Chapter 6: Dante

Early the next morning, I drifted awake at the sound of shuffling outside my door. My curiosity was piqued, as was my paranoia. Was this another attacker in the home of Don Vecchio?

A small knock triggered me to get off the bed, my ears listening and body tense. The last night had taught me that life would be unpredictable working for Don Nero Vecchio. Recalling our last encounter I pinched my nose briefly, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

He knew I was Dante Solace. But he hadn't reacted in the way they I had expected. If only I could tell what the damn Don was thinking…

The knock came again, louder this time. And a timid sounding voice at the other end, as if afraid that she would wake me up.

“Senor Dante, I have a message from Sir.”

I opened the door instantly upon hearing that, alert.

“What is it?” I asked hoarsely, my hair falling over my eyes as I leaned forward.

It was a petite, young woman who held a small laundry basket of fresh sheets. Her face paled then suddenly flushed, and she looked away from me.

“Erm,” she cleared her throat. “S-Sir needs you to come down for breakfast.”

I almost thought I didn't hear well. Breakfast? Was that it?

Thinking of how Nero seemed to demand attention in one way or another from me, I had to accept that he was, in fact, a little bit petty to demand my presence for breakfast.

Grabbing my night robe - a silk black robe that was more expensive than anything I owned - I left the bedroom as the maid began her task of airing out the room and replacing the sheets.

“Don't touch my things,” I said to her simply before storming out to the hallway and down the steps. This time I didn't hide my presence like I had last night.

I wasn't afraid of Nero. And I would show it to him today.

It took me a while to orient myself. This place was fucking massive.

But as I neared the dining hall, I could hear a small child's voice babbling nonsense, interspersed with a familiar man's hum every now and then.

“...And that was so cool, Papa!” The boy, Marcus, shocked me with his grinning teeth and chubby face. He was sat on a high stool right next to his father who ate his breakfast, while a woman sat on the other side, feeding the little boy dutifully.

Guards were posed at the corners of the dining hall, a stark contrast.

I remembered the woman must be his nanny - and recalled what happened with the boys mother last night before shrugging and signing inwardly. Time to disturb this peaceful family breakfast, I supposed.

Before I even stepped in I noticed Nero's body tense and his head instantly turn. As his eyes met my gaze I could see it rove up and down my body. I refrained from giving an outward reaction: his intense stare was… something else.

“Don Vecchio,” I greeted, and the two other eyes turned to look at me.

One in wonder and the other in respectful acknowledgement.

“Dante,” Nero's voice was a low burr, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes like a cat that just caught the canary. “How wonderful of you to join me this morning.”

Not like I had a fucking choice, I thought as I refrained from rolling my eyes at him.

I moved towards the opposite end of the table but Nero's eyes followed me nevertheless. As soon as I took my seat a maid came to serve me my meal: a plate of eggs, toast and sausages with a healthy salad by the side.

Being offered coffee and rejecting it with a wave of my hand, I accepted the orange juice being poured for me while I tried to endure the stares from the other side of the table.

Everything was so different. Much too rich for my taste.

Thinking back to my childhood, my father may have had money, but I had been living with my mother most of my life. I only got to see him during holidays, and those times were far and few between with the level of education both parents wanted me to have..

My father never wanted me to become ‘spoiled’, and so he made me have to beg to get taken along to events, to ask for him to attend my parent-teacher meetings, and most times he simply didn't respond to me when I called.

My mother would always remind me of how good I had it and how my family was a prestigious one but I should never rub it in people's faces.

So there was no need for dining in an expensive hall; I was always forced to get my breakfasts and lunches from the school I was enrolled in.

Not a bad thing, but still worlds apart from this place.

I don't know if exactly anything was said in the time between getting my meal and beginning to eat, but suddenly the nanny stood up and quietly grabbed Marcus to leave the dining hall. I tensed and glanced at their exit, watching the door closely. As soon as it shut, Nero's voice rang in the hall, which only the two of us (apart from the silent guards) occupied.

“How was your sleep?”

It was such an innocent question, but nothing was ever innocent when it came to Nero Vecchio.

“Fine,” I paused in eating my toast to reply. “I assume you have no intention of killing me still.”

He chuckled, a sound that filled the air and made my ears burn.

“Of course not. I told you, Dante. You belong to me.”

Clenching the fork and knife with tense hands, I resisted the urge to make any sudden movements. He seemed to enjoy watching me. Each morsel of food I placed in my mouth didn't miss his gaze, and I wondered what the hell he was thinking.

Out of nowhere, in the middle of my meal he spoke.

“We will be heading out in an hour's time. Just you and me.”