Page 18 of Depraved
“Ask me, Billy,” he grinds out louder, rubbing his stubbled jaw angrily and stalking directly into my space, pushing the chair into its spot with a loud thud.
My hand shoots out to his chest, stopping him in his place. “Men like you…you don’t do things out of the goodness of your heart. There’s always a price. And no matter how small it seems, it’s always too steep.” His eyes falter as he pushes my hand off his chest, but I continue. “My decisions are mine, Dante. My consequences are fucking mine. I won’t make transactions with my life.”
A sneer grows on his face, a deep guttural rumble pulling from his throat. He grabs a glass from the bar next to us and hurls it across the room as his voice booms in the space.
“So, I’m just some monster that would rob you of your life? That’s who the fuck I am to you?”
The crystal smashes against the wall, and I flinch, refusing to look at the tiny shards ricocheting through the room.
“No, you’re the nightmare that controls all the monsters. You’re the thing I wouldn’t be able to escape.”
Dante runs a hand over his shaved head and takes two steps backward, letting out a laugh. “Who said you’re able to escape now? Donna testarda.” Stubborn woman.
I draw my brows together, worried by his words, as the sound of footsteps grabs my attention and pulls my head in the direction of the door.
Two fast knocks sound against the outside, and Dante walks past where I’m frozen, saying, “Entra,” and pulling his cell phone from his pants pocket. The door opens wide, and Vincenzo steps aside just as Dante reaches the doorway.
“Where are you going?” I shoot out, confused by what’s happening.
Dante turns and looks at me, a smirk growing on his face. “I gave you a choice. You could’ve just asked, but you had to do this the hard way. Try and remember what happens next is for your own good.”
Turning his head, Dante brings the cell to his ear and speaks into it quickly in Italian. I can’t understand anything he says except for when he says, “Done.” But given his demeanor, I don’t think it was good.
Dante covers the phone, turning to look at Vincenzo, as he keeps his back to me.
“Porta a casa Sarah, e tienila lì e non farla uscire.”
My stomach flips at the finality in his voice, mixed with the uncertainty of his words. And for the first time, I’m actually scared.
“Why the fuck are you speaking in code?” I yell to Dante’s back. “What’s going on?”
It’s as if I haven’t spoken. I’m invisible. Neither man turns to look at me.
My eyes blink rapidly as I look around, needing an escape. I need to get the fuck out of here. The door closes with a loud bang, and I jump, my head swinging around to see Vincenzo standing alone.
“All right, sweetheart, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Sarah, don’t choose the hard way because I like you, and I don’t want to have to—.”
Cutting him off, I toss my bag on the ground, letting it land with a thud, and walk to my desk, eyeing exactly what I need. I grip the silver metal scissors in my hand and turn, narrowing my eyes.
Vincenzo takes off his jacket and folds it, banking it over the armchair. He tilts his head and gives me a hard look before rolling up his shirtsleeve.
“Fuck. That’s what I thought.”
I’M THE MONSTER SHE CAN’Tescape?Her pride is her monster. Whatever happened to Sarah is far worse than she’s letting on. That’s for damn sure.
Fuck. The disgusting possibilities of what she didn’t tell me run through my head, making me see red. I have to get out of this fucking room. We’re getting nowhere, and I’m only going to do something I’ll regret.
My gaze drifts down seeing the light reflected off a tiny piece of glass from the tumbler I tossed against the wall, and I close my eyes.What am I doing?
I open them and look to Vincenzo, standing next to me in the doorway, waiting for direction.
But I have none. I’m undecided. Conflicted.
On one hand, her shit isn’t my problem, and if this girl wanted my help, she’d ask. She’s been given a hundred opportunities tonight. I need to walk away and let her handle her own fucking life because helping her is inviting trouble…and I choose for more than just myself.
I have to look at the bigger picture.
But men are animals, our triggers are hairpin, and Sarah is a big fucking trigger for me.
