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)
“My life involves a lot of danger and violence. I should never have let you get mixed up in it.”
“I want to be mixed up with you.”
I wanted that too, so damn much. “I know, baby.”
“Don’t call me that.”
I shouldn’t. I didn’t have the right. “Alex.”
He backed away, closer to the door. “Forget about breakfast. If you want me to leave, then I’ll go now.”
“Don’t go yet. You can stay until you have class. You could help me change my bandage.”
“I can’t.” A tear rolled down his cheek, and my heart felt like it was ripping in two. “Why didn’t you just send me home last night?”
“Because I was too weak. Because I didn’t want to do it at all.”
He chewed his lip, and I knew he was trying to decide if he believed me. “You’re not weak. Do you really need help with your bandage?”
“Yeah, but I can get Rafe to come.” I wasn’t going to guilt him into staying, no matter how badly I wanted to.
“I guess you won’t be in class this week.”
“Probably not, but I should be back soon.” Unless I was off somewhere tracking Ivanov down.
“If text you, will you answer?”
“Yes.”
He wiped away more tears. “I don’t want to leave.”
“I don’t want to send you away.”
“You really think I’m not safe with you?”
I wanted to say I’d changed my mind and he was better off here, but I couldn’t. “I think the man we are trying to take care of would hurt anyone to hurt my family.”
“And I’m safer at the frat house or wandering around campus?”
My heart pounded. I felt lightheaded because I didn’t know the answer to that. I couldn’t be sure. But I was going to have someone watching him because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he got hurt because of me. “I think it’s better if you’re not near me except in class.”
“Are you sure this isn’t about someone finding out and not about the risk to your job?”
“No. I would happily risk that for you. I would risk my life for you.” His tears started to fall at a faster pace, and he turned away.
“I’m going to go now. If you don’t need me.”
I needed him in the depths of my soul, but I couldn’t say that. “I’ll be okay.”
He drew in a shaky breath. “You better take care of yourself. You better not let your wound get infected.”
“I won’t. I promise I’ll take all my medicine.”
“Okay. I just need to get my stuff.”
Don’t go! “You really can stay and have breakfast.”
He shook his head. “I’ll just get some food at the frat house.”
30
ALEX
Walking out of Dante’s house was one of the hardest things I’d ever done.
I didn’t go to the frat. I couldn’t stand the thought of talking to anyone. I didn’t get any breakfast, because I didn’t feel like I could get food past the lump in my throat. Part of me liked that it would make Dante angry if he knew I wasn’t eating. I wanted to punish him for sending me away.
I didn’t go to class either. I wandered around campus until I was tired of walking, then slipped into the library, knowing it was unlikely I’d seen any other Chi Rho there.
I found an empty cubicle, sat down, and laid my head on my hands. No matter how hard I tried to shut them out, all Dante’s words from the morning kept running through my head.
I had to fist my hands and let my nails cut into my palms, trying to keep myself from crying. How many times was I going to humiliate myself today?
I must’ve fallen asleep because a librarian checked on me at some point. She probably thought I was passed out drunk or something. I assured her I was okay, even though I felt like my insides were being torn apart.
I was going to have to get myself together. I couldn’t keep skipping classes. I had to be a functioning adult, but I didn’t want to. I missed Dante already, but I was going to have to figure out how to live without him, at least for a while.
What if it was longer? What if it was forever?
He might decide he didn’t want to see me again, or he might go after whoever this man was and get shot again, through the heart this time.
I laid my head back down. I wasn’t ready to try and function yet.
31
DANTE
After I finished eating breakfast, I lingered with my coffee, staring at the box of food that should’ve been for Alex. Adenine twined around my legs, purring, but even she couldn’t make me feel better. When I couldn’t put it off anymore, I called Rafe, since I did need help changing my bandage.
“Couldn’t you at least let me sleep another hour? I never get up this early.”