Two short beeps.
“No.” I groan. I look back at the note, focusing on the four.
I try again, this time punching in a nine instead of four.
A pause.
One long beep and the locking mechanism triggers. The door pops open.
“Thank god! Yes!” I yank the door open and file folders slide out, landing at my feet.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” A dark, angry voice cuts through the air of victory filling the room.
Dante’s face twists into fury when he notices the mess around my feet and the safe door propped open.
“What do you think you’re doing?” It only takes him three strides to get to me, snatching the ledger book from my hands.
He glances at it then tosses it to the floor.
“Dante.” I take a small step back but slip on the papers spilling from the folders.
He takes a threatening step at me, grabbing me.
“I told Uncle Vicente you’d be a fucking problem. I told him we should have just gotten rid of you.” He shakes me hard then shoves me.
I hit the wall.
“You’re staying here.” I don’t know why I try to be civil, maybe I hit my head when he shoved me.
“This is my place now. All of this is mine. What are you looking for?”
“This is Tony’s place. I was just going to sort through things, you know look for any family pictures. That sort of thing. That’s all.”
His black eyes narrow.
“You kidnapped that fucking idiot boy of Tony’s. Now you’re in here trying to steal from the family.”
Red blocks my vision as soon as the words register. What he said about Tommy.
I pull my hand back and slap him, as hard as I can across his face.
He doesn’t even flinch.
But his jaw tightens. His eyes get colder.
Before I can turn to run, he has me by my hair and throws a fist into my stomach. Air rushes out of my lungs, and a fit of coughing takes over as I crumple to the floor at his feet.
“Dante.” I groan.
His answer is a kick to my side. I roll away, trying to get to my feet but I’m barely up to my knees when his boot lands in my side again, and I’m thrown back to the floor.
“Once you’re gone, I can take care of that fucking kid. Then there won’t be anyone in my fucking way.”
Pain shoots through my middle. It’s hot and sharp and it feels like electricity bouncing from one bone to the other. I manage to get up to my knees, but he strikes me across my face.
Stars blast off in my vision.
“Fucking bitch,” Dante pulls his foot back again. I close my eyes.
