14. Dante

Chapter 14

Dante

G etting the keys to Marco’s house had proved a feat that had taken about three months of constant badgering to succeed. I had finally convinced him it would prove beneficial in case of an emergency involving his daughter. He had given them to me to be used only in case of an emergency.

This, classified as one.

As I took in the drunk girl on the floor who seemed to be in the depths of despair, to my surprise something in my chest twisted. It had been a long time since I felt even the slightest twinge of pity for another human being. I had learned to distrust human beings. Even the ones that looked vulnerable. All snakes. All capable of turning around and biting the hand that feeds.

And this one was particularly dangerous to me. She awakened long-asleep desires. I could feel them powerfully and uncontrollably unfurling inside my body. I had to be careful that they did not consume me.

The last thing I wanted was to startle her but it was unavoidable. I had softly knocked on the door, but she was in the throes of a laughing-crying fit and had not heard me.

Her reaction was surprisingly fast though, considering how drunk she was. She scrambled up, lurched over to her father’s bedside, pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at me.

Her eyelashes were all wet and stuck together. I’d never seen her look so vulnerable and sexy at the same time. “Is that gun even loaded?” I asked as I walked over to the pizza and picked up a slice. It was loaded with cheese and quite greasy, but I was starving and it would do.

“What are you doing here and how the hell did you get in?” she demanded hoarsely. She was so drunk she was swaying.

I glanced over at the empty bottle rolling on the floor and a half-empty bottle still standing upright. “Your father gave me a set of keys a long time ago.”

“He gave you the keys or you stole it?” she scoffed.

I didn’t bother arguing with her. Not when there was a gun pointed at my head. I took another bite. “Doesn’t your arm hurt yet?”

“Fuck you,” she muttered and flung the gun on the bed.

“This is terrible food.”

“I want you to leave. Right now, or you’re going to regret it,” she threatened adorably.

“You know I’m not going to hurt you. Why are you so panicked by my presence?” I asked calmly.

“What am I supposed to feel? Relieved?” She picked up her phone from the carpet. “I'm going to call the cops.”

I shrugged. “If you do, the media will cover the story, and everyone will know you’re back in this house.”

“My life is a living hell and it’s all your fault,” she blurted out suddenly. Her lower lip trembled and she dropped her head to hide it from me.

“You wish I hadn’t saved you that day, don’t you?” I asked softly.

She didn’t lift her head, but I knew she was listening. How I wanted to pull her poor grieving body into my arms, hold her close, and never let this cruel world hurt her again. But she would probably scratch my eyes out. I turned and stared out the window.

“Because of that incident, you sense your father felt indebted to me. And that was why he could never let go of my case even though it was dangerous.”

“If you hadn’t saved me, I would be dead,” she whispered.

I turned to face her. She was staring at me and her beautiful eyes looked enormous. “Yes, but since I did your father is dead. Isn’t that the dilemma you’re struggling with to handle his loss?”

As if she could no longer bear her own weight she sank heavily to the edge of the bed and buried her face in her hands. A long silence ensued between us.

“Don’t join the program,” I said earnestly. “It’s a bad deal.”

“Don’t try to tell me what to do,” she replied. “I can still shoot you.”

She was cute when she was being unreasonable. I turned away to hide my smile. “You’ve been subpoenaed so you’ll need a lawyer.”

She sighed heavily.

“It’s too dangerous for you to find one yourself, and you don’t know enough about what you are up against to choose the right one. I'll find the very best one for you and send him over tomorrow. He’ll be here around eleven to see you. Thanks for the pizza.” I got to my feet then and started to head toward the door.

“What if they get me before the night is over?” she asked.

I turned around to look at her and at that moment I knew. I would protect her with my life. Not because I owed her father, but because … because. What the hell was going on with me? Was I losing my mind over a girl? I shook my head to clear it. And when I spoke my voice was hard.

“Every inch of your home is under the watch of my men. Even a cockroach cannot get into the house without my men’s knowledge. As for the window in your father's office, it will be fixed in a few hours … so don’t panic if you hear any drilling noises. We’ll try to keep it brief. This is not the ideal location for you, but you are well protected. No one can harm you.

“When you wake up you have my office number. Call my secretary. She’s at your disposal for anything you might need, including a lawyer to handle your father’s will, the sale of the house … anything. She will only send approved people your way. This is not the time to use strangers. I hope that you will heed my advice. Now try to get some sleep.”

She was still staring at me speechlessly when I left.