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He wanted to win.

He wanted to show me that whatever I do, however I fight him, he will always come out the winner.

The realization stings like a slap.

I sat on his lap to prove a point.

So he made us both come to prove a bigger one.

And like an idiot, I fell for it.

I stand on shaky legs, my earlier confidence drained.

Dante reaches for my hand.

"Don't," I say, my voice sharp.

His hand stops.

I smooth my dress down, straighten the hem, and take my place in the seat beside him, refusing to make eye contact with him.

My underwear is soaked. My thighs are still trembling.

I decide I’ve never hated him as much as I hate him now.

34

DANTE

The car ride home is silent. Sunny sits beside me, pressed against the door, as far from me as possible.

Her arms are crossed as she glares out the window, and the ice coming off her is so thick I can almost see my breath.

The city passes by as we head back to the penthouse, but she doesn’t look at me once.

We pull into the casino’s underground garage, and when Deno opens her door, she gets out and walks off.

She only waits for me at the private elevator because she doesn’t have her key.

Inside the elevator, she stares straight ahead as the elevator climbs. I let her have her silence, for now.

When we reach the penthouse, the doors open and she storms out.

"Sunny."

My hand closes on her wrist.

"Let go of me," she demands.

"We need to talk."

"I don’t want to talk."

"Too bad. We're having a conversation."

She turns, and there’s wildfire raging in her eyes.

"You manipulated me," she says.