23 - TUG OF WAR

DANTE’S POV

After I had left the house after giving Helena the ring, the next agenda on my mind was to deal personally with Tony Anotti, of course he knew Helena was engaged to me, the only reason he had decided to pull the stunt with me and that was why I decided to give her the ring. I had rushed earlier that morning before she woke up, pulled up at the nearest jeweler and purchased the one that caught my eye, I didn’t care how expensive it was – it was my claim on her, to prove to everyone in Algreen Cove that she was mine now.

I arrived at the warehouse where we’d been keeping Tony Anotti to find Paulo was already there, but he looked a tad bit disheveled with his normally crisp shirt untucked and his brow furrowed with worry.

"Dante," he said, his voice low and urgent, "Tony... he’s gone."

The words barely registered for a second, and when they did, the rage simmering just beneath my skin flared up. "What do you mean he’s gone?" I barked, stepping closer to him but Paulo held my