Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Call someone. You need to make contact.
I managed to get my phone out of my pocket.
Remington. Call Remington.
When my phone unlocked, a text screen came up—my conversation with Rafe. The words went in and out of focus. I looked at the keyboard and typed an H.
Keep going.
Then an E. The letters wavered. L. I tried to find the P, but everything was black. My vision was gone, and then there was nothing.
22
ALEX
Itried watching TV, but even my favorite comfort shows didn’t help take my mind off Dante out there doing God knows what, taking risks when he could be here with me. At least Adenine sat with me. Having her on top of my legs, softly purring, at least made my tension bearable.
When she jumped down and wandered off, I walked around Dante’s house, restraining myself from prying into drawers or cabinets. I was sure he had hidden cameras, but I did look through books on his shelves, biology texts, classics, mysteries, and lots of cookbooks. I admired the art on his walls, a mix of styles from impressionists to charcoal drawings of riverboats in the early 1900s. He had pictures of his family everywhere. I recognized Rafe in several, including one when Dante must have been less than ten years old.
I returned to the cookbooks, found one that looked well used, and took it back to the couch with me. I flipped through and salivated over the beautiful pictures of Italian food. Dante had made notes on several of the recipes, which I found adorable. I was hungry again by the time I finished looking at it, so I explored Dante’s fridge and freezer. When I saw a container of salted caramel ice cream, I smiled. That was my favorite flavor. I made myself a bowl and returned to try TV again. Adenine followed me, meowing for a chance to taste my treat.
Once the ice cream was gone, I began watching my phone again, waiting for a text or a call. I tried doing homework, but that was even more useless than TV as a distraction.
When Dante’s grandfather clock chimed midnight and I still hadn’t heard anything, I began to pace. I was going to lose my fucking mind. Where was he? Was he hurt? Was he dead?
God, no. Please let him be okay. I just found him. I knew our connection wouldn’t last. Dante wasn’t going to fall in love with me, but he had said I was his. He said no one else could touch me, and I wanted to believe I mattered to him.
I wished I had Rafe’s number, but I doubted he would answer. I figured whatever Dante was mixed up in, Rafe was with him.
If only I had someone I could talk to. I felt so alone, but I couldn’t discuss this with anyone. Maybe Adenine would listen to me rambling. I picked her up, lay back down on the couch, and started telling her everything from the day I first saw Dante until now.
23
DANTE
“Dante! Dante, come on! We’ve got to get out of here.”
My eyes fluttered open. Rafe was standing over me. Was he real, or was I dreaming?
I tried to move, but my arm throbbed. I looked around. Where was I?
“Dante, you were shot, but you’re going to be fine.”
Was I?
“We’ve got to get out of here. Can you stand?”
I forced myself to try, but the room spun around me. Was that my blood on the floor? There was so much of it.
“Come on, bro. Alex needs you.”
That did it. I pushed up to a sitting position. “I’m not going to die.”
“No, you’re not going to die. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“Did I text you?” I hadn’t thought I’d actually sent the message.
“You did. And then Lorenzo called Remington because he’d seen you get shot on the cameras.” Ivanov’s daughter had joined our side and put her hacking skills to use.
“I bet he fucking panicked.” Lorenzo, Nikolai, and Ivanov’s daughter, Alaina, were all at a safe house out in the bayou.
Rafe laughed. “He did. But we managed to use your phone’s location and what he’d seen to locate you. We need to let him know you’re all right, but we’ve got to get out of here first.”
“You’re the best.”
“I love you too. Now, get up.” He grabbed my good arm.
“I bet Lorenzo’s mad he couldn’t come for me.”
Rafe snorted. “Probably, but it’s my turn to take care of you. Come on.”
I put my good arm around his shoulder and managed to get my feet under me. I wobbled after I got fully upright, but Rafe didn’t let me fall.
“You can do this. Just focus,” he said.
I did. I focused on Alex. I saw him waiting for me. Needing me. I would not let him down. “Alex is in danger.”
“Remington already sent someone to watch over him.”