Page 48 of Toxic

I don't answer him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction but also curious about what he will reveal next.

"I'm over playing your game," he states.

"My game? I've never—"

"Five years, Bridge. Five fucking long-ass, painful years. One thousand, eight hundred, thirty-nine days, to be exact, since you last let me see you. And I'll be damned if you shut me out again," he declares.

My lungs stop accepting air. I swallow the golf-ball-sized lump in my throat. "Is that why you told my father?"

"Told your father what?"

"Don't act like I'm stupid, Dante."

"What are you talking about?"

"Are you really going to play dumb?"

"I'm not playing anything. Why don't you fill me in on what you're accusing me of doing?"

I huff. "Fine. You told my father I was at the club."

The line turns silent for a moment until he sternly replies, "No. I didn't. The moment I ripped that thug off you was the moment the heads of the families would have been notified. I haven't talked to anyone since you left me while I was sleeping."

I cringe, hating how that sounds.

"What did your father say?"

"Doesn't matter."

"It does to me."

I sigh. "I'm tired. I need to sleep. I have a full day ahead of me."

The sound of a car door slamming fills the line. "Home," Dante orders in a muffled tone then comes back on the line. "Okay. I'll pick you up at eleven when you finish at school."

I roll over and sit up. "How do you know I'll be at school?"

He grunts. "Don't try to avoid me, or I'll pick you up and carry you out of there."

"What?"

"You heard me. Get some sleep, dolcezza." He hangs up before I can say anything.

I stare at my phone then text him.

Me:Save the trip. I'm not going anywhere with you.

Dante:Sure you are. By the way, you're no longer in charge.

Me:Excuse me?

Dante:I meant it, Bridget. The only way you're not getting in my car is if your father's guard takes me out. So be very clear about your actions today. Get some sleep.

I stare at his message, hoping he's joking but knowing he's not.

When the tiny spark of excitement pops through my anger, I wrap Sean's T-shirt around my fist, hating how Dante Marino once again fills me with confusion. Only this time, I'm not a teenage girl. I don't have the luxury of letting him set his hooks in me, only to destroy me. My heart's already on its last leg.

I don't sleep. When my alarm rings, I shower, get ready, and put on a long dress with a high neck. It's the only thing I can think of that doesn't scream too sexy. If I didn't have to deal with the other moms at the school, I wouldn't even wear makeup, so I'm not sending him any signals.

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