Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
AVA
My brother has always had more heart than brains. I love him more than anyone else, but how in the world hasn’t he noticed me eye-fucking Dante after all this time?
Dante in a leather jacket is fine as hell. But Dante without the jacket, with his shirt rolled over his corded forearms?
Sinful.
He walks in my direction, his phone against his ear. His eyelids lower with heat when he catches me staring. I slip my phone into my back pocket as Dante slides into the booth beside me, his muscular thigh pressing against mine.
Dante ends his call with a curt “thanks” and sets his phone on the tabletop. His green eyes flash with a zeal I haven’t seen before. His hand curls around my knee.
“You’ve piqued my curiosity,” I tell him, smiling. “Any news?”
A smirk tugs at the corner of Dante’s mouth. “Remember the security footage King showed us? Of the guys who broke into your place?”
“Of course.”
“We know who it is.”
My heart skips a beat. “Who?”
Dante takes a beat, his fingers squeezing my thigh. “Preston. Fucking. Kane.”
The name hits me like a punch to the gut. “Thorne’s secretary was sending him payments!”
Dante nods grimly. “He was.”
The pieces click into place. A queasy feeling swirls in my stomach. “So Thorne is using his secretary to pay this Kane dude to threaten me? Jesus.” I shake my head in disbelief. “This is some next level political corruption bullshit.”
The gravity of the situation sinks in, sending a chill through my veins despite the heat.
So, after I started seriously investigating Congressman Thorne, he needed to find a way to threaten me without getting caught. So, he hired someone to do the threatening for him. And instead of paying Kane himself, he made his assistant do it so he couldn’t be blamed.
Oh, wow. Steve was right. Dante was right.
I’m in way over my head.
Thorne clearly sees me as a threat to be eliminated. Yes, of course that means I’m close to the truth. But Thorne’s covering his tracks, putting his assistant front and center to take the fall…
He might get me killed before I have enough evidence.
“Dante, this is serious,” I say, my voice low. I lean closer to him. “Like, life and death serious. We need to go public with this ASAP before I end up floating in the river wearing cement shoes.”
Dante’s hand finds mine under the table, his calloused fingers interlacing with my own. The roughness of his skin against mine sends a jolt of electricity up my arm. His gaze locks onto mine, gentle yet intense.
“I won’t let anything happen to you, darling. I promise.” His deep voice rumbles with conviction. Dante opens his mouth to say something more, but hesitates.
A shadow grows next to us. I snap my eyes up, releasing Dante’s hand.
Too late.
Archer’s bulky frame looms over us. I jerk away from Dante. Archer’s eyes go huge.
“What. The. Fuck.”
“Mm,” I start, glancing at Dante, my heart racing.
Shit. Shit, how could we drop our guard like this?
“Are you two fucking?” Archer’s voice rises in anger, drawing curious glances from nearby patrons. “Behind my back? My best friend and my sister? Are you fucking kidding me?”
Humiliation burns in my cheeks. I can’t meet Archer’s accusing glare.
Dante stands, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. “Archer, listen?—”
“I trusted you of all people to take care of her,” Archer barks at Dante. “I trusted you because I thought you wouldn’t do exactly this !” He pushes Dante off. “And you fucking lied to me!”
“Oh that’s rich coming from you,” I snap, finding my voice. I shoot to my feet.
Archer rounds on me, eyes blazing. “Don’t you dare turn this on me. I lied to protect you?—”
I scoff bitterly. “Some protection.”
The bar falls silent, all eyes on our heated exchange. A few of the club members watch warily, ready to intervene if things get physical.
Dante steps between us, his voice low and urgent. “Enough. This isn’t the time or place.”
But Archer ignores him, jabbing a finger at Dante’s chest. “I knew you were into some shady shit, but taking advantage of my sister? That’s low, even for you.”
“He’s not taking advantage of me!”
Archer swivels his gaze to me. “Your life is being threatened on a weekly basis, Ava. We’re running against the clock to keep you alive. You’re under so much fucking stress. Of course he’s taking advantage of you!”
My face goes hot. Is he? I can’t deny I am stressed out… And Archer knows Dante best. I frown, my heart squeezing in my chest.
“Ava is my fated mate.”
You could hear a pin drop in the bar. Mouths fall open in shock. Glasses pause mid-air. I stare at Dante, stunned.
What?
“It’s happening fast, yes,” Dante says, his eyes on my brother. “But because she’s my mate. Not because I’m taking advantage of her. I couldn’t stay away. My wolf wouldn’t let me.”
Embarrassment crashes over me in a hot wave as I process Dante’s revelation.
“Your wolf wouldn’t let you?” I scoff, my eyes stinging. “How romantic.”
Dante snaps his gaze at me. “No, that’s not?—”
He lied to me too. He kept this massive, life-altering secret from me.
Fated mate. I thought that was a legend.
Didn’t I deserve to know?
Archer lunges at Dante with a roar. They hit the table behind us. I wince and jump away. Fists fly as they grapple, sending chairs clattering. The bar erupts into chaos.
I watch the brawl numbly, the fight blurring through my unshed tears. I should never have gotten tangled up in this mess.
I’m done.
Gritting my teeth, I shove my way through the crowd of drunk bikers. Without a backward glance, I storm out of the bar, letting the door slam shut behind me.