He stared at me, no emotion on his face. “No.”
“Dante—”
“Rosalie, the hardest lessons in life are taught through experience. They have yet to finish that experience.”
“OK, how about this, you stubborn little asshole. Release them, or I’ll kick your fucking ass.”
Levin looked uneasily at us as we faced off.
Dante stepped into my space and smirked down at me.
“Oh, sister, you want to get rough with me?”
“You’re damn right I do. And you know I will.”
He snapped his bloody hand out quickly, wrapped it around my throat, and gave it a squeeze.
“Do not threaten me with a good time,” he said in that soft, dangerous voice I knew would scare the hat off an average man.
I reached out and slapped his face.
Levin sucked in a sharp breath as Dante’s head snapped sideways.
“Sister, you’re playful tonight,” Dante snarled.
“And you’re being a little shit. I never ask you for anything. Give me this.”
He dragged me close to him and ran his lips along my jaw before he got to my ear.
“What do I get?” he whispered into my ear as I rested my hands against his chest.
“My respect. My love,” I answered back softly.
“Tell me,” he murmured.
“I love you, Dante. Please. Let them go.”
“And then what? You did not want them.”
“I-I do. I want them. Cole is Ellis’s dad. I-I was confused and hurting. I felt… betrayed. I needed time…”
“Mm.” He inhaled me deeply. “Time is a dangerous monster, sister.”
“Dante, please,” I whispered.
“How about I let you speak to the one who doesn’t know?”
“Enzo,” I murmured.
“Mhm,” Dante said, his lips skimming my ear as he continued to speak low. “And you tell him about Evan. Depending on his reaction, I will decide his fate.”
“What reaction do you want?”
“Surprise me.” He released me and backed away. “Come. Seeley, you wait here.”
“No—” Levin started, taking a step forward.
“I’ll be fine,” I said.
