Page 30 of Throne of Sin

Dante was my whole world. I tried to show that the only way I knew how but, never having positive role models, I often questioned how I should act.

“It was never you,” I whisper, my voice cracking at the end.

Dante scoffs, removing his hand from on top of mine. “It’s me, not you.” He mimics my voice in a horrible rendition. “It’s stuff like this that I’m talking about. You could never let me in. You let me fix your problems, but never trusted me enough for anything that mattered.”

“It’s never been like that. You are theoneperson I trust in the whole world.”

“Do you hear yourself?” he balks. “Do youactuallybelieve that or are you still trying to convince yourself of it?”

He stands and I quickly sit up. I hate when we fight and I don’t know how to fix it. The truth would make it all that much more difficult. He would hate me and I don’t think I could survive knowing he despises me.

“You can move in with the other girls tomorrow.”

My heart cracks and I wipe more tears from my eyes.This is a good thing. I need to distance myself from Dante, otherwise the truth will come pouring out of me. What’s the point of hurting us both more than we have already done?This is a good thing. Hopefully, it will help the girls finally accept me. I could use a friend. I have no one, and it’s my fault.

My hands push against the ground to help me stand. It takes a second to calm my racing heart and try to get my head in check. My nose flares as I take a deep breath before I push one foot in front of the other to join the party once again.

Dante stays rooted in place, and that familiar searing sensation burns my back. It has the small hairs on my neck feeling electrified. The sensation stays until I reach the crowd, and by then I can’t help myself. I glance over my shoulder to where I left him but he’s no longer there.

Chapter 16

Dante

Istandattheback of the warehouse as my brother, Max, dismantles a guy one piece at a time while keeping him alive. I fucking hate this part of the job. “He obviously knows nothing. Can we kill him and get on with our day?” I ask.

“Why is he in a mood?” Max asks my other brothers.

“He’s not getting laid,” Romeo teases.

“Demi is moving in with the girls today,” Savio adds.

“And what’s the history with this girl?” Max asks.

“She’s no one,” I reply with a sneer.

“She used to live across the street from us when we lived with Ma,” Savio informs everyone.

Our guest of honor moans and I can’t take it anymore. I walk up beside Max and put a bullet in his head.

“I thought you were a lover, not a fighter.” Max bumps my shoulder, frowning at the now-dead body hunched over itself.

“He was our only lead, dipshit,” Savio curses.

“Naw, the guy knew nothing. He would have talked if he had,” Max says, picking up a rag to wipe his hands.

Savio places a hand over his forehead, frustrated. He would never hesitate to kill anyone if he thought they posed a danger to his wife. He’s gone along with her conspiracy theories that someone among our ranks tried to help get her killed.

I don’t know if I agree. This is all over some random computer IP address, but I keep my mouth shut. If I had a wife, I would want to shield her from everything as well, no matter the cost.

Max hits me on the back of the shoulder. “I need you to head out with me today.”

I don’t want to return to my empty home and I have no interest in seeing Demi at my club, so I agree. “You got it.”

Max pulls up to my strip club and my fingers dig into my thigh. “For a guy who says he can find his own date, you seem to be coming in here an awful lot.”

He turns to me. “Here’s the thing. I’ve been digging deeper. Somehow, our bank accounts are being skimmed. It’s small, a few cents a day, but over many accounts it’s adding up. I think I’ve found a lead and the IP address is the same one Savio is looking for. It has to be linked.”

“That doesn’t address why we’re here.” I dread walking into my own club. How pathetic is this? And it’s because of some girl.

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