Chapter 7

**DANTE**

The funeral was a circus. Every major family in the region showed up to pay respects and assess the power vacuum. I stood beside Alessandro in the front row, a visible claim that the alliance held even in death.

Nico watched us from across the casket, murder in his eyes.

"He's going to kill me the first chance he gets," Alessandro whispered.

"He'll have to go through me first."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

The service dragged on. When it was Alessandro's turn to speak, his hands shook so badly I thought he might drop the paper. But his voice came out steady.

"My father was a complicated man. He built an empire on blood and strategy. He demanded loyalty above everything else." Alessandro paused. "He also tried to save lives when he could. Not many knew that about him. I hope that counts for something."

Short and honest. More than Vittorio deserved, probably.

After, Nico cornered us near the cars.

"You're really going through with this marriage."

"We don't have a choice," I said.

"Everyone has choices, Moretti. Some just make stupid ones." He looked at Alessandro. "You could come home. Be my second instead of his trophy."

"I'm not anyone's trophy."

"No, you're Marco's spy and Dante's revenge. That's so much better." Nico's smile was cruel. "How long before he breaks you completely? Because we both know that's what he wants."

Alessandro's jaw tightened but he said nothing.

"Leave him alone," I said.

"Or what? You'll shoot me at a funeral? That would certainly make a statement." Nico stepped closer. "You think you know him because he told you about the three men? There's so much more you don't know. Things that would make you sick."

"Then tell me."

"Where's the fun in that? Let him confess himself. See if he's brave enough." Nico walked away, laughing.

In the car, Alessandro stared out the window.

"What else did you do?"

"Nothing that matters now."

"Nico seems to think it matters."

"Nico wants to drive a wedge between us. Don't let him."

I grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at me. "Tell me the truth. What else?"

"I ran drugs for six months when I was nineteen. Nico's orders. I hated every second but I did it because refusing meant he'd hurt people I cared about." His eyes were defiant. "And before you ask, yes, I knew the drugs were going to kids. Yes, I did it anyway. That's who I am."

I released him. "Kids."

"I told you I wasn't innocent. You just wanted to believe otherwise."

"I never believed you were innocent."

"You're believing it now though. Just a little." He turned away. "The bombing I prevented? I only knew about it because I was part of the crew planning it. I backed out last minute. That's why my father let me kill those men myself instead of Nico doing it. Reward for growing a conscience too late."

The car felt too small suddenly. "You were going to bomb a bakery."

"I was going to follow orders until I couldn't anymore. There's a difference."

"Is there?"

"You tell me. You're the one who's been torturing me for weeks while pretending it's strategy."

That hit harder than it should have. "I'm not pretending."

"Aren't you?" Alessandro faced me fully. "You protect me from Nico. You held my hand in the dark. You told Lucia I'm your problem now, like that means something." His voice cracked. "You're making this so much harder than it needs to be."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that I'm falling for you and you're still planning my destruction."

The words hung between us like a grenade with the pin pulled.

"You're not falling for me. You're traumatized and desperate."

"Don't tell me what I feel."

"You feel guilty and alone and you're latching onto the first person who showed you basic human decency. That's not love, that's survival instinct."

"And what you feel? When you grab my hand in the dark? When you defend me to your family?" Alessandro's eyes were bright with unshed tears. "That's just strategy?"

I didn't answer. Couldn't.

"That's what I thought." He turned back to the window.

We arrived at Marco's estate in silence. Tommy met us at the door, looking uncomfortable.

"Boss wants to see you both. Now."

Marco's office was full of smoke and tension. He stubbed out his cigarette when we entered.

"Nico's making moves already. Talking to the other families, trying to undermine the alliance." He looked at Alessandro. "He's saying you're weak. That Dante's controlling you."

"He's not wrong," Alessandro said quietly.

"Is that true?" Marco asked me.

"I'm using him. We all agreed that was the plan."

"Using him is fine. Breaking him is problematic." Marco leaned forward. "If Alessandro falls apart before the wedding, Nico takes over the Santoro family completely. No checks, no balance. Just pure violence."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Make it convincing. The marriage, the alliance, all of it." Marco's eyes were calculating. "People need to believe you're actually partners. Which means you need to stop treating him like a prisoner."

"He tried to escape twice."

"Because you gave him reasons to. Change tactics."

After we left, Alessandro spoke. "He's right, you know. This only works if we're believable."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Stop hating me for five minutes. See what happens."

*******

We were back in my apartment. The same space where I'd made him sleep on the floor, where I'd controlled every aspect of his life for weeks.

"I can't just stop."

"Then don't stop hating me. Just..." He moved closer, cautious like approaching a wild animal. "Just let me in a little. Please."

His hand touched my chest, right over my heart. I should've pushed him away. Should've reminded him this was business, nothing more.

Instead, I kissed him.

It was angry and desperate and wrong in every way. His hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me closer. I backed him against the wall, needing to prove something I couldn't name. He was temptation in human form, deliberately luring me closer, and damn—he was getting good at it. My self-control was slipping through my fingers, until my ‘why’ slammed into my mind and stopped me cold.

When we broke apart, both breathing hard, reality crashed back.

"This doesn't change anything," I said.

"Liar."

He was right. Everything had just changed.