Too Late: The Innocent Traitor I Destroyed

the water were fading into stillness. He looked from Sofia's bare f

he ring?" h

ng hand. "Oh, Dante! I was showing it to Elena, and she... she s

slightest scrutiny. But Dante turned his gaze on me, and I saw the monster behind his eyes

e asked, his voic

worth thousands. If I found it, maybe I

," I sai

brushed mine, looming over me like a storm front. "You jealo

, his grip bruisi

freezing, Dant

it burns your s

he sho

d was a physical blow, a violent shock that punched the air from my lungs and sent needles

tly. Dante stood on the bank, his arm around So

until you have

way, taking the warmth

o the silt, my fingers clawing through the sludge blindly. Sometime near dawn, my fingers brus

the ring on the patio table and collapsed in the serva

r, the explos

beneath my feet. A deafening boom shattered the windows,

ter suite-was engulfed in flames. Soldiers were ru

!" I s

yelled over the roar.

a wet tablecloth from a banquet cart, thre

my eyes, blinding me with tears. I knew this house better than my own

an

like a living, ravenous beast. I shoved the beam with every ounce of strength I had left. My muscles s

. The smoke was suffocating

e. I threw my body over his head to shi

s white-hot, blinding, absolute. But I didn't let go. I hauled him through the flame

om him, gasping,

nning across the lawn, her hair perfectly styled, untouched by the chao

Dante's chest just as h

e! I've got you!

s to keep from screaming. He looked up at

?" he

sobbed, her performance

ing my truth. If he knew I saved him, he would feel indebted. H

et him love the hero. Let