It doesn’t take long before the quiet tears evolve into violent sobs. The kind where your shoulders shake uncontrollably as the hiccups escape. The kind that leaves you heaving and clutching at your chest for any sense of stability.But there’s no amount of effort that I could have done to ease the hurt in my heart. I don’t know how to cope or hope to process Dante’s confession.He’s doing this for me.Is he really?He’s keeping me hidden to protect me.Am I really protected?He thinks that I hate him……but I don’t.There’s something powerful stirring in my chest but it’s not hate. Understanding, maybe? Frustration, guilt, anger, but not hate… because I love him.“I love him.”The words leave my lips followed by a choked gasp. I’d never admitted it to myself before. I’ve never allowed myself to acknowledge the feelings because I know it would never end well. Dante could never leave his empireI know in my heart that I love him, but can I really live a life of blood and violence? Where
“Don’t worry, Bub. I got you.” The boy—no, the young man— cradles a little girl in his arms, trying to calm her screaming. They’re both wet from an unexpected dive into the lake and I watch, frozen where I stand.My sister almost died and I did nothing. I’m a horrible sister.“No, you’re not. You called me. You did the right thing.”Did I say that out loud?The young man stares at me with storm gray eyes burning with determination. He wasn’t going to stop until I accept that this isn’t my fault.But it kind of is. My sister and I weren’t supposed to be here. But I wanted to see this young man. He played with us, and he cared for us.That’s right. This person holding my sister is Gavin.~~~Why did I dream of that?I shift on the bed slightly and immediately hate myself for it. Wincing at the sudden movements, memories from the previous night flashback immediately.The slow and passionate sex turned into a rough night of fucking our frustrations on one another. I’m sure that if I look
The change doesn’t happen immediately, but I could work with baby steps. For starters, the guards stationed outside my door and balcony have been removed, and the door is never locked either. I still feel warry about going out, but this is still a good start for both of us. I’ve started training again, starting with a simple routine Dante wrote for me as a note on the bedside table. And whenever I go to the shooting range, it’s empty, leaving me alone inside with my three guards remaining outside. I guess that’s Dante doing too. After the incident with Dick here and then him betraying Dante and trying to kidnap me, it does make sense to be a bit more cautious. I tried talking to Adeline once, but she shakes her no and goes back to her post. I find it weird, but later decide that it’s not something worth risking my freedom for. And in light of being helpful and as a symbol of good faith, I finally propose my plan to Dante. “That’s cute.” Huh? That is so not the reaction I was goin
The planning of each step took time but it’s all worth it knowing everything so far is going according to plan.Dante and Luca’s network of runners found us a lead and an address for a warehouse for Serafino’s drugs. Having managed to intercept their most recent drop, Dante had instructed his men to capture those who they deem useful.“Did it really work?” I ask just as Luca lowers his phone from his ear. He looks at me with a small smile before nodding.“It did. The plan worked perfectly,” Luca replies. Pocketing his phone, he gestures for Dante and me to follow him out of Dante’s office. “He’s ready to talk, Boss.”As the three of us walk out of the office, I realize that this is the second time that I find myself in the middle of the action. The first being Dante’s rescue.I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts. This is no time to relive the horrors of this day, especially when I’m facing something similar right now. I need all of my focus or else, I’m going to spiral.“Who
“Why are we here?” I ask as Dante closes the door to our bedroom. He continues to walk inside gently ushering me to sit on the bed.After revealing that the island is the next step, Dante started acting weird.“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” Dante says softly as he sits on the edge of the bed. This way, we’re facing each other.Confused, I simply say, “Okay.” Not wanting to mess with the seemingly delicate situation. Earlier, Dante had this grim expression and the overall mood had been dark since we left the dungeons.Dante may not have noticed but I saw him and Luca exchange looks before the latter went away to do whatever it is that Dante asked him to do. They’re being so secretive and it’s making the anxiety build in me. It settles badly in the pit of my stomach and then it dawns on me before Dante could even utter another word.“Shit. You’re locking me in here again… aren’t you?” I look straight into his eyes not bothering to hide the fear from my face. I study hi
Without having to look, I know all the color drains out of my face the moment I heard those words. I feel faint, and if I wasn’t already sitting down, my legs would have given out beneath me.“What? No. It can’t be possible.” Disbelief is the only thing running in my mind right now, fighting to push out any thoughts of my sister trapped in those container vans.I lift my head in time to see Dante nod solemnly. “She’s young, beautiful, and untouched. She would have fetched a high price.”What the actual fuck? Does Serafino’s cruelty know no bounds?I feel sick. Swallowing the bile that’s risen to my throat, I silently wonder how long it would take to get to the bathroom or if I would even make it.“Noah did the right thing when he escaped with her.” Dante’s trying to make me feel better. I can tell from how gentle he’s being and how delicate he’s treating this situation. For that, I’m grateful.“My baby sister…”“Jean, she’s safe now.” I hear Dante’s voice but his words don’t register.
“You’re sure about this? There’s nothing I can do to make you sit this one out?” Dante asks quietly, not to be overheard by the rest of the team preparing to mount the boat sitting idly on the pier.The whole day it was overcast, so now, the clouds cast a thin veil over the moon, giving us more cover than we’d hoped for. The plan is going to go well.We’ll hijack that boat, get to the island, gather the evidence that we need, then free those innocent people. The plan is simple. But that’s the thing with simple things, they don’t always mean easy.“We’ve been over this at least a dozen times, Dante,” I reply softly, not wanting to aggravate him so close to the start of the mission. “I’ll have your back and you’ll have mine. We’re a team. We’ll be fine.”Dante’s expression turns dark even as he reaches one of his gloved hands forward to touch my face. “No one will touch you. I’ll make sure of it.”Smiling, I nod my head to say that I trust him. Dante lets me go and turns around to walk
Silence envelopes the entire boat as our team waits hidden with bated breath. We listen carefully to the sound of each panel of the flooring as heavy booted feet stomp onto the platform. They’re here.The footsteps get closer, and it’s impossible to tell how many of them there are. Four? At least, maybe more.“What the fuck happened, man?” One of them grunts out, his voice has a heavy accent but I can’t quite place where it’s from. “You were supposed to call in two hours ago.”When no one breathes in reply, we hear the shift in their demeanor immediately. They know something is wrong, and soon it will be our time to strike.It’s still dark despite the sun slowly making its appearance, and we use it to our advantage. Before long, I hear the heavy grunts and groans of pain from the men, then big splashes into the ocean. We take that as our sign to move out of hiding.From the control room, I make my way out just in time to see Daveed throw another man overboard. He floats aimlessly in t