”You do know I’ve got my own car, right?” My bag lands on the back seat. “It’d be nice if I could use it sometime.”
Dante grips the steering wheel harder, his knuckles white with the effort. “Good morning to you too. I don’t know why you’re pissy, but don’t take it out on me.” The engine springs to life, murmuring wildly as we pull out onto the main road.
He’s a skilled driver, veering around other cars so fast it feels like they’re at a standstill, but he’s no match for Rookie.
“I’m sorry.” I cover his hand with mine when we park outside my college.
Last week Dante sat me on the bonnet and kissed me while at least a hundred students watched him mark his territory and show off that I’m his—untouchable. When I joined Jane in the auditorium later that day, the whole student body knew all there was to know about my new boyfriend. Within a few hours, my status changed from nobody to the main topic on everyone’s lips, including the professors. I’ve never enjoyed being in the center of attention, but I can’t escape the nosy looks while I’m at college.
Today, more students wait outside, staring at the black Charger. Among hundreds of nameless faces, I spot Jane. She stands by the door in a summery brown dress, tapping her wrist to let me know I should get moving.
It’s the middle of November, so the temperature outside oscillates around fifty degrees, but Jane doesn’t care about the flu outbreak spreading among the students like wildfire. I’m bundled in a thick cardigan, warm boots on my feet, not daring to put my looks above comfort.
“Keep going,” Dante says. “Why are you so pissy?”
“We’ll talk later. Newson will have a fit if I’m late.”
Dante cuts the engine, exiting the car, my bag in his hand. “We’ll talk now. I want a word with your professor anyway.”
“You know each other?”
“He does a bit of after-hours work for me.”
Newson is a sociologist specializing in public opinion. I can only guess what he does for Dante.
I thought people were moving out of my way since Dante staked his claim, but I was wrong. They’re literally running away at the sight of him. I had never taken an elevator inside this building before, but it’s free to use today because everyone takes the stairs as soon as we approach the metal door. Even Jane chose to climb instead of riding with us.
“I can’t see you next Saturday,” I say when the door slides shut. “Frankie’s throwing another party. He invited one of the bosses, and I’m supposed to babysit their son.”
Dante rests his back against the wall with a soft smile. “You can’t last one evening without me?”
We spend most of my free time together. He takes me to college every morning, picks me up after my last lecture, and takes me to his place. I don’t get home until late, but Dante doesn’t like driving me to Frank’s. Spending one evening without him might prove a struggle.
“That’s not the problem.” I click my tongue. “I don’t like the guy I’ll be taking care of. He’s a clown.”
“You deal with Luca, so you’ll have no problem dealing with whoever is coming.”
“Luca’s almost well behaved compared to Julij.”
The small smile slips from his face. “Julij Aristow? Nikolaj’s flying in?”
The elevator stops on the last floor. “I’ll spend the evening faking smiles and dodging that idiot’s obscene comments.”
“Does Nikolaj know about us?”
“He’s got a goddaughter in Chicago. News traveled faster than you predicted.”
Dante thought it’d take a few weeks for the city to find out about us. One was enough. Gossip has an unbelievable kill radius. Like an atomic bomb, it went off outside the college building, and the shock wave traveled throughout Chicago, reaching as far as New York.
He pushes the door open, entering the auditorium as if it’s his class. Jane waits at the top row, looking impatient and slightly disheveled. She must’ve ran to get here before Dante and me.
“Layla, how considerate of you to—” Newson pauses, his face pale when he spots Dante by my side.
“Bye,” I whisper over my shoulder.
He pulls me back, grips my neck, and sinks into my lips, his tongue skimming the inseam of my mouth as if we’re not watched by one hundred people. “I’ll pick you up later, baby.” He turns towards Newson. “A word.Now.”
A fundamental change in his tone sends shivers down my spine. It sounds as if he’s inviting Newson to hell.