“You can’t keep us here against our will.”
“Can’t I?” I lean in closer and she tilts her head back but doesn’t pull away, doesn’t do anything except stare at me with those green eyes that have haunted me for six years. “You’re in my house. Under my protection. Playing by my rules. What exactly do you think you can do to stop me?”
“I’ll find a way.”
“You can try.” My thumb moves from her jaw to her throat, resting lightly against her racing pulse. “But I’ve spent six years looking for you. Six years wondering what happened to the girl who got away. And now that I have you back, I’m not letting go.”
“You don’t have me.”
“Don’t I?” I drop my gaze to her mouth and then back to her eyes. “Then why are you still standing here? Why haven’t you pushed me away? Why are your hands still holding onto me like you can’t decide whether you want to fight me or kiss me?”
“I want to?—”
She never finishes the sentence because alarms blare throughout the estate, loud and urgent, shattering the tension between us like glass.
I release her immediately and step back, my mind shifting from anger and desire to cold combat mode in a heartbeat.
Something is wrong. These alarms don’t just go off unless there’s a breach.
“What’s that?” Scarlett’s voice is shaky as she straightens her clothes.
I’m already moving toward my desk, pulling my gun from the drawer. “Someone’s breaching the perimeter.”
“What?”
I ignore her, already on my phone, barking orders to Viktor. “Get six men on the east perimeter. Full mobilization. Nobody gets inside this house.”
“Boss, we’re already moving?—”
“I want updates every thirty seconds.” I hang up and turn to Scarlett. “You and Luca are going to the safe room in the basement. Now.”
“What? No, I can help. I can fight or?—”
“You can’t do anything except get yourself killed.” I grab her arm and pull her toward the door. “Safe room. That’s not a request.”
“I’m not some helpless?—”
I don’t let her finish. I don’t have time for this argument. I just bend down, wrap my arm around her waist, and lift her over my shoulder in one smooth motion.
“Put me down!” She immediately starts beating on my back with her fists. “Dante! I said put me down right now!”
I ignore her completely and stride out of the office, carrying her down the hallway while she struggles and protests.
“This is ridiculous! I’m not a sack of?—”
“Keep fighting me and I’ll tie you up in the safe room.” My voice is threatening. “Your choice.”
“You can’t just?—”
“Watch me.”
11
SCARLETT
Rosa appears at the top of the stairs with Luca, and her eyes go wide when she sees me being carried like a sack of potatoes over Dante’s shoulder.
“Mr. Moretti, what’s?—”
