42. Chapter Fifty-Two Jade
Chapter Fifty-Two: Jade
I had known Dante Moretti's name long before I knew the man.
And now I was going to have a baby with him.
His reputation, whispered in hushed tones down the sterile hallways of BioHQ lab, always preceded him. Yet, nothing had prepared me for the reality of the man who walked beside me into the brunch spot, the midday sun of a New York autumn filtering through the windows, casting a soft glow on his tailored silhouette.
"Table for three," he said, his voice smooth, almost melodic, yet it carried an edge that made the hostess nod briskly and gesture us to follow.
As we wove through the tables, my heart thudded, each beat a reminder of the danger that shadowed Dante like a second skin. The muscles in my back tensed, a physical manifestation of the anxiety that twisted inside me—a tangle of fear and fascination that I couldn't unravel.
"Jade?"
I blinked, realizing Dante had stopped and was looking at me, one eyebrow slightly raised. "Sorry," I murmured, unnerved by how easily he could pull me out of my spiraling thoughts with just a word.
"Here we are." He gestured to a table by the window with a view of the bustling street outside.
I slid into the seat, my movements stiff and mechanical. The chair was plush, the ambiance of the place trendy yet intimate, but I couldn't shake the sensation of being an impostor in this scene.
"Relax," Dante said as he settled opposite me, his voice a low command that somehow soothed even as it set me on edge.
"Easy for you to say. You don’t have to pretend that everything is normal to your closest friend. She can read me like a book," I retorted, allowing a hint of my usual directness to bleed into my words. It was easier to cling to the familiar persona of Dr. Jade Bentley—no-nonsense scientist—than to acknowledge the vulnerability Dante stirred within me.
“You can tell her almost everything, Jade,” he said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” he said. “And look. You're safe with me, Jade. You know that, right?"
Did I? The question loomed large in my mind, but I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the way his gaze never wavered, how it seemed to strip away the layers I hid behind. There was no mistaking the intent behind those eyes; they missed nothing, took in everything. They were the eyes of a man who knew power and wasn't afraid to wield it.
"Sure," I lied, folding my hands in my lap to hide their slight tremble. "Why wouldn't I be?"
The corner of Dante's mouth quirked up in a knowing smile, and I braced myself for whatever came next. With Dante, I was learning to expect the unexpected. And as much as I hated to admit it, part of me thrived on the unpredictability he brought into my carefully structured life.
The moment his phone buzzed, Dante excused himself with a nod that was both terse and apologetic. His departure left an invisible wake that seemed to pull at me, but I was grateful for the reprieve. The tightness in my chest eased slightly as I turned to face Ellie, who was walking into the restaurant.
We greeted each other, but the moment she sat down, she looked incredibly concerned.
"Are you okay?" Ellie's voice cut through my scattered thoughts, sharp as a scalpel. It was a simple question, yet loaded with layers of unspoken concern.
"Things have been intense lately," I managed to say, and it felt like acknowledging the cracks in a dam I'd painstakingly built. My voice betrayed the strain, the hint of desperation I fought so hard to keep under wraps.
"Intense" didn't begin to cover it—my life had become a tightrope walk above a chasm where the Moretti family's dark dealings churned like a stormy sea below. And Dante... Dante was the enigma at the center of it all, the man who could either be my savior or my undoing.
Ellie's gaze held mine, steady and unwavering. She knew me too well; she saw past the facade to the raw edges beneath. It was disconcerting, being so transparent to someone when I’d spent so much effort shrouding myself in secrecy.
"Jade," she said softly, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. "You don't have to carry this alone, you know?"
But I did. Because how could I burden her with the weight of my fears, fears that were tangled up with a man like Dante? How could I confess that I was drawn to him in a way that defied logic, that threatened to sweep away everything I thought I knew about myself?
How could I confess I was worried about my life, and my child’s life, but I didn’t want to give Dante up?
"Thanks, El," I whispered, the words a lifeline I clung to. In that small café, amidst the hum of conversation and clinking of dishes, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. But even as I did, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change.
“Look, I know you’re probably dealing with a lot, but…”
The back door swung open, and Detective Rodriguez stepped into the café. His presence was like a shadow falling over our small table. Confusion twisted my features as Ellie's hand tightened around mine.
"Rodriguez?" I breathed, more of a question than a greeting. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I wasn’t lying, Dr. Bentley,” Rodriguez said. “Everyone is worried about you.”
My gaze flicked back and forth between Rodriguez and Ellie, a knot of betrayal forming in the pit of my stomach. I felt exposed, stripped bare in a way I hadn’t expected nor wanted. The café, once warm and inviting, turned cold and hostile, each stare from the patrons stinging like a slap.
My gaze flicked back and forth between Rodriguez and Ellie, a knot of betrayal forming in the pit of my stomach. I felt exposed, stripped bare in a way I hadn’t expected nor wanted. The café, once warm and inviting, turned cold and hostile, each stare from the patrons stinging like a slap.
“It’s for your own good, Jade.” Rodriguez’s voice was calm, soothing even. But it did nothing to water down the bitterness that had risen up in me like bile. “We’re just trying to protect you.”
“From what?” My voice was sharper than intended, too loud for the intimate setting of the café. A few heads turned our way, curiosity flashing in their eyes before being quickly averted. They didn’t really want to know what was happening; they just wanted their safe little bubbles unperturbed.
“He’s dangerous, Jade,” Ellie intervened, her voice no more than a hushed whisper meant only for me. She reached out and squeezed my hand again as if to ground me. But all I felt was a panic coil in my chest like a venomous snake ready to strike.
“I’m pregnant, Ellie,” I said. “Obviously. And it’s his so…”
Ellie's eyes widened in surprise, her mouth opening and closing in a silent expression of shock. She was speechless, a rare occurrence for the usually quick-witted scientist.
The crushing silence was broken by the sound of Dante's voice as he returned to the table. "Is everything okay?" His gaze flicked between Ellie's stricken face and my own tense one. It took a moment for him to notice Rodriguez standing there, his unflinching gaze locked onto Dante.
"Dante..." I began, my voice shaky.
Dante looked furious. Just for a second. Then he fixed his expression into cold, quiet, polite indifference. “Detective Rodriguez. I didn’t know you were joining us.”
Rodriguez fixed Dante with a steady gaze. "The pleasure's all mine," he replied, his voice coated with a layer of saccharine sweetness that failed to mask the underlying tension.
I felt the atmosphere grow more dense, both men sizing each other up like predators in a shared territory. Dante's eyes flickered briefly to mine, an unreadable expression playing on his handsome features.
That’s when the weight of the truth crashed down on me; I was carrying a mafia boss's child, and Detective Rodriguez would do anything to bring Dante down. Everyone at the table knew this was no longer just about science or the nefarious dealings of the Moretti family. Lives hung in the balance, teetering precariously on a precipice.
With every tick of the clock echoing in my ears, dread coiled tighter within me. I broke away from Dante's penetrating gaze to look at Ellie. Her features were pinched with worry as she watched me.
I could see her working things out in her mind, picturing different outcomes. I had always admired her ability to think multiple steps ahead; it had served us well in our research at BioHQ, but this was uncharted territory for us both.
When I’d decided to keep the baby, I had made a choice.
“We should go,” I told Dante. “You were right. This was a mistake.”
Dante's gaze was sharp, calculating as he studied me. He nodded once, a silent affirmation. He stood, pulling me up with him. "Pleasure seeing you again, Detective," he drawled to Rodriguez, the polite words not quite hiding the steeliness in his voice.
Rodriguez's eyes never left us as we made our exit, his expression unreadable. I didn't dare look back at Ellie; I wasn't ready to face whatever expression might be etched on her face. If anything, this revelation had only multiplied the danger we were all in.
“Wait.” Detective Rodriguez stepped forward, his eyes never leaving Dante’s face. “Do you really think running is going to solve anything, Moretti?”
Dante paused, his grip on my hand tightening. I felt a chill race down my spine as he coolly met Rodriguez's gaze. His voice was low, a dangerous undercurrent threaded through each word. “I suggest you stay out of our business, Detective.”
Rodriguez just chuckled and leaned back against the counter. The glare of the café lights caught his badge, making it glint ominously. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, looking decidedly unfazed by Dante’s thinly-veiled threat.
“And I suggest you start thinking about the consequences of your actions,” he shot back. His eyes flicked briefly over to me before returning to Dante. “For everyone’s sake.”
“Are you going to arrest me?”
"No," Rodriguez said, the single syllable hanging heavy in the air. "Not today, Moretti. But I'm watching you."
A menacing smile flirted with the corners of his mouth. It was a predator's smile - patient, calculating. And as Dante met his gaze head-on, my hand still secure in his, I felt the ground shift beneath us.
Stilted silence enclosed us again like a shroud, swallowing up the sounds of the bustling café. Rodriguez's words echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of the dangerous game we were playing.
“That sounds incredibly inappropriate, Detective,” Dante says, winking at him. “What are you thinking about when you watch me?”
Rodriguez didn't rise to Dante's taunt. His gaze remained steady, chillingly professional. "Your move, Moretti," he simply said.
Dante's hand tightened around mine. He didn't reply, but the warning in his eyes spoke volumes. He then turned towards me, his expression softening noticeably as he brushed a loose strand of hair from my face.
"Let's go," he murmured.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. My mind was spinning with everything that had just transpired. I knew we were stepping into dangerous territory, but the thought of not being by Dante's side felt even more perilous.
As we walked away from our table, the café resumed its usual rhythm. The hum of conversation and clinking of dishes filled the air once again, making our confrontation feel like a dream. But the lingering tension in my body and the worried glances Ellie sent in our direction reminded me of the grim reality.
As we crossed the threshold of the café, Dante’s firm grip on my hand was a comforting anchor. I glanced over my shoulder one last time to see Rodriguez’s unwavering gaze through the café window, watching us as we disappeared into the afternoon hustle and bustle. The sunlight felt harsh against my skin, a stark contrast to the dark turn my life felt like it had just taken.
“Did you know?” he asked.
“About…”
“Did you know the police would be here?”
“What? No,” I said. “No, I…”
He stopped for a second, turning around and grabbing my chin to tilt my head up so I would look right into his eyes.
"Dante, I swear," I pleaded, my heart pounding in my chest. His grip on my chin was firm but not painful; it was demanding, demanding the truth.
"Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't know he'd be here." Dante's brown eyes were dark storms of doubt and betrayal. This is not a man to cross, I reminded myself.
"I had no idea Dante. I promise," I said earnestly, allowing him to see my vulnerability, my honesty.
“We’re going to go home,” he said, his gaze darting between my eyes and my lips. “And this time, when I punish you, you aren’t going to like it at all.”