Lawless Protector (The Dante Dynasty #2)

Chapter 1

VALENTINA

A bullet between the eyes.

That’s all it would take to end this stupid feud between my family and the Bratva.

Oh, sure, someone else would rise up to take the Pakhan’s place, but they’d think twice about messing with my family.

Especially if my brother Luca decided to stay in New York. He’s single-handedly taken out at least a dozen Bratva men.

But no. My eldest brother, Don Alessandro Dante, isn't planning to kill Pakhan Maksim Vasiliev.

He’s making a deal to broker peace.

I study the men gathered around the table.

Alessandro sits to my right, cool as always.

My younger brother, Adriano, keeps his dark gaze on Maksim as if he’s ready to fire that bullet that could end all this.

Maksim sits across from us.

His blue eyes are calculating, coldly assessing each of us in turn.

"The matter of territory in the west district remains unresolved." Alessandro's voice is diplomatic. He stepped into our father's role without missing a beat after his murder.

Our father’s death changed everything.

Luca returned from exile despite the cool reception from my brothers.

As expected, he created chaos, but he’d also discovered the Bratva’s scheme to destabilize the Dante family, starting with our father’s death.

"Your brother killed twelve of my men." Maksim's accent thickens with his anger. "Twelve."

I practically roll my eyes. Maksim is still going on about wanting us to hand over Luca to him.

It’s not enough that Luca nearly died and is currently recovering from a bullet to the chest.

“Are we back to this?” Adriano shakes his head. “You killed our father. Pyotr kidnapped Enzo, Luca’s son. You held Katerina, Luca’s woman, hostage. What did you expect? It’s not like you didn’t know Luca.”

I’d been the one to secretly message Luca after Father’s death because I knew he’d do something to make the Bratva pay.

While Alessandro and Adriano are more about planning and strategy, Luca is about action, even if it’s a suicide mission, which it nearly was when he broke into Maksim’s home to save the love of his life, Katerina.

Luckily, my brothers had his back, mobilizing every Dante soldier we had to help Luca save Katerina.

"We have all suffered losses." Alessandro straightens the cuffs of his shirt, as if he’s growing tired of this conversation. "The question is whether we continue bleeding each other dry or find a compromise."

Maksim leans forward, his men shifting nervously behind him. "I want compensation."

"You'll get nothing," Adriano snaps. “You fucking killed a Don, you—”

Alessandro places a hand on Adriano's arm, a silent command to stand down.

"What exactly are you proposing?" Alessandro asks.

Maksim's gaze slides to me, lingering in a way that makes my skin crawl. "An alliance."

"We don't need an alliance with you," I interject, unable to hold my tongue.

Alessandro doesn't reprimand me.

Unlike most families in our world, my brother has valued my input and allowed me to be a part of the business.

"Your sister has fire." Maksim's smile is lecherous. "I like that."

Adriano shifts in his seat, and I know he's thinking about just ending this meeting with a bullet.

Luca would have already done it.

"I'm curious what you think would satisfy both our interests," Alessandro says, ignoring both my and Maksim’s comments.

“Your people stay clear of the east side gambling operations,” Maksim says.

My brothers exchange glances.

They’ve been expanding their gambling business, but it’s been mostly online.

"Agreed. But we want territory lines redrawn at the river," Alessandro adds. "You'll receive twenty percent of our import revenue through the docks for the next three years."

Maksim nods, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “Fine.”

Alessandro reaches for his glass of whiskey. "We'll have contracts drawn up by week's end."

"There is one more condition." Maksim's voice gains a predatory edge.

Alessandro sets his glass down. "What else remains?"

Maksim's cold blue eyes lock onto mine. "Insurance."

I shift in my seat, although I’m not sure why.

"Your sister's hand in marriage." He delivers the demand without emotion, like I’m an object for bartering. "A binding alliance between our families. To ensure neither side is tempted to break our agreement."

I’m unable to keep from gaping as I look at Alessandro. Surely, he won’t approve of this.

"Absolutely not," Adriano growls, shifting forward.

"I refuse to be a pawn!" The words burst from me. "I am not a bargaining chip to be traded away."

Alessandro remains silent.

This terrifies me more than if he'd immediately refused.

Maksim's lips curl upward, but I won’t call it a smile. His gaze crawls over my body. "Such spirit. I expected nothing less from Lorenzo Dante's daughter."

He looks at me as if I’m a wild thing to be broken. I've heard rumors about what happens to women around Maksim. How they disappear if they displease him.

"She would make a suitable bride." Maksim tilts his head, studying me. "And perhaps she might even enjoy being queen of the Bratva, once she's properly… adjusted."

A chill slides up my spine.

He doesn't want a subservient wife.

He wants the satisfaction of breaking someone who fights back.

"Alessandro," I whisper, turning to my brother, silently pleading.

My oldest brother's expression is unreadable, but I see he’s considering this outrageous proposal.

"I need to speak with my sister," Alessandro says. "In private."

Maksim nods, his eyes never leaving me. "Of course. Family matters."

Once the Russians exit, Adriano explodes. "We're not sending her to that monster! We should end this right now," he continues. "I'll take care of Maksim myself. One bullet. Problem solved."

"And start a war that will bleed us dry?" Alessandro's voice is ice.

My mind races through calculations.

Soldiers lost, vulnerable territories, families we protect who would be caught in the crossfire.

I think of Luca, how he took a bullet rescuing Katerina, how he's still fighting to recover.

He threw himself into hell to protect family.

A family who rejected him, and yet he was still here for us.

"I'll do it," I hear myself say.

Both brothers turn to me, shock visible even on Alessandro's usually impassive face.

"Valentina, no—" Adriano starts.

"We need this alliance," I cut him off. "We're vulnerable right now. Another war would destroy everything Papa built."

"You don't know what you're saying," Adriano argues. "The things I've heard about Maksim—"

"I know exactly what I'm saying." My voice grows stronger with resolve even though I’m terrified. "I'm a Dante. This is what we do. We sacrifice for family."

I turn to Alessandro, straightening my spine. "But understand this. I'm not going as a helpless bride. I'm going as your eyes and ears inside the Bratva. As an asset."

“That’s a death sentence for sure.” Adriano shakes his head.

"You don't have to do this," Alessandro says quietly.

I think of Luca's body, broken and bleeding.

Of the funeral processions for our soldiers.

Of the children left fatherless in families under our protection.

"Yes," I say firmly. "I do."

Alessandro holds my gaze for a long moment. "Fine." He exhales slowly. "But I want conditions."

Adriano slams his fist on the table. "This is insanity! You can't seriously—"

"Enough." Alessandro silences him. "Valentina has made her choice."

Turning to me, he adds in a softer tone, "I'll make sure you have protection. Eyes watching you at all times."

"And what good will that do if she's already in his grasp?" Adriano's voice is tight with fury. "You know what happened to his last wife."

I swallow hard.

Everyone in our world knows those rumors.

How she disappeared after allegedly displeasing him, her body never found.

"I can handle myself," I insist, though fear gnaws at my insides. "This is our best option."

Alessandro nods curtly before summoning Maksim back into the room.

The Russian's smug expression when he enters tells me he never doubted the outcome.

"We accept your proposal," Alessandro states, his voice devoid of emotion. "With conditions."

Maksim raises an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"My sister will have her own security detail. The wedding will take place in three months, not before. And she retains her Dante name, hyphenated with yours."

"One month," Maksim counters. "I'm not a patient man."

"Two months," Alessandro replies. "And we want a formal ceremony. Something to demonstrate to everyone that this is a genuine alliance."

Maksim's cold eyes find mine. "Agreed. Though I hardly think your sister needs bodyguards. My men are quite capable of protection."

"It's non-negotiable," Alessandro says flatly.

"As you wish." Maksim extends his hand. "We have an agreement, then."

As they shake on it, sealing my fate, I feel cold and empty.

My brothers' faces blur as I wonder if I've just signed my death warrant.

When Maksim and his men leave, I sink down into a chair wondering if this is really happening.

Alessandro moves to the crystal decanter on the bar in his conference room, pouring two fingers of whiskey. "You made a brave choice." He offers me the glass.

I accept it but don't drink. I just stare at the amber liquid as if it can reveal a way out of this situation. "Brave? Or stupid?"

"Both, perhaps." My brother's face softens. "But necessary."

“It’s stupid,” Adriano grumbles. “Did you see how he looked at her? Like a fucking hunter eyeing his prey.”

“He won’t hurt her.” Alessandro refills his own drink and downs it.

“You can’t possibly believe that,” Adriano says. “I’m starting to like Luca’s plan. Let’s just exterminate them all.”

But we know that’s not an option.

I take a swallow of my drink, wishing the burn could erase the reality of my life.

“I’ll assign Cristian to your primary security. He’s the best we’ve got,” Alessandro says.

"And if Maksim kills her anyway? What then?" Adriano demands.

"That won't happen." Alessandro's certainty would be comforting if I hadn't seen the bodies of those who crossed the Bratva. “They’re wary of us. Of Luca especially. They won’t want to cross him again anytime soon.”

“Luca is going back to Chicago,” Adriano argues.

“It’s a short distance.” Alessandro rolls his shoulders. “We’ll delay as much as possible. Perhaps we can find an alternative.”

But we all know there isn’t any. This is the sacrifice the family needs.

"I keep thinking about his last wife. How she just disappeared."

Alessandro crosses the room, placing his hands on my shoulders. "You are not her. You're a Dante. You're stronger than anyone I know, Valentina."

I look up into his eyes, wishing I could believe him. But all I feel is certainty that I'm walking into the wolf's den.

"If I die—"

"You won't."

"Make it count. Make him pay."

My brother pulls me against his chest, a gesture so rare I almost break. "I swear it.”