**Elena’s POV**
The gate slammed shut behind me, and I stood there, my hands clenched so tightly that my knuckles ached, hardly believing I had escaped. Something about how easy it was to leave the house felt wrong, and that only made me more nervous.
I slid into the back seat of the cab and gave the driver Dante's address, my heart pounding like I’d just stolen something and was waiting to get caught.
When the cab finally arrived at his house after twenty-five minutes, which felt like hours, my palms were so sweaty I had to wipe them on my jeans before stepping out.
I reached the front door and raised my hand to knock, but before I could make contact, the door swung open, and Dante appeared, staring at me as if he’d been waiting all morning. He didn’t say a word, just pulled me into h
