30. Dante
Chapter 30
Dante
A s I zip up my suitcase, I glance at Arabella and notice her bottom lip trembling. “Do you have to go back there?”
“I do.”
“But why?”
I blow out a long breath. “We’ve already been over this.”
“I want to come with you.”
“There’s no way you or your sister are going to step one foot back inside that country until I know with all certainty that it’s safe for you both to do so.”
“But is it safe for you?”
I stop what I’m doing and sit beside her on the edge of the bed, where she’s anxiously chewing on her thumbnail, and drag her onto my lap.
Two months have passed since Stefano’s demise, and the authorities in Italy have officially listed his death as the result of a house fire, with no suspicious circumstances. That was the green light I needed to finally return.
I had no contribution to that finding, so I can only presume that higher powers were at play. I need to sort things out before any other organised criminal gang starts to move in on his territory. It’s only a matter of time before they do if I leave things without a clear leader. My presence needs to be known.
“I’m taking some of my men with me. Romeo will stay here at the house to look after you and Lucia.”
“I don’t need looking after,” she bites back.
“I know you don’t, Arabella, but I have a lot to sort out when I get over there. I need my head in the game and can’t be distracted by worrying about you. You and Lucia will be safe with Romeo here.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“A week … two weeks tops.”
“Two weeks,” she shrieks. “That’s too long.”
“Are you going to miss me, Bellezza ? Because I’m going to miss you. Just the thought of being without you for that long makes me borderline insane.”
She nuzzles her face into the crook of my neck. “I miss you already, and you haven’t even left yet.”
When I touch down in Italy, Roberto is waiting to greet me on the tarmac. The flight was tedious and long, and the memory of leaving my wife in tears at the other end made it even harder.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve been in regular contact with him, including lengthy phone conversations with some of Stefano’s top men that often stretched late into the night.
These calls helped me get a sense of how things were run before I took over. We discussed strategies, current operations, and what lies ahead. Like a well-oiled machine, they’ve kept everything running smoothly in my absence .
I’m here to assess the situation firsthand, take inventory, and start formulating a plan for the future.
These men relied on Stefano for their survival, so I have a duty of care to them, at the very least. I’m also doing this to secure Arabella and Lucia’s financial future. The Rossi legacy is rightfully theirs.
My wife will never want for anything because I’ll always take care of her, no matter what. Lucia, though, has nothing. This money will give her a chance to forge a future and rewrite her own destiny.
I’m not doing this for me; it’s solely for them. I already have my hands full with my own Famiglia , but with their father gone, someone has to step in and look after their interests.
We head straight to one of Stefano’s restaurants, where the rest of the crew is waiting. It’s private and will allow us to talk in a secure environment.
I’m not expecting a hostile reception; quite the opposite. All the communication I’ve had thus far has been positive. From what I’ve been told, Stefano’s men are eager to begin working under the guidance of their new leader. Namely, me.
As I step into the dimly lit restaurant, the responsibilities of this new position press down on me like a heavy weight in my chest, but I hold my head high. The soft murmur of conversation fills the air as I cross the room. These men are here to see me, not the ruthless tyrant who used to control them with an iron fist.
The shift in the room is instant as I take my time to shake everyone’s hands and give them a moment to formally introduce themselves. This is my extended Famiglia now, and the old leader’s shadow is already fading.
Once the introductions are out of the way, I don’t hesitate to take my rightful seat at the head of the table. The room falls quiet as all eyes meet mine, a mixture of respect and curiosity flickering in their gazes. These men will soon learn that I’m no pushover. But if they give me their loyalty, I’ll return it tenfold, and they’ll thrive under my rule.
The meeting stretched on for hours, but the air in the room changed during that time. It no longer feels heavy with uncertainty; it’s now charged with a sense of purpose. The leaders have been chosen, and a solid plan is in place. Each one of them knows their role, and the Famiglia feels united.
I glance around the table as I stand and reach for my glass, taking in the faces of the men who will carry this family forward in my absence. The room falls quiet, and all attention shifts to me.
“Gentlemen,” I begin, my voice steady, “tonight marks the start of something new. We’ve made our choices, set our course, and from here on out, we move forward together. Loyalty, respect, and strength. That is what I expect from each of you. We’ve been given a rare opportunity to rebuild, to thrive, and to make sure that no one forgets who we are.”
I pause, letting my words settle in.
“I promise you, under my leadership, we will rise, not just to reclaim what’s ours, but to claim what’s yet to come.” I raise my glass higher. “Here’s to us and to the future we’re building together.”
They follow suit. “ Salute !” The clinking of glasses echoes through the room in a shared moment of unity. We’ve set the course, and there’s no turning back now.
As soon as business was out of the way, the celebrations began. An endless stream of food was brought out from the kitchen for our feast. We laughed, we drank, and we ate until we were all stuffed.
I’m on a high by the time we leave, but that feeling doesn’t last long. On the walk to the car—surrounded by my guards and a few of my men—we are ambushed by Giuseppe Salvatori—maybe aggressively approached is a better phrase.
Giuseppe’s evil, smug grin is the first thing I see as he steps into my path, his two lackeys flanking him. There’s no mistaking the message: this isn’t a friendly interaction.
His eyes briefly scan my entourage, sizing them up, but when they move back to me, the snarl he’s now sporting says it all. “Where’s my fucking wife?” he growls.
“Wife?” I answer, playing dumb. “Which one? Didn’t they all mysteriously disappear?”
“I’m talking about Lucia Rossi, not those other bitches.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe the two of you were ever married.”
“Where the fuck is she, Mancini?”
I casually lift one shoulder, not even flinching, despite him giving me a look that could be best described as murderous. The tension between us is palpable, but I’m completely unfazed by this psychopath.
“Are you sure she didn’t perish in the fire like her old man?” I ask, my voice completely monotonous.
Giuseppe’s face darkens, his nostrils flaring, but I can see the edge of doubt in his eyes. “You have her hidden somewhere.”
“Do I?” I deadpan.
“I made a deal with Stefano Rossi, and I expect it to be fulfilled.”
“That’s your first mistake,” I reply. “Whatever deal the two of you had went up in smoke right alongside him. I’m in charge now, and it will be a cold day in hell before I align myself with the likes of you.”
He lunges forward, grabbing hold of the lapel of my jacket, but my men act just as fast as multiple guns are drawn. Two are now aimed at him, the others trained on his lackeys.
I remain calm despite the danger. I thrive in situations like this. “If you want to keep breathing, I suggest you turn around and walk away.”
The tension in the air thickens as Giuseppe’s chest heaves and the muscles in his neck twitch. When that distinct, sharp mechanical click of numerous guns cocking fills the silence with successive echoes, adding weight to my threat, he freezes.
After a brief pause, he releases his grip on my jacket and takes a step back. The crazy look in his eyes tells me this isn’t over, but for now, he knows better than to push further.
“You haven’t heard the last of me,” he grumbles, his voice low and laced with venom as he retreats another step.
I give him a slow, measured smile. “I’ll be waiting.”
“ Bellezza ,” I say the moment her face appears on the screen of my phone. She’s so fucking beautiful that she often takes my breath away. The mere sight of her has all the tension lifting from my shoulders.
“Dante,” she replies in that breathy tone I can’t get enough of.
“How are things?”
“Okay. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, amore mio . How’s Lucia and Romeo?”
“Good. Romeo is currently avoiding Lucia like the plague.”
That has my stomach twisting. “Did something happen?”
“Not really. It was so hot here today that we decided to go for a swim, and Lucia thought it would be a good idea to wear this barely there bikini she bought when we went shopping. She was strutting her stuff in front of him. I actually felt bad for the poor guy; he didn’t know where to look.”
I blow out a long breath. The last thing I need is more drama in my life, especially with Giuseppe’s threat now hanging over us. I don’t trust that slimy fucker as far as I can kick him. He’s not going to let this go.
He has too much to lose if he does. His reputation, for one. Lucia is going to need all the protection she can get going forward, but it could get complicated if there’s tension between her and my number one man.
Arabella reaches up to adjust the strap of her sundress when it slips off her shoulder, and my attention is immediately drawn to her exposed olive skin. As my eyes drift to the subtle hint of cleavage visible through the ‘V’ neckline of her dress, my cock instantly starts to swell.
“Show me some nip?” I ask.
“Nip?”
“Pull the top half of your dress down, Bellezza .”
“Dante—”
“Do it,” I command. She’s in the privacy of our bedroom. I’d never ask her to do something like that in public; she’s for my eyes only.
Heat floods her cheeks, but like the good girl she is, she does as I request.
She’s always had the perfect set of perky tits, but they’ve definitely become fuller during her pregnancy. I move to undo the buttons on my dress shirt as I unashamedly stare at my wife’s beautiful body.
We’re now at the end of the first trimester, and I’m beginning to see the small changes in her body already. In a matter of weeks, she’ll start to show and feel the baby kick. I can’t wait for that.
When we went to the doctor to get confirmation after her home test, he gave us an estimated due date of early August.
“How’s my little plum doing?” I ask .
Her eyes widen. “You’ve been reading up on the progress?”
“Yes, I’ve been Googling stuff.”
Even though my brother is experiencing the same situation, I no longer trust him to give me valid information. He gets a kick out of steering me in the wrong direction every fucking time.
“Are your breasts still tender?” I ask.
“Yes,” she replies with a nod.
“Pinch your nipples for me, Arabella.”
“I—”
“Please.”
When I reach the last button of my dress shirt, I untuck the rest from my trousers and shrug out of it.
“Dante,” she whimpers as she lightly tweaks her taut nipples between her forefinger and thumb. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to be able to climb through this phone and suck them into my mouth.
I slowly move the phone south, over my chest and down my ripped abdomen. I know she likes my body. I catch her ogling at it often.
When the screen reaches waist level, I unbuckle my belt, pop the button, and drag down the zip, freeing my rock-hard cock. “This is all you, Tesoro .”
My fingers wrap around the base as I begin to stroke myself. I let her watch for a moment before lifting the screen back to my face so I can see her. There’s no denying the heat now present in her eyes.
“Touch yourself, Bellezza .” The redness on her cheeks intensifies, but when she stands from the bed and hikes up her dress, I know she’s going to comply.
I wait until she’s seated again before I say, “Slide your hand into your underwear and move the screen down so I can see.”
A growl rumbles in the back of my throat as I watch her legs part and her dainty fingers broach the elastic of her baby-blue lace underwear. When she begins to rub her clit, pre-cum leaks from my dick.
“I wish this was your mouth … nothing feels as good as you do.”
“I wish my hand was your snug, warm pussy,” I retort as I tighten my grip on my dick, but it doesn’t help. Nothing could ever feel as good as she does.
“Dante,” she whimpers again, and as much as I love watching her pleasure herself, I need to see her face.
It doesn’t take long for my balls to draw up and that familiar tingle to course up my spine. “Raise the phone. I need to see you. I want to watch you come all over your own hand.”
As soon as her face comes into view, my heart constricts in my chest. “Come for me, Bellezza . I can’t hold back much longer.”
“Oh God,” she moans, tilting her head back and showcasing her slender, elongated neck.
“I want to look into your beautiful eyes when I blow my load.”
Her gaze snaps back to me, and when a smile plays on her plump lips, I find myself doing the same. “ Ti amo tanto (I love you so much).”
“ Anch’io ti amo (I love you too).”
Long ropes of cum spurt from my cock like a volcano erupting the moment she tells me she loves me back. “Aaaa-rah-bell-aaa.”
“Daaante,” she cries out in reply.
It hasn’t even been forty-eight hours, but I find the distance between us unbearable. I can’t stand it much longer. I need to get back to Australia … to her.
I have a meeting with Stefano’s solicitor tomorrow morning to go over the will and his assets, but once that’s done, I’m heading fucking home.
I’ll handle whatever business remains over the phone. My wife will always be my first priority.