Chapter 2 - Hanging Over the Ravine
Mud slid beneath Cara’s shoes.
Branches tore at her white blouse as she descended.
“Dante!”
No answer.
She slipped, caught a root, and kept moving.
Finally, she reached the wreck.
The black car hung at an impossible angle against a tree.
The ravine disappeared beneath it.
Cara approached the driver’s window.
“Dante!”
His head moved.
His gray eyes slowly opened.
Blood ran from a cut near his temple, but he was conscious.
He looked at her.
“Who…”
Cara grabbed the door.
“Can you move?”
His eyes sharpened.
“Who are you?”
“The waitress.”
He stared at her.
“Bellini’s?”
“Yes.”
The tree creaked.
Cara looked down.
“Wonderful. We can introduce ourselves properly later.”
Dante tried the door.
Jammed.
Cara moved toward the shattered window.
“Give me your hand.”
“No.”
“What?”
“The car is moving.”
“I noticed.”
“You’re standing beneath it.”
“I noticed that too.”
“Then climb back up.”
Cara stared at him.
“You want me to leave you here?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
For the first time, Dante looked genuinely confused.
Cara reached through the broken window.
“Give me your hand.”
“I’m twice your size.”
“And apparently half as cooperative.”
Another crack echoed through the ravine.
Dante looked at the tree.
Then at Cara.
“Fine.”
He grabbed her wrist.
Cara braced one foot against a rock.
“On three.”
“Wait.”
“One.”
“Cara—”
“Two.”
“How do you know my name?”
“Your people scream it every time your coffee isn’t hot enough.”
Despite everything, Dante almost smiled.
“Three!”
Cara pulled.
Dante pushed himself through the window.
The car shifted.
Cara screamed as his weight dragged her forward.
“Again!”
Dante pushed harder.
His shoulders cleared the window.
Then his torso.
The tree split.
“Move!”
Cara pulled with everything she had.
Dante fell against her.
They rolled into the mud.
A second later, the car tore free.
They watched it disappear into the darkness.
A distant crash echoed from below.
Silence followed.
Cara lay on her back, breathing hard.
Dante was beside her.
“You’re insane,” he said.
Cara laughed breathlessly.
“You’re welcome.”
Headlights suddenly appeared above.
Many headlights.
Cara looked up.
Black SUVs stopped across the mountain road.
Doors opened.
Men poured out.
“Boss!”
“Down there!”
Several men descended the slope.
Cara tried to stand.
The first man reached them.
He saw Dante injured.
Then he saw Cara kneeling beside him, her hands stained with blood from the rescue.
His expression changed instantly.
He raised a gun.
“Move away from him.”
Cara froze.
Another man appeared.
Then another.
Weapons came up.
Dante’s hand suddenly closed around Cara’s wrist.
“Don’t shoot her.”
Every man stopped.
A large man with silver at his temples hurried forward.
“Boss?”
“Carlo.”
“We thought—”
“I said don’t shoot her.”
Carlo immediately lowered his weapon.
The others followed.
Dante looked at Cara.
Rain ran down his face.
His voice became dangerously calm.
“Now tell me, waitress.”
Cara swallowed.
May you like
“How did you know my brakes were going to fail?”
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