Page 109 of The Temptation
“What?” I ask, confused.
“You sound like a dying racehorse with asthma.”
“Fuck off,” I grumble, glancing away.
“I’m serious,” he says, grasping my chin and turning my face back towards the light. “You’re fucking grey. Are you on something?”
“What?” I snap, tugging my head out of his grip. “I think you know me better than that.”
My mother’s addiction was enough to turn me off dabbling in any illicit substances growing up. I even hate taking antibiotics for fuck’s sake.
He scowls. “Yeah, well, something is going on here; you look like a fucking corpse.” His frown deepens as he moves the light down my body. “Is that fucking blood?” he asks when he reaches my track pants.
The dark fabric of my T-shirt hides it well, but the grey of my sweats doesn’t.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it,” I say, shoving his phone away.
“The fuck it is,” he growls, reaching for the hem of my T-shirt and tugging it before I get a chance to stop him. “What the hell! Is that tape?”
My nostrils flare as I push air through my nose. “One ofthe fuckers at the park had a knife. I didn’t see it until it was too late. And yes, it’s tape. I had to improvise.”
His eyes widen, then narrow. “He stabbed you?”
“Obviously,” I grumble.
“That was almost two fucking hours ago! Why are you here? You should’ve called the family doctor straight away.”
“Well, I didn’t. I had something important to do.”
“More important than your fucking life?”
“I’m not leaving until I get Lucia back.”
My words have him rearing back. “Untilyouget her back? You’re talking like she’s yours.”
She is mine.
“You know what I mean.”
“Do I?” he retorts. “That sounded a tad possessive. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Do you honestly think this is the right time for a deep and meaningful?”
He blows out a puff of air. “You’re right, now sit.”
“Sit?”
“I’m sidelining you.”
“The fuck you are.”
“You might be my best friend … my underboss, but I’m still in charge, so sit the fuck down before you pass the hell out.”
I stay put until Dante disappears around the side of the building, but as soon as he’s out of sight, I scramble to my feet.Scrambleis a stretch. It’s more like a slow, painful lurch, but I manage it, just not as fast as I’d like.
The second I’m upright, a wave of lightheadedness hits me like a freight train. I press a hand to the side of the building,using it to keep me steady as I take a breath that burns all the way down.
I move towards the edge of the building, staying out of sight as I assess the situation.
