Page 21 of His Son's Ex

HELLO????

If you don’t text me back in five minutes, I’m calling in a SWAT team.

“Shit,” I mutter, dragging a hand down my face. “I’m such an asshole.”

Dante leans against the back of the couch, arms folded, amusement playing at the edges of his mouth.“Your friend?”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I screwed up.”

“Tell her to meet you at the reception,” he says. “She’s welcome.”

I hesitate. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s Luca’s day.”

“And?”

I exhale loudly, ignoring my urge to bail.

Me:

I’m fine. Meet me at the reception.

Halsey:

Fine??? Are you with LUCA’S DAD??

Me:

Yes

Halsey:

Oooooooo. You vixen!

You are SO bad. I want to know EVERYTHING!!!!

I set my phone down, turning my attention back to Dante.

Silence settles between us.

His fingers trace slow, lazy circles over my skin while something still gnaws at the back of my mind.

I take a deep breath.

“We said no regrets. But realistically, do you think we should just leave this here?”

Dante’s thumb brushes absently along my hip, his expression darkening as if the answer already hurts.

“The truth is… I have enemies, Eva. And if they find out I’m seeing someone—especially someone tied to Luca—it won’t just be inconvenient. It’ll be dangerous. For you.”

My stomach knots. I exhale slowly. “You’re a dangerous man.”

“Yes,” he says. “But I’ve never wanted to keep anyone safe more than I want to protect you.”

That shouldn’t make my heart skip.

But it does.

It absolutely does.

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