5. Dante

5

My phone chimes and I pull it from my pocket.

YESENIA: Your girl is on the schedule for the next auction.

I swipe my thumb across the screen and shove my phone inside my jacket pocket.

It's late. Most of the lights inside the old apartment building went dark hours ago, not that I give a shit about any of those windows. Only one window has my attention. The one on the ground floor facing the parking lot I'm watching from the shadows.

A dozen yards and less than half an inch of glass is the only thing separating me from the woman on the other side of that window.

My woman.

My mate.

I sit on the back of my bike for another half hour before making my way across the deserted lot and down the shallow stairs to her front door. Tucked into the corner in the little planter painted with vibrant, wild strokes and filled with colorfully painted river stones, is the spare key I've watched her use numerous times. As I crouch down and carefully dig through the stones, it's easy to imagine my female and her little girl painting and laughing and making a wonderful mess while decorating the pot and each of the stones.

I straighten with a disappointed shake of my head. When she's finally mine, we're going to have a serious talk about her safety. Then I fit the key into the lock and let myself into her dark apartment. The lock is flimsy at best and wouldn't take much to break. There isn't even a chain on the other side.

The door opens into the kitchen. It's dated, with appliances that are older than she is, but it's clean and tidy. A small plug-in warmer glows on the counter, giving off a familiar lemon verbena scent. I close the door behind me, making sure to flip the lock, then I make my way through the narrow kitchen to a short hallway that leads to the bedrooms. The first one is so small it's barely large enough for the twin sized bed and dresser crammed inside. Peeking through the open doorway, the bed is empty. Molly is staying at her grandparents, which is why I'm sneaking in.

I would never let myself in when Molly was home because I know my fierce little mate would be furious to know that a stranger was creeping around and peeking in on her daughter. I've already made a vow that when I claim Amy, I'll adopt Molly as well. I'll be a real father to her. I'll fill the gaps that the pathetic male constantly neglects and be all the things she needs.

My nostrils flare as I take in the scent of her room. Much like the kitchen, it's clean but hasn't been updated in years with carpet that is at least as old as the appliances. Gauzy pink curtains hang across the blinds covering the only window and a small night light throws star patterns across the ceiling.

Moving on, I stealthily creep to the end of the hallway. Amy's room is only slightly larger. Just big enough for her dresser, full-size bed and nightstand and an old rocking chair in front of the closet. As always, her door is open so she can hear if Molly might need her in the night, although I've come to learn that she's a heavy sleeper. A fan on her dresser drones softly, pointing at where she's curled on her side. She's kicked the blankets off so that they are pooled around her waist, leaving her shoulder bared to the cool breeze. When I notice the goosebumps pebbling her freckled skin, I quickly cross the room and carefully tuck the blankets under her chin, to keep her warm.

Then I pull out my phone. Switching to night mode, I hover it just above her peaceful face and snap a picture. I have dozens of these pictures, and I rotate through them for my home screen so I can look at her every time I look at my phone.

She lets out a soft sigh and snuggles deeper into the bed before she starts to softly snore. Knowing that she's comfortable, I retreat across the room before I give into temptation and climb into her bed behind her. My cock jumps at the thought of gathering her sleep warmed body against mine. Wrapping her in my arms and tucking her head under my chin so I can breathe in her lemon and vanilla scent.

The old creaky rocking chair has become my spot since I started sneaking in here. Hard as I've tried, I just can't seem to leave her alone.

My girl works herself to the bone. During the day, she is completely focused on Molly, and on the weekends, when the girl is at her grandmothers, Amy works long hours at the diner.

One of my favorite times to watch—or at least to listen, since my girl almost always keeps the curtains closed—is in the evenings when it's the two of them. The easy banter between them warms my heart and I want to be a part of that. I can't wait until I can be.

The nights she's all alone, she falls into bed exhausted, and her sleep is restless. Until I show up. My lips quirk knowing that the tossing and turning almost immediately stops as soon as I settle myself in this chair. As if she can sense my presence and it soothes her.

I'll stay until the first rays of sunlight hit the horizon, then I sneak back out. Making sure to lock up and stow the key back in its hiding place.

Tonight is different. I've finally set into motion the plan to make her mine.

When I talked Yesenia into telling her about the auction, I knew there was a chance she'd never go through with it. But I hoped… Fates, I hoped that by giving her a way out of the awful spiral she's been in since she met her piece of shit ex, that she would take my offer.

Of course, I would have gladly just given her the money or whatever she needed. No strings—well, maybe some strings. But my girl would never go for that. She's the kind of woman who would never take what she thought was a handout. She needs to earn her way. So, I gave her the means to do just that. And, in doing so I'll get exactly what I want. I'll claim her and give her everything she didn't realize she was missing.

She might fight me at first, but in the end…

I push the rocking chair into a slow rock, just enough so that the wood doesn't creak too loudly, and a smile spreads across my lips as I watch my mate a few feet away. She's scrubbed her face clean of makeup and sleep has eased the stresses of the day, showing me her natural beauty.

Just a few more weeks, I remind myself. Then she'll finally be mine.