Page 69 of Stolen Kisses
“Dante you’re a complete asshole. You just get on your high horse and cast your judgement and your law. You forget I’m not some kid anymore who needs her fucking annoying big brother breathing down her neck.”
I couldn’t believe she thought that. “I keep us safe. My job is to keep you safe.”
“Well you need to stop. I don’t want you to anymore. I hate your complete disrespect of me and my privacy. You can stop doing this job you think you have.”
“Christina, I’m begging you. Don’t associate with any one from the Manello or Antonella family. Please. Men like that aren’t good. They won’t treat you right. Are you seeing Donny? Is that what this is?” I had to know what was happening.
“It’s none of your business. But if you must know, I’m not seeing him.”
“You’re seeing somebody though,” I retorted.
“We’re done with this conversation Dante. It’s my life and I will keep private what I wish. Fuck off out of my business.” She shook her head at me, eyes filled with hurt.
I didn’t think I’d ever felt so hurt myself. I’d taken care of her since she was little. I had to grow up so fast when Pa died and be a man.
This was how she spoke to me and treated me.
“Yeah, sure. How about I do you a favor and butt right the fuck out. I’m done with you.”
The sting of my words gripped me. A tear ran down her cheek, but I ignored it, walking away. Hoping she’d come to her senses and next time when we spoke it could be the way we used to be and she’d hear me out.
Chapter 20
Dante
* * *
Present day …
I went home with that memory heavy on my mind. It was one of the pieces of the puzzle that I’d missed.
Parts that I had never saw fitting together, because my sight was turned to something else.
That man …
He knew who Christina had been seeing. There was something in the way that he was speaking to her that said something. They were arguing about something and he’d stopped and looked at me before walking out of the room.
Today when I saw him, it was the same piercing stare. It was the look of someone who was hiding something.
Hiding and watching me. If there was nothing my instincts told me he wouldn’t have been watching me. He knew me the same way I knew him And had recognized him.
I had the squad looking into it.
They’d sent over the layout details for Crowthorne Society, so our plans were ready for tomorrow.
Tonight I just had to deal with my own demons, until tomorrow when I was pushed even deeper down this rabbit hole.
Who I saw standing by the window in my bedroom made me feel a fuck of a lot better.
Maria.
Standing by the long French windows, gazing outside she stood there with her golden hair flowing all the way down to the small of her back.
She wore a silk negligee that hugged her curves and wiped my mind clean of everything.
Flynn had the room upstairs, while I just moved her into my bed.
If this was the vision of what lay at home for me after a long day, I’d happily take it, any day.
