Dante's POVThe door splintered with a loud crack as my men stormed through, the sound echoing through the silent neighborhood. I walked in last, calm and deliberate, the heavy weight of my gun against my palm grounding me. The stench of fear was thick in the air, and it only got worse when Enzo yanked the man out of his bed and tossed him to the floor."Please, no!" The man scrambled backward, his hands out in front of him, pleading. He was a middle-aged coward, all sweat and desperation, trembling like a rat cornered by a snake."Get up," I ordered, my voice low but slicing through the room like a blade. He flinched, his bloodshot eyes darting between me and my men. When he didn’t move, Enzo hauled him to his feet, slamming him against the nearest wall."You think you can owe me a million dollars and just... what? Sleep peacefully at night?" I said, taking slow steps toward him. My voice was steady, calm even, but it made his knees buckle. I grabbed his chin roughly, forcing him to
Elena's POV.I woke up to the sound of chaos.At first, it was a distant thud…faint, muffled. I stirred, groggy, unsure if it was real or if my dreams were bleeding into reality. But then came the sharp crack of gunfire, loud and unmistakable. My eyes snapped open, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum.What the hell was going on?I sat up, my breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. The gunfire grew louder, closer, followed by the chilling sound of screams. My fingers gripped the edge of the bed as a cold wave of fear washed over me."Dante," I whispered, my voice shaky. Of course, it had to be him. He was probably out there right now, doing God knows what. Killing. Destroying. That’s who he was.A monster.I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my body trembling. My bare feet hit the cold floor as I crouched low, trying to steady my breathing. The noises outside didn’t stop. They only grew louder, more violent. A deep male scream pierced the air, followed by another gunshot.W
Dante's POVThe car hummed as it sped through the quiet streets, but my mind wasn’t calm. Something tugged at me…something I couldn’t shake. I leaned back against the leather seat, one arm stretched along the edge, my fingers drumming a restless rhythm.“Driver, faster,” I snapped, my voice cutting through the silence in the car.Enzo turned his head slightly from the passenger seat, his brow furrowed. “Boss, everything alright?”I didn’t answer. The unease in my chest was heavy, pressing like a vice. My eyes flicked to the city lights outside the window, but they couldn’t distract me. Something wasn’t right.The driver obeyed, his foot pressing harder on the gas. The streets blurred past, but it wasn’t fast enough.By the time we turned the final corner, I saw the glow of flashing lights in the distance. My chest tightened. As we got closer, the unmistakable sound of gunfire echoed through the night.“Stop the car,” I growled.The tires screeched as the driver pulled to a halt just o
Dante's POV.The cold steel of the gun pressed into Carina’s neck as I tightened my grip on her. Her men still hesitated, their weapons raised but fingers trembling on the triggers. My own men mirrored their stance, a dangerous standoff that felt like it could snap at any second. The tension in the air was suffocating, but I didn’t waver. My hand was steady, my voice lethal as I leaned in closer to Carina’s ear.“You think I won’t pull this trigger?” I growled low, the words slicing through the tense silence. “You’ve already crossed every line tonight, Carina. Keep pushing, and I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life…however short that may be.”Carina smirked despite the gun digging into her neck, her eyes blazing with defiance. “You think you’re untouchable, Dante? You might scare them,” she sneered, tilting her head toward her men, “but you don’t scare me.”I laughed, dark and humorless. “Then you’re either braver than most or dumber than I thought.” My voice dropped
Elena's POVI didn’t sleep. How could I? My body was heavy with exhaustion, but my mind wouldn’t let me rest. Every time I closed my eyes, flashes of last night came rushing back…the gunshots, Carina’s smirk, the hit to my face. My lip throbbed, swollen and tender, a sharp reminder of how close I’d come to… I didn’t even want to think about it.The room was quiet except for the sound of my breathing. The faint morning light seeped through the curtains, but it did nothing to warm me. My arms were wrapped tightly around my knees, my body curled up on the edge of the bed. I felt cold, vulnerable, and unsure. What kind of madness had I stumbled into? How had my life become this chaos?The sound of the door creaking open startled me, and I whipped my head toward it, heart pounding. Dante stepped in, carrying a tray. Himself. Not one of his men. Him. It wasn’t something I expected from a man like him, dangerous, cold, calculating, but here he was, balancing a tray of food like some normal m
Dante’s POVThe sun was setting, and the shadows in the room seemed to stretch farther than usual. My men had been dismissed for the evening, though I knew they’d keep watch from a distance. This wasn’t just about security anymore…it was about finding peace in the chaos, for her. For Elena.She’d been restless ever since that night. She barely spoke, and when she did, her words were short, her eyes distant. It grated on me more than it should have. The bruises on her lip and cheek were fading, but her spirit…her fire…seemed dimmed.That wasn’t her.“Elena,” I said earlier that day, my voice low but firm, catching her in the hallway. “Pack a bag.”Her brows furrowed, confusion flashing across her face. “For what?”“We’re leaving,” I replied without elaboration. She opened her mouth to argue, I could see the resistance brewing in her eyes…but I didn’t give her the chance. “Just do it.”And now, here we were.I had flown her out of the city to one of my private villas, perched high on a
Elena’s POV My breath hitched as Dante’s fingers toyed with the hem of my shirt, his dark eyes scanning my face for any sign of hesitation. I didn’t pull away, though my body trembled under his intense gaze. He moved slowly, deliberately, his fingertips grazing my skin as he lifted the fabric. The cool air kissed my bare skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat radiating off him. Dante’s lips curved into a small smirk as he leaned in, his warm breath brushing against my ear. “You’re trembling,” he murmured, his voice low, almost teasing. “I-I’m fine,” I managed to whisper, though my voice betrayed me. His hands paused for a moment, resting on my waist, his thumbs brushing lazy circles on my skin. “You’re not fine,” he said softly, his tone dipping into something gentler. “But I’ll fix that. Trust me.” I swallowed hard, my heart racing. Trust him? He was dangerous, reckless, unpredictable…but at the same time, he was captivating. His presence consumed every corner of the
Elena’s POVThe morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft, warm streaks across the room. I lay there, tangled in the sheets, my body sore but oddly satisfied. For a moment, I didn’t move. I just stared at the ceiling, listening to the quiet, the stillness of the room.I was alone. Dante was nowhere to be seen. But his presence lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a drug I couldn’t shake. I could feel him everywhere…his touch, his voice, his heat. It was like he was a part of me now, etched into my skin, impossible to forget.God, what was wrong with me?I sat up slowly, wincing as my muscles protested, but it didn’t stop the blush that crept up my cheeks. I couldn’t help it. How could I? Yesterday felt like a dream, a crazy, insane dream that I never wanted to wake from. I ran a hand through my messy hair, my thoughts spiraling.“What the hell did I do?” I whispered to myself, shaking my head. “How could I let him do that?”My lips tingled at the memory of
Elena's POVPain. It ripped through me like a storm, raw and merciless. My body was drenched in sweat, my fingers clutching the hospital bed as another contraction tore through me. I screamed, my throat burning, my mind barely able to hold on.“Push, Elena!” the doctor urged, his voice was firm but encouraging.I gasped, my chest heaving. Dante’s hand was in mine, his grip strong but gentle, his lips pressed in a firm line as he watched me struggle. His other hand brushed damp strands of hair from my forehead, his eyes dark with worry and something deeper…something I couldn't name.“You’re doing so good, baby,” he murmured, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it.I met his gaze, searching for something, anything…to hold onto. But all I found was pain, exhaustion, and a terrifying sense of being lost. I still didn’t remember. Seven months, and I still didn’t know the man beside me, the man who loved me, the man whose child I was bringing into the world.Another contraction hit, and I
Elena’s POVSeven months. Seven months had passed since I woke up in that hospital bed, broken, confused, and pregnant with a child I didn’t remember making. Seven months since I was told that Dante, an intense, dangerous man I still couldn’t recall…was the father.And now, here I was. Heavily pregnant. Nearing nine months. Carrying the child of a Mafia lord.I stood by the tall window, my hands resting on my belly, feeling the tiny kicks beneath my skin. My body had healed, no more wheelchairs, no more braces, no more bandages. Just me, standing on my own two feet again. But my mind? That was another story.I still didn’t remember anything. Not Dante. Not Marcus. Not the accident. Nothing.Dante had tried everything. He showed me pictures, told me stories, brought me to places we had been together. But no matter how hard he tried, my mind remained a blank slate. It frustrated him…I could see it in his eyes. But he never forced me. Never pressured me. He just… stayed. Protecting me.A
Dante's POV.The hospital room was quiet, but my mind was chaos. The steady beeping of the machines monitoring Elena’s vitals was the only sound. It was maddening. I sat by her bed, staring at her pale face, waiting for her to wake up. I didn’t know how long I’d been there, but it felt like an eternity. My chest ached with every breath I took, each second dragging me deeper into my own torment.She stirred, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks. Relief flooded through me like a tidal wave, and I leaned closer, gripping her hand.“Elena?” I said softly, my voice raw. “It’s me, Dante. You’re safe now.”Her eyes opened slowly, hazy and unfocused at first. Then they locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought everything would be okay. But her brows furrowed, confusion clouding her expression.“Who... who are you?” she whispered, her voice weak but sharp enough to cut through me like a knife.My heart stopped.“Elena, it’s me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Dante. Don’t you
Elena's POV.Pain. That’s the first thing I noticed. A dull, throbbing ache that stretched across my entire body. My head pounded like a drum, every beat sharp and non-stop. My elbow felt like it had been smashed with a hammer, and my knee…God, my knee, burned as if someone had ripped it apart and stitched it back together with fire.I blinked, my eyelids heavy as though they were made of lead. The light above me was too bright, piercing my vision and making my head hurt worse. I wanted to scream, but my throat was dry, raw. I groaned instead, barely able to move.Where was I?I glanced around, squinting through the brightness. The room was white…clinical. Machines beeped softly beside me, wires snaking from them to my body. Bandages wrapped around my arms, my chest, even my leg, which was propped up on some kind of support.A hospital. I was in a hospital. But why?I tried to move, but pain shot through my body like lightning. I gasped, gripping the sides of the bed with weak hands.
Dante's POV.The room was cold, damp, and reeked of fear. It was exactly how I wanted it. I stood just inside the doorway, staring at the woman tied to the chair in the center of the room. Carina. Isabella’s little sister.She had the same dark hair, the same sharp features, but there was none of the kindness Isabella had once carried in her eyes. Carina’s gaze was filled with nothing but venom, even as her lips curled into a defiant smirk.“Well,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “If it isn’t the grieving lover. Come to avenge your little damsel in distress?”I didn’t answer. My silence made her smirk falter, just for a second.Enzo stood by the wall, his arms crossed, watching silently. He knew better than to interfere. This was personal.I stepped forward slowly, each step deliberate. My boots sounded against the concrete floor. Carina’s smirk returned, but there was unease behind it now.“You think you’re untouchable because of who you are,” I said, my voice low and stea
Dante's POV.The hours felt endless, a slow, agonizing stretch of time where every second clawed at my sanity. I paced the hospital hallway, my fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms. My men stood at a distance, quiet, not daring to say a word. Marcus was slumped on the floor against the wall, his face buried in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.Every once in a while, his muffled cries broke through the sterile silence. It was unbearable.“Why hasn’t anyone come out yet?” I growled, slamming my fist into the wall. The thud echoed down the corridor, but it didn’t ease the rage boiling inside me. “They’ve been in there for hours!”Enzo placed a hand on my shoulder, his voice steady but cautious. “Boss, they’ll come. She’s strong. You know that.”I turned on him, my eyes blazing. “Strong? You think strength matters right now? A damn car hit her, Enzo. She’s pregnant, and I…” My voice cracked, and I had to look away.I couldn’t break, not here. Not now. But th
Dante's POV.The scene felt like a nightmare that had come to life, a cruelty of the past I thought I’d buried deep.From the moment Enzo’s phone call came through, my blood ran cold. “Boss, we’ve got her location. Carina’s behind this. She tricked Elena with that lottery scam,” he said. His voice was steady, but I could hear the edge of urgency underneath.I clenched the wheel so tight my knuckles turned white, trying to stay focused as we sped toward the address Enzo had sent. The thought of Elena being in Carina’s grasp churned my stomach. I’d underestimated Carina’s hatred…her obsession. And now, I was the one who had failed to protect the woman I loved.As we approached the building, I saw her. Elena stood outside, her hoodie pulled up as if it could shield her from the world. For a second, relief washed over me. She was free. Carina had released her. But something didn’t sit right. My gut told me this wasn’t over.Then I saw it. The headlights. A car barreling down the road stra
Elena's POV.My head pounded as I came to. My arms felt like they were being yanked out of their sockets, tied tightly behind me. My legs were bound to the chair, and the air smelled of something metallic and sharp. I blinked, trying to clear the fog in my head.The room was cold, empty except for me and the chair I was tied to. The walls were a dull gray, and the only light came from a single bulb hanging overhead.Then I saw her.Carina.The same girl who had tried to kill me in Dante’s apartment. Her face was just as I remembered it, sharp, angry, filled with hate. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was dressed in black leather, like she was ready for war."Finally awake," she sneered, crossing her arms. "I thought they’d given you too much."I clenched my jaw, refusing to show any fear. "Carina. Back to finish what you started?"Her lips curled into a smirk, but her eyes were full of anger. "You have no idea how much I hate you," she hissed, stepping closer.
Elena's POVI hated sneaking out of the house. It felt childish, but what else could I do? Dante’s men followed me everywhere, acting like I couldn’t breathe without his approval. The constant presence of those suited-up bodyguards was suffocating. At first, I told myself it was because he cared, but now? It felt like a leash I couldn’t shake off.I glanced over my shoulder as I slipped through the side gate. No one had seen me, not yet. I had timed everything perfectly. Enzo was too busy barking orders to notice, and the guards stationed near the front were far enough away. I let out a breath of relief, pulling my hoodie tighter over my head.The message about the lottery win had been sitting in my inbox for days, and though I didn’t remember entering, curiosity got the better of me. The prizes were too good to ignore: a luxury vacation, shopping vouchers, and a brand-new car. It all sounded like a dream. Too good to be true, maybe, but after the past few weeks, I needed something to