Chapter One Hundred and Four
Malachi's POV
I couldn't go home. Not yet. Not when I knew Alicia was upstairs hurting because of me. Not when Cecilia was playing the perfect girlfriend. Not when I was one wrong word away from exploding.
So I drove to Dante's place instead. His apartment was across town. Private. Secure. A place where I could think without the weight of family expectations pressing down on me.
I parked and headed up to the third floor. Knocked on his door harder than necessary.
Pearl opened it. Dante's younger sister. She was wearing something small and tight. Her smile widened when she saw me.
"Malachi. What a nice surprise." She leaned against the doorframe. "Dante's here but he's busy. Maybe you and I could—"
"Move." I pushed past her into the apartment.
She pouted but didn't protest. Just closed the door and followed me into the living room where Dante was sprawled on the couch with his laptop.
