"What the fuck, Kashi?" Dante's voice thundered through the apartment.
Kashi closed the door softly behind them. Very softly. Perhaps if she made no sudden movements, the infernal bastard in front of her would calm down.
Dante spun around. He did not look calm. His hair was slightly dishevelled from running back across the street, his jaw tight, shoulders rigid, and there was an expression on his face Kashi recognised immediately.
Disappointment.
Worse— concern.
Kashi remained by the door, hands folded loosely in front of her. Ready to accept her scolding.
Dante began pacing. "I expect this nonsense from Zarri. I expect her to wake up one morning, see a red flag, decide it matches her shoes and follow it straight into hell."
Kashi's brow lifted. "That is very specific."
"Kashi."
She shut up.
Dante dragged a hand down his face. "But you?" He stopped pacing. "You?"
Kashi looked around as though another Kashi might be standing somewhere nearby.
"Yes, you!" Dante threw both hands out. "Since when?"
Her expression turned cautious. "Since when what?"
"Since when do you behave like this? I walked into that room and found you being eaten alive on a sofa!"
Kashi frowned. "Dante, that is an exaggeration."
"His hands were on you."
"They were attached to him. Where else would they be?"
Dante stared at her. Kashi looked innocent. It was not convincing.
"Do not get clever with me right now."
She pressed her lips together.
Dante resumed pacing. "It hasn't even been that long since Damian." Kashi's face changed. Dante's voice lowered, but none of the seriousness left it. "You spent years loving that man. He nearly destroyed you."
Her gaze shifted away. Dante stopped directly in front of her. "And now, after finally getting yourself out of that mess, you decide the next man you want to entertain is who?"
Kashi already knew what was coming.
Dante looked personally offended by reality. "A Riegrow." He pointed towards the door. "A fucking Riegrow, Kashi."
She lifted one shoulder. "He has a name."
Dante's mouth fell open. "Oh, fantastic. She knows his name."
Kashi almost smiled.
"Is this funny?" Dante demanded. "Because from where I was standing, you look completely insane."
Kashi looked down at the floor. For perhaps the first time in her adult life, Kashi Saints resembled a teenager caught doing something her father absolutely had not approved.
The sight somehow made Dante angrier. He made a strangled sound.
Kashi stepped closer. "Dante." She softened her voice. "Danteee."
"No."
"My favourite infernal bastard."
He turned away. "Flattery will not save you, vile woman."
Kashi followed him. "You know I adore you."
"I know you are manipulative."
She wrapped both hands lightly around his arm. Dante looked down at them. Then tried to pull away. Kashi tightened her hold. "Listen—"
"I have listened enough." Dante huffed.
"But you don't understand—"
"I understand perfectly." Dante turned towards her. "You are playing with one of the worst men in this country."
Kashi's mouth twitched. "Worst is subjective."
Dante's stare sharpened. "Do not defend that bastard to me. I don't want context." He closed his eyes for a second, as though appealing to every god he had ever heard of. "You need to be careful, Kashi."
Her gaze lowered. "I know."
"Do you? Because it doesn't seem like it. I don't want you getting hurt. A man like that has nothing but ruin to offer."
Kashi's expression hardened. "And what makes me any different?"
Dante went quiet.
"What does it matter if he's bad for me?" she continued. "I'm sick and tired of everyone trying to choose things for me."
"Then choose wisely!" Dante snapped. "You chose Damian. Look where that fucking got you!"
Silence.
Kashi looked at him sharply. Dante's anger disappeared almost immediately. He reached towards her.
Kashi stepped away from his hand.
"Kashi…" His voice softened. "I would give the world for you. I just don't want you getting hurt. Not again."
Kashi held his gaze. "I won't. You don't have to worry."
The front door burst open.
"KASHIIII!" Zarri bounced into the apartment.
Kashi's eyes widened.
No. No, no, no.
"You will not believe what Alex just—"
Behind Dante, Kashi began making frantic cutting motions across her throat.
Stop. Stop talking.
"I couldn't find you guys, and Chaos said you left—"
Kashi threw one hand up.
Time out Zarri, time fucking out.
Zarri stopped. "What?"
Kashi shook her head violently. Dante went still. Kashi pointed at him. Then at Zarri. Then mimed death.
Zarri stared at her. "What are you doing?"
Kashi closed her eyes.
Idiot. Oh Lord. My best friend is an idiot.
Dante slowly turned around. Something in the room changed.
Zarri's smile disappeared. "Oh, shit."
Dante looked at her. "Kneel."
Zarri blinked. "Que?"
[What?].
Dante's eyes narrowed and Zarri dropped to both knees immediately.
Kashi whispered, "I tried to warn you."
Zarri frowned. "You were moving your hands like a madwoman."
Dante looked towards Kashi. Then at the empty space on the floor beside Zarri.
Kashi followed his gaze. One eyebrow rose.
Really?
Dante remembered exactly who he was speaking to. His expression shifted.
"Cazzo."
[Fuck.]
Kashi's mouth curved. "That's what I thought."
"Do not smile. I am still angry with you."
She stopped smiling.
Dante pointed between both women. "You two are going to kill me."
Zarri raised one hand from the floor. "I didn't even do anything."
"You fraternise with the enemy," Dante barked.
Kashi gave him a dry look. "Fraternise? Baby, they are fawking." She dragged the last word out.
Zarri gasped. "You devil! Liar! Evil, callous, traitorous bitch!"
Dante clutched his chest. "Why did I even come back?" He looked towards the ceiling. "Why? Oh, why?"
"Do not listen to this woman!" Zarri shuffled towards him on her knees. "All she does is lie." She grabbed at his leg. "Tienes que creerme. Yo nunca haria eso."
[You have to believe me. I would never do that.]
Dante looked down at her and nudged her away with his foot. "You are a lot of problems, kiddo." He turned back to Kashi. "And that man is not safe."
Kashi's expression sobered.
Dante held her gaze. "I don't care how charming he is. I don't care how he looks at you. I don't care what he says when the two of you are alone." His voice lowered. "If you are going to do this, use your head."
Her jaw tightened slightly. "I am."
"Use it more."
Kashi exhaled through her nose.
Dante crossed his arms. "if I report this back to His Highness…"
Both women froze. Kashi's head snapped up. Zarri's eyes went enormous.
"No," Kashi said.
Zarri scrambled upright onto one knee. "You wouldn't."
Dante looked at them both "I would."
Kashi grabbed Dante's arm again. "Dante. Be reasonable."
"I am being reasonable."
"This is betrayal."
"This is my job."
Kashi clasped both hands together. "Please don't tell him."
Zarri immediately joined in. "Exactly. Don't." She paused. "Eh? Why am I pleading for you?"
"Because we are in this together, idiot." Kashi spat at her.
Zarri considered that. Then nodded.
Right.
She turned back to Dante with enormous pleading eyes. "Mercy. Forgive. Forgive."
Dante looked between them.
Two grown women. One standing. One half-kneeling. Both suddenly terrified of the same man finding out. Some of the tension left his face.
"You only just got yourself back," he told Kashi quietly. "Don't lose it." he noticed Zarri was still on the floor. His irritation returned immediately. "Why are you still kneeling? Get up!"
"You told me to kneel!"
"And now I'm telling you to get up!"
Zarri scrambled to her feet. "Would you like some water?"
Dante gave her a look.
Zarri smiled nervously. "Cold water?"
Kashi disappeared into the kitchen. A few seconds later, she returned carrying something with both hands. Dante's eyes narrowed.
Kashi held out a plate. "Have some cake."
Zarri gasped. Dante looked at the cake.
Then at Kashi.
Even he understood the significance of this sacrifice.
Dante hissed through his teeth and looked away.
Zarri suddenly brightened. "Oh! Speaking of gifts—guess what?"
Kashi slowly turned towards her. Dante did the same.
Zarri grinned and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a sleek black card stamped with a silver X and held it up proudly.
"I got us VIPsss." She beamed. "Alex gave it to me!"
Kashi and Dante screamed at the exact same time.
"REALLY, ZARRI?!"