Page 94 of Blood Vows

“No.” She stepped closer. “If Hale knows you’ll react when he threatens me, he’ll use it.”

Dante’s jaw clenched. “So what are you asking?”

“Trust me,” she said. He almost laughed, not because it was funny, but because the woman who had locked him out of a bedroom hours ago was now asking him for trust. Her expression sharpened. “I know.”

“You know what?” he asked.

“That’s hypocritical of me to ask,” she said.

“A little,” he agreed.

“I’m working on it,” she said.

“So am I,” he whispered.

She touched his chest, and Dante’s entire body quieted. “Then when we meet Hale, let me do the talking.”

“No,” he breathed.

Her eyebrows rose. “That lasted three seconds.”

“You can talk,” he said.

“Thank you,” she grumbled.

“I’ll still kill him if he moves wrong,” Dante warned.

“Dante,” Elena whispered. She seemed completely exasperated by him, and honestly, he felt the same way about their entire conversation.

“What?” he asked. She laughed despite herself, and he loved that sound. That realization came easily now—too easily. Maybe because he was done fighting every damn thing he felt.

He covered her hand with his. “Elena.”

Her smile faded. “What?”

“There’s something I need you to understand before this goes any further.” Her eyes searched his. Dante had stood in front of guns with less difficulty than this. He didn’t do words—not these words, but if tomorrow went wrong—No. He wouldn’t keep thinking that way. Still, she deserved to know how he was feeling. “What happened with your father is something I’ll carry for the rest of my life.”

Her fingers curled against his shirt. “I know.”

“But it doesn’t change this—whatever this is between us,” he breathed.

“What is this?” she asked.

Dante looked at her and shook his head. “I’m not quite sure what to even call it, but—” he didn’t finish saying everything that his heart wanted him to say, but his lips wouldn’t allow.

She blinked up at him. “That wasn’t an answer.”

“It’s the only one I have,” he insisted.

“Try harder,” she said. Of course she would make him do this right now.

He looked toward the ceiling. “Goddamn stubborn woman.”

“I’m waiting,” she said.

His gaze returned to her. “I love you.” There—three words that he never said to anyone—three terrifying fucking words. Elena stopped breathing, and Dante immediately wanted them back. Not because he didn’t mean them, but because she wasn’t saying anything.

“Elena,” he whispered.