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Dante's car pulled up in front of a pair of grand iron gates, which parted automatically just as he approached. Desmond kept his eyes on the road throughout the ride. He was trying to memorize the route in case there would be need for an escape, but it was almost impossible.

As though Dante knew, he kept going through corners and side roads, leaving him disoriented and even more confused at the end. So much for being observant.

They were greeted with an estate beyond the gate. Desmond locked eyes with Dante, who was looking at him through the rearview mirror. "I'm not going in there."

"And tell me why you wouldn't?" Dante asked as he put the car to a stop.

"Because once I step in, you won't let me out again."

"Precisely," Dante smiled. "And if you refuse to come out, well, I have other means." He pressed a button and the windows rolled down. "You better not try anything funny, Desmond," Dante warned quietly, beckoning the men standing at their positions beside the houses.

Desmond shifted, his muscles stiff as he watched three armored men make their way to the car. One of them opened the door to his side of the car and stepped aside for him to come out.

He really didn't want to. He was not obedient to Dante and his orders, but he didn't really have a choice here. Cursing the moment Dante decided to follow him, he alighted the vehicle.

Dante grinned, looking at the stone walls that surrounded this property. It looked grand and flashy, security cameras blinking in every corner and flood lights illuminating the grounds. But everything here was for efficiency.

The place was designed not just to keep people out, but to keep them in. And Desmond was going to be in for a long time.

The guards grabbed Desmond's arms and led him to the house. He didn't resist even though his heart thumped in agitation, perhaps even fear. He moved with his head held high, refusing to let any of the emotions show, instead focusing on his surroundings.

They were led down marble-floored corridors, past rooms that had all their doors shut, and they stopped in front of one of the rooms.

Dante stepped forward, leveling his eyes with the iris scanner, and it beeped green. Then the door swung open and they walked in.

"Welcome to your new home, Desmond," Dante spread out his arms, relishing the look of doom that flashed over his face.

"Me staying here was not part of the deal. That's not why I went with you in your car," he said, his words sounding a bit rushed in anger.

"There was no deal," Dante corrected.

"There was going to be one after speaking with you and Sasha. I still stand by that—I'll tell you what I know and you give me something in return."

"Tell me, if you were in my shoes, would you be making deals?" Dante asked. He jutted his head towards one of the chairs in the center of the room, and the men led Desmond to it.

"Why make deals when I can have everything I want without it?"

"If you don't give me what I want, then I will not speak," Desmond declared, brushing his sleeves with his fingertips when the men let him go.

"Well then, I'm afraid I will have to use other means to get you to speak," Dante smiled relishing the look of resignation that flickered across Desmond's face. Desmond knew he was trapped already—he could see it in his eyes—but he was still trying to twist the situation to his favor.

"You won't dare lay a hand on me," Desmond growled, throwing off his cool demeanor.

"You're at my mercy," Dante snarled. "In case you haven't realized it yet, you better behave yourself."

"Like I said before, don't try anything stupid, else I will not hesitate to kill you. I have someone else in my custody who is willing to sell secrets, and you just happened to be in a higher rank than him."

Dante strode out of the room, his guards following him, and the door shut automatically