Seven

Dante's POV

 

  "You called," I hissed, pouring myself a glass from the bottle of vodka on the desk. In my line of business, you can never have too much to drink, not when life burns more.

 

  "There was an attack on one of our shipments" Ivan spoke, going straight to the point, as always.

 

  I sighed as I pulled out the seat in front of his desk, making myself comfortable on it. " Which one exactly?"

 

  "The one meant for the Russians"

 

  My grip tightened around the glass "That's Maxim Petrov's shipment, he is going to go crazy" I stated, my mind going back to the last time someone had messed with one of the Petrovs' shipments. Maxim Petrov had sent his men to burn all the warehouses to the ground with their men inside and still wanted to do more. It almost caused a fight between all the families but luckily our previous Don was able to step in on time and make a negotiation for the peace and safety of all five families.

 

  "This was done intentionally, someone is trying to cause a ruckus between us and the Bratva and we need to clear things up before the Bratvas get the wrong message," Ivan said, searching through the stack of papers on his desk.

 

  "And who would do something as stupid as this?"

 

  His cold gaze met mine, "I am sure you already have the answer to your question"

 

  "Sullivan is fighting hard, whatever he is trying to hide must be really bad" I voiced out.

 

  "Which is why we have to find out exactly what it is and fast" Ivan's tone already told me he had something in mind and I can't shake off this feeling that I won't like what it is.

 

  "You have a plan, what is it?" I asked, going against my mind, screaming at me not to. He is going to say it anyway.

 

  "You are not going to like it one bit" he warned, making me roll my eyes.

 

  "I know that already but it won't stop you from saying what you have to say" I stated.

 

  "It is the best option, it isn't permanent. Just until we can get all this sorted out" he was being vague and that only meant it was something even worse than I had imagined. He always goes straight to the point no matter how bad.

 

  "Don" My voice was stern and strong, my little way of telling him I was done with the games. The earlier he gets it out the better for us all, my reaction would be my reaction no matter how delayed.

 

  "You would have to marry her Dante" He sighed, his eyes fixed on me, watching for my reaction...One I wasn't even sure I was to give.

 

  Marriage? Me? Hell no.

 

  "We both know that's impossible, Ivan" I spat out. His jaw ticked at my tone and use of his name but he knows better than to act on it. We were friends, brothers before he became Don and we are going to discuss as brothers now.

 

  "This is the best option. The one language every mafia family understands is that no one touches the wife of a Made Man, especially not the wife of any of the top ranks. You are my right-hand man and the best assassin the Italian mafia has, making her your wife is the ultimate protection" he tried to reason even though he knew deep down it wasn't going to work, we both knew why.

 

  "And the worst thing you could have come up with too" I shot. He is crossing lines might as well do so too.

 

  "Dante, this is very important, you have to put emotions and sentiments aside" His words hit me more than I expected. How can he sound like he doesn't know everything?

 

  "They say power does a lot to people, but I didn't expect you to be one of them too" I spat anger and irrationality flooding my veins as I pushed myself up from where I sat. I never feel pain but the piercing all over was a feeling words couldn't explain...it's like someone just hit me somewhere I never knew existed.

 

  "This conversation is over, if you want to protect her so freaking much. You might as well go ahead and marry her" The anger and malice in my voice could be felt as I turned my back to him and walked out banging the door loudly behind me. Fucking Ivan Falcone.

 

                                  ****

 

  "No"

 

  "Hell no"

 

  "This would be too obvious"

 

  Whispers came from the kitchen, a petite shadow lurking behind the fridge, the light from inside the only source of illumination in the whole kitchen. It is freaking 2am, who the hell is still lurking around in the kitchen?

 

  Someone couldn't have gotten last orbit security right?

 

  On instinct, I pulled my rifle from my belt, holding it firmly in my hand as I slowly made my way there, listening for any more words but it seemed whoever it was had either noticed me or become smart and I doubt the latter.

 

  I raised my gun ready to shoot whoever the invader was, when a very familiar blonde popped out from behind the fridge, a scream escaping her lungs as she sighted me.

 

  Of course, it's her.

 

  "Shit" I cursed out as her eyes rolled to the back of her head just as she dropped unconscious to the ground, all her stolen food falling to the ground too. Why the fuck is she even stealing food? Didn't Deborah take food to her as I instructed?