Page 47 of Toxic

He closes his eyes and breathes a few times. His green globes are like two flames dancing in the pit of Hell. "Do not step foot in that club ever again."

I open my door. "Fine. Please leave."

He steps into the doorway then turns. "This issue with the O'Malleys isn't going to go away. You need to face it."

"And whose fault is that?"

He sighs. "I—"

"Made a deal that involved my children.My children!Not yours! What did you get out of it, Dad? Hmm?"

He stays quiet.

"I'll never forgive you for this," I seethe then shut the door on him and lock it. I crawl under the covers and hug my pillow when my phone buzzes.

I squeeze my eyes tighter, knowing there is only one person who would be calling me right now.

Don't answer it.

Against my better judgement, I grab my purse off the nightstand, dig out my phone, and stare at the screen.

Danteflashes on it.

I send it to voicemail, just like I have every time over the last five years whenever he attempted to call me. A text pops up.

Dante:I'm calling again. If you don't answer, I'm coming over to your house.

My gut sinks. The last thing I need is Dante showing up at my door, so when he calls again, I answer but don't say anything.

His deep voice sends flutters through my stomach. I loathe how after all these years, it's like he flipped a switch to make my body react just like it used to. He demands, "Why did you leave?"

I stay quiet, not sure how to answer.

"Bridge, talk to me, or I'm coming over."

"Jesus. Stop threatening me," I whisper.

He softly chuckles.

"Why are you laughing?" I demand.

"If you weren't so stubborn, I wouldn't have to."

I roll my eyes, but my lips twitch. "What do you want, Dante? It's five in the morning. I have to get up with the kids soon."

"Are you in your bed?" he asks.

I bury my face into the pillow. My heart races, and I answer, "Yes."

He lowers his voice, but it's full of the same arrogance he's always possessed. "Maybe I should come over and give my tongue a workout."

Heat flares in my cheeks, and zings fly to my core. It's something I haven't felt in years. But then again, everythingabout last night was an igniting of memories, twisting the ghost of Dante in high school and the one of Sean, who I spent seventeen years of my life loving...who spent seventeen years loving me.

Thinking about any of those sensations scares me to death—especially when it's Dante Marino creating those reactions.

"It was a mistake. Let's forget it ever happened," I say, grimacing as it comes out.

"You're getting too predictable, dolcezza," he replies, as if he really did assume I would say that, it's not a big deal, and he's slightly bored. "But I've got a secret for you. Want to know what it is?"

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