Page 45 of Throne of Sin

“Why are your girls not allowed in there?” I ask once we’re outside and no one is in earshot.

“I have a reputation to maintain. If people see them all happy and healthy and living normal lives, it would ruin my image and take away the easy lives they live.” He cages me in against his car. “Why were you at the fight? Did you miss me and have to make yourself known?” he murmurs against my ear.

He thinks I was there searching him out. I could lie, tell him what he wants to hear, but that has never been us. We’re honest with each other, or at least we used to be. “The girls told me they were going to the fight. I was running late because of my alarm clock and Robin gave me the address.” I hold my breath, watching his expression.

It’s emotionless except for the way his muscles tighten against me. “I see. Well, their error is my gain.” He smiles and I let out a relieved breath.

“My thoughts exactly.” I return his smile. This moment seems more intimate than it should. Like we’re both in on the same secret. Electricity runs through me, sparking our chemistry once again. The parking lot disappears and we’re suspended in our own bubble where the outside world no longer matters. My nipples pucker, my breath falters, and stomach flutters.

He reaches around me and opens the passenger side door. Our eyes never leave each other. To an outsider, I must look like a lovesick fool. The back of his fingers glide over my hardened nipples.

“Get in the car Demi, before I decide to fuck you for everyone to watch.”

I slip in with my heart pounding. One leg bounces as fast as a telegraph machine sending Morse code, while my fingers strum against my leg. My body refuses to stay still as my excitement builds.

Dante parks his car in an out-of-the-way alleyway. The entrance to my building is off to one side, close enough to the street to be safe, yet far enough away to be discreet. The location is perfect, right in the middle of downtown.

He unlocks the four deadbolts and holds the door open for me. I step inside and wait for him to join me. He flicks on the lights and my eyes immediately prickle with tears. There’s a small couch with a table and fresh flowers. I go to the flowers and lift them to my nose.

“This is beautiful,” I say in awe.

He opens another room that has a bed with a roll of paper like a doctor’s office.

“You’ll have to come up with a name for your little spot, like a business name or symbol for people to know they’re at the right place.”

I walk around the small room, noticing a cabinet with double locks. “What’s this?” I ask, pointing to it.

“In case you need to lock up your vitamins or something. It’s locked for security.

“We’ll have to move it out of this room, but I love the idea.” I look around in astonishment, not believing my eyes.

“You like it?” Dante asks.

“I love it. Thank you so much for making this happen.” I walk up and give him a hug.

He chuckles before placing a soft kiss on the top of my head. There’s a knock on the door and I do a little skip towards it. Dante, like the over-protective man he is, strolls ahead of me to answer the door, until I call his name. “Dante.”

His one eyebrow lifts in questioning. “What are you doing? You scare the shit out of these women. Go hide in the bathroom for a second.” I shoo him away, as he gives me ayou got to be kiddinglook, but does as I ask.

One of the ladies I’ve been treating walks in, folding in half. “Has your water broken yet?” I ask, immediately getting into midwife mode.

“Yes,” she half yells, half moans in pain.

“How far apart are your contractions?” I grab a big workout ball she can use to sit on to help her labor. Her hand goes to her stomach as I help her onto the ball. Her body knows what to do as soon as she sits down and her legs naturally bounce.

“Three to four minutes apart.”

I look around the space and in a few cabinets, before running to the bathroom. “Dante, I need a slow cooker to keep water warm, and face cloth,” I whisper.

“I’ll text my guy, unless I can come out now?” I shake my head, mentally starting to make a list of what I’ll need.

“You taking charge right now is sexy as Hell,” Dante whispers into my ear.

Trying to stay professional, I ignore his flirting, and return back to the task at hand. “Lorna, you’re doing great.” I rub her back trying to soothe her pain. “Remember, each contraction is one step closer to meeting that precious baby of yours. Let the contractions do the work.”

She breathes deeply through another set of contractions. “I’ve been visualizing this moment, just like you told me to,” she says, strained, but overall, much calmer than she was when she walked in. “I was so scared you wouldn’t be here. I came earlier but you weren’t open yet.”

Over the next few hours, Dante’s men bring me a few items I need to help with a home-like birth, but never try to walk in. I’m running on adrenaline and the high I get from helping others.

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