Chapter 21
When Dante got to the club, Lucca, Gabe, and some men also pulled in.
All hell was going to break loose. Gabe handed him a gun and then he charged into the club.
It was dead inside as not a lot of people were going to be there on a Wednesday afternoon.
Inside, the bar looked empty and was dark, but there was a line of guys that led to a back room.
When he got closer, he could see they surrounded a stage, and Madison was on it, dancing.
The guys were distracted by Madison’s show and didn’t notice more guys coming in.
He went up to a guy at the back.
“What’s happening?”
“A show before the train ride. She was supposed to be stripping, but she hasn’t taken anything else off.” The guy didn’t even look at Dante. His eyes were trained on Madison who had her eyes closed.
He wished he had gotten there sooner. He knew how private she was with her body, and he was thankful for the privilege to see her body every time she chose to show him. And now these guys were getting to see what was his, or at least had been until he fucked it up.
“Take the rest off.”
“Yeah, I want to see your tits.”
“And that pussy.”
That was never going to happen, but before Dante could say something, one of the men rushed the stage and pulled Madison off the pole and yanked at her bra.
Dante knew he wasn’t going to get there in time, but it wouldn’t stop him from trying.
The only problem was that as Dante also moved toward the stage. Other guys rushed the stage too.
In slow motion, the first guy pulled Madison down and reached for her top, and then like a scene out of a movie, Madison pulled something from her hair and shoved it into his neck. Blood spurted out, and Madison took off running.
That’s when it got crazy. One guy caught Madison by the hair and smacked her. That was the last thing the guy did, before Dante’s fist introduced itself to the guy’s face.
The guy’s head snapped back, and confusion shown on his face and then he was down. Dante could hear fighting all around him, but all he could focus on was Madison.
She ran into his arms and he wrapped them around her. “You’re safe. It’s ok, baby. I’m here. I’m here now.”
Madison shook in his arms. He picked her up and cradled her close to his chest.
“I need you to hold on while I get you out of here.”
Dante trusted his guys to have his back as he took Madison out and put her in his car. “Keep the door locked while I go back in. Don’t open it for anyone.”
Madison grabbed on to his arm. “Don’t leave me. Please.”
“I’ve got to make sure my guys are safe. I promise I’ll be right back and I’ll never leave you alone again.” Dante ran back into the clubhouse, but his guys were all coming out. No one looked hurt so he turned and got in his car to take Madison home.
When he got back in the car, he gave her his suit jacket so that she could cover up.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Madison. I should be apologizing that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.” He was gentle when he touched the back of her neck. He noticed in her hands she still had the thing she stabbed the guy with clutched in her hand.
He looked at her face and could see the bruise forming, and he wanted to turn the car around and punch the guy who hit her again. “I’m sorry I didn’t get there in time.”
“You did. They didn’t touch me.” She was careful when she touched her face. “Well, besides this.”
They stopped at a red light and she turned and looked at him. “How did you know where to find me? I know Sabrina didn’t tell you.”
“My men. I also have connections and once I knew it was the Donnettis, I figured that was where they would take you.”
“Good thing you had guys follow me today.”
“Yeah.” Dante had never told her that he had her tailed since they first decided to sleep together. He should tell her, but he didn’t think now was the right time. He would tell her later. “Why did you go to meet her? You said you were done with her.”
“I was, but she called and told me she was pregnant with Henry’s child and she had a picture for me to take to my dad.”
“I can see how that would get you out of the house.” Dante pulled up to his place and helped Madison out of the car.
“I’m going to take a shower.” She pulled the jacket tight around her and walked past one of his men in a suit, and then back to the master bath.
****
Madison entered the house and headed straight for the shower.
The feeling of being dirty was there, and she wanted to get out of her clothes and into something else.
She couldn’t believe how the day had gone.
It seemed to have lasted forever. There was something that had triggered a memory in her, but it slipped away before she could grasp it.
Her fingers started to look like raisins, so she figured it was time to get out of the water.
She didn’t want to face Dante or anyone else.
She just wanted to lie in bed and forget everything that happened, but she couldn’t.
She climbed in the bed and looked at her phone. Dante had given it back to her.
She had missed calls and texts from Becky. Madison had missed the final fitting and the chance to see her dress walk in the rehearsal. She would get time to tweak it on the day, but it wouldn’t be as long. She’d also missed the chance to see the competition.
Dante walked into the room and sat on the edge of the bed.
“How are you doing?”
“I guess I’m fine. I still can’t believe how these last two weeks have gone.
” Her and Dante had gone from being together to breaking up, Henry’s surgery, and then finding out that Henry had died.
And then this week with the funeral, being interrogated, getting married, and then being kidnapped, and she still had to present at fashion week in three days. It was a lot.
“Yeah, it has been a hard time for you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And I’m sorry for what happened between us.”
“I wish I could go back in time.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the headboard. “I would do the interview. I wouldn’t be near you to have to be taken in for questioning. This thing with Sabrina would have still happened somehow, though.”
“What do you mean you wouldn’t have been near me? We would have still been together.”
“No, we wouldn’t have.”
“Did you plan to dump me all along?”
“No, but what I said when we broke up is still valid. We’re too different, and it’s clear I can’t trust you to keep me safe, and I’m still uncomfortable with your family background.” Madison touched her hair.
“You’re part of that family now.”
“Not because I wanted to. It’s because your family’s criminal dealings spilled onto me, when you said they wouldn’t.”
“So you don’t want to be married to me?” Dante placed his hands on his thighs.
“I told you that before we broke up. I don’t want to be married to anyone.
I don’t see how you’re latching on to that and ignoring the fact that you broke your promise to me.
” Even though she wasn’t one hundred percent sure she wanted to be married, she was eight-five percent sure she wanted to be with Dante.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes you did.” She leaned forward. “You said this stuff wouldn’t touch me and it did.”
“But I protected you from going to jail, by marrying you.”
“Whatever, Dante. You won’t admit it, but we both know the truth. You broke your promise to keep me safe and untouched by this part of your life. And you know I didn’t want to be married, or at least was unsure if I wanted to get married.” She sat back on the bed.
Dante turned more to face her. “Ok, you’re right. I messed up, but I’m doing the best I can to fix this. I’ve set up some appointments to look at some places that fit our needs.”
“What are our needs? You haven’t asked me. I’ll be living there too.” Madison smoothed the sheets down and avoided Dante’s eyes.
“I know, and I’ll make sure that we find something that you like. It’s just being a Bianchi, there are certain…restrictions on what is needed in a home.”
Her head snapped up. “Right. Of course. Your ‘family’ life comes first.”
“Well, if you’re only going to be living there for four years, it won’t be that bad. I mean what is on your list?”
He had her there. She didn’t even know. Anything would be better than having to keep sleeping with him. She was worried she would embarrass herself in bed with him one night. As if she hadn’t already last night. “You’re right. It doesn’t matter. I just need a room that’s not yours.”
Dante placed his hand on her thigh. “I’m not trying to make things difficult for you on purpose.”
“I still don’t understand why I can’t stay in my apartment?” Madison picked at the top sheet.
“We’re married.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not for real.”
“Yes, it is. A judge signed off on it and everything.”
“Whatever. What are you going to do with this place?” Madison spun her hand around.
“Keep it for after you’re gone.”
“Wow. You said you wanted this to be real? Now you can’t wait to get rid of me.” Madison’s head tilted to the side.
“I never said that. You’re the one who said you wanted to leave in four years.”
“Yeah, but you said Bianchi men marry for life, but you would give me a divorce or annulment if I wanted.” Madison leaned forward and poked Dante in the chest.
“Well, you said you also don’t believe in divorce, but asked how long this marriage lasted for.” Dante leaned into her space.
Madison threw her hands up in the air. “Because I didn’t think it was real.”
“Well, it’s real. So what do you want to do now?”
Madison shook her head. “No, real marriages have love between the partners.”
“Bullshit. There are arranged marriages that work out well. That’s what this is like. Look at Ainsley and Lucca.”
“Yeah, but Ainsley said she loved Lucca and I guess he loves her back, or she is fine with him not loving her back. I’m not fine with that.”
A smile came over Dante’s face. Why was he grinning? What had she said?
“You love me.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you did.”