Chapter 4—Final decision

DANTE

I CHUCKLED as I hovered over her till she blanked out. Tilting my head at her father.

“She really hates you… doesn’t she?” He scoffed as he stood to his feet. I watched him stumble over to her fallen body—where I was.

If looks could kill—with the way he was looking at her, she was definitely dead.

Squinting my eyes, I asked him. “Whatever you want to do… kill it. Before I kill you.”

Viktor was too daring, or too enraged, to hear my warning. He lifted his bare leg, ready to hit her. Quickly, smoothly, I moved her out of the way.

Cradling her in my arms, the smile was off my face, and he was forced to his knees by my men.

Not a single ounce of remorse painted his face.

“What do you think you are doing?” I queried, my voice laced with venom.

“How dare she?! She tried to kill me!! That was her aim!!! I’m her father!!”

“And? You are her father… And? I don’t see the problem? The only reason you are alive right now is because your death wasn’t part of the agreement.”

Standing at my height, I gripped the girl tighter.

“Ah yes, of course I know. But neither was hitting me!! Hitting wasn’t part of the deal!!”

I rolled my eyes at him.

Dimwit

“I would say the same with you raising your hands at her. But look what we have here.” I stated, brushing the sleeping girl’s bruised cheek.

He scoffed and pushed my men off him.

“Then what now? My debts—you will clear them, right?”

I rearranged her form, placing her head on my shoulder.

‘Bellissima,’ I muttered, brushing the loose strands of hair from her face.

“Right… You owe, or, in better words, you stole from Nikolai Volkov.”

“Not a smart move.” Marco chimed, placing a plate of sugar-powdered pineapple and Negroni in front of me.

“Good game.” I nodded to him.

Marco sighed, looking at the sleeping beauty in my arms.

“I don’t like the outcome.” He hummed, gesturing to her.

“It was expected, and you know it.”

Marco—my top enforcer—had a heart like a dove but a fist of a gauntlet.

“Shitty father and—”

“My debt!! Don’t ignore me.”

I trailed towards him. “Right, right. I would like to know the backstory of why and how you stole from Il Don Volkov, but I couldn’t care less.”

Volkov… That bastard. I would also love to avoid him, but I wanted her, and her father was laying her to me like a precious mineral… Who would resist?

Looking at him, he rocked his teeth, scratching the back of his head.

Anxiety.

“So?”

“Sure. Why not? The deal has been made. But before that.”

“What now?!”

I immediately shut my eyes, trying to calm myself. Surely, I could kill this dude and stay his daughter‌? Nothing would happen; I would merely cover it up.

“Don’t… Don.”

I turned to Marco, keeping my eyes closed. I smiled. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t do whatever is in your mind. It’s not worth it, and besides, he owes Il Don Volkov. You don’t want his anger to turn to you… do you?”

“It’s worth the risk.”

“It’s not!!”

“Okay, okay, fine.” I agreed. Leaning to my side.

“Ricco!! Get me the papers and the safe.”

“Sure.”

Sooner, rather than second. Ricco—my right-hand man—walked in with my request.

“Sign here and here, and she—what’s her name again?”

“Lena. Lena Carter.”

“Right, Lena will no longer be your daughter but be Lena Romano. My wife.”

I wondered if he would hesitate, but no. This father signed the permission slip and marriage agreement like he was signing off on a delivery order.

Even Marco looked appalled by him.

“That will be all… right? I can have my money, right?”

I shoved the safe to his side, and he greedily snatched it, forcing it open.

Greed.

Thirst for money.

Perhaps it’s because I have a surplus; I don’t understand it. Money was like air to me.

It was everywhere.

“That’s €750,000 in hand.”

“I will see for myself.” He cut in, counting the bills in the stack.

I rolled my eyes and downed my alcohol.

“You will pay Il Don Volkov off, right? After all, that’s why we are giving you this money.”

“Yes, sure, whatever.”

‘Whatever…, he says.’ Surely he knows how dangerous Volkov is.

Marco and I exchanged looks before I shrugged. It has nothing to do with me; I have gotten what I wanted.

Standing, I stared at Viktor.

“I will take my leave.”

Viktor didn’t turn away from his bills.

Then I remembered something. “Lena… does she have any fears?”

That seemed to grab his attention. “Fears? Not like?”

“Fears.”

“Not really. That kid is as tough as nails and…” He trailed off. I could see realization light up in his head.

“And?”

“She has a phobia. She is claustrophobic.”

“Claustrophobic?”

“Yes. Never liked tight, confined spaces. She even hates elevators because of it.”

I turned off his words as a knowing smile crept on my face.

Perfect.

“See him off.” I ordered.

“Yes, Don.”

“Wait!!” Viktor called out.

I paused on my feet, letting out a tired sigh. I wasn’t physically tired, just tired of dealing with him.

“What do you want now?” I answered dryly.

“My clothes, my stuff.”

“Huh?” I tilted my head with an arched brow. “You are joking, right?”

“Actually no. You don’t expect me to go home looking like I have been robbed, do you?”

The entitlement is astonishing.

“Did I play with you?”

“What?”

“Was it I that played with you?”

“Well, no, but”

“Then don’t ask me.” I spat, walking away from him. It wasn’t long before I heard him arguing with Marco.

I looked down at Lena. “Ah, you are finally mine.”

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LENA

Slowly opening my eyes, lazily blinking the sleep away. My eyes opened to a white ceiling.

“What happened? Where am I? My room?” I muttered, slowly sitting up, rubbing at my eyes.

“Well, for now, yes.” I heard a voice say.

I whipped my head at the voice, and my eyes flew open.

“Good morning, amore mio.”

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“You were the one thing I wasn’t supposed to want.” La Donna Lena.