Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Everleigh
Dante and Finnic step away to the corner of the room, whispering about the situation.
As they do, my thoughts fade into the memory of when I first met Dante, four and a half years ago.
I was sixteen years old.
My father’s office smelled like cologne and cigar smoke. The air was warm from the sunlight spilling through the tall windows. That heat only in the room only elevated the scents.
I ended up arriving a little earlier than the time he told me to be there at, but better that than late. I didn’t want to reap the consequences of that specific scenario happening.
As my eyes adjusted to the sun glares that cut through the room, I could make out a tall silhouette in a corner at the back of the room.
My eyes squinted slightly to make sure that I wasn’t just seeing things, but it only helped to confirm his presence.
This man was leaning against the wall, and seemed to stand at least a foot taller than me.
My gaze trailed from the floor up to his arms that were folded across his chest and then up to the few small strands of hair that hung loosely over his forehead. The sun caught them just right and I could see the color more clearly.
It was a dark brown, nearly black, with just a hint of red glinting in the light. His hair was swept to the side, but not perfectly since loose strands fell over his forehead, giving him a slightly disheveled look.
My line of sight then dropped down to his eyes.
They were brown too. The sun seemed to glimmer enough against them that they resembled a warm chocolate color. I knew if it were night, the shade would be so much darker. So dark, that they would feel endless, like staring into an abyss.
“You’re early,” he said. He didn’t smile fully, but the corner of his mouth quirked up just slightly.
“And you’re not supposed to be in here,” I replied as I clutched the thin folder to my chest.
He raised a brow, seeming somewhat amused with me. “I could say the same about you. Walking into a man’s office like you own the place. That’s bold.”
My head tilted to the side. A smirk forming on my face. “I’m allowed to be in here, unlike you. Whoever the hell you are.”
“You’ve sure got a mouth on you,” he said as he stepped closer.
I let out a low chuckle, “You won’t have one for long when I sew those lips together.”
“Oh? I’m not really sure that’s how you welcome a guest.”
“You think I give a-”
The air between us shifted when the door to my father’s office opened, breaking any tension that was there moments before.
My father entered, commanding the room like every other day. He then nodded towards his desk as he went to take a seat behind it.
I almost tripped over the thick rug that lined half of the room as I moved towards him, but luckily caught my footing.
“Everleigh,” he said, his tone as formal as usual. “This is Dante Rivera. He’s going to be working with us closely from now on.”
The man, Dante, straightened, stepping forward just enough to give a nod, his smirk softened into something almost unreadable. “A pleasure,” he replied smoothly as he tilted his head toward me in a small bow.
My brow raised on instinct, and a sly grin slipped onto my lips. “Oh, I’m sure it will be.”
The words hung between us, a perfect mix of challenge and curiosity, and I had no doubt he felt it too.
My father cleared his throat, snapping me out of the magnetic pull of his gaze. “I expect professionalism. Both of you.”
I gave a subtle nod, not saying another word, but my eyes didn’t leave his.
His gaze held mine for a moment longer, but I forced myself to blink, breaking whatever the hell kind of spell I was under.
Father broke the silence immediately. “Everleigh, did you bring what I asked of you?”
I nodded my head as I placed the folder on his desk in front of him.
He flipped it open, scanning through all of its contents.
As he did, my eyes cast to the corner again.
Dante was watching me. He wasn’t smiling, but his eyes didn’t stray.
He just looked on like there was nothing else in the room to gaze at.
I didn’t usually break under pressure, so that wasn’t a problem.
But the way he was looking at me was odd.
It wasn’t creepy, but more so like he was trying to figure me out.
“You came through. This is excellent.”
I glanced over at Father as he shut the file.
I bit down on my lip before responding, “Is there anything else you need on him? I’m sure I could find out a bit more if you needed it.”
He shook his head, exhaling as he leaned back in his chair. “No. I do appreciate your willingness to exceed my expectations though, unlike your brothers.”
Dante stepped closer to the desk. “Gabriel, I was curious as to when I would be meeting Viktor and Marco?”
Father looked up at Dante, his face devoid of any emotion. “I plan to secure a meeting between us all this evening. First, Everleigh-” He looked back over to me, “needs to finish her math assignment.”
I took that as it was my time to leave. “Yes, father. I’ll do that now.”
I leaned forward to bow to him before turning to walk towards the door. I opened it and stepped out, turning around to close it quietly behind me.
Dante’s eyes caught mine. Lingering yet again as I shut the door between us.
The memory ends, and I’m back in the warehouse.
Dante keeps looking over towards me, almost like he’s contemplating something.
Finnic’s eyes flick back and forth between Dante and I, like he’s trying to fix whatever this is.
They then move back toward me.
Dante stops a few feet away, letting the shadow of his frame stretch toward me.
His eyes scan over me slowly before he speaks, “We’re not done,” He continues, “I need to know something.”
My brow raises, awaiting his question.
“Where did your father go on that jet?”
I hesitate, keeping my expression as neutral as I can. “You’re asking an impossible question. I truly don’t know.”
Dante’s head tilts, eyes narrowing. “You’re lying.”
“And if I am, you still won’t find him.”
Finnic shifts slightly. I know his thoughts are running crazy in his head trying to figure out why I’m taunting Dante.
This whole situation is hilarious. I’m just an actor in my own movie, enjoying the role I’m playing.
Dante plops back down in the chair and leans forward, letting the tension heat in the air. “Do you want to test that theory?”
I lift my chin, refusing to give him the satisfaction. “I don’t think I’ve had a choice since you put me in this room.”
He lets out an eery chuckle. “You’ve actually had it pretty easy.”
I scoff at that, “Easy? You call drowning me easy?”
He maneuvers a bit in his seat. “That’s light work, Princess. It could’ve been much worse for you had we not found what we wanted earlier.”
Finnic stiffens beside him like the information is new to him. I catch it in the way his shoulders lock and the way his gaze snaps to Dante before he can stop himself.
“One of his secondary offices,” Dante goes on. “Just outside the city.”
He lets out a soft breath that might be a laugh.
I keep my body loose, my face bored.
“And yet,” I say, with lack of interest in my tone, “you’re still wasting time with me.”
Dante’s gaze doesn’t leave mine as he stands from the chair and walks over to the mattress. He then drops to his knees on it causing it to dip in lightly.
He reaches out and hooks a finger beneath the strap of my dress, fiddling with the material between his fingers.
Finnic moves a step forward instantly. “Dante.”
He ignores him. “You know what’s funny?”
His finger trails upward, stopping at my collarbone. He leans in, close enough that I can feel his breath against my skin.
“You think that dousing you with some water is the worst we can do to you.”
Finnic takes another step forward. “You can’t-”
Dante finally glances back at him, eyes filled with irritation. “You’re interrupting.”
Then, to me, he speaks quietly. “Since we’ve caught Representative Armani, maybe you could use that mouth for more than just talking.”
His hand traces downward on my chest to test my reaction. I shift dramatically, trying to pull away, but the movement only triggers him.
In an instant, his grip snaps up to my throat, cutting off my air supply as his eyes bore into mine, daring me to fight him.
Fear tells me to fight, but something twisted inside me doesn’t listen.
Finnic’s voice cracks. “This isn’t necessary.”
Dante smiles. “Necessary?” he echoes. “No. But it is fun.”
He leans down until his mouth is near my ear. “We have to get him to the point of thinking you’re truly powerless,” he whispers. “So let’s see how far he’ll go to save you.”
Finnic grabs him by his arm, yanking him backwards into a standing position.
“That’s enough,” Finnic declares. “If you found the information we needed, what the fuck are we still doing here?”
Dante turns toward him, entirely unbothered.
“Interesting,” Dante says smugly. “So, that’s where you draw the line.”
Finnic’s breathing is heavy now. His hands are still shaking, even as he drops them to his sides. But he slowly takes a step back, hands lifting in a mockery of surrender, as if he hasn’t just proven how close to the edge he really is. “You said you had him?” He questions, “This is done?”
Dante shakes his head. “I said we located him. I didn’t say we were finished.”
Finnic’s jaw tightens. “If you’ve already caught her father, then she’s irrelevant. He’s the one who took the money and disappeared.”
Dante lets out a humorless breath. “Irrelevant?” he repeats. “She’s the one who put the cash in his hands. You really think she’s sitting here because she tripped into this by accident? Because she’s some clueless bystander?”
His gaze narrows at Finnic. “The boss doesn’t green light interrogations like this on people who don’t know exactly what they’re involved in.”
Finnic crosses his arms over his chest, “I get it. We’re the bad guys here, I’ve done this shit before. But taking it to that point is not something I want to be involved in, Dante.”
Dante walks up to him, standing directly face to face. He is all business now, no longer seeing this situation as a game.
“You’re apart of the fucking mob, kid! There are no lines to cross. You’re standing in a white room where everything is allowed.”
I watch it all unfold from the mattress.
The way his fingers flex before turning into fists at his sides.
He wants to argue. I can see it and I’m sure Dante sees it just as clearly too.
“That look that you’ve been giving her,” Dante goes on, “that’s the one that gets people killed. Thinking there’s a version of this world where you get to keep your hands clean of the blood and filth.”
Finnic doesn’t speak as he continues to glare at him.
Dante speaks once more, “Go outside and get some air.”
Finnic hesitates and as he does, his eyes briefly turn to meet mine.
Dante tilts his head to block Finnic from looking at me, “Go.”
He does as told and leaves the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Dante slides his attention back to me.
He waits a moment to make sure Finnic’s footsteps have disappeared before speaking, “I don’t think he’s going to make it much longer.”
I bite my lip, smirking. “Good, because I need a shower.”