CHAPTER 7 ~ PLAYING NURSE WITH LOADED GUN

SALLY’S POV

Two days, it had been two whole days since that night of blood and gunfire, since I watched Dante... Doom, drop to the ground with a bullet in his shoulder because of me, because I couldn’t protect myself, because I froze.

I had never known fear like that, not when I lost my dad, not when I found out Kelvin was cheating and not even when I heard my so-called best friend getting railed beside me while plotting my downfall but that moment, watching blood pour out of him… it wrecked me.

I sat by his side like a guard dog ever since. If anyone wanted to hurt him again, they would have to go through me first. I would tear flesh with my bare hands, claw through bone if I had to because Dante bled for me.

Now, I would do anything for him.

He groaned from the bed behind me.

"Stop fussing, princess. I am fine."

"No, you are not." I snapped, fluffing the pillow behind his back like it had personally offended me. "You took a bullet, Dante. You are not fine, sit your ass down and let me take care of you."

He rolled his eyes and reclined, wincing just slightly. He tried to hide it, but I saw it.

"I am not a damn baby."

"No." I muttered, folding my arms. "You are a grown man with the emotional maturity of a wet matchstick and the stubbornness of a rhino."

His lips curled into that infuriating smirk. "Still hot, though." He teased and I hated that he was right.

Even pale from blood loss, with his shoulder bandaged, he looked like a sin I wanted to commit on repeat. The inky tattoos on his chest peeked from under the blanket, and every inch of him screamed danger.

I sat beside him, resting my head gently on his good shoulder. "I am sorry."

He glanced at me. "For what?"

"For being weak, you had everything under control until you had to save me. You got shot… because of me."

"I would take that bullet again, princess and the next one and the next." His words melted into my chest like fire but it wasn’t enough, that's not what I wanted.

"I don’t want you to take bullets for me, I want to stop the bullets. I want to fight beside you, not hide behind you. So, when you are better, I am training again. Harder, and longer, I want to be someone you don’t need to protect."

He looked at me like I had grown a second head. "I like protecting you."

"I know but I like not watching the man I love bleed out on the floor." I blurted out before I realized what I said.

He didn't argue, instead, he leaned over, placed a soft kiss on my temple, and whispered, "Fine, we will train but only if you promise to stay in this bed tonight."

"Deal." I said and he stayed in bed, for like an hour or so.

We curled up together, I held his hand and I rubbed gentle circles on his chest and kissed his knuckles until I eventually dozed off in the safety of his presence, lulled to sleep by the steady rhythm of his breathing and the comfort of knowing he was alive.

I didn't know how long I slept but when I woke up... He was gone.

"Dante?" I called out groggily, pushing off the blanket.

I checked the rest room but he wasn't there, so I checked the study. Empty.

The gym? Empty... The balcony? The hall? Even the goddamn kitchen? But he was no where to be found.

Panic started curling in my gut, tight and sharp.

Until I got back to my room.

I froze just outside the door, as I heard quiet shuffling inside, I crept forward, the edge of the door slightly ajar.

There he was, rummaging through my things? He wasn't just looking, he was digging... My stomach twisted with confusion and something dangerously close to suspicion.

I instinctively reached for the locket hanging around my neck, the one my dad gave me on my eighteenth birthday. My thumb brushed over its gold edge, I fumbled with it nervously.

What the hell was he looking for?

I cleared my throat, and his body stilled.

Slowly, he turned around with that same disarming smirk that made women drop panties and men drop their guns.

"There you are." He said casually. "I was looking for you."

I raised a brow, arms folded. "In my wardrobe? My drawers? And suitcases?"

He gave an easy chuckle. "My bad, I meant I was looking for something."

"Oh really? And what would that be?" I asked curiously.

I mean, everything here was mine, so what could he possibly be looking? It's not like I had anything of interest or anything worth hiding.

"There’s this lingerie." He said, walking toward me casually like I hadn’t just caught him red-handed. "Black lace, you wore it the last time you were here. I was wondering if you still had it."

I narrowed my eyes. "Dante, that was years ago. I have outgrown that, besides, I have newer, better ones."

His grin widened. "Even better, how about you wear one tonight? I have plans."

He kissed me lightly, like none of this was suspicious, then he walked out like the devil himself had just pulled a smooth one.

I stood there, unsure if I was being paranoid or if something wasn’t quite right but what could he possibly be looking for?

Still, my fingers returned to the locket around my neck, holding onto it like a lifeline, like it was going to take away the suspicion growing inside me.

"Maybe it was nothing." I whispered.

I shook off the doubt, opened my drawer, and pulled out a red-hot lace lingerie set. One I bought with Pam during our fake friendship phase. Something about wearing it tonight felt right, perfect.

If he wanted a show tonight, then that’s what he would get but I would also keep my eyes wide open, because Dante might be mine… but even kings have secrets.