Chapter Seventeen
Dante
I pace the living room, my breathing ragged. Each step sends a jolt of rage through my body. Adriana sits motionless on the leather sofa, her eyes unfocused. The bruise on her cheek has darkened to a deep purple.
“I should have been there,” I hiss, clenching my fists. “I would have put a bullet between that bastard’s eyes.”
Adriana flinches at my words. Her shoulders tremble as she wraps her arms around herself.
“I keep seeing it,” she mutters. “The gun. The blood. Valentina falling…”
Her voice breaks. I’m at her side in an instant, pulling her against my chest. She buries her face in my shirt, her tears soaking through the fabric.
“You’re safe now,” I comfort her, stroking her hair. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
But my words feel hollow. I failed to protect her once. The thought makes my blood boil.
The doorbell rings. I tense, hand going to my concealed weapon.
“It’s Carmine and Lucia,” my security guard calls.
I nod curtly. “Let them in.”
“What happened?” Carmine demands, storming inside. His blue eyes are sharp as steel.
Lucia rushes past him to Adriana’s side. “Are you alright, love?”
I clench my fists, nails biting into my palms. “Someone tried to kill her. At her own mother’s fucking birthday party.”
Carmine’s expression darkens. “Do we know who?”
“Not yet,” I spit. “But I’ll find out. And when I do…” I let the threat hang in the air.
Adriana’s quiet sobs fill the silence. My chest aches at the sound. I want to comfort her, but vengeance burns hotter.
“We need to act fast,” I tell Carmine. “Send out feelers, lean on our contacts. I want answers within twenty-four hours.”
He nods grimly. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, brother.”
I turn to Adriana, still huddled on the couch with Lucia. Her dark hair falls like a curtain, hiding her face. My jaw clenches at the sight of her trembling shoulders.
“Carmine, a word,” I say, jerking my head towards my study.
As we leave, I catch Lucia’s soft voice: “We’ll keep you safe, Adriana. I promise.”
I shut the office door behind us, the sound echoing in the tense silence. Carmine takes a seat, his face a mask of calm, but I can see the concern in his eyes.
“It’s Lorenzo De Luca,” I spit out, pacing the room. “That fucker has been eyeing our territory for months.”
Carmine leans forward, elbows on his knees. “You’re sure?”
“Who else would dare?” My voice is low, dangerous. “He’s always hated our family. And now he’s targeting Adriana.”
I slam my fist on the desk, the pain barely registering. “He thinks he can get to us through her. Thinks she’s our weak point.”
Carmine’s silent for a moment, watching me. I can almost see the gears turning in his head, calculating our next move.
“We need to be smart about this, Dante,” he says finally. “If it is De Luca, we can’t just go in guns blazing.”
I whirl on him. “Why the hell not? He tried to kill my wife!”
“And if we retaliate without proof, we risk starting a war we might not win.”
His words cut through my rage, but only slightly. I know he’s right, but the thought of doing nothing makes my blood boil.
“So what do you suggest?” I demand. “We sit on our hands while that bastard takes another shot at Adriana?”
Carmine stands, his presence filling the room. “We investigate. We gather evidence. And then, brother,” his eyes harden, “we strike so hard they’ll never recover.”
pace the office, every muscle in my body coiled tight. The image of Adriana’s terrified face flashes through my mind, fueling the inferno of my rage.
“Investigation takes time,” I spit out. “Time we might not have. De Luca could be planning his next move right now.”
Carmine leans against the desk, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to my agitation. “We have eyes and ears everywhere, Dante. If De Luca so much as sneezes, we’ll know about it.”
I stop pacing, locking eyes with my brother. “That’s not enough. I want him dead, Carmine. I want his entire operation wiped off the map.”
“And we will get there,” Carmine assures me, his voice steady. “But we do it right. We do it smart.”
I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. The urge to lash out, to unleash my fury on something—anything—is overwhelming. But Carmine’s words sink in, penetrating the red haze of my anger.
“Fine,” I concede, my voice a low rumble. “But I want daily updates. And if there’s even a hint that he’s planning something else…”
Carmine nods, understanding the unspoken threat. “We’ll act. You have my word.”
The creak of the door interrupts our plotting. Adriana slips in, her eyes wide and determined despite the lingering fear I can see etched in the tightness of her jaw. My chest constricts at the sight of her, a mix of fierce protectiveness and simmering rage.
“I want to help,” she says, her voice soft but steady. “And I need to see Valentina.”
I move towards her, drawn by an instinct I can’t fully control.
“Absolutely not!” I forbid, cupping her face in my hands. “It’s too dangerous.”
She doesn’t flinch from my touch, but I feel the slight tremble in her body. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing, Dante. Valentina’s my friend. She needs me.”
The urge to lock her away, to keep her safe from the world that nearly took her from me, wars with my grudging admiration for her spirit. This is the fire that drew me to her, the strength that makes her more than just a pretty face or a convenient alliance.
“We’ll find another way,” I say, struggling to keep my tone even. “I won’t risk losing you.”
Carmine clears his throat, reminding me of his presence. “Perhaps we can arrange a secure visit,” he suggests. “After we’ve thoroughly vetted the hospital staff and security.”
I turn to glare at my brother, but Adriana’s hopeful gasp stops me. I look back at her, seeing the spark of relief in her eyes. It’s like a knife to my gut, knowing I can’t give her everything she wants, everything she deserves.
“We’ll see,” I mutter, hating the compromise but unable to crush that fragile hope. “For now, you stay here. Where I can protect you.”
The words ‘where you belong’ die on my tongue, unspoken but hanging in the air between us.
Adriana’s eyes flash with defiance, her jaw set in a stubborn line. She takes a step back from me. “I’m not a china doll, Dante. I can’t just be locked away every time there’s danger.”
Her words ignite a fire in my chest. I step closer, towering over her. “This isn’t a game, Adriana. These people won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your head.”
Tears well up in her eyes, and I feel my resolve wavering. “Valentina is my only real friend,” she argues, her voice cracking. “I can’t abandon her.”
I clench my fists, fighting the urge to wrap her in my arms and never let go. “Your safety is paramount,” I state. “Until we get to the bottom of this, you’re not leaving this house.”
Lucia steps forward, her hand resting gently on Adriana’s shoulder. “We understand your concern,” she says softly. “But Dante’s right. It’s too dangerous right now.”
Carmine nods, his face a mask of calm authority. “We’ll keep you informed about Valentina’s condition. And as soon as it’s safe, we’ll arrange a visit.”
I watch as Adriana’s shoulders slump in defeat. She looks up at me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Promise me you’ll find who did this,” she pleads.
I pull her close to me and cup her face again, my thumbs wiping away the tears that have started to fall. “I swear it,” I vow, my voice low and dangerous. “They’ll pay for every tear you’ve shed.”
She nods, a small glimmer of trust flickering in her eyes. It’s not much, but it’s enough for now.