Page 49 of Throne of Sin

“What’s this?”

“This is the trafficking ring I’m deeply involved with.”

I look back at the board, recognizing Tex’s picture, the man who sold me to Dante, and a few others I have seen around Jameson. My stomach dips and rolls, and I wish I had a candy to pop into my mouth.

I walk toward Dante, wrapping my arms around his neck. “My outcome would have been vastly different if you weren’t involved with that. I’m grateful for you.” I glance back at the board and my heart refuses to allow me to imagine Dante’s picture beside the others. He’s not like them.

“You’re the exception, Demi.” He untangles my arms and scratches his head. “I’ve watched innocent lives be ruined.”

“No, you’re the exception. You have morals and a kind heart.”

“You don’t know the things I’ve done and how good I sleep after.”

“I don’t need to know what you’ve done. How many other women have you helped?”

His eyes drift from the board to a chair in the middle of the room. “I killed a man here not long ago. I enjoyed every second. To have that much power in your hands is a slippery slope. It’s not long before I will crave it. I see how my brothers are and I know this is only the beginning.”

I use my fingers on his jaw to turn his head until he’s looking at me and place my hand over his chest. “It’s what’s in here that matters. Your heart is made of gold. I’ve never cared about anything else. People like us don’t have the luxury of thinking further than what’s right, and the way we get there is often a little gray.”

Dante is devastatingly hot and intimidating. His expression fluctuates between crazed killer and church boy while he evaluates my reaction. I lick my lips and his eyes track the movement with a predatory focus, flashing with darkness. It’s a darkness I recognize, as I also have it within myself, and it reminds me that we can never escape our past and the way it shaped us.

“The ugliness of our world has never scared me and I refuse to let it start doing so now,” I assure him.

He looks like he wants to believe me but uncertainty waivers in his eyes. “Our past has only made you more beautiful, Demi. It’s refreshing for someone to understand me and know where I’m coming from.” His hands link through mine and, with unapologetic conviction, he adds, “I’ll never hesitate to protect what’s mine, no matter the cost.”

He’s searching deep within my morally gray soul for something, and he must see it. The one side of his lips lift into a smirk and he squeezes my hand. “Let’s get this stuffy party over and done with so we can go home.”

Chapter 25

Dante

Wewalkintothefundraiser fashionably late. My family; Romeo, his wife Gia, Savio, his wife Charlotte, Max, and some random woman I’ve never met before, all sit at a round table with two empty seats.

“Dante!” Romeo stands to greet us, shaking my hand.

“Romeo, this is Demi. Demi, my brother Romeo.” I make quick introductions around the table while my brother’s eyes stay on Demi. It’s never a good thing to be on Romeo’s radar for long.

I don’t get nervous often, but right now the tension has my molars grinding.

“Demi, you and my wife have a few things in common. I think you girls will get along well,” Romeo offers and the tension leaves my bones.

We take a seat, the table growing awkwardly silent. I watch Demi take a drink of her water before clearing her throat. “What type of fundraiser is this?”

“It’s supporting a nonprofit organization that fights against human trafficking,” I reply, watching for her reaction. She chokes on her water and I rub at her back. After our conversation at the warehouse, I’ve decided that tonight will be the night that I trust her with my biggest secret. She has no idea how deeply involved I really am with trafficking. “It’s great networking,” I add with a smirk.

“I hear you and Dante knew each other in high school,” Charlotte says, trying to gain Demi’s attention. I’m grateful for her trying to include her.

Once the women are in conversation, Romeo nods his head and the men at the table stand. We follow him like good little soldiers and the thought has me chuckling to myself. Savio narrows his eyes at me, already knowing what I’m thinking, while Max keeps his eyes on the room. He has this creepy fucking grin on his face. He’s the one guy in this world I would be scared of if I got on his bad side. From the stories I’ve heard, he’s fucking crazy, but who am I to judge?

We head to the bar to gather drinks for ourselves. “What’s up?” I ask.

Instead of Romeo speaking, Savio answers. “Tomorrow, Charlotte is announcing that the Bratva are not the only ones with the one-of-a-kind diamonds.” His voice is hushed as he makes sure no one is listening to us. I watch as his whole body vibrates with energy and excitement.

Charlotte’s father is the head of the Bratva, the Russian mafia, and specializes in selling diamonds. Charlotte left her family for my brother, Savio, and took part of the empire with her. We’re already at war with them, and this news will only serve to elevate things to a whole new level of hostility.

I can feel eyes on my back and glance behind me, half expecting Demi to be coming my way, but she’s still at the table, her attention fully on the conversation. She looks beautiful and seems to be getting along with the other women. It’s important that the others like her.

As if sensing my eyes on her, she turns around and catches me staring at her. Her face lights up and my heart does a double thud.

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