Sophia walked closer, scanning the restaurant. Her heart pounded in her chest as her eyes darted across the room. The ambient hum of soft jazz music created an atmosphere of luxury and intimacy. Her gaze swept over the elegant decor—golden chandeliers casting a warm glow, pristine white tablecloths, and flickering candlelight—before settling on him.Dante.He was seated at the far-right corner of the restaurant, his presence impossible to miss. His tailored dinner suit fit him like a second skin, accentuating his broad shoulders, slim waist, and powerful frame. The crisp white shirt beneath his midnight-black blazer contrasted sharply with his sun-kissed skin, while his silk tie added a touch of understated elegance. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his chiseled jawline hinted at strength and control. When he shifted in his seat, the soft sheen of his Italian leather shoes caught the light. He looked like the embodiment of a perfect man—confident, composed, and utterly captivat
“Tell me to stop, Princess. Tell me to go away. Say the word and I’ll walk away.”She opened her mouth to speak, but no word came out. Instead she found herself leaning into him, drawn by a force she couldn’t explain, couldn’t fight.She was already his, she knew that the moment her body responded to his presence. An ocean of anticipation swelled within her, her every nerve alight and waiting for what was to come. Her breath hitched as Dante’s lips curled into a knowing smile, the kind that promised he was aware of exactly how deeply she was surrendering to him.Dante’s eyes softened, and he took her silence as a permission. His hand slid up her thigh, stopping just shy of where her body ached for his touch. “You are breathtaking, Princess,” Dante whispered, his voice rough with restraint. “Do you even know what you do to me?”Before she could respond, his lips were on hers, capturing her in kiss that stole her breath. Sophia acrched into the kiss. This kiss that wasn't gentle— it was
Sophia could not get over what had happened at the restaurant. The memories of that night haunted her like a shadow she couldn’t escape. It was as if Dante had left a mark on her body—on her soul. No matter how hard she tried to push it away, it came back.She could still feel his tongue trailing over her skin, hot and wet, making her shiver. The way he had kissed her—slow at first, then rough and hungry—had stolen the breath from her lungs. His hands had explored every inch of her, his touch burning through her clothes, leaving her aching for more.And then, there was the way he sucked her. It had made her lose control, her body reacting without her permission. She had never felt anything like it before. His mouth had claimed her, his grip on her body had been firm, demanding. The way he had grabbed her boobs , squeezed them, teased them—it had sent waves of pleasure through her, making her moan in ways she never thought she could.She had let it happen. She had wanted it.That was w
Dante stared at his phone, his blood raging.His jaw clenched, his fingers tightening around his phone as he watched the call go unanswered again.Sophia was avoiding him.After that night at the restaurant, after the way her body had responded to him, after the way she had melted under his touch, he had been sure she was his. He had tasted her, felt the way she trembled, heard the soft moans she couldn’t hold back. He had taken his time with her, teasing, devouring, driving her to the edge.She had wanted it. He had felt it in the way her body arched for more, in the way she had clung to him, in the way she gasped his name like a secret slipping past her lips.He had been patient, letting her set the pace, letting her get comfortable with the heat between them. But now, she was acting like it never happened. She was running from him.Every nerve in his body burned with frustration.Did she really think she could just ignore him? Pretend that night meant nothing?No.Dante let out a s
The dungeon was cold, dark, and smelled of blood. Water dripped from the ceiling, making a soft, hollow sound. The walls were thick stone, and the only light came from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, swinging slightly. In the center of the room, tied to a metal chair, was the man who had stolen from Dante’s vault. His face was bruised, dried blood crusting on his lips. His hands were tied behind his back, and his ankles were strapped to the chair legs. He had been here for hours, waiting for his fate.Dante entered the room slowly, his footsteps echoing. His dark eyes were cold, his face hard. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, showing the veins in his arms. He was angry—no, he was furious. But it was not just because of the theft. It was because of Sophia. She had been ignoring him. She had pushed him away, refused to see him, refused to answer his calls. She made him feel something he did not like—something out of his control. It had been days, and he could no
Sophia stood in front of her father, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to back down.“I waited for you, Sophia,” her father said, his voice heavy with disappointment. “You promised to come see me. Instead, you keep avoiding me.”Sophia took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Dad, maybe i will come see you when you stop disturbing me with anything that concerns your mafia men again!” she snapped, her voice louder than she intended. “If we can start having normal conversations like before, then I will come see you. But for now, I’m done! The only thing you care about is forcing me to marry one of these ruthless mafia lords!”Her father’s eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened. “Sophia, you don’t understand—”“I understand perfectly!” she interrupted, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “I understand that you want to trade me like a piece of property. But I won’t let you!” And you’re always c
Dante’s thumb flicked over her hardened nipple through the fabric of her white coat, sending a sharp jolt through Sophia’s body. A soft whimper escaped her lips before she could stop it.Dante’s eyes darkened with satisfaction. His lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk.“I want you, princess,” he murmured, his voice deep and rough with hunger.Before she could react, he closed the space between them. His lips captured hers in a fierce, demanding kiss.Sophia gasped against his mouth, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest. But the moment his lips moved, coaxing hers to part, she was lost.Dante kissed her like he owned her—like he had waited too long and wasn’t willing to hold back anymore. His lips were firm, his movements hungry. His tongue slid against hers, exploring, teasing, taking.A soft moan vibrated in her throat, and Dante seized the moment to deepen the kiss. His fingers curled around her waist, pulling her tightly against him. Sophia felt the hardness of his
“You’re mine, and you know it princess.” Dante whispered to her.Sophia could barely reply to Dante. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Her body was still trembling, her breath uneven, and her heart was racing so fast she thought it might burst out of her chest. She felt exposed, not because she wasn’t dressed properly, but because Dante had just seen this side of her again. A side of her that completely surrendered to him.She wanted to look away, to hide the way her cheeks burned, but Dante was still there, standing between her legs, watching her with those dark, intense eyes that seemed to see straight through her.And that was what scared her the most.Because deep inside, she knew she had completely fallen for him.She didn’t want to admit it—not to him, not even to herself—but there was no point denying it anymore. Every part of her body, every part of her soul, craved this man. It wasn’t just about how he made her feel physically—it was the way he completely consu
Sophia stepped into her apartment, locking the door behind her with trembling hands. The moment she was inside, she let out a shaky breath, her body sagging against the door.She just wanted to be alone.Away from the world.Away from the cruel eyes watching her every move.Away from the endless whispers and accusations that clung to her like shadows.Her chest rose and fell as she tried to steady herself, but the lump in her throat refused to go away.Slowly, she made her way to the bathroom.Lately, it had become her only place of relieve. The one place where she could let herself break without fear.She turned on the shower, watching as the water streamed down like a thin curtain.Steam rose, filling the small space with warmth, but it did nothing to soothe the coldness in her heart.Without hesitation, she stepped in, letting the water pour down her body.At first, the sensation was comforting—the heat wrapping around her, offering her a false sense of security.But then, as the
Sophia was on her way to work, gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly as she tried to focus on the road ahead. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting back to everything she had fought so hard to bury. Maybe it was because Dante used to drop her off some mornings. She had gotten used to stepping outside and seeing him waiting for her, leaning casually against his car with that soft look in his eyes, as if she was the only thing that mattered. If she wasn’t with him, he would still be there sometimes, parked outside her apartment, his gaze full of warmth and patience.He used to pick her up too, like it was the most natural thing in the world. No matter how busy he was, no matter how many important things demanded his attention, he always made time for her. It had become a part of her life, a quiet but steady comfort.But now, there was only silence.The seat beside her was empty. The space that once held his presence, his quiet strength, now felt cold and u
CHAPTER 97Five days had passed. Five long, agonizing days since he had last seen her, touched her, or heard her voice.Dante sat on the balcony of one of his many mansions, his body still but his mind in chaos. The cool night air brushed against his skin, but it did nothing to calm him. He held a glass of wine in one hand, slowly swirling the dark liquid, watching how the deep red color glistened under the soft glow of the moonlight.His thoughts were consumed by her—Sophia.He could still see her standing there, right where he was now. The memory of her was so vivid, it was as if she had just been there moments ago. He could almost hear the soft sound of her laughter, feel the warmth of her body against his when he had come up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her close.He closed his eyes, letting the memory wash over him.That night had been one of the rare moments when he had allowed himself to be vulnerable. They had stood here, gazing at the night sky, los
Sophia stepped into her apartment, her entire body feeling weak, as if all the strength had drained out of her. The moment the door shut behind her, a heavy silence filled the space, wrapping around her like an invisible weight. Her chest felt tight, her throat burned— before she could stop herself, a sob broke free.She staggered to the couch, her legs barely holding her up. As soon as she reached it, she collapsed onto the cushions, burying her face in her hands. The tears came in uncontrollable waves, her shoulders shaking violently as she cried.It wasn’t just fear. It wasn’t just exhaustion. It was everything.The betrayal. The heartbreak. The helplessness.Her mind replayed every terrifying moment—Luca’s cruel smirk, his hands yanking her hair, the cold barrel of his gun pressed against her skin. She could still hear his voice whispering threats in her ear, still feel the suffocating fear that had gripped her when she thought she wouldn’t make it out alive.And then there was Da
Dante drove straight to his mansion, his grip on the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turned white. His jaw was clenched, his mind clouded with rage and frustration. The moment he pulled into the driveway, he didn’t waste a second. He stormed out of the car, slamming the door behind him, and headed straight for the dungeon.As he descended the cold, dark staircase, his boots echoed menacingly against the stone floor. The scent of blood and sweat filled the air, thick and suffocating. He got the dungeon and he saw that Martin had already carried out his orders. The five men he had assigned to protect Sophia were tied together against a metal pole, their heads hanging low, their bodies bruised and bloodied from the initial beating.But it wasn’t enough.Dante’s eyes darkened as he rolled up his sleeves, his muscles flexing with barely restrained fury. Without hesitation, he strode toward them, his breath heavy, his entire being vibrating with anger.“You useless pieces of shit,
Sophia felt a small wave of relief rush through her as she saw Dante standing there, powerful and untouchable. She felt like she could breathe again.Luca could no longer hurt her.Dante wouldn’t let him.But even with that relief, a sharp pain still stabbed at her chest. Her mind was clouded with the cruel words she had overheard earlier—the words Dante had spoken.“Do whatever you want to do. I don’t care about her.”That sentence echoed in her head like a curse.Was that how he really felt?Had everything between them been a lie?She recalled how he used to say she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, how he undressed her with such tenderness, whispering sweet words against her skin. Every touch, every promise—were they all lies?Her heart ached with confusion, with betrayal.But there was no time to dwell on it now.Dante took slow, calculated steps toward her, his presence dominating the room. Before reaching her, he turned his head and gave Luca one final look.That lo
“Oh, you’re threatening me?” Luca let out a dark, amused laugh. His eyes gleamed with twisted excitement as he pushed himself up from his chair. He began pacing back and forth like a caged predator, his voice rising with each word.“So you think you can scare me?” he sneered. “Your threats are empty, Dante. Completely useless. You’ll never find me. You’ll never see your woman again. And you already know you don’t want to mess with me.” His lips curled into a wicked grin as he taunted Dante. “Little thing,” he added mockingly, shaking his head as if Dante was nothing but a joke to him.Dante, however, remained eerily calm. His grip on the phone tightened slightly, but his voice stayed steady, cold, and lethal.“They’re not threats, Luca,” he said, his tone dangerously low. “It’s an order.”Luca stopped pacing, his smirk faltering for just a second.“Try me,” Dante continued, his voice dripping with authority. “Lay another finger on her, and you will see exactly what happens.”There was
Luca’s voice dripped with mockery as he spoke. “I have your princess, no! sister-in-law right here with me.” He let out a low chuckle. “She really is beautiful. No wonder you’ve been hiding her from us. No wonder you refuse to do what must be done.”He paused, savoring the moment before continuing, his tone laced with venom. “The great Dante Gilmatro, the man who waited years—decades—to bring down Miguel De Luca, is now hesitating. You spent your whole life plotting revenge against the man who murdered our father, and yet, now that he’s right under your nose, you do nothing. Because of a woman, you’ve abandoned everything.”Luca sneered, watching Sophia’s reaction from the corner of his eye. “Tell me, brother, do you think she’ll still love you when she finds out the truth? That the man she adores, the man she trusts, is plotting to eliminate her father.He let his words hang in the air before delivering the final blow. “And we both know the truth, don’t we? If you really wanted Migue
Sophia’s mind felt like it was trapped in a thick, suffocating fog. A dull pounding echoed inside her skull, each throb reminding her that something was terribly wrong. Her limbs felt heavy, her body sluggish as if she had been pulled from the depths of unconsciousness too soon. She tried to move, but her muscles screamed in protest.The air around her smelled damp, mixed with something metallic—blood, perhaps? The coldness of the surface beneath her seeped into her skin, making her shiver. As her senses slowly returned, so did the memories. The road. The car. The sudden opening of the door. The rag pressed against her nose. And then—darkness.Her eyelids fluttered weakly before they finally opened.The first thing she saw were piercing eyes watching her.A man sat in front of her, his gaze fixed on her like a predator who had been patiently waiting for his prey to wake. His face was unfamiliar—sharp features, a menacing smirk curving his lips. The dim, flickering light above barely i