Page 69 of Beautiful Enemy

“Are you really trying to help me?”

“To save my own life? Yes.”

He nods once. “Ok then.” He backs up into the crowd around us and soon the sight of Anya and Erik and my father disappears.

We’re jostled from side to side as people try to get a look at what is happening. Now that we’re in the crowd, most people don’t even notice the blood dripping from Dante’s side.

He lowers the knife from my throat. “Can I trust that you won’t escape?”

“You’re all I have so you better start trusting me.”

Dante’s eyes say so much but I can’t quite figure them out through his mask. “All right then.” He grabs my hand and pulls me deeper into the crowd. When I glance back, I see that Erik is trying to follow us. He will not give up. He promised to get me back for Anya’s sake and anything for Anya means he will not stop fighting.

“If you don’t want Erik to reach us, move faster.”

Dante grits his teeth and does as I say. We make it out of the crowd and towards the front doors but as we move closer to them, two guards stand in the way. They don’t have their guns drawn but I can see them at their hips. These are Erik’s men.

“Not that way,” I say, tugging Dante to the side. “If we approach, they’ll stop you. There’s a good chance they might kill you.”

“But then you’d be free of me.”

“I might die in the process. I’m just trying to keep that from happening.”

“Is that the only reason?” he asks so quietly, I’m not sure if I hear him correctly.

“This way.” I tug on his arm and we half run and half walk down a hallway. Paintings are on either side of us. People look at them and not in our direction.

We make it down the hall and turn a corner when Dante lets out a gasp and slumps against the wall. He clutches his side.

“How bad is it?” I ask.

“If you wanted to make your escape, now’s your chance. I don’t have a knife to your throat. There’s no other guards around to accidently shoot you. If I were you, I’d run now.”

He’s right. There’s no one down this hallway but us.

But if I don’t stay with Dante, he’ll die. Isn’t that what I should want? I should want to be free of Dante and yet, the thought of him dying stings my heart in a way I can’t fully understand.

Anya flashes through my mind. She’s the one I care most about. She would be devastated if I didn’t run.

I have to run and leave Dante to his fate. He caused this. He deserves whatever happens to him.

I take a step away from him when he lunges forward and grabs me around the waist.

“Not so fast,” he growls. “I do need you to get out of here.”

“But you said-,”

“I was testing you. Now I know where your loyalties lie.”

I glare at Dante. “And why would you think they lie with you? You have to know I’ll always choose my sister over you. I don’t love you, Dante. And you don’t love me so don’t pretend like I just betrayed you. You kidnapped me.”

He’s quiet for a beat before nodding. “Fair enough. You know, I like this fire in you. I’ve never seen it before. You look so… brave.”

I gasp. No one has ever called me brave before, not even Anya. Dante’s eyes soften right before he winces and clutches his side again.

I push my thoughts away and help Dante stand up straight. “Let’s get you out of here.”

Dante slumps against me as we walk down the hallway. It’s strange to have to carry his weight. Dante is such a strong figure but right now, he’s weak. It’s sort of refreshing to see. He deserves it after all he’s put me through.

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