y never

at the far away rotating skyline. She could make out where her bookstore had been, no

me a sof

ut the door opened an

t calculated. Everything about him was control, and the

night," he stated, o

ur permission to sleep," Luna

don't. But it'

rms still crossed. "At this

Dante rested towards the wall.

ened in surpri

false identity are already arranged. No strings. No attachments.

e alter

er, softer. "Under my protection.

ow. "What kind

ting me know. You stay close to my circle. You listen when

o I get to choose between e

said. "Control and protec

o the remains o

t for an instant. "You thi

u want, Dante. And I'

ds her and stopped a few feet from

Honestly. Why not let me go? Why not just kill me

d impenetrable. "Because you are

oiled.

or not, you're tied to everything now. This

ask for an

e ever

e between them,

e window. "Why do you

spered now. "And if they find you without me here, they won't

swal

care of myse

ainst men who were

no answer

rets, Dante shifted closer ,

ause you're useful. Not because of your last name. But because I've seen girls like you b

eart

le you. I will not deceive you. I will keep you

not sure whether it was

s the p

Not as my guest. As one who understand

what if I break them

"Then at least I'll

w silhouetted them both, two broken individu

m slowly. "So this i

and you'll be free. Or stay, and your l

care me," sh

w," he

oo

s world

r teeth. "And what if I stay

"Then we'll have s

t the layers, the murderer, the heir, the man who reg

I was a fuse." "What m

but something sparkled in

re going to burn every

fell sile

t of the decision s

ld get in that car, disappear, live a quiet

t. And a part of her, a small, d

she said, v

body relaxed just a fraction, as t

one con

ned hi

do not own me." "N

d by something more res

m, heartbeat racing.

un

he doorway, hal

n it had been. "You are n

e did not meet her