2. Dante
I’ve been planning to kidnap Gabriella De Luca for months.
The plan formed after I tried to make a deal with Rocco. I asked him to let me go. I wouldn’t cause any trouble if he just stopped hunting me down. But Rocco couldn’t do that.
I remember how he tried shooting at my head and chasing me. I managed to escape, but just barely. Rocco couldn’t keep his promise to me.
So now, I’m not going to keep any promise to him. I’ll take his precious baby sister so he knows I’m serious. He killed my father. Now, I’m ready to make his life torture.
I want my freedom. And I’m willing to try anything to get it.
But ever since I met Gabriella a year ago, I’ve wanted her. I’ve dreamed of her. Her beautiful face, long brown hair, and sexy body. I want her to be mine.
Kidnapping her isn’t just because I want her or my freedom. I want to make Rocco suffer. I want to make him pay for killing my dad.
And I want to gain a wife in the process. Gabriella will do just fine.
So, I had to put things into motion.
First, it was building a team of men who could help me extract her. I knew she’d be protected around the clock, especially with how paranoid Rocco is. Ever since I kidnapped Gabriella a year ago, Rocco has had her under lock and key. I didn’t harm her when I kidnapped her the first time. Sure, I taunted her and made it known I desired her, but I never touched her.
I may be an asshole, but even I have boundaries I won’t cross.
Kidnapping Gabriella again isn’t because I want to force myself on her. I won’t hurt her. I just want to hurt her brother.
Living on the outskirts of society, hidden away so Rocco couldn’t find and murder me, made it difficult to find a team. I spent countless months getting the men who wouldn’t ask any questions for the right price. But once I found them, I knew I was in business.
Then, it was just waiting for the right opportunity to arise.
I first heard of Gabriella’s engagement to Antonio Ricci through my men. News travels within Mafia circles. I couldn’t let her marry that man because, once she did, it would be even harder to make her mine.
So, I waited and planned to ensure I could get it right. There would be only one chance to do this.
And then that day came—Gabriella’s wedding day. I wanted to make a splash. I wanted to show Rocco and his brothers they couldn’t keep me down. They tried to kill me on countless occasions and never succeeded. I’m a thorn in their side, which pleases me. Any way I can hurt Rocco is a win in my book.
And taking his sister is the best way to hurt him.
I arrived at the venue—a fancy hotel that looks like any other fancy hotel—and got into position. I waited in the lobby with my gun hidden in my jacket while my men got into formation.
When I saw Gabriella enter the lobby and walk over to the doors leading to the ceremony, I knew I needed her. She looked fucking beautiful in her wedding dress. I knew right then that I would marry her. There was no other choice. Gabriella would be mine.
Rocco was with her. They didn’t even look over at me. Sure, I was hidden and in disguise, but still. I was disappointed. I thought Rocco would have been hyper-vigilant on his sister’s wedding day.
Once the doors opened, they walked inside. I waited and waited and waited until the timing seemed right.
Then I burst into the room, interrupting the ceremony as I rained fire with my gun. My men joined me, an chaos ensued.
I set my eyes on Gabriella and headed right for her. After kicking her stupid fiancé in the face, I threw her over my shoulder, kidnapping her again.
Now, all I have to do is get out of here.
But that won’t be easy with Gabriella over my shoulder and her three brothers heading my way. The one nice perk is that they can’t risk shooting at me without risking Gabriella’s life.
What I didn’t plan for was Gabriella being an issue.
“Put me down!” she shouts, slapping my back and kicking at my face.
I spank her on the ass. “Just be quiet.”
She gasps. “You don’t have the right to do that.”
“I do now.” I point my gun at her brothers and fire. They duck out of the way. The rest of the people in the crowd run for the entrance. It’s my turn to run now.
I step to jump off the platform when someone grabs my leg, making me stumble. I almost drop Gabriella, but I catch her in time. Looking down, I see it’s her stupid fiancé who grabbed me.
“Let her go,” he growls. A bruise is already forming on his face. Good.
“I’m not letting her go for anything.” I kick him in the head again, and he passes out cold.
I readjust Gabriella and take off running toward the right exit. My men are waiting outside for me. I just need to get there.
Of course, I knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
“Let her go, Dante,” Massimo says, standing in my way, pointing his gun at me.
“You can shoot. But then you might end up hitting Gabriella. Can you risk that?”
Massimo’s eyes flick to Gabriella and back to me. “You know I can’t. But I’m not letting you leave with my sister.”
“Then I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I am leaving with her.”
“No, you’re not,” Gabriella says, hitting the back of my head. She’s wiggling like crazy.
Then someone slams into my back, knocking Gabriella out of my arms. She falls onto the ground.
“Got him!” It’s Emilio.
I aim my gun down and fire. Emilio cries out and backs away with his foot bleeding. Massimo runs at me, but I reach Gabriella before he can get to me and use her body as a shield.
Massimo stops. Emilio is bent over, breathing hard from his foot injury. And there’s Rocco, charging forward.
“You’re seriously using me as a shield?” Gabriella asks. “Coward.”
“Not a coward,” I murmur into her ear. I can feel her shiver. “Genius. Your brothers won’t fire at me with you in front of me.”
“You can fire!” she shouts to her brothers. “It’s ok.”
Rocco growls. “You know we’re not going to do that. Dante, let Gabriella go.”
“I don’t feel like it.” I nod at my other men in the room, who come running forward. They aim their guns at all three De Luca brothers. “You’re outmatched this time. If you don’t want to die, don’t come after me. I’m taking Gabriella. I promise to take real good care of her.”
I slowly back up to the exit, dragging Gabriella with me. She’s trying to fight against me, but I’m stronger. I stick my gun into her back. “Stop struggling.”
“Never,” she snarls.
“Don’t make me shoot you.”
“You won’t do that. If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it already. You want me alive.”
Damn it. She’s right.
Still, this would be easier if she’d stop fighting me. So, I bring the butt of my gun and hit her in the head. She slumps into my arms. I didn’t want to hurt her, but I need to get out of here with her, and I can’t have her fighting me.
The pain in Rocco’s eyes as he watches me take his sister away is so sweet; I’ll be able to survive on it for days. With one last smile at the De Luca brothers, I take Gabriella through the exit and into the parking lot. The black van is waiting for me.
I quickly get Gabriella inside and motion for my driver, Jared, to take off. I glimpse Rocco bursting through the doors and trying to run after the van, but he’s only human. Eventually, we drive away, leaving the hotel behind until it’s a speck and Rocco can’t even be seen anymore.
I stare down at Gabriella, who has passed out in my van. I did it. I captured her again.
Now, I just need to make her mine, which will torture Rocco in the process, and all will be well in the world.
Gabriella wakes up after a few minutes, gasping as she sits up. “What the hell did you do to me?”
I lean back against the van wall as I look at her. God, she’s fucking gorgeous. Her hair is messed up and her dress winkled, but she still appears elegant. “I hit you in the head,” I tell her.
“How can you say that so casually?”
“Because you wouldn’t stop fighting me while I was trying to get you out of there.”
“You mean while you tried to kidnap me,” she says, rubbing her head.
“Potato, po-tah-toe.”
She huffs, crossing her arms. “I can’t believe this. You’re actually kidnapping me … again!”
“I need to show your brother a lesson. He won’t stop hunting me. I had no choice but to take drastic measures.”
“No choice? You had a choice not to kidnap me!”
“You know,” I say, scratching my chin, “most people don’t argue with their kidnappers so much. You’re especially brave, Gabriella. And stupid.”
“That’s because I know you, Dante. You didn’t hurt me last time you kidnapped me. I doubt you will again.”
“That bruise”—I point to her head—“says differently.”
“And I’m mad at you for it. Now, where are we going?” She cranes her neck to look out the window, but the windows are tinted black—nothing can be seen through them.
I chuckle. “Like I’m going to tell you that.”
“Why not? I have a right to know where you’re taking me.”
“Gabriella, you don’t seem to understand I’m your kidnapper. Not your friend. I’m not going to tell you where were going. And before you ask,” I say as she opens her mouth. “No, you’re brothers won’t be able to find you. That’s the whole point.”
“Well, I think it’s a stupid point. There’s no reason for you to kidnap me. I was getting married today. You ruined my wedding.”
“Sorry. Didn’t realize you had love for that idiot you called a fiancé.”
She flushes and ducks her head. Oh, so I struck a nerve. “He wasn’t an idiot. He was just …”
“The man your brother picked out for you. You didn’t want to be with him.”
“How can you say that?” she asks, staring me down with her beautiful brown eyes. “I wanted to marry Antonio.”
“Sure. You sound so convincing.”
“I …”
“What?” I ask. I’m getting under her skin. That was never my intention with Gabriella, but I’m enjoying it too much to stop. “Am I right or wrong? Did you want to marry that idiot?”
“Who says he’s an idiot?”
“It’s clear to me he is. He couldn’t stop me from taking you. If you were my girl, no man could take you from me.”
She leans in closer. “Last I checked, Dante, you kidnapped me before and lost me then. My brothers got me back from you, so ergo, you’re not as suave and badass as you pretend to be. I’ll be saved again. It’s just a matter of time. That’s why I’m not worried.” She shrugs and leans back, trying to look cool, but I can sense the tension in her body. Under her bravado, she’s afraid.
“This time, it’s going to be different. Last time, you had Lara with you. And, from what I remember, she was the reason you were saved. Without her escaping, your brothers never would have found you. You’re all alone this time. So, unless you escape yourself, you’re stuck with me. Your brothers can’t save you now.”
She looks away from me. I can see her thinking. Finally, she meets my gaze. “I’ll find a way to escape you, Dante. I don’t need any help. You don’t know me that well. You’re underestimating me.”
“Well, thanks for the tip. Now I’ll know not to underestimate you.”
She opens and closes her mouth. “That’s not … what I meant.”
“Oh? Then what did you mean? Should I underestimate you or not? Which is it, Gabriella?”
“Just shut up,” she says.
“I’m the captor here. You don’t tell me to shut up.”
“Well, I just did.”
I lean in until our faces are inches apart. She gulps but doesn’t back away. “You’re playing with fire, Gabriella. Don’t taunt me. You might not like what I take from you.”
“You’re not going to take anything from me.”
“Oh, yeah? How do you know? You think you know what kind of man I am, but you don’t. Not really. I’m dangerous. I just took you away from your wedding in a blaze of gun fire. Don’t mess with me, Gabriella.”
“Is that a warning?”
“It’s a promise.”
Her eyes widen a fraction before her features smooth over into her usual arrogant expression. “Well, I’ll make a promise of my own. You kidnapped the wrong girl, Dante. I’m going to make you wish you never took me in the first place. You’ll be begging my brothers to take me back.”
“I doubt that. But it’s cute you’re trying.”
She huffs. But before she can say anything more, the car stops.
“Oh, look,” I say. “We’re here.”
“Here?”
“Your new home for the foreseeable future. A place your brothers will never find. It will be just you and me, Gabriella. Might as well start getting used to it.” I open the door and jump down. Gabriella is sitting in the van like she’s a princess—her head held back, knees pressed together, and hands clasped in her lap. She’s the picture of vanity.
She thinks she owns the world. I’m going to show her she’s nothing. I’m going to bring the Italian Mafia princess to her knees, and no one can stop me. Not her brothers. Not even Gabriella herself.
She will be mine, and then, I’ll rule this world with her at my side.