“Let’s run away... please.”
“Baby, I know you’re worried about him—”
“It’s not just him I’m worried about.” She turns to look at me. “I wish you could work things out, stop fighting, stop this madness! Frank is vicious and blinded by revenge, but maybe... maybe you could somehow make him forgive you?” She shakes her head because she knows reconciliation isn’t possible.
Frank’s been fueled by hatred for years, and now he’s also driven by fear of losing everything he’s worked for since he was a teenager.
“I’ll do what I can to make sure Frank doesn’t get hurt.”
“Make sureyoudon’t get hurt.”
There, the worried tone again, the sincerity and firmness that feels like an iron fist clamped around my throat.
“I’ll be fine, Layla. I’ve gotyou. I won’t leave you here alone. There’s a line of men waiting to take my place. No way in hell I’ll let that happen.”
She chuckles as she drapes her hands over my neck. “There’s no one I’d rather be with. You make me the happiest I’ve ever been. I mean it, Dante. I love you so much. Ireallylove you. More than you can imagine.”
“I know, baby,” I press my lips to her forehead.
My phone rings on the nightstand. From the corner of my eye, I seeSpadeson the screen. I’m supposed to see him soon, and that’s why I answer. He’d wait to tell me in person if it wasn’t important.
“Fire!” he screams. “Get down here right now!”
I pull my eyebrows together. “What?”
“Delta’s on fire!”
Deafening ringing reverberates through my head. My reactions slow down for a short moment before adrenaline rushes through my veins like a bolt of lightning. My mind is focused, ready for hell. I jump out of bed, throwing a t-shirt over my head. “Where’s Luca?”
“He’s here. Frank sent his guys to do the dirty work. We killed two. The third one is alive. Luca’s torturing him.”
“Send him over here right now. Tell him to bring someone to help. Someone with a good shot.”
If Frank is taking radical steps, it means Nikolaj is dead. Every muscle in my body turns to stone when I realize this is it. The finale, the six-year-long war over territory is at my fingertips. Before the end of the night, only one boss will be left standing.
Spades cuts the call and grab my holster out of the drawer, strapping it to my belt.
Layla sits on the bed, pale, eyes following my every move. “What’s wrong?”
“Delta’s on fire.” I take a black leather jacket out of the wardrobe. “Luca will be here in ten minutes. He’ll watch over you until I come back.” I open the drawer to my bedside table and pull out another gun. “You know what to do with this. Youwon’tneed it, baby, but I’ll feel better knowing you have it. No one can get in without the code, all windows are bulletproof, and Luca will tear apart anyone who tries to touch you.” I say it out loud for my peace of mind as if listing the reasons why she’s safe here will make it easier to leave. I rest my fists on the mattress, leaning over to kiss her. “Sleep, Star. You’re safe here but if anything happens, call me straight away. Don’t wait for Luca to take care of it. Understood?”
She cups my face, kissing me deeply. “I’ll be fine.”
For the first time in my life, I’m cold at the thought of possibly not coming home. I have to come home. I have Layla, and I’ll walk through hell to get back to her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Layla
Moonlight slips inside the bedroom through the cracks between the burgundy curtains. It travels across the ceiling above the bed, dancing on the walls and shining in my face. Silence rings in my ears, amplifying my screaming thoughts to the point of madness. Time moves like something old and crippled; each second stretches and the ticking reverberates through the room like the lowest ‘A’ note on the piano.
I lay under the sheets, a war of my own raging in my head.
Which one do I love more?
Frank is my father. I need him; I crave his attention because I’ve never had it.
And Dante... he gave me all I ever wanted and more, without asking for anything in return. He’s here when I need him, always ready to help, calm me down, and make my dreams come true. He’s a man I should run away from, but deep in my heart, I know I won’t get far.