Shades of Sins (New York Sinner Series Book 2)

41| Blood

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Blood

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Warning: Extra long chapter

PS - their outfits are the first comment.

Chapter 41: Blood (Anastasia's POV)

Standing in front of the mirror that night as I got dressed, it felt a little surreal to me. The case that Dante and I had worked our asses off on these past few months could be finished tonight. 

Ethan could finally be caught, and the murders could finally come to an end. Although no bodies had turned up these past few weeks, tonight could end it all for good. No one would have to live in fear of a psychotic artist who went around killing people aimlessly. 

"What are you looking at?" I asked, my eyes meeting Dante's through the mirror as I slipped into my dress. 

He stood still behind me, leaning against the wall, and watched me for several seconds before finally stepping forward to help me. "I'm worried, Anastasia," he said quietly. 

The soft lavender silk dress flowed all the way down to my feet and hugged my waist nicely. My right shoulder was left bare while the fabric was tied into a delicate bow by Dante at my left shoulder. 

"It's risky," Dante added, "and it's making me doubt myself. Going tonight was my idea." 

"You're overthinking," I told him. 

"What if you get hurt?" he asked, his arms dropping before going around my waist as I spun in his arms to face him. 

Taking his face in my hands, I shook him lightly. "Stop," I whispered firmly. He let out a slow breath. "Hey," I laughed softly, tilting my head to find his eyes when he looked away from me. "We'll be okay," I reassured him, "you know we will, of course we will. Just one more night, Dante, and then this will all be over. Let's just get this fucking over with, hmm?" 

He stared at me for several beats while my hands slipped off and down his chest. 

"Hmm?" I asked again. 

"Fuck," he groaned quietly, grabbing either side of my face as he leaned down and smashed his lips against mine. I stumbled back simply because of the intensity of the kiss and the way it made me weak in the knees. His hand dropped to my waist instantly to catch me as I held him tighter, my lips slowly moving against his while he deepened the kiss. 

I gasped slightly as we broke the kiss, which left me breathless. All I could do was stare at him for several seconds. 

"Come on," he said, the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "We don't want to be late." Taking my hand, he led the way out. 

Throughout the drive, I could feel the underlying tension, and while I did my best to take Dante's mind off it, I didn't think it was working. He still seemed out of it when we arrived and entered the hall. 

There were undoubtedly more people filling up the gallery than any of the other events in the past... including familiar faces.