophia
Marina's screaming cuts through the compound like a knife through silk. I bolt from my bed, yanking open my door just as Lorenzo appears in the hallway. We reach the front entrance at the same moment, our shoulders brushing as I grab the handle.
The door swings open to reveal Dante with Marina slung over his shoulder like she weighs nothing. Her fists pound against his back while she kicks her legs, face red with fury.
"Put me DOWN!"
Dante sets her on her feet with surprising gentleness, but Marina's hand flies through the air before he fully releases her. The slap echoes across the front steps, sharp enough to make me wince.
Dante's hand shoots out, capturing her wrist before she can pull back. "Next time you take out claws, I'll ruin you."
"Try it, asshole." Marina yanks her wrist free, rubbing it as she glares up at him. He's got at least a foot on her, but she doesn't back down. "I'll have you arrested for kidnapping."
"What the hell is going on?" I push past Lorenzo, putting myself between Marina and Dante.
Marina's eyes blaze as she points at Dante. "Ask this freak who knocked on my door demanding I get in his car. When I said no, he grabbed me like some kind of caveman."
"You threw your fucking phone at my face." Dante shows his cheek where a red mark is already forming. "Since you weren't coming willingly, I brought you anyway."
"Because that's totally normal behavior!" Marina's voice rises another octave. "Breaking into someone's building and manhandling them!"
"Marina, calm down." I grab her shoulders, trying to steady her. She's shaking with rage, her whole body vibrating with it.
"Calm down? This psycho just carried me across Chicago like a sack of potatoes!"
I turn to Lorenzo, searching his face for an explanation. He doesn't even look apologetic.
"It wasn't safe for her to come alone." His tone suggests this should be obvious.
I roll my eyes so hard it hurts. "So you sent Dante to kidnap her?"
"I sent him to escort her. The kidnapping was his improvisation."
"Escort?" Marina laughs, but there's no humor in it. "He broke into my building! My neighbor called the cops!"
"I handled it," Dante says flatly.
"Oh, you handled it. Great. That makes everything better." Marina's sarcasm could strip paint.
I grab Marina's hand, pulling her toward me and away from Dante. "Come on. Let's get you inside."
"Anytime, princess." Dante's voice carries just enough mockery to make Marina spin around.
"Call me princess again and I'll show you exactly where you can shove your?—"
"Marina!" I tug her harder, dragging her through the doorway before she can finish that threat. "Not helping."
I drag Marina through the foyer. Behind us, Dante's voice carries through the open door.
