Dante: A Mafia Bad Boy Romance (Sinsations Book 2) (6 page)

He raised his eyebrows, waiting.

“If Boris wants revenge against you, why is he after me?”

Dante squeezed my hand. “Because he knows you are my weakness. I would gladly give my life to save yours, and he wishes to use that to his advantage.”

I blinked. Swallowed hard. Dante would give his life for me? I was pretty sure my parents would’ve made that kind of sacrifice but I had never known a man who was willing to that. I had never even known a man willing to say the words. And I could tell by the look in Dante’s eyes that they were more than empty words. He meant it. How does someone respond to that?

Luckily, Dante saved me from that. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and stood up. “Stay here. Don’t open the door for anyone. I’ll take care of this as soon as possible.”

I nodded as he walked out the door. “Stay safe,” I whispered.

I double-checked – and then triple-checked – the door to make sure it had locked. Olivia was mine now and I’d do anything to insure her safety. When I got my hands on Boris he’d regret his foolish idea of revenge.

I pressed the button to summon the elevator, glancing back towards my suite, unable to suppress a smile. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to have Olivia sharing the place with me, to wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with her curled by my side. She had forgiven me for my past sins, even for causing the death of my brother, which she said wasn’t my fault. It was interesting idea, a liberating idea. I had cloaked my heart with his death for most of my life because it had been my responsibility – my duty – to take care of him. But what if I was truly innocent? What if it had just been a cruel stroke of bad luck?

The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside, nodding once at the man in the loud Hawaiian shirt and floppy wide-brimmed hat before turning to face the doors. It seemed like everything I had ever wanted was finally within my grasp in the form of a curvy Hispanic woman who was able to see beyond my flaws, beyond the sins of my past. As soon as this matter with Boris was taken care of… A bad idea suddenly occurred to me. I looked at the polished metal elevator doors, staring at the reflection of the ridiculous tourist standing slightly behind me. I frowned. It was a rookie mistake. The floppy hat hid his features. The bag slung over his shoulder could hold any number of weapons. And his hands were behind his back. Or was it just one hand?

The man chuckled. “Worried about your woman?” a familiar voice asked.

I turned but I already knew it was too late. Boris brought his arm around, revealing a Taser in his hand. Two tiny darts pricked my chest, and then the world exploded as electricity raced through my body, setting my nerves on fire, locking my muscles as if I had been turned into a statue. I couldn’t even scream, and I desperately wanted to.

I fell back against the elevator doors, willing my hands to pull those damned darts out but my muscles wouldn’t listen. Boris just stood there calmly, watching as my insides burned. Finally, the lighting racing across my nerves stopped. I dropped to the floor, my twitching muscles refusing to do as I commanded. The elevator doors opened and I tumbled back, laying on the floor, half in and half out of the elevator.

Boris stepped over me. “The great Dante,” he taunted. “Thrown off his game by a simple piece of ass.”

“Kill… you,” I gasped, the twitching fading away, my muscles slowly coming back under my control.

Boris laughed. “Say that when you’re a little more intimidating. It’s not very convincing at the moment.” He raised his foot and kicked me in the face.

As the world faded to black, I watched him walk down the hall towards my place, towards Olivia.

I sat on the couch, staring at the TV screen mounted on the wall. It would probably be more entertaining if the TV was actually on but I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on a show right now. All I could think about was Dante, out there all alone as he tracked down a lunatic from his past.

Someone knocked on the door, making me jump. I took a couple of deep breaths. Knowing Dante, he had room service send up food… or possibly sent Damian up to watch me. I tried not to frown. I could easily picture Dante doing something like that but I really hoped he didn’t. I didn’t need a babysitter.

I looked through the peephole in the door and sucked in a sharp breath. A man with platinum blond hair cut in a spiky crewcut stared intently at the peephole with his ice-blue eyes, as if he could peek through and see me.

Another knock. “Room service.”

Yeah, right. It was just two words but his Russian accent was unmistakable. I stepped away from the door. I needed to find a phone and let Dante know Boris was here.

The doorknob rattled violently and I bit my lip, holding back a scream. I had changed my mind about the babysitter. Damian, or anyone else, or even the whole security team could camp out up here as far as I was concerned.

The door shook on its hinges as Boris rammed it. I did squeal this time, not even trying to hold it back. Boris flung himself at the door again and this time it gave way. Mental note for Lucifer – Better doors on the hotel rooms because these were shit.

Boris grinned at me. “Hello, Olivia. It’s a real pleasure to meet you.” He charged towards me.

Screaming at the top of my lungs, I ran down the hall as fast as I could but Boris was right behind me and getting closer.

When I got to the bedroom, I spun around and tried to slam the door shut but Boris was already halfway in. He shoved forward, sending me flying back against the bed. The man wasn’t even half as big as Dante but he was insanely strong. I rolled off the bed and ran towards the sliding glass door and the balcony on the other side of it. I had no idea what I’d do when I got there but I’d figure it later.

Unfortunately, later never came. Boris grabbed my hair and jerked me back towards him.

“Hijo de puta,” I screamed, flashes of blinding pain exploding in my head.
Son of a bitch
. I reached back and sank my nails into the back of his hands, trying to make him let go. Instead of letting go, he tightened his grip and slammed me face-first into the wall.

“You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” Boris asked.

“Chinga usted.”
Fuck you
.

I squeezed my eyes shut as he slammed me into the wall again.

Boris was attacking me, slapping my face repeatedly. I snarled, lashing out with my fist, connecting with something solid.

“Son of a bitch!” A voice that wasn’t Boris said. “Asshole.”

My eyes snapped open. Damian sat a few feet away, rubbing his jaw. I struggled up into a sitting position, all my muscles sore and aching. “What are you doing up here?”

Damian climbed to his feet and extended his hand. “When I see my boss getting the shit shocked out of him on the elevator security camera, I make it a point to look into things.”

I took the offered hand, letting him pull me to my feet. I twisted my neck left and then right, popping it back into place, and glanced down the hall. I could tell my door was open. “Boris has Olivia.”

Damian nodded. “Cameras show him going in but nobody has come out. I went in but didn’t see anyone. The bedroom door is closed. Think they’re barricaded in there but I didn’t try to talk with the guy or anything because I didn’t know how you want this to play out.”

“I want that fucker dead,” I snarled. “That’s how I want it to play out.”

Damian nodded. “Cool. How do we make that happen?”

My worst nightmare was coming true. Boris was going to hurt Olivia. He knew I’d come for him. He’d be expecting me. Even if I could get to him before he killed her, he could hurt her really bad. I had to protect my woman and get revenge on the asshole who wanted to hurt her, but I had to do it in a way that he wouldn’t expect. “The suite above mine has a balcony.”

Damian looked at me like the Taser might have done some permanent brain damage.

I grinned. It wasn’t a happy grin. Boris would’ve probably shit himself if he could see it. “I need you to do something for me, Damian.”

The first thing I noticed was the headache. It made the headache after my night of drinking seem like a minor inconvenience, but that was okay. My head hurting like hell meant I wasn’t dead. Not being dead was good.

The second thing I noticed was that I couldn’t move my hands. They were tied above my head. I wanted to know where I was but I couldn’t hear the crazy guy. I didn’t think he had left but I could picture him waiting for me to wake up before doing whatever he was going to do. If that was the case, letting him know I was awake would be bad. Probably best to just stay still and pretend to still be knocked out.

“Did you know an unconscious person breathes differently than a conscious person?” Boris asked.

I groaned and opened my eyes. “I guess I do now.” I glanced around, shocked to discover I was tied to Dante’s bed. I had fantasized a couple of times about being tied up on his bed, but this wasn’t how any of those fantasies went.

He chuckled as he reached into the bag hanging at his side and pulled out a strange-looking saw. His eyes met mine as he held the instrument up. “This is a bone saw. I guess you can probably figure out what it cuts.”

I tugged on the ropes that went from my wrists to the headboard, wriggling back and forth on the mattress.

“Oh, calm down,” Boris said, walking towards me. “I’m just going to cut your hand off.” He held his left arm up, waving the stump of his wrist in my face. “Trust me. You can adapt.”

“Dante will kill you.”

Boris nodded. “Probably, but that’s okay because killing me won’t put your hand back on. It won’t ease the guilt he’ll feel for failing you.” He pinned my left arm down with his left forearm, placing the cold blade of the saw against my wrist.

Someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Boris looked at me, one eyebrow raised in curiosity. He shook his head, chuckling softly. “Dante is much more refined these days, apparently.” He looked towards the door. “I don’t know what game you’re trying to play, Dante, but I’m not playing. If you try to come through that door and spoil my fun, I’ll drag this blade across her throat and that will be that.”

A muffled voice came through the door.

“What was that?” Boris asked. “Afraid I couldn’t understand you.”

More mumbling outside the door.

With an exasperated sigh, Boris moved cautiously towards the door. “Did I kick your teeth out, you big ape? Did I break your jaw? Enunciate.”

Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned and looked towards the balcony. A pair of legs appeared to dangle in mid-air, and then Dante dropped onto the balcony. He held a finger to his lips as he moved towards the door. I nodded, trying hard not to make any sound.

More unintelligible mumbling came through the door.

Boris shook his head. “No more games now, Dante. I don’t have time for them. I need to cut your girlfriend’s hand off.”

The voice came through the door again as Dante slowly slid the balcony door open. This time it was perfectly clear.

“I’m not Dante, motherfucker.”

Boris gasped and snatched the bedroom door open, staring at Damian on the other side. “Who the hell are you?”

“That’s Damian,” Dante said as he charged towards Boris.

Boris gasped and turned towards Dante’s voice, his eyes going so wide I thought they might pop out of his face. The bone saw fell from his limp fingers.

Dante hit Boris like a freight train, slamming him against the wall. I was pretty sure I heard a couple of ribs break. Dante grabbed Boris’ head in his hands and swung him through the air, slamming him to the ground so hard the bed shook. Boris groaned, wheezing, a gurgling sound coming from his throat. Dante raised his leg and stomped down hard. I closed my eyes but couldn’t avoid hearing the sickening crunch or noticing that the wheezing and gurgling had stopped.

“Olivia?”

I opened my eyes and smiled as Dante leaned over me, concern in his eyes. “I knew you’d come for me.”

He kissed me, pulling back when I winced. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “All is forgiven if you untie me. My hands and arms are going numb.”

He chuckled and leaned forward again, kissing my forehead. “Anything for you.” He quickly untied me and helped me sit up, turning me to face the balcony so I wouldn’t see what had been done to Boris. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to you in time.”

I held my hands up and flexed my fingers. “Both hands are still attached so I’d say your timing was pretty good.”

He smiled and kissed me gently on the lips. “You’re an incredible woman, Olivia Chavez.”

“Prove it.”

“How?”

I smiled mischievously. “Show me that being tied to your bed can be fun.”

Dante laughed. “I think that can be arranged.”

Damian cleared his throat. “So… about the dead guy on your bedroom floor.”

Dante gave me another kiss and stood to his full height, glaring down at the body fiercely, as if even death wasn’t enough punishment. He looked at Damian. “The man brought a bone saw. It would be a shame for it to not be used.”

Damian nodded.

Before Damian did… whatever he was going to do with Boris’ body, Dante held me close, shielding me with his body as he escorted me out of the room. Since he was basically in charge of the place while Luc was gone, he had no problem with reserving the Honeymoon Suite for us while his place was being repaired. When he showed me where we’d be staying, I just stared.

“The Honeymoon Suite?” I couldn’t believe my eyes. “So you’ve graduated from pretend boyfriend to pretend husband?”

Dante smiled, taking me in his arms and pulling me close. “And maybe if I play my cards just right I’ll be lucky enough to drop the pretend part.” His lips found mine and I couldn’t hold back a moan. I was still sore but his kisses were oh-so good.

“Great coffee
and
great sex?” I smiled up at him. “I think you’re playing your cards just fine.”

“Good.”

He swept me up in his arms like I weighed nothing at all and carried me across the threshold, and then proceeded to carry me straight into the bedroom, where a bubble-filled jacuzzi tub waited for us. In Vegas, people say the house always wins, but I was the one who hit the jackpot this time.