Undying Hunger

Ch. 4: You are the death of me.

Despite what everyone thinks, Dante has gone on dates.

It's the relationship part Dante didn't have time to entertain. If Dante had to sacrifice one night to take someone out on a date, that wasn't a big deal. However, the constant attention a partner needs would become a problem if he were forced to divide it between his family, his coven, and his business. A lover didn't quite fit and, from Dante's experience, they never wanted to share. Dante didn't need to add another job to his life.

However, maybe there was another way.

The moment Reid closed the car door behind them, he beat his fists against Dante's shoulders and then back when Dante turned away. "You have lost it!" Reid roared. "What is the matter with you?! Waking me up at the crack of dawn, kidnapping me, throwing me on a plane—"

"I know, Reid, I was there." Dante sighed, already rubbing down the veins throbbing in the middle of his forehead. He accidentally caught Gia spying on them from the rearview mirror, and his face dropped. She straightened up, but Dante still raised the partition between them, until it clicked shut and there was the Ventura family sigil staring back at him, judging him.

"I wouldn't do that," Reid warned. "You'll want a witness to your murder."

"What will it matter if I'm dead?"

"I wasn't finished!" Ried snapped. "You kidnapped me."

"You already said that."

Reid punched his shoulder and yelled loud enough for Gia to hear them argue anyway. "It bears repeating, you spoiled overgrown brat! You dragged me to some hoity-toity party where you almost get into a fight with some random!"

"His name is Cain Hawthorne," Dante said, raising his hands in surrender, even though Reid had to knock on his chest one more time. He took it, closing his eyes and taking a steady breath. When Dante looked up at Reid's angry furrowed brow, he said, "He's responsible for my parent's death."

Reid's eyes widened. He froze, and Dante dropped his hands. "I don't know how much he was involved. For all I know, he put the hit on them or starved them in the sun with his own two hands, but he's the reason they're gone."

"Oh, god," Reid could barely whisper. "How did you restrain yourself?"

"I didn't." Dante met his eyes. "You did."

"Someone had to." Unsettled, Reid fidgeted and retreated into his own space. "What are you going to do about him?"

"I'm not sure."

Reid shook his head. "But you were already behaving poorly. I thought this whole land venture was important. You should be going out of your way to kiss that old lady's ass."

"I'm not good at that. I'm not—"

"Charming, sweet, gentle, kind—"

"A good faker," Dante said.

"I wouldn't say that. Don't think I'm not mad that you told everyone we're dating. The entire world probably believes it by now. Those twins are the worst gossips."

"I wanted to help."

"By upgrading a bomb into a nuke?"

"I'm a nuke?"

"You are the death of me."

Dante rolled his eyes. "Very clever. Just listen, okay? I think we can help each other. We should get back together."

At the word, Reid opened the car door and Dante cursed, reaching out too late. Reid rolled out and thankfully landed on his feet.

"Gia, stop the car!" Dante yelled and jutted forward as she slammed the brakes. Dante climbed out, running after Reid, storming up the road. There were rocky cliffs on one side and a rock wall on the other. What was farther out remained hidden in the darkness. "Reid! Stop! Where are you going?"