Page 35 of Hearts Of Darkness

“What the fuck gave you that idea?”

“You beat her as well, don’t you?”

His mildly amused expression is gone in a flash, replaced by something much more sinister. He throws down his napkin and rises to his feet. “This was a mistake. Go. Get out of my sight, Eve Miller, before I lose my temper.”

I should do as he says, but I’ve been spoiling for this fight ever since he captured me.

“Is she jealous of me? Am I the new favorite? She doesn’t trust me, does she? Is that why she was snooping around my room earlier?”

“She was unpacking your clothes, Eve. Clothes that I fucking bought you!”

“I never asked you for a damn thing! Except a one-way ticket back to America, but that’s never going to happen, is it?” I suck in a deep, unsteady breath. “Imeantwhen she was rooting through your stuff, or whatever you keep in those drawers.”

He goes very still. “What did you say?”

Instinct is screaming at me to backtrack, but I can’t form the words quick enough. The atmosphere has shifted to something ugly and menacing, and not even the idyllic scenery can offset it.

My pulse beats wild and uneven as he leans across the table, grinding his clenched fists into the tablecloth. “Tell me exactly what you saw, Eve Miller, and I might let you live out the night.”

Everything goes very quiet. I can’tmove or speak from fear.

“TELL ME!”

“I-It’s nothing… I must have imagined it. I’m sorry… Please. Sit down, let’s eat.” With a trembling hand, I spear a scallop and force it into my mouth. After this afternoon I’d almost forgotten about the intimidating killer lurking behind the mask, the one whose dark eyes are devoid of emotion.

This isn’t his game face I realize with a shudder. Once again, I’m seeing Dante for who and what he really is. No amount of education, wealth, and skillful manipulation can conceal the monster lurking inside.

“Bullshit!” he roars, slamming his fist down onto the table. “Start talking, or else.”

I swallow my mouthful with difficulty. My throat seems to have closed up. “I think she was looking for something, but she didn’t seem to know what.”

He straightens up and through a veil of tears I see him punching a number into his cell phone. “Get over to the main house,” I hear him order. “We have a situation.”

13

DANTE

My fists are clenched so tight my fingers start cramping. I reach for my cell and Joseph answers on the first ring.

“What’s up?”

“Get over to the main house. We have a situation.”

“On my way.”

I hang up and barely glance at Eve as I exit the courtyard. I hear the soft scrape of her chair as she stands to follow. Not stopping to wait for her, I cross the hallway and enter the kitchen.

Sofía looks up from the stove in surprise. “I-Is everything okay?” she stutters, her eyes widening as she takes in the state of me. She knows exactly what happens when things go south in this place.

“Where’s Valentina?”

“She’s out back, sorting the fooddelivery from this afternoon. Señor, wait!” she cries, as I circle the island and head next door.

Valentina turns as I enter the storeroom. One look at her face tells me all I need to know.You treacherous fucking bitch. No wonder she’s been so jumpy all night.

She stands there like a statue, clutching a packet of some shit or another. A deer caught in my headlights. Three years I’ve taken care of her.Three fucking years.Her deceit burns like fire in the pit of my stomach. I treat my people well on the proviso that they swear absolute loyalty to me in return, something this woman has clearly forgotten.

“She told you, didn’t she?” she says, trembling. “I knew she would.”

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