Page 125 of Toxic Love

“Did they test it for?—”

I stop cold when I flip the bag over, my eyes locking on the words written by hand, in ink, on the side of the cork.

Even a single lion can bring the savannah to its knees.

You missed one of us.

I’m yanking IV drip lines out of my arm in seconds, whirling to Lorenzo.

“Get me home,now.”

Then I turn to Gabriel. “I’m sending Maeve with you back to your place, along with ten men, just in case.”

Gabriel nods. “And Tempest?”

“I’m taking her out of the city, where she’ll be safe.”

32

TEMPEST

I love New York City.I was born here, and I’ve lived here my entire life reveling in the gorgeous chaos of it. That said, gettingoutof it from time to time is great, too.

…Even if that getaway is less “vacation” and more “fleeing clear and present danger”.

When we first start to drive to the Hamptons, Dante is incredibly convincing at making it sound like he just needs a break from work, andthatis why we’re headed out there.

Or at least, it would be convincing if I was a complete idiot.

“Old wine bottles don’t randomly produce arsenic. I googled it.”

His eyes swivel to mine for a second. “Look, this is just a precautionary?—”

“Someone tried to kill you!” My heart is pounding. “And my brothers! And your response is for us to justleaveand?—”

“There are ten of my best men watching your brothers, and Maeve, and even your turd of a grandfather.”

I frown. “But you don’t even like my brothers.”

“Well…” His hand slides across the middle column of the Mercedes SUV, his fingers lacing tight with mine. “I kinda likeyou. So, figured I’d keep them safe, too.”

My face heats. “Kinda like me, huh?”

“Don’t let it go to your head.”

I turn away, grinning like an idiot out the passenger window.

“Heisa real turd of a grandfather, isn’t he?”

Dante chuckles as the car accelerates down 495, and the city begins to recede.

The first fewdays we’re out at Dante’s house I call my brothers, and Maeve, and Bianca almost daily to check in on them, which is comforting and keeps me from freaking out. Pam, bless her heart, arranges for a courier to cart a giant cooler full of my frozen smoothies out to the Hamptons. She might not be the warm and fuzzy type, but it’s sweet of her to do. Especially since she’s also dealing with the after-effects of mild arsenic poisoning, after sneaking a little of the wine Gabriel opened up. I think she was also convinced she was going to be fired for that, until my brother assured her he was more concerned about her being okay that about a few sips of wine.

I don’t just up and forget that someone tried to poison me and those closest to me. But as the days tick by, being out here starts to feel more and more like a vacation.

Dante and I cook dinner every night. We take walks along the beach—shadowed, of course, by at least three of his men. We watch old movies, lounge around reading, and spend a ridiculous amount of time fucking each other’s brains out.

Jesus, I could get used to this.

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