Chapter Four
At Dante’s tortured confession, Samia’s heart constricted. “What are you talking about?”
“I fight against pride every day.” His jaw tightened. “Africus makes it echo in my head until I can’t hear anything else.”
The air in the room sucked away. She searched his face and suddenly saw how tired he looked. Lines of strain bracketed his eyes and mouth.
He expelled a slow breath. “The Tempest Winds were freed several weeks ago, and my brothers and I have been hunting them ever since.”
Samia heard the truth vibrate in his voice and she wanted to believe him. “What happens if you lose the battle with pride?”
A stark look crossed his face. “Then I become the evil I’m hunting.”
“How could I possibly calm the vice?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I have my suspicions.” He scraped a hand down his face. “But right now, I can barely think straight. I’m tired as hell and need some sleep.”
Samia felt the unfamiliar need to soothe away his pain. To run her fingers over those lines on his tense face and see if they melted away.
What the—? Her fingers curled into her palm. She’d never comforted anyone. She wouldn’t even know where to start.
Dante stood and moved over to the dresser. When he turned back, he was holding a long length of rope.
Her eyes widened. “What is that for?”
“I brought you here to keep you out of my way and keep you safe.”
She moved into a crouch on the bed. “You’re going to tie me up?” She shook her head. “Think again, Warrior.”
He moved fast, but Samia’s reflexes were honed by years of training. She rolled. Dante landed on the bed and she leaped onto his back.
“Dammit.” He reached an arm back, but Samia landed a hard chop to his arm. He dropped the rope.
She snatched it and yanked it around his neck. With a growl, he stumbled to his feet and she gripped his back, holding on tight.
“Don’t…want…to hurt you,” he ground out.
He spun in a circle and managed to knock her off. Samia landed on the bed again and shot over it, scrambling on her hands and knees.
A hand snagged her ankle and dragged her backward.
Her hands twisted on the covers, but before she could do anything else, a heavy body landed on top of hers.
She froze. He was heavy as hell. Every inch of him had to be hard muscle. His sea-air scent surrounded her.
“Now, hold still.” He looped the rope around her wrist, testing that it wasn’t too loose or too tight. He reached up and tied her to the ornate metal headboard. “This rope is reinforced so it can hold beings of enhanced strength. You can’t break it.”
She glared at him. “I’m not planning to kill you…yet. I need to find the truth first.”
“I can’t let Africus win.” Dante finished tying the knot and lifted off her. He scrubbed a hand over his face and again she noticed how weary he looked. “For now, I just need some sleep.”
When he stood, Samia tested the binding. The knot was tight and there was no give in the rope. Dammit. Then she looked up and saw he was unbuttoning his white shirt.
As his sculpted, bronze chest came into view, her eyes widened. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I told you, I need to sleep.”
“Here?”
He shot her a look, shrugging his shirt off. “I’m hardly going to leave the assassin trying to kill me alone.”
Bronze skin stretched over a hard, ridged abdomen and a light dusting of dark hair covered his pecs. She noticed the wound where she’d stabbed him had already healed. She couldn’t stop herself looking at him. And she couldn’t stop the traitorous curl of warmth in her belly that left her furious at herself.
He lay down on the bed, stretching out beside her. “I just need some sleep, Samia.”
“I could smother you in your sleep.”
He turned his head her way, one dark brow rising. “But you won’t.”
“I’m an assassin, Venti.”
“Since we’re sharing a bed, you should call me Dante. And you won’t kill me because you would have killed me already. I know you have an internal sense of honor.” He shoved the pillow under his head, his eyes closing. “Just want to lie here and get some rest. In the morning, I’ll let you go.”
His words were slurring from exhaustion.
“Fine, I won’t smother you,” she said.
A smile tilted his lips. “Grazie.” He released a long breath. “It is so good not to hear the whispers.”
Because of her. Because she could somehow help him.
She listened to his breathing even out, and stared at the shadows wavering on the ceiling.
When was the last time she’d helped instead of destroyed? She believed in the work of her brotherhood…they hunted the beasts and evil that might otherwise get out of control and kill.
But she worked alone, at the orders of her brotherhood. When she was back at the enclave, she trained. Her father was the head of training and expected more from his daughter.
She watched some of the stress leave Dante’s face. Samia needed to find the truth, once and for all.
***
Dante woke feeling relaxed. The bedroom was still dark and he wasn’t certain what had woken him. He’d had the best damn few hours sleep he’d had in a long time.
He heard the tapping of computer keys and blinked. He jerked up and his left arm wrenched.
He looked over and saw his wrist was tied to the headboard.
What the fuck? He looked over and saw Samia sitting on the loveseat by the window, her face illuminated from the screen of his laptop.
He glared at the rope and then her. “How did you get out of the rope?”
She didn’t even look up. “Super assassin skills. I’d tell you but then I’d have to kill you.”
He snorted. “A little assassin humor. Cute.” He yanked and the rope broke. He’d ensured it was strong enough for many supernatural beings but not strong enough to hold him. He stalked over to her. “How did you get into my computer? It’s password protected.”
She flicked a glance up to him. “I’m not only skilled with a knife. I have a few handy hacking skills, too.”
He dropped down beside her. “What are you looking up?”
“The Tempest Winds. I accessed some secret Hashshasin databases.” She let out a slow breath. “I believe you, Dante. About Africus and the rest of the Winds. About the Warriors of the Wind. Africus has duped the Hashshasin and brought shame to my brotherhood.”
This close to her, his head was completely clear of pride. He still couldn’t believe her presence calmed the vice. Her jasmine scent worked into his senses. She’d kicked her shoes off and his gaze drifted over her bare feet. Her toenails were painted soft pink.
Desire punched through him, hot and hard, and his body tightened painfully. But he pushed it back. “If I don’t stop Africus, if my brothers and I can’t defeat the Tempest Winds, the world is in terrible danger.” His voice took on an edge. “They will start in Italy, then spread their infection across Europe, across the world.” Horrific memories of the past flashed behind Dante’s eyelids—good people driven to do gruesome acts, families destroyed, lives lost.
“How can you stop them?”
“Once we release them from their human bodies, my brothers and I can lock them away with a vicious storm. Their prison is an island near Sicily, Isola del Vento. Their warden is my brother Lorenzo, the Keeper of the Winds.”
“He sounds formidable.”
Dante smiled. “He is a brooding loner who is damn good at his job. Well, he used to be a brooding loner. A feisty little horse trainer cornered him and he’s fallen in love now.” Lorenzo in love. It still boggled Dante’s mind. Of all his brothers, he would have picked Lorenzo or Luca to be the last to succumb.
Samia shifted and set the laptop down. “What will happen if the Tempest Winds succeed?”
Dante hoped none of them would ever have to find out. “In rage, brother will kill brother. In lust, friend will rape friend. In greed, parent will steal from child. In pride, neighbor will turn on neighbor.” He pressed his hand over hers, caught for a moment by how smooth her skin was. “I have to be strong enough to stop it.”
Silence wrapped around them. “I understand. That’s why the Hashshasin exist. From the time we can walk, we’re taught every possible way to take a life. We hone those skills with daily combat. We hunt the evil too powerful for humans to stop.”
Both of them existed for the same purpose. But he had grown up raised with love. Even after his parents had died, his uncles and their families had taken them in. And Dante had always had his brothers.
Who did Samia have? She was given orders and sent out alone. “Do you like killing?”
“I’m good at it.”
He detected something in her voice. “But do you like it?”
“I…I used to believe in what I do.”
Dante moved a little closer to her. “What changed?”
“I killed an innocent boy.” Her words were blank, empty of emotion.
Here was what put the sadness in her eyes. “Tell me.”
She inhaled a slow breath. “His father was a man who dabbled with powerful magic, using it to seduce women. He’d become a serial rapist and killer. I was sent to stop him.”
Dante tangled his fingers with hers, feeling tension pumping off her. “What happened?”
“The boy leaped in front of his father, to defend him. I couldn’t stop.”
“I’m sorry.”
“My father told me that one innocent life to save hundreds was worth it.” Her voice turned to a whisper. “Collateral damage.”
Bastardo. Her father sounded like the Hashshasin Dante had heard about. Hard, cold, fanatics to their cause. “Hurting the innocent is never necessary.”
“I see that boy’s eyes in my head every time I try to sleep. I haven’t killed since I took his life. I’ve tried.”
“I know.”
She gave a hiccupping laugh, then her voice sobered. “I wanted to kill again because I don’t know how to do anything else. I don’t know how to be anything else.”
He slid his hand up and rubbed her arm. “You have a choice, Samia. To find what and who you want to be.”
Her dark gaze met his. “You’re more powerful than any being I’ve been sent after. I know you can stop Africus.”
Dante gave a humorless laugh. “Forever fighting the nature of what’s inside me, the temptation to embrace it…it makes me feel weak.”
She reached up and cupped his hard jaw. “The fact that you keep fighting makes you strong.”
He covered her hand with his and they stared at each other. He felt a connection pull tight between them. He cleared his throat. “We should get some more sleep.” He pulled his gaze off her, looking out into the night-drenched streets. “Dawn will be here soon and Africus will be quieter during the day. He’s been muddying his scent trail, and leaving false tracks all over the city. I have to stop him. I need to hunt him down.”
***
Blinding sunlight woke Samia. Something hot and hard pressed against her front, pinning her to the sheets.
Frowning, she opened her eyes, blinking against the light flooding in through the large window. Looking down, she saw a dark head resting on her belly.
She froze. Dante was sprawled over most of the bed, and that included her. One of his hands rested possessively on her hip and she felt the tickle of his breath through her thin shirt.
He was still asleep, and she took the chance to study him. She sifted her fingers through his hair. God, it was so thick and shiny, and more chocolate colored than her own black. She liked the solid weight of him against her belly more than she wanted to admit. Liquid heat pooled between her legs and she sucked in a breath.
She stared at the half of the handsome face she could see. The lines of strain were gone and he looked relaxed, younger. And he’d found that rest by lying beside her. A woman with death running in her veins had given another being comfort. Not once had she ever been needed, other than to kill.
During the night, she’d confirmed his story. The Warrior of the South Wind was no killer. He was a man who protected humans.
Anger shot through her. The Hashshasin had been duped by the Tempest Winds. Her brotherhood had been played, their reputation tarnished.
She was going to help Dante hunt Africus. Not just for revenge, but because she knew Dante needed her help. He needed her.
She ran her fingers through the dark silk of his hair again.
His amber eyes opened and she froze. He moved his head and looked up at her. Then his gaze drifted back to her cotton-covered breasts.
“Samia.” His voice was husky from sleep.
Her skin flushed and nipples puckered…which he could hardly fail to notice.
He moved fast, rising to his knees and pulling her up with him. His face was an inch from hers. “This is a bad idea.”
“I know.” She slid her hands over his bare shoulders, feeling warm skin and hard muscles.
“I have to stop Africus.” His hands gripped the bottom of her shirt and started dragging it up.
“My assignment is in shambles.” She leaned in and licked the side of his neck. His skin tasted salty. God, it had been such a long time since she’d taken a lover. So long since she’d been close to another human being.
He pulled her shirt over her head, then his big palms cupped her breasts. He groaned. “So damn pretty.”
As he played with her nipples, she moaned. She slid her hand into his hair and yanked his mouth to hers.
Oh, God, Dante Venti knew how to kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth, and his lips moved over hers in a way that sent heat flashing through her. Needing something to hold onto, she twisted her hand in his hair.
She moaned and he deepened the kiss, pulling her close so there was nothing between them. Her breasts rubbed against his bare chest, and he explored her mouth, his tongue twining with hers.
Then he made a growling sound and lowered her down to the bed. “You taste so fucking good, Samia.” His big body quivered above her. He leaned down and closed his mouth over her breast.
Samia bucked. His tongue swirled, tugged. His teeth nipped, then he soothed again with his tongue.
“You are so beautiful, bella.” His mouth nipped at her neck, his tongue ran across her shoulder. “So perfectly formed.”
She moaned, breathless and hungry. No one had called her by an endearment, not even when she was a child. Something inside her strained for him, something wild recognized him. He groaned and switched to her other taut nipple, teeth scraping.
He moved his body fully onto hers. She felt the brush of his hard cock against her, separated by just a few layers of cotton. She wrapped her legs around his hips, scraping her nails down his back.
The ringing of a cellphone broke the spell. They both froze and when Dante lifted his head, they stared at each other.
“Sorry, bella, that’s my brother Luca’s ringtone. I need to get that.”
“Go.”
He pushed off the bed and Samia flopped back on the covers, staring at the ceiling, need vibrating through her. She tossed an arm over her face. What the hell was she doing?