Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Dante
Her smirk stays right where it is.
I cross the room and drop onto the mattress beside her, the material dipping under my weight.
Before I say anything, I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. I have to pull up the camera feeds from the building to make sure Finnic isn’t too close. The last thing I need is him stumbling in to see how comfy we are.
I lay the phone down on the bed within reach, the screen glowing faintly. Then I hook my fingers under the edge of the ski-mask and drag it up and off my head.
The thing is itchy and reeks with sweat. My hair is probably a mess, so I shake it out with a shake of my head. I resist the urge to toss the mask across the room and instead lay it beside me.
As I lean against the wall, she watches me the entire time, tracking my movement like a chess piece sliding across the board.
“You’re right.” I say in a monotone voice.
She turns to look at me, eyes gleaming with curiosity, “And what exactly am I right about?”
A low chuckle slips from my lips, “You fucking smell.”
She slaps my arm with a quick whack. “Dickhead.”
I wave my hand in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, I deserve that. But, come on… this is a hell of a situation we’re in, huh?”
She arches a brow, leaning back on her elbows. “You mean me clinging to this mattress while you sit there continuing to be mysterious?”
“Yeah, that too,” I say, smirking. “But I’m talking about Finnic, and well, your brother too.”
She flashes a worrisome look. “What about Viktor?”
“He’s good. He’s really good, actually.” I crack my knuckles before continuing, “That girl gave him just enough information to draw him out. We caught his ass in a matter of hours.”
She exhales softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Of course he’s doing great. The Genovese’s don’t back down from a challenge, now do we?” She bumps my shoulder with hers.
I tilt my head toward her, raising an eyebrow. “Do you think he’s enjoying himself over there?”
“Maybe,” she replies while shrugging. “But unlike me, he’s not getting to sit here and chat with the charming villain of the hour.”
Her smirk widens.
I snort, shaking my head. “Charming? That’s a generous label.”
She leans forward slightly, just enough to make the air between us sizzle. “You don’t think I notice, do you?”
“Notice what?” I ask innocently, though my pulse picks up at her question.
“The way you get all tense whenever he stares too much.”
I pause a moment.
That infuriating little curve stays plastered across her face, and I have to remind myself to breathe.
“You’re reading into things too much,” I say.
Her grin widens. “No,” she says slowly, dragging the word out. “You’re just at odds with how well I read you.”
I lean forward slightly, the mattress dipping more so under my weight, enough to assert presence, to remind her of who still controls this game. At least who controls it while we’re still in the warehouse. “Careful,” I murmur lowly.
She leans back just enough to give herself space, but her eyes never leave mine. “Careful is for boring people.”
I shift slightly, running a hand along the edge of the mattress, just to keep from touching her. The air between us feels charged, each of us very aware of the tension building.
“You’re walking a thin line, Leigh.”
She tilts her head, watching me. “I thought there were no lines, Dante.”
The corner of my mouth twitches as I lean back against the wall, a heavy exhale leaving my lungs. I am doing my best to reclaim the little control I have.
Finnic’s timing couldn’t have be any better. His figure comes into view on the camera as he steps back into the warehouse.
“Get some rest,” I say.
She lays down on the mattress as I get up. “On this mattress? No way.”
A true smile makes its way onto my face as I pull the mask back over.
This girl is going to be the death of me.