Because if she was dead, if The Covenant killed her, then she was gone forever. And Dante would never have the satisfaction of seeing Dimitri suffer because of the pain he had personally infilted on him. He'd never have the victory of proving his superiority. He'd never have the moment where Dimitri understood that he was the stronger man.
She'd just be dead.
And he would be left holding nothing but the knowledge that he'd been used. That he was a tool. That his personal vendetta had been hijacked by an organization with far larger ambitions and far less mercy.
***
The knock on the door came at 12:47 AM.
"Yeah," Dante called out, pulling himself back into focus.
Luca entered, his expression alert but not alarmed. He'd learned over years of working with Dante to read the difference between operational stress and personal crisis.
"You okay?" Luca asked.
"Did The Covenant call you?" Dante asked instead of answering.
"No," Luca said. "They called you?"
