Dante's POV
Mulch and I stepped out of the room, closing the door behind us. The air in the hallway was heavy with unspoken words. He glanced at me, his hands tucked into the pockets of his dark coat, his usual smug expression settling in.
"So," he started, his tone light but laced with curiosity. "How the hell did you end up in Leona's room?"
I raised a brow. "Her name is Leona?"
Mulch shrugged, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, she's my girl's best friend."
I let the name roll over in my mind.
Leona.
It suited her—strong, sharp, and hard to ignore. But hearing that she was best friends with Mulch's girl only made things messier. I don't do messy. At least, I used to think I didn't.
Before I could respond, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. I turned just as Nico and Enzo appeared, looking like they had just run a marathon. Their shirts clung to their bodies, sweat glistening under.
"You okay?" Nico asked, his sharp gaze scanning me for any signs of injury.
I patted his shoulder. "I'm good."
Enzo exhaled, bending slightly as he caught his breath.
"The FBI is gone," he said between deep breaths.
That wasn't what worried me. Someone had been tailing me for days, feeding them my location, setting me up. Someone wanted me in a cell, and I wasn't going to let that happen.
I needed time to think, to plan.
"We're heading to LA," I muttered. "Vacation home. I need some goddamn quiet time."
Nico and Enzo exchanged a quick look but nodded. They didn't question me. They never did.
Nico and I left that night.
...
The moment I settled into my LA home, my mind drifted back to her.
Leona.
What was it about her that got under my skin? I hadn't been this intrigued by a woman since—Alessia.
I scowled, rubbing my temples. That was another name I didn't want in my head.
I had bigger problems to deal with. Like the bastard tracking my every move.
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in a long time.
The line rang twice before a familiar voice erupted from the speaker.
"Boss! Long time," Carlos said.
Carlos owed me. Years ago, I saved his ass from a loan shark who was ready to carve him up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Since then, he had been loyal. A detective on my payroll—useful when I needed shit done off the books.
"I need you to do something for me," I said, my voice low, steady even.
"Anything. What's wrong?"
"Someone's been on my fucking tail for days," I growled, dragging in a deep inhale from my cigarette before exhaling slowly. "Find out who the hell it is and bring his ass to me."
Carlos didn't hesitate. "Say less."
The call ended.
I paced the room, frustration burning inside me.
"You're restless," Nico noted from the couch, watching me like he already knew what was going through my head.
I ran a hand down my face. "Sofia's in LA, right?"
Nico nodded. "Yeah, she's been asking about you. Should I call her over?"
I scoffed. "Nah. Sofia's… I don't have time for her drama right now. If she comes, she wouldn't want to leave."
Nico chuckled. "You know she still loves you."
I smirked. "Yeah, too much. But I don't need her."
I turned to the window, looking out at the darkened skyline.
"I need her."
Nico frowned. "Who?"
I let out a slow exhale.
"Leona," I admitted. "I need her in my fucking bed right now. If only you could get her."
A pause. Then—
"I could get her for you."
I turned sharply, my body tensing with interest.
Nico met my gaze, his expression unreadable.
For the first time all night, excitement sparked in my veins.
"You're serious?"
Nico smirked. "When am I not?"
I tilted my head, stepping closer. "How?"
He leaned back, stretching his arms. "Let's just say… I know a way."
Something about his tone made my blood run hot. The thought of having Leona here, who was within reach, was enough to send a dangerous thrill through me.
I licked my lips, my fingers twitching. "Do it."
Nico nodded. "Consider it done."
The anticipation clawed at me as I watched Nico walk out. One way or another, Leona was going to be mine. Whether she wanted to be or not.
---
An hour later, my phone buzzed. Nico's name flashed across the screen.
I answered immediately. "You got her?"
Silence. Then…..
"She's gone."
My stomach dropped. "What the fuck do you mean, gone?"
"I mean she's missing, Dante. No one knows where she is."
I gripped the phone tighter, my jaw clenching. "Missing? The fuck do you mean missing, Nico?"
Nico exhaled sharply. "I mean, I went to where she's been staying, her apartment's empty. No signs of a struggle, no forced entry. She just… vanished."
I could hear voices in the background, muffled conversations, the sound of a car door slamming.
"Nobody just vanishes," I bit out, pacing the length of the room. "Someone took her. Or she ran."
"I'm checking security footage now," Nico said. "But if she ran, she didn't take much with her. And if someone took her…"
My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white.
"If someone took her," I growled, "then they just made the biggest fucking mistake of their life."