CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Dante

I PROMISED MYSELF I wouldn’t think about the kiss they shared. I promised myself I’d focus on my job. I’d focus on blood.

Not El.

But the more I told myself that, the more she came to the forefront of my mind, especially after the stunt Andrei pulled today. I’d never been so thankful for jealousy in my entire life.

I knew why he wanted El either with them or dead.

He was under the assumption Xavier told her things when all he did was use her for sex.

The thought of anyone’s hands on her.

I gritted my teeth just as she walked into the kitchen for dinner, staring down at her phone.

Smiling.

What the hell was that guy sending her? Cat videos? Naked pictures? I’d never been so tempted to ask my brother in law for a favor in my life.

Hack her phone.

But I knew it wouldn’t help.

I’d just torture myself with all the inside jokes all the sweet compliments, and plans for the future.

A future I wasn’t going to be a part of.

“You’re smiling,” Frank pointed out from the head of the table, he lived alone so it wasn’t rare for him to share dinner with us multiple times a week.

What was rare was that Mil was actually sitting down.

She eyed me and then the potatoes in front of her.

All right then.

“Dante,” Nixon grabbed a bottle of wine and set it on the table. “Sergio and Phoenix are on their way over — more training, so only eat what you wouldn’t mind puking up later.”

Nixon. Always encouraging.

“Noted.” I pulled a chair out.

El sat across from me right next to Mil.

Chase flanked my right.

I gulped.

This wasn’t awkward.

Trace was attempting to feed the baby while Nixon helped.

They were distracted.

And in that moment, it all made sense.

How Mil assumed she could fly under the radar in another boss’s home.

He was distracted.

Unarmed.

I didn’t as much as flinch as the reality of my situation washed over me.

Whatever she was doing or not doing.

She was banking on Chase protecting her — and Nixon ignoring her.

I was the wild card.

So, I did what anyone would do in my position.

I fucked with her head.

“Mil,” I poured her a glass of wine. “You look… tired. Doesn’t she look tired Chase?”

Chase tensed next to me. I was loyal to him. But loyal to my blood first, my legacy, my dead father.

And if she was doing anything to jeopardize my revenge on any enemy that tried to take my sister away, take El away, I would end them.

“Lots of late nights, huh Chase?” She winked at Chase.

He went still as a statue then gave her a completely disgusted look.

She paled.

And I knew… she had broken something once so strong between them. It was fragile.

In a world full of lies and destruction.

Sometimes all you have is one person to help you see the light.

But what happens when they succumb to the darkness?

“I wouldn’t know,” Chase finally said, meeting her gaze with a pissed off one of his own.

Trace finally looked over at us as if noticing the tension around the table. “What’s going on?”

“I’m not exactly sure.” I eyed Mil. “But, I’m going to find out. The truth always wins — especially when you’re such a shitty liar.” It was out before I could stop it.

Chase’s chest heaved.

I did the job he didn’t want to.

He would thank me later.

After he tried to beat the shit out of me.

Mil’s eyes narrowed.

And I knew what she was thinking — weighing.

Friend or foe.

I smiled, it wasn’t intended as a friendly smile, but as one that promised pain if she touched anything or anyone I loved.

I would challenge the boss of the De Langes if that was what it came to. And I would win. Because I had nothing to lose.

And she did.

Frank shifted in his seat, his eyes taking everything in. Quietly. He did things quietly. And I knew he was watching the exchange in interest, the very fact that I’d put her in a shitty position in front of two bosses wasn’t lost on him.

Mil’s gaze was ice cold.

I’d never seen anyone crack in front of my eyes.

But I saw it in her, saw the fear, the guilt, and finally the shame when she looked back to her glass of wine and drank the whole thing. Hand shaking.

I turned my attention back to El her face was sad.

Like she noticed the broken pieces between Chase and Mil and didn’t know how to fix them.

She’d come to the same conclusion I already did a few minutes ago.

Sometimes you can’t fix what’s been broken.

Especially when it’s not love that breaks.

But trust.

“I lost my appetite.” I turned to walk away.

Chase caught my arm, gripped it so hard that I knew he could break something if he wanted to.

Instead, he just nodded once.

And that was my answer.

His thank you.

While his wife watched.

Blood will always win.

And because of her choices.

She’d just put an even bigger target on her back.

One I wouldn’t hesitate to hit.

So Chase wouldn’t have to.