Page 79 of Blood Vows

“It’s too late.” She turned toward the door. Dante’s body moved before his brain caught up, and he stepped in front of it. Elena froze.

“Move,” she ordered.

“No.”

Her eyes flashed. “Dante.”

“You are not leaving this house alone,” he said. “Your life is still in danger.”

“I don't care,” she hissed.

“I do,” he insisted.

“That is no longer your problem,” she said. That hurt. He deserved it, but it still hurt.

“Elena, whoever sent that message wants exactly this. They want you to run out of here and put yourself in danger. They’ll be able to get to you then,” he warned.

“Maybe,” she said.

“They want you angry,” he said.

“I am angry,” she spat.

“They want you afraid of me.”

“Well, that’s exactly what I am now,” she said. That one landed deepest. Dante stepped aside, not because he was letting her leave, but because he couldn’t stand seeing her trapped between him and the door anymore.

“You have every right to hate me,” he said.

Her eyes filled. “I don't know if I do.” That was worse. “But I need the truth.”

“You’ll get it,” Dante promised.

“How?” she asked.

Dante pulled out his phone and called Luca. “Get me the file from two years ago.”

Luca was silent. “What file?”

“The Romano warehouse file,” Dante said.

There was another long silence before Luca spoke. “Dante.” His blood went cold.

“You know what happened, don’t you?” Dante asked. Luca didn’t answer, and Dante closed his eyes because that was answer enough.

“Elena,” he whispered. She stared at him, and Dante looked back at the phone. “Luca, I need the truth. Tell me right now.”

Luca’s voice was quiet. “I didn’t know it was her father when I sent you.” Dante’s stomach dropped. Elena made a broken sound, and he turned toward her.

“No,” she shouted.

Luca continued. “We got bad intel.”

“Who gave it?” Dante asked.

“Hale,” Luca said. The room seemed to tilt, and Dante gripped the phone harder.

“Hale set the hit?” Dante asked.