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)
Apparently, I did. “She was a stray. I was feeding her, but then Alex let her inside, and…”
“You couldn’t say no to him or the cute little kitty.”
I scowled at him and held out my hand. “Where’s my phone?”
Rafe laughed as he got my phone from a side table and handed it to me. “I charged it for you.”
“Thanks, baby brother. Thanks for everything, for making sure Alex was safe, for—for coming to get me.”
“I will always come to rescue you, just like you would do for me, or either of us would do for Lorenzo.”
They might drive me crazy, but I loved them both. “I’m lucky to have you two.”
“Yeah, this might be a crazy family, but it’s a damn good one. I won’t be far away. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
As soon as he left, I took a deep breath, let it out, and called Alex.
“Dante, oh my God, are you okay? Rafe said you were, but I’ve been so worried. I can’t sleep, I can’t—”
“Alex, I’m fine.”
“But you were shot. You can’t be fine.”
“It just went through muscle. It hurts like hell, and it bled a lot, but I’m stitched up now. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not going to lose your arm or anything?”
“No. It’ll probably be a while before I can use it as well as I could before, but the wound isn’t all that serious.” At least compared to what could have happened, and I would do whatever it took to get back my full range of motion. I wasn’t going to let this injury keep me down. I would help my family find Ivanov and tear him apart.
“You trapped me here.” His pouty tone made me start thinking about how much he needed discipline.
“I did it for your own safety.”
“But I want to be with you. I don’t want to be here alone.”
“You’re safe there, and you’re not really alone. You have Adenine, but if you need anything—”
“I need you.”
His words warmed me and made my chest grow tight. I hadn’t planned on ever feeling like this about a man, but I would be a fool to ignore it, wouldn’t I?
That’s what I told Lorenzo when he questioned being with Nikolai.
“When are you coming home?”
“Rafe said the doctor’s going to come back this afternoon and look me over. Once she does and I get a chance to talk to my older brother, Lorenzo, I’m leaving.”
“You can’t drive with your arm hurt.”
I could if I had to, but I wouldn’t today. “I’ll get someone to take me home.”
“Not just anybody. I want to know it’s somebody that’s going to take care of you if you feel bad. How far away are you?”
“I’m not that far, baby. Only half an hour or so.”
“You called me baby.”
Heat rushed into my face, and I exhaled. “Yeah, I did.”
“Wait. Are you embarrassed, Professor?”
How could he tell over the phone? “No. Stop asking questions like that.”
“If you’re injured, you can’t punish me for being a bad boy.”
I growled. “I will find a way. Trust me on that.”
“Come home to me as soon as you can.”
I wanted to be there already with him in my arms. “I will. I need to go now, but I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”
“Okay. Bye, Professor.”
“Goodbye.”
I sat there, staring at my phone after I ended the call, wondering how the hell my feelings for Alex had gotten so strong. I’d been amazed at how intense Lorenzo’s feelings for Nikolai obviously were, and yet here I was, falling for a student so hard I couldn’t stop myself.
26
ALEX
Dante was due home any minute. I watched for him out the front window, sitting on my knees, facing backward on the couch. Every time I heard a car, I tensed, but no one stopped.
Then I saw a black SUV moving slowly up the street. Something told me this was him. It was exactly the kind of car a mobster would drive.
As I’d expected it would, the car slowed, stopping in front of Dante’s house. I didn’t recognize the driver. It wasn’t Rafe. I’d hoped to get another chance to talk to him and to see him together with Dante. But that would have to happen later.
The driver got out, opened Dante’s door, and helped him out of the vehicle. Dante was wearing sweats and a button-up shirt that was much too large. His left arm was in a sling. The driver grabbed a black duffel bag. He clearly intended to follow Dante to the house, but Dante shook his head. I could tell the man didn’t want to let him go, but he eventually handed Dante the bag and got back in the car. Dante made his own way up the sidewalk.
While I’d been watching, I hadn’t seen the guards that had been present last night, but I had no doubt they were still there somewhere.