Chapter 10
Cali Woods
We pulled up in a gated community, holding multiple large houses. All houses were made different, some made of brick, some made of rock and wood. The entire community held two story houses that held at least seven rooms-debating on the multiple windows outlining the house. The yards were perfectly kept-from what I could tell in the dark-and yard lights lighted up the way towards the front door. Every house was magnificent.
"I thought you said you lived in an apartment." I mumbled as he parked his car in front of a house made of rock and wood.
Dante smirked as he made his way to the passenger door, opening it for me he said, "I might have lied."
I stuck my foot out to stand up but Dante already had his arm tucked under my knees and around my back. He hoisted me out, careful to not hit my head, then shut the door with his foot. I could get used to this.
"That's a big lie you told." I said, a little distracted from gawking at Dante's arm muscles and how large his hands were. My stomach fluttered as I studied him a little, his body was amazing...but was he truly?
Dante opened the door with trouble from me being in his hands. I laughed, "You can set me down, I'm not going to break."
Dante opened the door, "Don't be so sure."
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and stared blindly into his house. The light flickered on and I gasped-the house was truly magnificent.
Surprisingly, for a mans house, the place was well kept and everything matched. Items were placed in appropriate places, except for a few shirts and socks discarded around the living room.
I didn't get a chance to look at the rest of the room because Dante began ascending his stairs, without turning on any lights he brought me into a bathroom and sat me on the vanity. He then turned on the light and looked at me.
A sudden fear came to mind that I should've been cautious of all along. What was his intentions of bringing me here? I panicked a little as I thought of bad case scenarios and tried getting down from the vanity. Dante quickly grabbed me by the shoulders, "Relax," he whispered, "I'm just going to clean your cuts."
There was no harm in that was there? He just wanted to help...but why?
I shivered as Dante searched the room for a first aid kit. I was cold and exhausted, it had to be at least midnight by now.
Dante returned, standing in front of me. He rummaged through the kit, "Once I finish I'll get you warmer clothes. For now I need to check if they planted anything on you."
"Like a tracking device?" I scoffed, this wasn't The Hunger Games.
Dante nodded his head, "Exactly that."
My eyes bulged at his comment, "Why would muggers want to track me? Isn't that a won-n-done kinda thing?"
Dante shook his head, a frown etched on his face, "They weren't muggers."
I raised my hand to my head, a headache beginning to appear again, "Then who were they?"
Dante hesitated, fighting with himself to whether or not tell me. He let out a small breath, "They were apart of a gang that tracks woman. They attack, plant a tracking device then come back to get you."
I gulped, "What happens after the get you?"
Dante looked up at me finally, his hazel eyes sad, "They sell you."
I shivered at the thought but asked no more questions. I really didn't want to know the rest.
Dante opened a package of alcohol wipes and gently placed one on my right knee. I hissed as I wrapped my bruised hand around his wrist. Our eyes connected, "Sorry." He mumbled.
He took my hand that was around his wrist and lifted it, placing it on the edge of the counter. I gripped it as he continued cleaning the blood off then moving to my left knee.
"Do they have certain woman they go after?" I found myself asking as I watched him expertly cleaning my wounds.
Dante seemed as if he was expecting the question since he answered without hesitation, "Yes."
I raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue, "Like?"
Dante huffed as he threw away the bloodied wipes, my knees now free from blood and dirt. He looked at me for a bit, like he was studying me to see if I was worthy enough of the knowledge, "They go after woman who are involved with other gangs."
"But I'm not apart of a gang."
Dante placed two bandaids on my right knee that had connected with the concrete first while I was being attacked, "Then you must've been seen with someone who was or is in gang."
I tried thinking back to who that person could possibly be and only one person came to mind, "Cody?" I asked.
Dante scrunched up his eyebrows as he wetted a wash cloth and began cleaning my thighs and legs. I shivered at his touch and close proximity, "Who?"
I rolled my eyes as I watched him clean me, "Blondie that didn't walk me to my car."
"Oh, that dïck? Maybe." Dante said nonchalantly.
I gasped at his choice of words but he ignored it, "Yes...that one."
Dante threw the dirty washcloth in the sink and stepped back, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it above his head. I gasped, again, at the sight of his tan, muscular chest. His muscles bulged as he pulled the shirt over his head, causing me to gawke. His perfect chest had me practically drooling, "W-what are you doing?"
Dante handed the shirt to me, "Put this shirt on since your dress is torn."
I grabbed his shirt from his outstretched hand hesitantly, "Why couldn't you go get me another one?"
Dante raised an eyebrow, "Why? Is seeing me without a shirt making you uncomfortable?"
I shook my head, "No," I said a little shaky.
"Then put the shirt on." Dante said, crossing his arms across his chest.
I huffed and slouched against the bathroom mirror, "I can't do it while you're watching me."
"Right." Dante winked as he turned his naked back towards me.
I held in a breath as I took in his muscular back-this guy was literally all muscle. The tattoo that I had seen on campus stretched across his whole back in a tribal pattern. I could see multiple scars lining his spine and shoulder blades, I nearly reached out to touch them.
I held back my urge as I slipped down off the vanity and pulled the remains of my dress off. It tore some more as I stepped out of it causing me to cringe and have a sudden flashback of the two muggers-or gang members, Dante had called them.
Dante cleared his throat and I quickly pulled his shirt over my head, it reached to my knees and smelt of cologne and smoke.
"Okay." I mumbled, grabbing Dante's attention.
He turned around quickly and took my new outfit in. He bit his lip ring, causing my knees to tremble. I grabbed ahold of the counter to keep me up, "I'm scared to look in the mirror."
Dante chuckled as he grabbed my shoulders and spun me around, "You look fine."
I looked anything but fine. My remaining makeup was my mascara that had ran down my face from crying. Black smudges were outlining under my eyes and my eyes were red, as if I had just accidentally got soap in them. My hair was ratted and covered in dirt. A small line of blood ran from my hair line to the top of my eyebrow-I touched it and winced.
"It's just a scratch." Dante said, looking at me in the mirror.
Our eyes connected and I had this sudden feeling that not many people saw this side of him. Looking at him you would expect a cold, cranky body builder. I smiled at him, "Thank you...really."
He nodded his head but said nothing more. Reaching for his wet cloth he brought it over my face and wiped my blood and makeup off.
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