13. Chapter Thirteen #2
I flinch. “Don’t you? I saw the way you looked when I was strapped to Sal’s table. You care about me, Finn. You can try to deny it all you want but you care about me. And if you care about me, you won’t kill Dante.”
“If I don’t kill Dante, he will eventually find me and kill me. Then I’ll be dead. Can you honestly say you’d be happy if I were dead?”
A part of me would be relieved if Finn was out of my life. It would make everything more easy, I can say that for a fact. But… I’m not sure I’d be happy if he were dead. I think deep down that I know I would be upset and that’s terrifying.
There has to be a way out of this. There just has to be…
An idea hits me.
“You know where Dante is. Take me to see him. Show him that you haven’t hurt me. Show him that you saved me. That could be a way to make amends with him. It’s a way you could start to rebuild trust with him.”
“But that would require me to want Dante’s approval. I don’t. He fucked me over when he sided with Erik Koslov in the first place. I kidnapped you because I wanted to hurt him. No other reason. I don’t want to work with him again, princess.”
I can feel the desperation bubbling up inside of me.
“But this could be your chance to make peace. This way I could have both you and him. Show him that I’m safe.
He’ll calm down. He won’t do crazy things like go after Viktor like he did.
Maybe he’ll listen to you. He’ll hear you out.
Understand why he hurt you and why you did what you did. ”
He squints at me. “How do I know you’re not just wanting me to take you to Dante so you can try and escape?”
“You’ll just have to trust me. Finn, after what Sal did to me, which you’re partially responsible for, you owe this to me. Take me to see Dante. I need to know that he’s all right.”
“You’re going to hold that over my head forever, aren’t you, princess?”
“You know it. It’s not a bad idea, Finn. A chance to make peace. You kidnapped me because you’re angry. But you don’t have to be so angry. You can choose to be happy. I can vouch for you. Dante will listen to me. And then maybe you can start to regain his trust and he can start to regain yours.”
“I never do things like this,” he grumbles. “I’m not a man who makes peace.”
“I’ve already seen a change in you. Don’t stop now.”
“Fuck, princess.” He gets out of bed and begins to pace around the room. “I would be going against everything I’ve ever believed in just to help you.”
“You’re my husband now. That’s what husbands do. They help their wives and taking me to Dante would be helping me.”
“It could go wrong. Your father could be there and take you away from me.”
“I won’t let him. I’ll tell everyone how you saved me. Just take me to see Dante. Don’t kill him. If you want me to be yours, then show me that I can trust you. That’s the only way this works.”
“You don’t call the shots, princess.”
“And you don’t have as much power as you think you do.”
“Ouch. Hit me where it hurts,” he mutters.
I sigh and get out of the bed to approach him. I place my hands on his solid chest. “I have feelings for you, I’ll admit. I don’t understand them. But I know they’re there. Do this for me. Please.”
He stares at me for a long moment before he sighs and pulls me into his arms. “You’re just lucky you just got tortured by a psychopath. I’m a little soft right now.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t make me regret this.”
I can’t promise him that because I have no idea what’s going to happen. It could be chaos. Or it could be the start of something new. Something good.
Finn
Dante’s private doctor is a man named Stevenson who lives in a brownstone in a nice part of the city. Guess being a doctor to the Mafia pays well. The one perk is that there are no guards out front.
But if Dante is inside, then he’ll have guards around him, especially if he’s weak right now. He knows I’m out here looking for him. He won’t be able to take any chances.
“Maybe I should go in and talk to him first,” Aria offers.
I bought her actual clothes to wear since we both figured Dante wouldn’t appreciate seeing her in nothing but my t-shirt.
The shirt and pants on her are a bit baggy.
She didn’t want any tight clothing to dig into her cuts.
That’s why I’m doing this. Aria got hurt partly because of me.
And I’m starting to really care about her.
Fuck, I’m becoming whipped for a girl and I can’t say I’m mad about it. I just don’t want it to lead to my downfall.
“No,” I say. “We go in together. I promise I’ll try not to kill any of Dante’s guards but if any of them come at me, I’ll have no choice.”
“Then let me go in first. They won’t shoot me. I’ll be safe,” she adds when I hesitate.
“Fine.”
Aria leads the way to the front door where she rings the doorbell. I stay partially hidden so that the doctor will answer the door. If he sees me, he might turn around and run.
The door cracks open. “Yes?” It’s Stevenson alright.
“I’m Aria Romano. I’m here to see Dante.”
“Aria? As in Elio’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Dante’s been talking about you ever since he got here. Come in.”
She steps into the house and that’s when I make myself known. The doctor stumbles back as I walk into the house.
“I’m not here to kill you,” I mutter, shutting the door behind me. “Where’s Dante?”
“He’s my patient. I can’t let you kill him.”
I sigh. “I’m not here to kill him. Just tell me where he is.”
“I promise,” Aria adds. “We’re just here to talk to him. Besides, doesn’t Dante have guards?”
“One.”
“See? So he’s safe. He practically raised me. I would never be here with Finn if I wanted Dante dead.”
Stevenson slowly nods. “He’s down the hall in the back bedroom.”
I motion with my hand. “Lead the way.”
Stevenson grumbles to himself as we go to the bedroom. “Dante? There are two people here to see you,” he says as he pushes the door open.
Dante is on a bed, his entire chest covered in gauze. Black circles run around his eyes. Dante is a handsome fucker but right now, he looks more like the grim reaper than a model.
“Dante,” Aria gasps, running into the room.
A man steps into Aria’s path. It’s then that I see that it’s Matteo. Of course it fucking is. He was always too high and mighty for my tastes when I used to work with him and Dante.
“Aria?” Matteo asks. “Finn?”
“We’re not here to hurt anyone,” Aria explains. “I just wanted to see Dante. That’s all. Let me talk to him. Please.”
Matteo eyes me over with distrust. “He can wait outside.”
“No,” I say, planting myself against the doorframe. “I’m not leaving Aria alone so you guys can steal her back. She’s my wife now.”
“Let her on through,” Dante croaks, motioning Aria over. Matteo steps out of the way and Aria runs to his side. I keep an eye on things. Matteo gives me a pointed look that says ‘don’t try anything.’
I’m not going to risk Aria’s safety. Matteo would never hurt her but if he tried to kill me, a bullet could go wide and end up shooting Aria. That’s something I won’t take a chance on.
“Aria,” Dante says. She grabs his hand.
“I’m here. What happened?”
“He suffered from blood loss,” the doctor says, eyeing me over with distrust. “A few cracked ribs. But he was shot in the stomach and I had to perform surgery on him. He should be all right now but it will take a while for him to heal.”
“Viktor really got you, didn’t he?” I comment.
“No thanks to you,” Dante snaps back.
“Enough,” Aria says. “I’m here. I just wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“I’m alive. And what about you? You have all your limbs which is good. But I know Finn. Tell me. How did he hurt you?”
Aria glances at me before she turns back to Dante. “Finn actually saved my life. From that hitman, Sal. Sal… tortured me.”
Dante’s grip tightens on Aria’s hand. I can see it all the way across the room. “Why?”
“Because Sal is crazy,” I explain.
“Finn, let me talk,” Aria snaps. With an eye roll, I stay quiet. “Sal was trying to kill Finn and he found me instead. He hurt me but… Finn saved my life. That has to count for something.”
“Why did Sal find you and not Finn?”
“He… was out on business.”
Dante scoffs. “Right. Business trying to take me down. Trying to kill me. So, it’s his fault you were tortured by some crazy man.”
“Not fully his fault. Sal is just insane. That had nothing to do with Finn and you know it.”
“How do I know it, Aria? I haven’t been around you and Finn since he kidnapped you. Why does it sound like you’re trying to defend him?”
“I’m not.” But her tone says otherwise. She sighs. “Dante, listen. Finn took a risk in taking me to see you. I had to see you. Had to make sure you’re all right. Finn knew that coming here could lead to his death but he still took me to see you. That means something.”
“He still kidnapped you.”
“And you kidnapped Nadia and look at you two now,” she snaps. “I know you’re trying for a baby. You’re starting a family with her all because you kidnapped her. I don’t think you have the right to judge Finn in that regard.”
“You’re like a daughter to me. That’s the difference.”
Aria rolls her eyes. “And you’re being stubborn. This could be your chance to make amends with Finn.”
“I’ve tried to make amends.” Dante sits up and groans in pain before slumping back onto the bed.
Matteo hovers nearby like the nervous fucking nelly he is.
“But Finn kept fucking it up. He sided with Viktor. Went to war with him. I can never trust him again. He kidnapped you, Aria, to get back to me. Just because he brought you here doesn’t change anything. ”
“You’re hurt right now,” she murmurs. “Just rest.”
“No. Finn will take you away again and I’ll never see you. You’ll be gone. I can’t let either of you leave.”
“Finn will shoot Matteo if you don’t let us leave. He’ll probably kill you too. You know that.”
Dante gives her a smug look. “And that’s why I know I can’t trust him.”
She scoffs. “This is your chance to make peace. You could have died going after Viktor. We’re only having this conversation by some miracle.
Finn brought me here because he cares for me.
I know it. I can bridge the gap between you two.
You can make peace again. Go after Viktor.
Take him down. Be in full power once again. ”
“With Finn at my side?” Dante laughs but there’s no humor to it. “Finn will backstab me the first chance he gets. I know. Because he’s done it before.”
“Fair,” I say. “But you should know that Aria is my wife now and I will go to war for her.”
Dante gives me an incredulous look. “You’re saying you actually care for Aria now? After you kidnapped her?”
“Come on, Aria. Let’s go. We’re never going to get through to him.” I push myself away from the doorframe.
But then Matteo gets in my way. “I can’t let you leave.”