Chapter 35: Dante’s FuryThe moment Dante stormed into the dimly lit bedroom, Isla knew she was trapped. The door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing like a gunshot through the silence. His dark eyes burned with something raw—betrayal, fury, possession.She had seen Dante angry before. She had witnessed his wrath when he dealt with disloyal men, the ruthless way he handled those who crossed him. But she had never been the target of his rage.Until now."Did you really think you could betray me and walk away?" His voice was low, dangerous.Isla swallowed hard, keeping her back straight even though every instinct screamed at her to run. But there was no running from Dante. Not anymore."You don’t own me," she spat.Dante let out a dark chuckle, his head tilting as he studied her, stalking closer like a predator toying with its prey. His hands clenched at his sides, as if holding himself back."Don’t I?" he mused, his voice silk and steel. "Then why do you tremble every time I tou
Chapter 36: Matteo’s CoupIsla’s wrists throbbed from the tight metal cuffs binding her to the chair. The dim, flickering light overhead cast long, eerie shadows against the warehouse walls. The place smelled of old metal, gasoline, and something rotten. It was the kind of place where people disappeared, their screams swallowed by the silence.She had been taken straight from Dante’s mansion, barely given time to register the betrayal before Matteo’s men had shoved a bag over her head and dragged her into a waiting car. Now, sitting before Matteo DeLuca, Dante’s ambitious and power-hungry cousin, she forced herself to remain calm.Matteo, dressed impeccably in a dark suit, paced leisurely before her, rolling a glass of whiskey in his hand like he had all the time in the world. His brown eyes were cold, filled with amusement as he studied her.“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment,” Matteo murmured, stopping in front of her. He crouched to her level, smirking. “You’ve
Chapter 37: A Brutal BattleThe tension in the warehouse was suffocating. Isla’s heart pounded as Matteo’s men positioned themselves near the entrance, weapons drawn. The distant sound of footsteps echoed through the metal walls, growing louder with each passing second. He was here.Dante.Even bound to the chair, Isla felt an undeniable pull toward him. She had betrayed him, planned his downfall, yet he had come for her. He always did. But this time, it wasn’t love that would greet him—it was war.Matteo smirked, his fingers lightly tapping the handle of his pistol. “Dante always had a weakness for what’s his,” he murmured. “Let’s see how much blood he’s willing to spill for you, Bella.”The doors burst open before anyone could react.Gunfire exploded through the air, deafening, chaotic. Dante moved like a phantom, his coat billowing as he took down the first man in his path with a swift shot between the eyes. Another charged at him, but Dante ducked, twisted his body, and buried a k
Chapter 38: The Truth RevealedAfter the Brutal fight, Isla was still nursing herself from the handcuffs and pains while Dante was with blood all over his body. Marco's BloodThe tension in the room was suffocating. Dante stood across from Isla, his dark eyes filled with restrained fury, waiting for answers. He had always known she was hiding something—something deeper than betrayal, something that ran through her veins like poison.But he wasn’t ready for the truth.Isla had spent years suppressing it, locking the memories away behind a wall of hatred and revenge. She had never allowed herself to relive that night. But now, after everything, after fighting him, after resisting him, after nearly losing herself in him—she couldn’t hold it in anymore.Her hands trembled at her sides.She took a deep breath.And then, she spoke.“Your father ruined my life, Dante.”A muscle in his jaw ticked, but he remained silent, his body unnervingly still.She forced herself to meet his gaze, even as
Chapter 39: Antonio’s DownfallThe air in the DeLuca estate was thick with tension. Dante stood in the dimly lit study, his fingers gripping the crystal glass of whiskey he hadn't touched. Across from him, Luca, his most trusted man, leaned against the desk, watching him carefully.“You’re really going to do this?” Luca asked, his voice low.Dante’s gaze was dark, unreadable. “It’s the only way.”Killing Antonio DeLuca wasn’t just a matter of revenge. It was about survival. Power. And justice—for Isla, for himself, for all the lives his father had destroyed.Luca exhaled. “Your father won’t go down without a fight. He’s built an empire around himself. He still has allies.”Dante smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Not anymore. I’ve already taken out most of his men. The ones who matter are either loyal to me now or dead.” He downed the whiskey in one smooth gulp. “It’s time to end this.”—Antonio DeLuca sat in his private club, surrounded by his closest men. The scent of expensiv
Chapter 40: Dante’s UltimatumThe room was thick with silence. The only sound was the faint ticking of the antique clock mounted on the wall. The air between them crackled with unspoken words, raw emotions threatening to consume them both.Dante stood before her, his piercing gaze holding hers captive. He was no longer just the ruthless mafia boss who had stolen her freedom—he was a man who had laid everything at her feet, his power, his devotion, and his unrelenting claim on her.But his offer wasn’t without a price.“Decide, Isla.” His voice was dark, edged with quiet dominance. “Stand beside me… or walk away from my life forever.”Isla’s heart pounded violently in her chest. She had fought for so long, lived for revenge, carried hatred so deep it had defined her every move. And yet, somewhere in the chaos, she had let Dante DeLuca slip into the cracks of her carefully built armor.She had betrayed him.He had punished her.She had tried to escape him.He had chased her.But in the
Chapter 41: Dante & Isla’s Toxic LoveThe moment Isla ended the call with her brother, her hands trembled.Alex had been the only family she had left, the only person she had fought to protect. And now, she had confessed everything—how Antonio DeLuca was dead, how Dante had killed his own father for her, how she had chosen to stay with him, not out of obligation, but because she loved him.Alex had listened in silence, his breaths heavy on the other end of the line. She had expected anger, disbelief, even disgust. But when he finally spoke, his words had shaken her to her core."If he makes you happy, then I’ll support you, Isla. But be careful. Men like Dante don’t love like normal people. They consume."Now, as she sat on the edge of Dante’s massive bed, his scent wrapped around her like a possessive chain, she realized just how right her brother was.Dante didn’t love the way ordinary men did.His love was a storm—violent, destructive, all-consuming.And she was drowning in it.---
Chapter 42: Luca’s WarningLuca paced the length of Dante's private office, his eyes sharp and his movements tense. Dante sat at his desk, staring out of the window with a stoic expression, a glass of whiskey in hand. The sound of Luca’s footsteps echoed in the otherwise silent room, a clear sign of his unease.“You need to let her go,” Luca said, his voice steady but firm. “She’s going to destroy you, Dante. She’s done it before, and she’ll do it again.”Dante’s grip on the glass tightened, but his expression didn’t change. His eyes remained fixed on the view outside, his mind whirring with thoughts he didn’t care to express.“She won’t,” Dante replied in a cold tone, his voice void of any emotion. “Isla is mine now, Luca. There’s no going back.”Luca stopped pacing, fixing Dante with a hard stare. “You’re too obsessed with her. You think this is love, but it’s nothing but a dangerous obsession. Look at what it’s doing to you. Look at how she’s playing you.”Dante’s jaw tightened, an
Chapter 58: A Love of Their OwnLuca had never felt nerves before—not in a gunfight, not in a war, not even when standing beside Dante in the bloodiest of battles. But as he stood outside Sofia’s apartment, gripping the small velvet box in his hand, his heart pounded harder than ever.Sofia had always been more than just Dante’s little sister. She was fierce, intelligent, and completely untouchable—at least, until she let him in. And now, he was ready to give up everything to build a life with her.Taking a deep breath, he knocked.When she opened the door, her dark eyes widened in surprise. “Luca?”He wasted no time. Before she could say anything else, he stepped forward, took her hands, and met her gaze with unwavering determination.“I love you, Sofia,” he said firmly, watching as her lips parted in shock. “I’ve loved you from the moment you stormed into my life and turned my world upside down. And I know this world—our world—is filled with danger and chaos, but I would walk throug
Chapter 57: Luca’s DepartureThe wedding celebrations had slowly started to die down. Guests had begun to leave, but a few key figures remained, lingering in the grand DeLuca estate. Dante sat in his private lounge, nursing a glass of whiskey, reflecting on the day. Isla had disappeared to their bedroom, but he knew she was waiting for him.He exhaled deeply, feeling something shift within him. This wasn’t just a wedding; it was the start of something permanent, something he had never envisioned for himself. And just as he was about to get lost in thought, the door creaked open.Luca.Dante’s closest ally, his right-hand man, the only person he truly trusted. Luca stepped inside, his usual smirk in place, but there was something different about him. Something… final.Dante’s sharp gaze met Luca’s. “You look like a man who’s about to give me bad news.”Luca chuckled, shaking his head. “Depends on how you see it.”Dante set his drink down. “Talk.”Luca hesitated for a moment before runn
Chapter 57: Luca’s DepartureThe wedding celebrations had slowly started to die down. Guests had begun to leave, but a few key figures remained, lingering in the grand DeLuca estate. Dante sat in his private lounge, nursing a glass of whiskey, reflecting on the day. Isla had disappeared to their bedroom, but he knew she was waiting for him.He exhaled deeply, feeling something shift within him. This wasn’t just a wedding; it was the start of something permanent, something he had never envisioned for himself. And just as he was about to get lost in thought, the door creaked open.Luca.Dante’s closest ally, his right-hand man, the only person he truly trusted. Luca stepped inside, his usual smirk in place, but there was something different about him. Something… final.Dante’s sharp gaze met Luca’s. “You look like a man who’s about to give me bad news.”Luca chuckled, shaking his head. “Depends on how you see it.”Dante set his drink down. “Talk.”Luca hesitated for a moment before runn
Chapter 56: A Mafia WeddingThe grand cathedral stood tall under the evening sky, its towering stained-glass windows illuminated by the golden light of hundreds of flickering candles inside. The entire DeLuca empire had gathered, dressed in their finest, waiting for the moment when the most feared and powerful man in the underworld would claim his queen.Dante stood at the altar, clad in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo, his sharp features set in a look of determination. His presence was commanding, exuding power with every breath, but tonight, there was something different in his gaze—an intensity that wasn’t just about control or dominance. It was about devotion.He was about to marry the woman who had made him kneel. The woman who had tamed his demons yet fueled his obsession. Isla.The heavy wooden doors of the cathedral creaked open, and every head turned as Isla stepped forward.Dressed in an ivory gown that clung to her figure before cascading into layers of lace, she looked b
Chapter 55: A Lover’s UltimatumWeeks Later, Isla and Dante are having an serious argument about him not letting her go anywhere alone .The storm outside mirrored the tension brewing between Dante and Isla. Thunder rumbled in the distance as heavy raindrops pelted against the large windows of the DeLuca estate. The dimly lit room carried a suffocating silence, neither of them willing to back down.Dante stood by the fireplace, his fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight with frustration. Isla, on the other hand, stood near the doorway, her posture rigid, her eyes ablaze with a fire that matched the fury in her heart.“This isn’t a life, Dante,” she spat, her voice sharp as a blade. “This is a prison. And I refuse to be caged by you any longer.”Dante turned to face her fully, his eyes dark with warning. “You think you can just walk away from me?” His voice was low, controlled, but the storm inside him threatened to break free. “You belong to me, Isla.”“I don’t belong to anyone,”
Chapter 54: The Bloody EndingThe night was dark, the sky heavy with the weight of impending storm clouds, as Dante stood over the wreckage of what had once been a place of refuge. His hands were bloodstained, his thoughts clouded with rage, and his heart twisted with vengeance. The events of the past days had led him here, to the final confrontation with El Cado, and nothing, not even his growing love for Isla, could stop what needed to be done.His men, ever loyal, had done what they were trained to do—track El Cado to the very edges of the city. They had gathered information, confirmed his hideout, and surrounded the abandoned warehouse like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. But Dante had insisted on handling this himself. This was personal. El Cado had crossed a line, not just by kidnapping his sister but by threatening the life of Isla, the one person Dante could no longer imagine living without.The echo of gunfire still lingered in the air, though the battle had long s
Chapter 53: Final ShowdownThe war between Dante and El Cado had been building for weeks, the tension ever-present, but when El Cado made his move, it was one Dante never saw coming.Dante paced in his private study, his jaw clenched, his mind running through the many possible outcomes of their feud. Since El Cado had gone into hiding, Dante had expected a war of words, but instead, El Cado had chosen to target the one thing Dante held most dear: his family.Isla, who had been at his side throughout the chaos, stood by the window, her eyes scanning the horizon, always alert. She could feel the shift in Dante’s mood. There was something heavy in the air, and it wasn’t just the ominous feeling of an impending storm—it was the kind of darkness that Dante had warned her about.“He’s making a mistake,” Dante muttered, almost to himself. “He thinks he can tear me apart, but he’s wrong.” His words were sharp, filled with rage, but also a cold sense of calculation. “He’s crossed a line now.”
Chapter 52: Enemies FallThe air in the DeLuca compound was thick with tension. For months, Nico had been a threat hanging over Dante's head, his presence like a storm cloud that never fully dissipated. But now, after countless battles, bloodshed, and manipulations, the storm had finally broken.Nico was dead.At least, that’s what everyone had believed when the body had been found. His fall had been swift, precise, and calculated—exactly how Dante preferred to handle his enemies. A bullet to the head. No fanfare. No witnesses. Just death. Nico had underestimated him, and now he was paying the ultimate price.Isla stood at Dante’s side, her eyes locked on the bloodstained floor where Nico’s body had once lain. Dante’s empire was solidifying, but with it, came the ever-present reminder of just how brutal the world they occupied truly was. She could still hear the echoes of the gunshot, the image of Nico’s body crumpling to the ground.But even as the victory over Nico lingered in the a
Chapter 51: A New Mafia QueenThe weight of the ring on Isla’s finger felt heavier than it should. It was a symbol, not of love, not of devotion, but of ownership. A chain disguised as a band of metal.She sat in front of the grand mirror in Dante’s bedroom, staring at her reflection. The woman looking back at her wasn’t the same Isla from months ago. She wasn’t the woman who had stumbled into Dante’s world by accident, desperate to escape. That woman had been naïve, desperate for freedom.Now, she was something else entirely.Behind her, Dante stepped closer, placing his hands on her shoulders. His grip was firm, possessive. His dark eyes met hers in the reflection, filled with a dangerous satisfaction."You look perfect," he murmured, his fingers trailing down her arm, brushing against the ring. "A DeLuca queen."Isla let out a slow breath, tilting her head slightly. "Is that what I am now?" she asked, voice steady but devoid of warmth.Dante smirked, pressing a slow kiss against he