His brow creases into a goddamn frown. It’s a look I never in my life expected to see on Dante. It’s almost human, and it scares me more than losing to him.
“Just put these on.” He drops a pair of military-grade plastic cuffs at my feet. They’re the ones that are impossible to escape from.
I lean on my hip, giving him a look. “You want those on me, you’re going to have to do it yourself.”
“Fine. If you want to be difficult we can play that game. Get on your knees, or I’ll shoot both your kneecaps out.”
“Charming, but no thanks,” I say, not making a move. “I doubt your employer wants me to bleed out here. You know as well as I do, surviving a bullet wound to the leg without an emergency room to hand is next to zero. Don’t insult me with empty threats after you trained me.”
“Fuck, V, I’ve missed you.” Dante barks a laugh but the glint in his eye is pure evil.
In the space of a millisecond, he re-adjusts his grip on the gun and smashes the barrel of it into the side of my head making me see stars. Then his hand is around my throat, pushing me against the wall. He closes the gap between us and my airway enough that I can’t breathe. He’s fast and efficient.
And just like that.
I’m caught.
But. I don’t do what he wants. I don’t claw at his hands or struggle. I don’t choke. Instead, I stare into his eyes like I’m in love.
Then.
I knee him in the fucking balls.
He flinches but doesn’t let go. He squeezes harder. My lungs burn. My temple throbs. Lights flicker behind his head. There’s darkness around the edges of my vision that tells me I’m losing consciousness. If I do, who knows where I’ll wake up and in what state.
Quinn’s words echo in my mind.
“Why did you come here?”
The answer I couldn’t give her earlier finally surfaces. With Lorcan away, and Dino and Jude doing my head in….
I missed Dante.