But he will.
I look at him, taking in the man who calls himself my husband. He’s not a merciful man, and he never stops until he gets what he wants. The necklace is my sole means of negotiation, the only chance I have of getting out of this life.
If I’d known he’d been after those diamonds all along, I would’ve traded it for my freedom sooner.
But I thought he wouldn’t let himself be bribed because he convinced me he wasn’t interested in anything other than vengeance. Believing him was my mistake, but it may not be too late to rectify that.
Steeling myself, I will my voice to sound normal. “If you have the necklace, will you let me go?”
His beautiful features harden.
I shake my head, blinking through my tears. “I’m sorry, Dante. Then we don’t have a deal.”
He splays his fingers over my jaw and asks in a quiet but deadly tone, “Do you think you can negotiate with something that already belongs to me?”
“It doesn’t belong to you.” I don’t cower under his ruthless stare. “It belongs in a museum.”
His smile is cold. “I did the impossible by getting my hands on that necklace.” Hatred turns his eyes darker. “Lee died because of that necklace and your father’s greed. I want it back, Tatiana.” His tone leaves no room for argument. “I won’t tell you again.”
Before I have time to digest his threat, we’re jolted violently as the car is hit from behind. The impact throws my body forward, causing the seatbelt to cut into my chest and stomach.
“Fuck,” Kent says under his breath.
Dante grabs a gun from the seat pocket in front of him.
I turn around to look through the rear window. The car behind us, one of Dante’s, crashes into us again, making my teeth clack together so hard the shock reverberates in my skull.
Dante wraps an arm around my waist, bracing my body as Kent slams on the brakes. The brake lights of the car in front of us are on. An SUV has pulled in front of Dante’s guards, forcing the driver to stop. Our car skids over the tarmac before ramming into the stationary one in front of us.
The only thing preventing my head from hitting the headrest is Dante’s arm that’s locked like a band of steel around my waist. His hold is so tight I think he may crack my ribs. His face is tense as he scans the surroundings, but his grip on the gun is steady.
Kent cusses and swerves to the left as another SUV comes out of nowhere and nearly forces us off the road.
I twist in my seat, my pulse all over the place. The SUV behind the vehicle following us accelerates, going full speed at the guards.
Dante removes his arm from around my waist. Cupping my nape, he pushes my head in his lap. “Keep down.”
The tires complain as Kent steps on the gas. Metal groans around me. Gunshots go off.
That’s it. This is where I die. And I haven’t kissed Noah goodbye. I left him sleeping without telling him how much I love him. Without getting him a dog.
More gunshots are fired.
Dante covers me with his body, his hand pressed firmly on the back of my neck to keep my head down.
“Motherfucker,” Kent mutters.
We’re hit from Dante’s side, the force of the collision sending the car into a tailspin. One of the windows explodes with the unmistakable sound of glass shattering. A smell of burning rubber hits my nostrils. We smash into something, the car coming to a complete stop. A loud pop sounds followed by the click of the door locks that are automatically deactivated in the event of an accident.
The cocoon of Dante’s body that’s been wrapped around me vanishes. He grips my shoulders and pulls me into a sitting position.
Framing my face between his palms with the gun still clutched in one hand, he scrutinizes me. “Are you all right?”
“I think so,” I say through numb lips.
“Good girl.” Despite the strain that’s evident in the tight set of his features, he offers me an encouraging smile, one that exposes his dimple. “Stay low.”
Kent pushes the deflated airbag out of his way and opens his door. That explains the loud pop I heard. He jumps out and takes shelter behind the hood on the side of the car with his gun pointed in front of him.
