Page 81 of Depraved

Luca reclines back into his chair, bringing his drink to his lips, a smirk fixed on his face. “I hate to break it to you, Dante, but that girl isn’t scared of anything, least of all the shit you bring to the table. She just needs you to give her a reason to stay.”

I consider what he’s saying. I need to tell her the truth—all of it.

Dominic gives a small laugh and picks his drink up as well. “She was made for you, brother. And what or who is ever going to get through you in order to hurt her?”

I shrug with a bit of arrogance, knowing the answer is nothing. I’ll protect her at all costs. Against anyone. Even herself.

Luca huffs a laugh, tossing his napkin at me. “And if something does manage to make it past you, D, then it has to go through me, Dom, Nico, Vincenzo, fucking Matteo, and Antonio.”

Dom nods his head and smacks the table. “What’s important to you is important to us, Dante. It goes both ways. This is family. So, love your girl and be done with it.”

My eyes travel inside, through the glass, and see her standing at the bar.

“And if she tries to run again?”

“Don’t let her,” Luca answers with a wink.

I won’t.

“You don’t suck, you know that?” I chuckle. “You’re ugly and dumb as fuck, but you’re all right as far as brothers go.”

They toss shit at me from the table, and we laugh as the girls walk back outside, staring at us like we’ve lost it.

I’VE BEEN WATCHING HIM ALLnight. Watching the way that he laughs, the way he loves the jokes his brothers make about each other, and all the light that seems to have taken over his face.

He’s so different but the same. I feel as if I’ve seen every side to Dante now. I wonder how many people can say that?

His arm hangs across the back of my chair while he laughs at something Luca’s said, and I find myself smiling too. I wish I could crawl into his lap and nuzzle into his neck, wrapped in his arms. Jesus. What’s happening to me? He’s tamed me, and it only took a week.

Real badass, Sarah.

Right on cue, Dante looks up at me and winks through the glass that separates us.

“Oh, shit, girl. You’ve got it bad.” Gretchen smiles, joining me and Drew at the bar.

I’d planned on getting Dante a refill and a water for myself, but Drew has me parked on a barstool while she makes some disgusting-looking chocolate concoction she wants me to try.

“What?” I counter, looking away from Gretchen’s scrutiny.

“Don’t ‘what’ me. It’s written all over your face. You’ve fallen for Dante.”

“He’s easy to fall for. And I don’t like to share my things, so I put that shit on lockdown,” I joke with a shrug, hoping humor will stop the inquisition.

Gretchen starts to laugh, and Drew looks at me shocked. My eyes drift outside, and he looks at me, tilting his head and giving me a little nod—his way of asking if I’m good. I reassure him with a wink.

Is it possible to fall harder than love? Because that’s where I’m headed.

My face pales as I turn back, seeing the drink Drew just put in front of me. I lower down and take a sniff. Shaking my head, I turn and meet Gretchen’s smiling face.

“I am not drinking this. I adore you, Drew, but no, babe.” I say wide eyed and politely push the martini glass back toward her.

Gretchen lets out a loud laugh and looks at Drew. “Buddy, it’s gross. Stop trying to make that nasty-ass drink. You keep trying to kill someone. Stop it.”

Drew purses her lips and points between us.

“Hookers, it’s delish…just take a sip.”

“You take a sip. I’m not dying today,” Gretchen says with a straight face.