Chapter 14 Cristian
CRISTIAN
“Report to me,” Alessandro says heading to his office once I bring Valentina home. She’s hurried off to her room, and I still feel like shit for hurting her.
I follow Alessandro to his office, thinking I have an earful to share with him.
I can’t stop seeing Valentina’s fear as Maksim pinned her to the garden wall while he whispered filth in her ear.
When I drew my weapon, I wasn't thinking about my duty to the Dante family.
I was thinking about putting a bullet between Maksim's eyes. God, how I wanted to kill him.
And if I had, Valentina wouldn’t have been in danger. I would have. Even knowing I’d be killed for it, I’d exterminate Maksim in a heartbeat.
But as I stand in front of Alessandro’s desk while he sits in his chair, my anger shifts toward him and Adriano, who followed me in.
How can they allow this wedding knowing they’re committing Valentina to a life of suffering?
I've spent my life being a good soldier, following orders without question, burying bodies without regret.
But this?
This crosses a line.
I can’t stand by and let her life be ruined.
Alessandro watches me from his desk, his eyes narrow as if he can read my mind.
In all my years serving the Dante family, I've never once overstepped my position, but I’m about to do it.
"We need to talk about what happened today with Maksim and your sister."
He sits back, still studying me.
"Maksim cornered Valentina in his garden today," I begin, holding my anger in check. "He had her pinned against a wall, trying to force himself on her. I had to draw my weapon to make him back off."
Adriano’s face darkens as he looks up from pouring a drink. "He put his hands on her?"
"Yes." The memory is seared in my mind. "He isolated her deliberately, took her to a spot where I couldn't see them. If I hadn't followed my instincts and found them…" I don't finish the thought.
Alessandro's expression remains frustratingly neutral. "Did he hurt her?"
"He scared her. Humiliated her. Told her exactly what he plans to do to her on their wedding night." My fists clench at my sides. "He included what he'd teach her to do with her mouth."
"Fucking prick." Adriano looks like he'll go out and shoot Maksim himself. Good. Let’s stop this madness now.
“Maksim tells it a bit differently.”
“I’m sure he does.” I stare at my boss wondering if he’s really going to take Maksim’s word over mine.
“Regardless, I told him to keep his fucking hands off Valentina until they’re married."
I stare at my Don wondering if he realizes what he's saying. "But when they're married, he can rip her to shreds?"
"Watch yourself." Alessandro sniffs.
I glance at Adriano, whose brows are raised like he’s surprised by my tone.
I turn my attention back to Alessandro. “You tasked me with protecting her, I assume because you knew he couldn’t be trusted—”
"You did what I asked, but you overreacted. He didn't need a gun to his head."
The dismissal in his tone sends rage coursing through me. "Overreacted? I prevented your sister from being assaulted. I have no doubt he'd have fucked her—"
"Don't talk about my sister like that." Alessandro's deadly warning makes my head spin.
"But you're okay with Maksim talking about her, to her, like that?"
“Maksim has agreed to respect boundaries until the wedding. That's what matters."
"And after the wedding?" I can't keep the challenge from my voice. "What happens to her then?"
I look over at Adriano, expecting him to agree with me.
He watches me more with curiosity than anything.
Alessandro rises slowly from his chair, and I'm suddenly aware of how far I've stepped beyond my place.
"You've been a loyal soldier, Bonetti. But don't mistake your position. You're Valentina's security detail, nothing more."
I won’t lie, the words bother me, even though he’s right. I’m a soldier. Disposable if necessary.
"Maksim has been warned," he continues. "I ordered him to back off. The wedding proceeds as planned. That's all you need to concern yourself with."
"He'll try again," I say. "He's testing you, and by letting this pass, you’re giving him the inch to take a mile."
"He won't. He knows I won't stand for it. You're there to make sure—"
“You just said I overreacted.” I throw my hands up. “Do I stop him from assaulting her or not?”
“I’m sure he’ll—"
"I should have put a bullet in that bastard's head today.” My control snaps, not caring that my job, my life could end right here, right now. "I should have killed him where he stood."
Alessandro's eyes turn to ice. "You forget yourself."
"No.” I glance at Adriano again, willing him to stand up for Valentina. "I'm the only one who remembers what matters. While you sit here making deals with the devil, I'm the one watching your sister break apart piece by piece."
Adriano steps forward, his hand hovering near his waistband where I know he keeps his gun.
I guess he’s not so worried about Valentina, after all.
"Back off, Bonetti. Now."
"For what?" I whirl to face him. "So you can keep pretending this is anything but a sacrifice? You're throwing your sister to the wolves to save your own skin."
"This alliance prevents a war," Alessandro's voice remains measured, which only pisses me off more. "Valentina understands what's at stake."
"She doesn't understand shit! She's twenty years old, and you're selling her to a man whose eyes gleam with eagerness to break her. You didn't hear what he plans to do to her. Fucking hell… you didn't see her face. If you had, you might think about her well-being—"
Alessandro’s eyes flash with heat. "Valentina agreed to this arrangement."
"Because she wants to please you!" I can’t contain my anger any longer. "Because she wants to prove she's as valuable to this family as her brothers. She thinks she's making a noble sacrifice, but she has no idea what she's walking into."
"And you do?" Alessandro's eyes narrow dangerously.
"I've seen men like Maksim. We all have." I sweep my hand between the brothers. "The way he talks about her. The things he whispered to her today weren't promises of love or caring. She’ll be his whore until she becomes his broodmare."
"Enough." Alessandro's voice echoes through his office.
"He'll break her," I continue, unable to stop. "Not just her body, but her spirit. Everything that makes Valentina who she is. And when he's done, when there's nothing left of the woman you claim to love, will this peace treaty still be worth it?"
The silence that follows feels like the moment before an execution. I've crossed every line, challenged not just Alessandro's authority but his love for his sister.
"You speak as if you care for her," Adriano says finally.
"Someone has to. Because it's clear her family is willing to sacrifice her simply for profits."
Alessandro's expression shifts from cold anger to something far more dangerous.
With deliberate slowness, he reaches into his jacket and pulls out his gun, placing it on the desk between us.
"You forget who you are speaking to." His voice is terrifyingly quiet. "I am not just your boss, Bonetti. I am your Don."
My heart hammers, but I meant it when I said I’d protect Valentina and that I wasn’t afraid to die.
"If Luca were here—" I start, knowing I’m poking the bear. Knowing Alessandro has an insecurity where Luca is concerned.
"Luca isn't here," Alessandro cuts me off. "And if he were, he'd understand what's at stake."
"Bullshit." I scoff. "Luca would never let this happen to Valentina.
He'd put a bullet in Maksim's skull before letting that animal near his sister. And you know it, Don Dante."
Alessandro picks up the gun, and the room grows still. Adriano doesn't move, his face unreadable as he watches his brother.
"You speak of my family like you understand us," Alessandro says. "Like you have the right to question my decisions."
“You asked me to protect Valentina. That’s what I’m doing.”
“From me?” Alessandro’s expression is incredulous as he glances at Adriano before turning back to me.
“The best way to protect her from Maksim is for you to end this part of the deal.” What I don’t say is that yes, I will protect her from him, as he’s the one putting her in danger. “She’s dying inside. If you took the time to look, you’d see it too.”
"Your loyalty has never been in question, Cristian. Until now."
If this is how I die, so be it. I straighten my spine and look my Don in the eye.
"My loyalty is to the Dante family. Always has been.
Isn't Valentina a Dante? Or is my loyalty only to the men?
And if that's the case, why am I assigned to protect her?
That is what I'm doing. It's just that right now, I'm protecting her from you. "
Ah, fuck, I shouldn’t have let that slip. I've crossed the final line.
"Is your life worth this stance, Bonetti?" he finally asks.
My mouth is dry. "If my life is the price for speaking the truth about Valentina's future, so be it."
Adriano shifts his weight, moving closer to his brother. Both Dante men now stand before me, and I realize how thoroughly I’ve sealed my fate as I await my execution.
"You think yourself noble," Alessandro says, his voice deadly soft. "But you've made things worse. Without you, who protects her from Maksim before the wedding?"
“You could assign her another guard, but what’s the point if you don’t care what Maksim does to her?”
I’d forgotten how swift Alessandro could be until his gun settles against my forehead.
“You’ve got balls, I’ll hand you that,” Adriano says with a shake of his head.
They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die. Me, I’m filled with regret as I wait for the end.
First, I've failed Valentina.
For all my protective instincts, I couldn't shield her from the fate her brothers orchestrated.
Now she’s doomed to a life of misery that will likely be cut short.
Second, I never gave her what we both desperately wanted.
Those stolen moments in the car, at the florist, I should have taken them all.
I should have kissed her until she couldn't breathe, touched her until she couldn't think, loved her until she understood she deserved more than being chattel.
Now it’s too late.