Dante nods. “We managed to steal their supplies, but it won’t slow down their operation, but I need a team to take out Massimo and his crew.”
I bend down, catching sight of something that doesn’t quite fit the contents of the box. In the bottom is a stuffed dragon. It’s the same one Zeke has on his bed. Except this one has a dagger right through its head.
Seventeen
Harper
Luca and Ashton have been gone for a couple of hours. Nova has been spending the afternoon entertaining Zeke and chatting with me in the playroom.
Zeke keeps showing us all the new toys that he’s discovered. Most of them look well-loved; I’m relieved Nikki isn’t going out buying dozens of new toys every time we come to visit.
“Do you mind keeping an eye on him for a few minutes?” I smile at Nova as she glances at her phone.
“Sure. Bathroom break?”
“How’d you guess?” The smile feels forced, but hopefully, she doesn’t notice since she’s a bit enthralled with her phone. Is she texting Ashton?
I give Zeke a quick kiss on the cheek. “Be good for Aunty Nova.”
He ignores me, pushing me aside for the train set that has stolen all of his attention.
I hurry out of the playroom and down the hallway, searching for Dante. I breeze past the bathroom when Moreno makes eye contact with me as he approaches from the far end of the hallway.
“Looking for the restroom?” Moreno raises an eyebrow.
It’s no surprise that he won’t tolerate snooping.
“Actually, I wanted to speak with Dante. Can you show me to him?”
“He’s busy at the moment.” Moreno sighs and gestures to the playroom. “You should go and keep your son company. This place isn’t for you to run around in like a child.”
My gaze narrows as I glance him over. “I wasn’t running.” I clear my throat, stepping closer. Moreno hovers above me, but he doesn’t scare me nearly as much as his boss. Moreno doesn’t have the same authority. I ball my hands into fists, my teeth clench, and I growl up at him, “Take me to Dante.”
“Your funeral,” he mutters and leads me down the hallway to a closed door, the window made of frosted glass. “His office.”
Moreno knocks against the glass door.
“Come inside.” Dante’s rough voice sends a shiver down my spine.
I can’t back down. I need answers.
Moreno opens the door for me. “Harper would like a word with you.” They exchange a silent glance between one another. “I warned her that you were busy.”
“I am, but I will make time for my daughter-in-law. Come in.” Dante gestures me inside, and I step foot inside his office, the door closing abruptly behind me.
The room is far cooler than I expected with the heat blasting the house.
Perhaps he likes it chillier, or maybe his heart truly is made of ice and freezes over his office.
“Have a seat.” He points to the chair across from his desk, the leather vacant, waiting for me.
Slowly, I approach his desk and then take a seat. Sitting at the edge of the chair, my hands fiddling in my lap, I meet his heavy stare.
“What can I do for you, Harper?” Dante’s gaze tightens.
“I need to know what’s going on with Luca. The bruises on his chest, the broken ribs. Whatever you’re sending him into—an ambush, or whatever it is—you need to keep him safe.”
He doesn’t smile.