“I dare you to tell him that,” Cal joked.
“Let’s go!” Dante grumbled the second he had his arse in the passenger seat. He slammed the door closed way harder than he needed to, then turned to glare into the back. “You’re in deep shit,” he added, looking right at me.
“What did I do?” I cried.
“You went into the back! I couldn’t have followed you back there without creating a huge fucking scene and you knew it!”
“I text you that we’d be out the back. You circled round there, did you not?” Cal asked.
“That’s not the point. You said you’d follow our orders. You didn’t, therefore you’re going back home,” Dante said, glaring at me the whole time, then he turned in his seat and nodded to himself, seeming satisfied that he’d had the last word.
I didn’t even grace his arrogance with a response. Instead I unlatched my seatbelt and opened the car door at the same time, then jumped out while Arran was starting to reverse the car from it’s parking spot. I slammed the door closed then set off down the side walk, in the direction of the nearest bus stop.
I knew I wouldn’t get there, of course. The car stopped moving and two car doors slammed closed behind me. Cal reached me first. But he didn’t try to stop me. Instead he simply fell into step beside me and took my hand.
“Any specific destination in mind, babe?” he asked. I looked up at him with a smile.
“Just following my next clue,” I shrugged. “Bus stop’s at the end of this street.”
“Cara! Get back here now! What are you doing?” Dante stomped up at my side, and glared hard at me. I was actually starting to find his stern glare cute, in a strange way.
“I’m doing what I came here to do. I have two leads I need to follow,” I explained, then walked around him and continued on with Cal at my side.
“Get back in the car before I pick you up and throw you in it!”
“Try it and you’ll get your arse kicked, Dante. You put hands on me, and I will not be pulling any punches,” I warned.
“I’d listen to her, if I were you, man. I’ve seen her in trainin’ and I’m tellin’ ye, she could do ye some serious harm before ye get her back in that car,” Arran chuckled as he jogged over too.
“I’m not going to hurt you, but it’s not safe out here. Get back in the car,” Dante reiterated.
“Not if you’re going to be a stubborn arse, determined to send me home. I’m the only person who can get answers here, Dante. I know that scares you, and I appreciate that you care about me, but you’re underestimating me. I can take care of myself if it comes to it, certainly long enough for you guys to realise something’s wrong and come swooping in. You have to have some faith in me.”
“I don’t want you taking care of yourself. I want to protect you. It’s my job and my responsibility too,” Dante argued, his annoyance and irritation with me, becoming obvious.
“Because I’m yours, you mean?”
“Yes! Why do you keep questioning that? You are mine!” he snapped as his glare turned to unmistakeable anger. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but I found myself pushing closer against Cal anyway, because Dante’s real anger was terrifying.
“Calm down, Dante! You’re acting like a mad man!” Cal barked as he wrapped both of his arms around me and pulled me close.
“How about we all just get back to the hotel? It’s too late to follow any more leads tonight anyway. We can start again come mornin’ Cara,” Arran suggested.
I glanced to Dante, but looked away just as quickly when he still appeared to be raging. I didn’t want to see so much anger on his face. It was too much to deal with after the strength I had just used to get through my encounter at the club. I looked up at Cal instead and he studied my face, seeming to read every expression and thought that crossed it as I just stood there.
“What do you want to do?” he asked me.
“We should go to the hotel. I promised Rafe I’d call him and I’m tired anyway,” I gave in.
“The both of ye’s go get in the car. I just need a wee word wi’ Dante before we set off,” Arran said, then as we passed him he reached out and gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. When I looked up at him he gave me a tense half smile and I tried to return it.
As we headed back down the street to the car, I saw the additional security guys we brought with us. They’d stayed in their rental car out front while we were in the club, but now they had gotten out and were both sat back against the bonnet, just seemingly keeping an eye on our surroundings. Cal gave them a nod as we passed them.
By the time Cal and I were back in the backseat I felt wrung out, all of my false bravado long gone, and exhaustion crashing over me.
“Don’t let Dante upset you. He says things without thinking. He wouldn’t hurt you.”
“I know,” I agreed. “I’m not upset. Just tired. It’s been a long day with the travelling and everything.”
