27. Dante
Chapter 27
Dante
I stand here, completely stunned and, frankly, a little turned on by what my wife just did. She didn’t hesitate for a second. Her resolve was absolute, and I’m proud that she stood her ground and followed through.
Neither of us moves as we watch the life get sucked out of her father. Arabella doesn’t shy away; she just stares with quiet resolve. But once the flames begin to lick the wall, I know it’s time to leave. It won’t be long before the entire house is engulfed.
Tugging on her hand, I lead her towards the front door.
“I’m sorry you had to see that,” she says.
“I’m not,” I reply, lifting our conjoined hands to my mouth and placing a kiss on her knuckle.
Her dark side calls to me.
It doesn’t frighten me or turn me off in the slightest. It draws me in, igniting something deep inside. She just learnt a powerful lesson, one I embraced many years ago: only when you dare to explore the darkness within can you truly understand the boundless strength of the light.
Now that she has her justice, hopefully, she’ll be able to move past the pain that has haunted her for so long and step into a future where the weight will no longer hold her down.
Some people chip away at the kindest hearts—as Stefano did with Arabella for many years—pushing boundaries and confusing generosity with weakness.
When that compliance finally shifted, forcing her to respond with what some people may label as toxic or depraved, they need to remember she never started this fire. Every reaction has a cause, and every flame begins with a spark.
Her father simply got the ultimate karma from the little girl who had to stand at the window and watch her poor mother perish in the most horrific way. He’s finally facing the consequences of his actions. Just like Edoardo did. The universe has a way of balancing out the scales eventually, and in my eyes, that’s exactly what happened here.
As soon as we step out onto the front porch, we are met by Roberto again. “Is everything okay in there?” he asks. Those gut-wrenching screams have now stopped, but there’s no doubt he heard them.
“Stefano is gone,” I reply, reaching into my pocket to retrieve my money clip. I remove the wad of notes and shove them into his hand. “You now work for me. Do you have an issue with that?”
Not surprisingly, he shakes his head. “No, Mr Mancini.”
I got to know some of Stefano’s men the week before my wedding, and it didn’t take much to see that they had more contempt than admiration for the head of their Famiglia .
Gaining respect comes from earning loyalty through trust and leadership. Having someone fear you will only breed obedience driven by intimidation, not true allegiance.
“Good.” I hold out my hand, palm facing up. “Hand me your phone.”
“I’m not going to call anyone. ”
“I know,” I reply. “I’m going to program my number into it in case you need to contact me.”
That has him digging into his pocket to retrieve it and passing it to me.
“You’ll be looked after, and your loyalty will be rewarded,” I say as I add my number to his contacts and hand the phone back. “Spread the word; I’ll be in touch.”
“Okay.”
He steps aside, allowing us to pass. When I reach the bottom step, I pause, glancing at him over my shoulder. “Let the house burn to the ground.” I descend another step before saying, “One more thing.”
“Whatever you need, boss.”
“We were never here.”
He nods. “ Io capisco (I understand).”
When we arrived, I never expected this outcome, but in true Cosa Nostra fashion, justice was served swiftly, decisively, and without mercy.
Hours pass before we finally return to my family’s estate in Italy. After we left the Rossis, we went straight to the hospital to have Lucia examined. As suspected, her wrist is broken, so she’s now sporting a plaster cast, but despite that, she seems in good spirits.
Romeo has been unwavering, never leaving her side. He even sat beside her bed, holding her hand while the doctors worked on her, which was a bit unsettling.
I admire his passion for the people he cares about, but I’m not sure he’s aware of those cartoon hearts practically floating in Lucia’s eyes every time she gazes at him.
If he doesn’t watch his step, this could get messy. When we get home, I’ll need to separate them. The last thing I want is more drama.
When I enter the house, followed by my entourage, I’m not surprised to find my brother pacing back and forth. He might be a ruthless businessman, but he’s on point when he says he doesn’t have the stomach for the Cosa Nostra.
“For fuck’s sake,” he mumbles under his breath as soon as he sees me. He closes the distance between us in a few long, purposeful strides and pulls me into a hug. “I watched the news update saying the Rossi estate was on fire. Why the fuck didn’t you answer your phone? I’ve been going out of my mind.”
“I’m fine,” I say, shrugging out of his hold. “We had to take Lucia to the hospital to get her wrist looked at.”
“What happened with Stefano?”
“You don’t want to know, big brother.” I glance around the room. “Where’s my little sis and nephew?”
“Sister-in-law,” he corrects. “They’ve gone to visit Lina and Theo.”
“Ah, okay.”
“I was supposed to go with them, but since I couldn’t contact you, I decided to stay behind in case something happened … in case you needed me.”
“I appreciate that, but I can handle myself,” I reply, briefly clasping his shoulder. When I grin, he narrows his eyes, clearly unimpressed.
I let my arm drop down by my side as I swiftly turn, giving Alexander my back. I stalk across the room with purpose, grabbing my wife’s hand as I pass.
“Where are you going now?” he asks.
“I need to speak to Arabella in private. Can you entertain Lucia while I’m gone?”
“What? No,” Alexander grumbles. “I don’t even know her.”
I glance back at him. “Alex, this is my other little sis. Lucia, this is my big brother Alex. There, you know each other now.”
“Sister-in-law,” he grumbles, correcting me again.
“Whatever, sibling police.”
I bark out a laugh when he tells me to “Fuck off.”
“You two look so much alike,” Lucia says with wonderment as her eyes dart from Alex back to me.
“Don’t let his good looks fool you, Luc. He’s like the Temu version of me.”
When I hear my brother growl, I roll my lips to hide my smile as I continue moving.
Pausing briefly at the doorway, my gaze flickers to Romeo. “If anyone comes to the door, don’t answer it and call me immediately.”
“Okay, boss.”
“What do you mean if anyone comes to the door?” Alexander asks. “Are we expecting trouble? Do I need to get my wife and son back here so we can flee the country?”
“Nobody is fleeing anywhere,” I say with a sigh as I turn back around to face him.
“I don’t see any luggage with Lucia. Does she even have the correct papers to leave if we have to get out of here in a hurry?”
I roll my eyes despite the fact that those words have me internally wincing. I didn’t even think about Lucia’s passport as the Rossi estate began to burn. “Always the optimist.”
“Someone in this family needs to be level-headed. You’ve always been the type to react before you think.”
“I’ve got that sorted,” Lucia chimes in, lifting up the top she’s wearing to reveal a thin package that is strapped to her stomach. “I got everything I needed before my attempt at running away. When Elio tackled me to the ground and dragged me kicking and screaming back to the house, Papa made him search my pockets. He found my phone and stomped on it. The idiots never thought to pat down my body.”
“Now that’s sorted, if you’ll excuse me,” I say. “My wife and I have some business to sort out.”
Once Arabella and I reach the staircase, I lift her, bridal style, into my arms and take the stairs two at a time.
“What business, and where are you taking me?” she asks.
“Our room.”
“Why?”
“Remember what happened that time you threatened to smash the bottle of Sambuca over Bianca’s head and slash her throat?”
“Oh.”
“Yes, oh. You can’t go all ruthless boss woman and not expect a reaction from me.”
Call it sick or twisted, but her dark side is an aphrodisiac. Everything where this woman is concerned turns me on, but that mysterious intensity that seems to pulse beneath her calm exterior calls to me on the highest level. It’s irresistibly alluring.
My cock began to swell the moment she flicked that match, and I’ve been struggling to control it ever since.
As soon as we enter the bedroom, I kick the door closed with my foot, locking it behind me.
Gently placing her back on her feet, I reach for the hem of her dress and lift it over her head in one swift motion.
As soon as I’ve dropped it to the floor, I grasp the buckle on my belt. “Get on your knees, Bellezza .” She doesn’t even hesitate as she lowers herself to the floor. “You are responsible for this,” I say, freeing my rock-hard cock and stroking it with my hand. “You need to take care of this like a good girl.”
When she parts her lips, I gather her hair in my fist, guiding myself deep into her mouth. I tighten my grip on her hair, tugging slightly as she pulls out almost to the tip before swallowing me back down. I growl when she hums, contracting her throat so it pulsates around the crown like a vice. It’s been mere seconds, and I have to will myself not to blow.
Her teeth and tongue work me into a frenzy. Her plump, red lips stain my skin with each pass, and it’s so damn hot. “Yes, just like that,” I breathe, tilting my head back with a groan.
Her delicate fingers knead my tight balls as her tongue whirls and glides against my shaft as if it’s the most delicious thing in the world.
“Relax your throat,” I grate out through gritted teeth as both my hands now fist in her long locks, and my hips glide back and forth of their own accord. I won’t be able to hold off much longer.
The noises coming from me spur her on as she ramps it up a notch, causing me to jerk out of control … my balls are throbbing. My cock is harder, longer, and thicker than it’s ever been before.
She gags when I push in further, but she doesn’t stop her assault. Tingles shoot along my spine as my release builds inside me. It’s like a volcano ready to erupt.
Throwing my head back, I expel a tortured cry, spilling myself down the back of her throat. My cock is pulsating against her tongue as my entire body tremors.
“Take it all, amore mio ,” I rasp as my fingers curl around her neck to hold her in place. “Take every last drop.”
I throw my head back and let out a roar that’s kinda reminiscent of Leo’s downstairs. I hope my brother doesn’t hear it because he’ll never let me live it down if he does.
When I release my hold, she drags her lips down the length of my shaft before removing my cock from her mouth with a pop, and my heart swells. She’s come so far from the inexperienced virgin I first met all those months ago. I love how much she wants to please me.
She glances up at me through her long lashes as she wipes her lips with the back of her hand. I use my fingertips to brush her hair from her face. She’s perfection . I’m thankful this is the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.
After tucking myself back into my trousers, I slide my hands under her arms and effortlessly lift her onto her feet. My arms drop down to her waist, and I draw her closer, pulling her in for a scorching kiss.
My lips don’t leave hers as I start walking her backwards. I don’t stop until the back of her legs hit the edge of the mattress. I gently lower her onto the bed, but I don’t join her straight away.
I pause for a moment, staring down at her. She’s a vision of tanned skin, curves, and delicate white lace. Her beauty is pure and serene, and she looks like an angel untouched by darkness, but I know better. What happened earlier still hangs heavy in the air, a silent contradiction to her innocence.
My gaze drifts lower, lingering on the fullness of her breasts as they spill from her bra before coming to rest on her flat stomach. I’m still trying to fully grasp the reality that our child is growing inside her.
A quiet anticipation stirs deep within me. I imagine her body swelling in the coming months as she carries the life we created together.
She’s never looked more beautiful than she does at this moment, but I’m confident there’ll be many more times when I feel just like I do now in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Every day, I seem to fall that little bit harder. For a woman I never wanted at the start, she’s quickly become my everything.
A smile curves on my lips as I reach down and hook my thumbs in the sides of her underwear, dragging them over her hips and down her legs.
Once they are removed, I drop to my knees, spreading her wide and opening her up. My mouth salivates as I lean in to blow hot air over the sensitive flesh of her pretty, pink pussy. I glance at her from between her parted legs and smile. “My turn.”
Given the gravity of yesterday’s events, we decided to board the jet first thing this morning and head back to Australia.
The fire at the Rossi estate has dominated the headlines, but the authorities have yet to sift through the rubble because the embers are still smouldering. From what I saw on television, nothing is left of the house.
It’s only a matter of time before the charred remains of Stefano and Elio are discovered, and it seemed safer for all of us to be out of the country when that happens.
I’d never let Arabella take the fall for what she did, but I can’t protect her, our child, or Lucia if I end up in prison. And I don’t trust Giuseppe Salvatori for a second. He won’t let this go. Even with Stefano out of the picture, I’m sure he’ll expect his marriage to Lucia to still go ahead.
That will never happen. He’ll meet the same fate as Arabella’s father if he dares to challenge me on this. I’m not fucking around here.
We have three extra passengers on the flight home. Lina and Theo returned with Chloe last night. They wanted to meet my wife when they heard I’d gotten married.
True to her nurturing nature, Lina took both sisters under her wing right away. Considering Lucia’s injuries, she showered her with extra care and attention.
We are now en route to Griffith. As soon as Arabella mentioned she was going to host a New Year’s Eve party for the Famiglia , so she could get to know my men’s wives better, Chloe and Lina jumped on board, offering to help her cater the event.
By the scowl that my brother has been sporting ever since I can only gather he’s not fond of the idea. I’m sure it has more to do with Chloe and Giovanni being around the Cosa Nostra than seeing in the New Year with us.
I like our time together. My family dwindled down to two after Papa was slain, but it’s now growing at a rapid pace, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I reach for Arabella’s hand, lacing my fingers through hers. “Are you okay, Bellezza ?”
“I’m great,” she replies, glancing at me with a sweet smile on her face.
“You know, if you ever begin to struggle with what happened yesterday, you can always talk to me.”
“Thank you,” she says, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “I don’t think I’ll ever fully get over what Papa did to Mamma, but I already know I won’t lose a minute of sleep for what I did to him. I have zero regrets for what I did.”
I lift our conjoined hands up to my face, placing a soft kiss on her knuckles. “You’re pretty badass, Mrs Mancini.”
“Then we are a good match.”
“We are the perfect match.”
The smile on her pretty face grows. “Yes, we are. I love the life I’ve created with you, Dante,” she says. “I love everything about it.”
“Sometimes, the bad things that happen in our lives put us on the path to the best thing that will ever happen to us. For me, that is you.”
“I love you, Mr Mancini,” she says, and although I hoped deep down she did, hearing those words from her makes my heart soar.
“I love you more, Mrs Mancini.”
I thread my hands through her hair, meshing our mouths together. I don’t care that we have an audience, so I kiss her like nobody’s watching.
“Get a room, you two,” Lucia groans.
Arabella pulls out of the kiss, looking over at her sister with a frown. “One day, you’ll fall in love with the man of your dreams, Lu-Lu, and then you’ll understand.”
When Lucia’s eyes dart to Romeo and a blush climbs her neck, I squirm a little in my seat. I can sense trouble on the horizon.