Page 44 of Depraved

“I get it. It’s fine. I’m just happy to get something other than sweats. You’re the worst.” I joke.

“You’re welcome.” He laughs again.

We ease into a silence as we make the drive to my apartment. I don’t live too far from Dante, but I do live a few incomes from him, so the closer we get, the less shiny the buildings are, and the more necessary it becomes to have security.

It’s funny, the first night I made it to Dante’s, I thought of it as a prison, but all the windows here are the ones with bars.

“We’re here,” Matteo barks to the guys as the car slows and pulls to a stop in front of my building.

They exit first as I grab my bag from the floor and sort through it for my keys. My door opens as I hear them jingle. I twist my head to the open door and see a large, familiar hand extended to help me out.

“I’d know that watch anywhere. Hey, you.” I greet, peering up at Dominic. “What are you doing here?”

Dom pulls me out of the car and into a squeeze, making me laugh.

“He couldn’t make it. So, he sent a better model.”

I push his shoulder as he lets me go, still laughing at his joke, but when I take in his face, I notice his smile doesn’t meet his eyes.

I smooth out my shirt and point to the door. He nods, and we start to walk the concrete walkway to the steps of the brownstone that houses eight apartments.

“It’s nice to see a friendly face.” I can’t help but notice the way he looks around as we walk. “Speaking of miserable people. Where is he?”

Dom gives a small shoulder shrug and winks.

“Business, gorgeous. You know, the kind you don’t need to know about.”

Grinning, he stops in front of the entry door and angles his body, so his back is to the wall.Something’s up.I look over my shoulder, but all I see are Dante’s burly soldiers staring back at me.

My eyes travel to Dom as I twirl my keys around my finger. “Something I need to know?”

“Not a thing.” He answers and looks down at the door, motioning for me to open it.

I fiddle with the keys Matteo gave me back earlier and turn the lock, pushing the door open.

“How was dinner?” I ask nonchalantly, as we walk past a wall of gold-plated mail slots toward the stairs.

Dominic laughs and shakes his head, holding me back as the other guys take the stairs first.

“You mean the dinner where we set Dante up with the busty blonde who couldn’t keep her hands off of him?”

My eyes shoot to his, and I swear I could kill him.

“Easy.” He laughs. “I’d hate to be the one who got in your way. You can put your claws away. It was family only. But I couldn’t help myself. You know, considering he told me and Luca all about your little false assumption.”

I smack his shoulder and laugh.

“Oh, that’s nice. Like a group of golden girls. The three of you are terrible people.”

Dom nudges my shoulder with his much larger one. “Aww. We love you too, Sar.”

I roll my eyes as we walk up the stairs, feigning irritation, mostly to hide the fact that I’m really very happy that I was wrong. I shouldn’t care. But I do.

I don’t want to share. It’s as simple as that.

When I get to my apartment, I unlock the door and head inside with my entourage. The space feels so small and too dark, in a way it’s never felt before. I flick on a light and toss my keys on the counter. Everyone filters inside, the door shutting behind them, and I look at the guys, who are taking up all the room in my place. “I’m going to pack. There’s only the one room, so you guys can hang here.”

“Let them check it first.” Dom directs.