Page 80 of Breaking the Rules
“Shut the fuck up, Dante” she and Xavier said together.
Petra whimpered, and Waverly realized how this must look to her. “At the club, you were worried that I knew you and Dante were… together, weren’t you?”
Petra gave a nod, tears shimmering in her blue eyes. “I feel so guilty. I knew you two were together, but then it just kind of happened and—”
“Let’s get back to the kidnapping, shall we?” Xavier suggested with murder in his tone.
“What the hell’s going on in there? Grab the girl and move,” Micah ordered through the earpiece.
Waverly nudged her gun in Dante’s direction. “Swear to me that you had nothing to do with the shootout at Tahoe. And nothing to do with Brad trying to kidnap Petra.”
“Jesus, I swear!” He held one hand in the air and one at the sheet around his waist. “Well, I mean I returned fire. But I didn’t start it.”
“Good enough for now,” Waverly said. “Both of you go put some clothes on. You’re leaving with us.”
“Oh, so you’re the kidnapper? Did Brad give you a raise?” Dante teased.
Xavier had advanced into the room and was at Waverly’s back. “Put on some goddamn pants, or you’ll regret it.” He lowered the gun to line up with a particularly beloved part of Dante’s anatomy.
“I’m going. I’m going. Come on, Petra love. It’s going to be all right.” He put an arm around the shivering girl. Waverly rolled her eyes and gestured toward the dressing room.
“Incoming,” Micah said quietly.
Xavier moved back to the door and flipped the lock.
“I don’t know if we should go with them, Dante,” Petra said in a wavering voice.
Dante tenderly cupped her face in his hands. “This is going to be an adventure that we’ll tell our children about someday. Trust me, darling. Okay?”
A short sharp rap at the door had them all freezing.
“Ms. Stepanov, is everything all right?”
Xavier moved to the side of the door, gun leveled and ready.
“Just tell him everything’s fine,” Dante whispered in Petra’s ear.
She hesitated, and Waverly thought she was going to have to answer for her.
“Everything’s fine. Anatoli, can you check on breakfast for me?” Petra said unconvincingly.
There was a pause on the other side of the door this time. “Of course, Ms. Stepanov.”
“He’s moving,” Micah reported.
“Good girl,” Dante purred to Petra.
Waverly breathed a sigh of relief. “Back to the putting on clothes thing,” she ushered them into the closet.
When they disappeared, Waverly could feel Xavier’s gaze boring into her.
“You and I are going to have a long talk,” he said, in that calm, cool voice. She winced at the threat behind it.
“Did you guys really find Dante?” Micah asked.
A minute later, Dante and Petra reappeared fully clothed. Petra’s idea of a kidnapping appropriate outfit was leggings with leather patches, knee-high boots that looked like she’d slaughtered Chewbacca, and creamy mock neck sweater with the shoulders cut out. Dante was wearing skinny jeans and a checkered button down under a thick knit cardigan. He was carrying a pink Louis Vuitton overnight bag. Something in the bag barked.
“Why are you guys wearing pajamas?” Dante asked.
