Chapter 14: IS HE… THREATENING ME?

YUNA

I didn't call before coming over and maybe I should have.

But I had been trying to reach her for a few days now but she kept rushing our conversations, saying she was busy and I knew what busy meant.

It meant him. That creepy neighbor.

So I showed up at seven with Thai food, wine and the determination to actually talk to my best friend for more than five minutes without Dante somehow inserting himself into the conversation. With a deep breath, I lifted my hand, knocked and waited.

I heard footsteps on the other side and when it opened, lo and behold, Dante stood there in sweatpants and a t-shirt like he lived here.

Fuck! Why was he here? Mia never listens. I panicked on the inside but schooled my face on the outside.

"hi, Yuna." He smiled warmly. "Come in."

"I didn't know you'd be here."

"Mia invited me for dinner. Didn't she mention it?"

She hadn't if not I would have remembered. In fact, how would I know? She was barely speaking to me these days.

I stepped inside and found Mia in the kitchen pulling plates from the cabinet. She looked surprised to see me.

"Yuna. Hey. I didn't know you were coming."

"Surprise." I held up the takeout bags. "I brought food."

"Oh. We were just about to cook but—"

"This is perfect," Dante said smoothly. "We can save cooking for tomorrow."

We. Tomorrow. What the fuck?

I looked between them and they looked like a fucking couple. This was moving too fast and I didn't like it.

I set the food on the counter and watched him move around her kitchen, already familiar with the place more than I was.

"I'll get glasses," he said.

Mia's phone rang and when she checked it her expression shifted. "Sorry, it's from work. I need to take this."

She disappeared into the bedroom and suddenly it was just me and Dante in the kitchen. For a few seconds, nothing happened as he unpacked the food. And then, he stopped.

The temperature dropped and it felt like a switch had been flipped over. The warm smile he wore, dropped. His shoulders became tense and he drew himself to his full height in a way that made him look very dangerous. And when our eyes met, his were empty.

I shivered, taking a step back.

I have seen neutral expressions but this was just.. void. It was scary.

"She doesn't need you planting doubts," he said quietly.

My stomach dropped.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He set down the container he was holding and thankfully he didn't move closer but he probably didn't need to because I was already scared. "Mia is happy—happier than she's been in months—and you keep trying to poison that with your paranoia."

"I'm not paranoid. I'm concerned." How did he even know all this? Did Mia tell him?

The thought of Mia telling him what I said hurt more than anything ever had.

"About what?" His voice was so calm and that's what made it terrifying. "That someone cares about her? That someone pays attention to her? That someone makes her feel safe?"

"That someone is controlling her." I snapped.

"Controlling." He said the word like it was amusing. "Is that what you think this is?"

"How could I not? you show up everywhere she goes, you know things about her you shouldn't know. I think—"

"You think too much." He took one step forward. Not close enough to touch me but just close enough to make his point. "People who interfere in things they don't understand tend to get hurt. I'd hate for anything to happen to you because that will make her sad."

The threat was crystal clear even though his voice never changed and he kept his face neutral.  Anyone listening without context would think he was just expressing concern, but that wasn't the case.

"Are you threatening me?" My voice shook and I hated it.

"I'm just giving you advice as someone who cares about Mia's happiness." He tilted his head slightly. "She doesn't need stress right now and most especially doesn't need her best friend making her question the first good thing that's happened to her in months. So maybe you should step back, let her be happy and stop asking questions that don't have answers you'd like."

"What are you hiding?"

"Nothing." He smiled and it was the most chilling thing I'd ever seen. "I just don't appreciate people trying to ruin what I'm building with her. And I don't respond well to interference."

What is he building for her? What is this psychopath planning?

I opened my mouth to confront him but was cut off by the sound of Mia's footsteps in the hallway and like a switch, Dante transformed. The deadly aura became warm, his empty eyes were filled with kindness again as he went back to the food. By the time Mia walked back into the kitchen he was laughing at something and pulling containers out of the bag like nothing had happened.

"Sorry about that," Mia said. "It was a client emergency but it’s all handled now."

"No problem." Dante handed her a plate. "Yuna brought enough food to feed an army."

I stood there trying to make my hands stop shaking and figure out how to explain what had just happened. How was I going to tell Mia that the man smiling at her had just threatened me? I could barely even process what just happened myself.

"Yuna, are you okay?" Mia asked me. "You look pale."

I snapped out of it, trying my best to smile but it came out wobbly. "I'm fine. Just tired."

We sat down to eat and I watched him the entire time. He was so charming and attentive as he poured water for her, occasionally brushing her hair away or wiping the corner of her mouth when sauce stayed there and they'd laugh and when she wasn't looking, he'd glance at me with the same warning in his eyes.

Was he… her stalker?

I drew in a sharp breath.

“Yuna?” Mia asked, concerned. “What's wrong? Is the food too spicy?”

I opened my mouth to respond but my eyes caught his and he knew I had figured it out but couldn't say anything. “No, no. I-i just thought I didn't turn off the stove at home.”

“You cooked? Wow, are pigs flying today?” She joked.

I gave her shaky smile. “Yeah.. you know I can be forgetful sometimes.”

“I don't think being forgetful is a bad thing.” Dante jumped in. “Sometimes, it's best to forget some things that aren't good for you.”

Mia smacked his arm. “Are you saying she should leave her stove on? What if she burns down the whole apartment?”

He laughed, holding her hand. “I was just messing with you.”

They both laughed and I just sat there in silence.

Because what would I say?

I swallowed, even if I tell her he threatened me, she'd ask what he said exactly and if I repeat it, I'd be the one sounding insane.

"I'd hate for anything to happen to you" could be chalked off as concern. "People who interfere in things they don't understand tend to get hurt" could be a general observation. "She doesn't need stress" could be him being protective.

I had nothing concrete.

After an hour I made excuses about being tired and left.

Mia walked me to the door. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been weird all night."

I looked at her. Really looked at her and she seemed happy. Lighter than she'd been in months. Whatever Dante was doing, it was working. She was falling for him and she had no idea what he really was.

"He's not who you think he is.” I said quietly.

Her expression shifted. "Did something happen? Did he say something?"

Yes. He threatened me and he has some sort of plan for you. I opened my mouth then closed it.

Because how did I explain that? How did I make her believe me when I barely believed it myself? When the actual words could be interpreted a dozen different ways?

"Maybe I'm just tired," I heard myself say. "Forget I said anything."

"Yuna—"

"I'm fine. Really." I hugged her. "I'll call you tomorrow."

I left before she could push it, took the elevator down alone and walked to the subway with my heart still racing.

I'd seen his real face. The one he showed when Mia wasn't looking and it was the face of someone who would do whatever it took to keep her.

Including eliminating anyone who got in his way.

I was three blocks from my apartment when my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

I stared at it for a long moment before opening the message.

Smart choice, let’s keep it that way. But I'm watching you now too.

My blood turned to ice.

I stopped walking and looked around but the street was busy with people everywhere. But suddenly I felt exposed like someone was watching from a window or a doorway or a car parked along the curb.

Mia's stalker.

Was it Dante? Or were they more people working together?

Regardless, I was now a target too and not for good.

I put my phone in my pocket and started walking again. Faster now. Looking over my shoulder every few steps.

Someone was watching and I had no idea if it was the stalker or Dante or if they were the same person. All I knew was that I'd just lost the ability to protect my best friend from whatever was coming because protecting her meant putting myself in danger.

And I wasn't sure I was brave enough to do that.