Chapter 192

POV Emília Gray

"Daniel, what are you doing here?"

I ran towards him, passing through some branches and twigs on the ground.

Daniel was still distant from the house, but it seemed like he was heading there.

My heart was racing because I knew that Dante and the other guys would be ready to kill him at the first sign that he knew something. Especially now that we had discovered that his uncle was one of the heads behind the Factory.

I wiped my sweaty hand on my sweater.

"I heard about what happened in your building and wanted to know how you're doing, but you weren't answering," he said, smiling happily at me when he saw me. "I remembered I have your location, so I just followed it."

Why are you in an abandoned forest?

Shit, the location.

I had turned off my phone for Kayleen and Penélope since I started living with the Faceless, and I had forgotten that Daniel also had specific information about me, including my location, even though it was disabled for everyone else.

"I'm fine. It was a scare, but I'm okay."

"Kay and Penélope were worried too. No one could find you at Olympus," he said, putting his phone in his pocket and stopping right there. "They're saying the fire was set by one of the Faceless."

"Seems like they enjoy causing terror."

"Sometimes I believe you."

"In what way?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"That it could be Dante."

My heart sank.

"I... Why do you think that?"

Daniel shrugged.

"A hunch. Even though they don't only attack this city, I don't know... It feels like him."

"He wouldn't set a building on fire. You know that. We've seen what he's capable of."

I had already felt firsthand what he was capable of.

Daniel studied my face, as if reading something in the lines of my expression.

Did he know about his uncle? It was a thought that crossed my mind but was immediately pushed aside. Daniel was kind. He would never agree with the horrendous things his father might agree to.

He rolled his neck, slightly leaning forward to look around.

He knew they were listening and waiting to act. I just wanted Daniel to leave as soon as possible because, otherwise, I'd have to deal with his death.

And I couldn't survive seeing my friend's body at my feet. I'd kill him. I would end up killing Dante if that happened.

"Yeah... Maybe he's dead."

A fake smile curved my lips.

"I'd be happy with that."

"I know you would." Daniel gave me another look before opening his mouth again. "But I don't understand why you're here."

I shrugged.

"I was practicing... violin."

"Violin?"

"Yeah. I'm trying to get back into it," I declared.

"Oh, you're good at it. You weren't that great with the piano. So, I think it's worth trying the violin again."

"Thanks for the part that applies to me," I mocked.

"Ah, Emília, you know that's true," he confirmed, scratching the back of his neck, embarrassed.

Daniel was extremely sincere, and if I weren't his friend, I would've taken it as an insult.

"Okay. Can we talk later?"

He nodded.

"Can we plan to grab a snack sometime?"

"Yeah, sure. Try checking with Kay when she's available."

"I'd prefer it to be just the two of us. Is that okay?"

I was confused, but I tried not to show it.

"I don't know if I have time," I lied.

"When you do, message me."

He stepped closer and planted a kiss on my forehead. I hugged him back.

Daniel was my friend. One of the few people I could count on. Even though his father wished me harm, Daniel was the good side of my life. I would never hate him. I'd never deny him.

He smiled at me one last time.

"Don't stay until it gets dark."

"I won't!"

I watched him walk away. I wasn’t sure if he had left the forest, but I picked up my phone to disconnect my call from his and headed home again.

I went down the stairs and bumped into Faulkner.

I wanted to pass by him, but his hand dared to grab my wrist.

"This gives me the right to kill you and your friend," he murmured violently.

I tried to pull away from his hand, but he kept holding me tight.

"Don't mess with Daniel," I growled. "He was just worried about me. He doesn't know anything."

"My life would be fucked if I had to believe everything I'm told," Dante mocked. "I don't want you to see him ever again."

"You can't forbid me from that."

"You know I can."

"Why are you acting like a jealous boyfriend, my God?!"

"I'm. Not. Acting." He scolded slowly. "I don't feel threatened by him."

"Oh, really? But you should feel threatened and scared, idiot."

I yanked my wrist free and stormed to my room. Dante refused to be left talking to himself. He followed me until I slammed the door in his face.

The loud knocks on the door seemed to shake the furniture.

"Gray!"

"Get out of here!" I shouted.

"I won't leave until you open this door willingly," he growled, knocking three more times.

"Stop it! You're scaring Shakespeare!" I yelled, walking over to my pet pig who was clearly terrified.

I heard a deep breath from the other side of the door.

The next three knocks were lighter and more composed.

"Open the door, please."

My mouth blew out in surprise.

Confused, I narrowed my gaze, walking closer to the door. Dante had spoken calmly, using "please" in the same sentence.

I turned the doorknob, opening it, and looked up to meet his eyes. His arm resting on the top of the door frame and his posture leaning toward me made every bone in my ribs creak.

Before I could breathe, my body was thrown back. I heard the door closing, and my back was pushed against it. His arm wrapped around my waist, and the other stayed firmly over my head.

His little eyes had storms inside them, searching to suck all reason out of me.

"Finish what you were saying."

His deep voice rumbled through my eardrums and down to my stomach.

It was raspy, potent, dangerous.

"I don't remember."

"Gray."

The present threat didn't scare me.

His hand decided to glide down my hips, sending hungry butterflies into my stomach.

His touch was warm. A call to Hell with the gates wide open and an invitation made to me.

"About you being an idiot?"

"Tell me what I should feel threatened by," he murmured, his traces of anger dripping in each syllable.

"Dante..."

"Look at me and say it. Confess what you've been thinking." His command made my chin rise, and any sense of reality only existed in his gaze. "And don't lie, Gray. Because I won't tolerate any lies this time."

My God.

Why couldn't I stay silent?

There was nowhere to run.

I didn't want to run.

Dante’s shallow breath matching mine, watching his chest rise and fall as if the tattoo had a life of its own, and any muscle of his was strong enough to break me was incredibly arousing.

I was turned on.