That one word gives me the last straw of hope and I hold onto it like a lifeline. My legs throb and my lungs burn from exhaustion but his outstretched hand keeps me going, running toward it like a beacon of hope.
With every step I take closer to him, I feel safer, but at the same time, I can sense his aura. His intensity and his displayed strength just by standing there. Against the barrage of gunfire from Serafino and his men, this man stands proud, completely unarmed, and that says a lot about him.
Without slowing down, I sprint straight into this stranger, colliding with his hard chest. With my mind hazy with adrenaline, I hide behind his broad back, hands gripped tightly around the material of his shirt.
“Thank you,” I gasp out, unsure if he heard me. I’m not safe yet, the danger is still very real and very close, but the moment I made it behind this man I felt protected.
“The invitation doesn’t extend to you too, Mr. Regis. Leave, now.” His voice is delicious like a deep velvet, but his tone and intent are filled with ragged edges and murderous seriousness.
“Now, now Dante. No need to go alpha on me,” Serafino says, I don’t need to look to know he has his hands in the air, because if it were me on the opposite side, I’d cower from fear of this man called Dante. “That’s my property you have there, give her back.”
I shudder at that. Never in my life did I think I’d be degraded down to someone’s property.
Dante takes a step forward, but with me holding tightly onto his shirt, he takes me with him. “She came here of her own free will and I’m granting her sanctuary,” Dante replies without missing a beat, his voice still icy cold but a lot calmer now than earlier. “You can’t touch me, Serafino. Feel free to take her by force, but you know the consequences. You may state your terms, but for now, leave.” His voice booms across the open field. There’s no room for argument in his tone, not even for someone like Serafino.
Serafino scoffs loudly before bellowing his next words, “You will regret this! She is mine!”
I shudder at his last words. I am not his. I will never be his.
I don’t remember what happens after that. My legs feel like jelly and suddenly I’m in the back of a car being driven somewhere. Then, I’m ushered into a building. Someone hands me a glass of water that I practically inhale.
How did it come to this? I need to find a way to free myself and my sister from Serafino. But what? My father sold both of us, so I have nothing. It’s not like I can negotiate to work off my father’s debt because I’ll be Serafino’s slave until the day that I die. And based on the way he talks about owning me… I’d rather not imagine what he’s thinking of doing once he gets his filthy hands on me.
Think, Jean. Think!
There’s no way I can afford to buy myself back. Unless…
“Dante wishes to see you, Miss.”
That’s right. Dante. I was spared by a man named Dante. And he will save me too. He must be a person of power in the underground for someone as powerful as Serafino Regis would run away, tail tucked between his legs. He will be my salvation, no matter the cost.
Head much clearer now, the same man who gave me water ushers me towards a door on the second floor. “Just through here. Luca will escort you.”
I enter and I’m greeted by a man who’s a full head taller than me, probably more. He’s wearing a silk black button-down shirt and a pair of black pants. In his hand is a glass of suspicious-looking liquid which I’m guessing is a custom mixed drink.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” Luca, I’m assuming has a slight Italian accent. His face seems young for someone as tall as he is.
I feel the dread grow inside me. Is this what death feels like? Because this man reminds me so much of death, his smile seems sweet but there’s something oddly sinister about it too. Like someone who’d smile brightly as he hammers the last nail down on your coffin.
“I’m here to see Dante,” I say with as much conviction as I can muster.
“Yes, yes. You all want to see Dante, and no one wants to see Luca.” He says with a dismissive wave of his hand. And Is he… pouting? “Follow me.”
This is it, whatever lies beyond this point will decide my fate. The double doors to what I assume is Dante’s office open and what I see is not what I expected.
What did I expect? To walk into a dark room where Dante’s chopping off fingers from some poor man who failed to keep his promise? Probably, after assuming he’s involved with the underground, maybe a mobster or a mafia leader.
But what I see are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lining each wall filled with various books. In the middle of the room is a large mahogany table. I wonder how many fingers got cut off on top of that.
“Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong, Miss Atwood.”
Huh? Does he know who I am?
The man’s deep voice knocks me out of my head. I’m out of my league here but I need to do what needs to be done.
“I’m here to ask a favor.”
When he finally faces me, I’m awestruck by what I see. Now, unobscured by the darkness I see Dante is breathtakingly beautiful. His eyes aren't just gray, they're a deep color as if a storm is always brewing in them. Orbs that I could easily get lost in.
He takes me in, his eyes moving up and down my whole body and I could have sworn I saw something flash of recognition in his eyes but he quickly regains his composure.
He seems to have seen something in me as he studies me because his expression changes as if I’d piqued his interest. His lips form into a smirk as he says his next words. “I already granted you sanctuary, a favor like that does not come for free, and favors from me are very expensive, Miss Atwood. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
I may not completely know what I’m getting into, but I’m not afraid to pay his price.
“I do.” A lie, but one I’m willing to uphold.
His smirk returns. “By all means, let’s hear it.”
I take a deep breath and savor it as it could well be my last depending on how this conversation goes. You’re doing this for Bianca, Jean. You need to do this for Bianca.
“Buy me.”
“I’m selling myself to you.” My voice rings clear through the room. If I didn’t have Dante’s attention before, I have it now. He stares me down as he waits for me to elaborate. It tells me he’s not a man of many words. His piercing gray eyes hold mine and it takes everything in me not to lower my eyes. I hold my head a little higher, my back straighter. I explain to him as concisely as I can about my escape from the Regis family and how Serafino Regis now owns me and my sister. “Buy me and save me from death.” Dante merely scoffs at my declaration. “Why should I save you? I’m no hero, girl. You’ve stepped into a dragon’s den on your own and now, you’re committing yourself to me? Do you know what that means?” I’m taken aback by his voice, deep and low. He reminds me of a predator, cold and calculating, waiting for the perfect show of weakness before he lunges at his prey. Impeccably dressed, in a designer white button-down shirt and black pants, he seems like a man who wouldn’t d
He’s serious? I can’t believe it. “What?” Dante smirks, amused at the results of our negotiation. “I’m granting you a favor, but now you owe me, Miss Atwood.” “You’re serious?” Is this really happening? I won’t have to go back to the Regis family and become their slave? I have a chance to reclaim my name and save my sister? “Don’t regret your decision. And don’t make me regret mine.” He all but growls his words toward me. “Now, leave.” I don’t fight the relief that floods through me, my legs giving out as I feel the tension leave my body. I suppose I’ve been running on adrenaline this entire time, it’s only now that it’s taking a toll on my body. Since I came home from my long flight, the rest of my night was spent running away from people literally trying to kill me. It’s a miracle I even survived. I guess I need to thank my sister for forcing me to go to the gym with her all these months. I collapse onto the floor ungracefully, trying to gather my wits and my composure. I hea
It’s still dark when I come to, but that’s probably because of the blackout curtains. I have no idea what time it is or how long I’ve been out. I’d guess maybe a couple of hours. What am I doing on the bed? I could have sworn I was outside on the couch. Someone must have carried me to the bed. I don’t recall much after Luca escorted me to this room. I remember having a panic attack but what happened after that is a blur. I haven’t had a panic attack that severe in years. I make a mental note to ask Dante for permission to purchase some meds. In my hurry, I left everything back at home, my phone, wallet, everything. “Wait,” I mutter to myself, my voice sounding hoarse from all the screaming. I remember being injected with something. I lift my arms from under the blanket to inspect it, only to see the blood has been wiped off. What remains are only the angry red scratch marks courtesy of my scratching. Luca must have given me a sedative. My brain still feels foggy as if coming from a
I get dressed in the clothes provided, a simple black shirt and black jeans that are a little too small for me, hugging my ass and thighs like a second skin. I don’t wonder where the clothes came from because it’s most likely from one of Dante’s or his men’s women. At least that’s my best guess for these mafia men with their multitude of women. I head out of Dante’s room. There’s still something I need to do. I don’t need to look far because Dante’s right there waiting for me outside the room. I flush immediately, embarrassed at what happened inside the room a few minutes ago. “Follow me,”
Digging graves is probably the very last thing I had expected to do in this life, yet here I am, digging the graves of my parents. There isn’t time to hire anyone to do it or even prepare a funeral service. Serafino’s men could return without warning to seize the property, and I wouldn’t want to be caught here. Luca explained to me earlier that it’s the most probable reason why Dante changed his plan and came with us, just in case the Regis goons return. Would they really come back? I figured Dante hasn’t completely finished dealing with Serafino yet if he’s worried about that. It hasn’t been a full twenty-four hours since my parents died but I’m pretty sure the news has spread already.
“You’re to stay here until Dante gives further orders. Feel free to roam the main house, but don’t leave. Find Killian if you need anything.” Those were the last words I heard from Luca before he left to God knows where. It’s been two days since then and I haven’t heard from him or Dante since. I’ve taken the liberty to get familiar with the huge mansion. The D’Angelo estate isn’t a mansion or a couple of buildings put together, but a whole expanse of vast land. It’s so big that it might take a few hours just to walk around the perimeter. It consists of the main house-- where I’ve been provided a room; the stables; the garage; and the open yard. At least those were what I could see from the second-floor terrace. I haven’t really left the house since I’m
“Jean?” My mother’s voice rings clear in my ears even as she strides toward me. “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be back!” Looking around, the house seems to be in quite a fuss. Hired men are running back and forth lugging around suitcases and boxes, my father running with them. “What’s going on, Mom? Are we moving?” My mom clasps my face in both of her hands, “God, my dear Jean. You shouldn’t be here.” Confused and starting to get extremely annoyed that she won’t answer my questions, I ask. “What’s going on, Mom? You told me to come back, remember? I got your message.” “No,” Her voice is barely above a whisper but I hear the pain in it. My mom sways and I reach out a hand just in time to cat
“Are you serious?” Fucking ridiculous. I’ve been summoned early in the next day for this crap? “Why would you think I’m not?” But he can’t be. “You want me to marry you?” I ask as I wave the marriage registration papers he had handed to me when I walked in. From the corner of my eye, I see Luca standing beside Dante fighting a grin. It makes me want to walk over there and smack him across the face. “Simply put, yes. I’m cashing in the favor you owe me. Fo