Chapter 2

Something in Dante's eyes darkened a little.

He paused for a moment, then gave me an easy smile, the corner of his mouth curving as he stroked my head. "Aren't you overthinking this?"

"The doctor said pregnancy makes you imagine things. Are you suspecting me now?"

"When I get some time, I'll take you out to clear your head."

Faced with my suspicion, Dante didn't get the least bit angry.

He took out his phone and showed me a message, one his advisor had sent him a few days earlier.

[Boss, this ring must've been left in the conference room by the people we met with yesterday. What do you want done with it?]

The photo the advisor sent was the exact ring I'd seen.

At that, I let out a small breath of relief.

But I was still shaken.

Dante was the Don of the biggest mafia family in Southport. Back before he'd inherited the position from his father, we'd met at a friend's wedding.

He'd fallen for me at first sight and then proposed an arranged marriage to my family.

At first I didn't want to accept the match. His family controlled enormous wealth and an underground empire.

I figured a man like that had to be a player.

But later he kept showing up in my world, lending a hand with my career, and when someone tried to use me to threaten my family, he personally led his men storming into the enemy's territory and pulled me out of danger.

No other woman ever appeared at his side.

So I gradually came around to him and accepted the marriage.

After the wedding he really did treat me wonderfully. He looked out for my feelings, and even when he went to handle a Family meeting, he'd tell me his schedule.

To protect me, whenever a conflict broke out with another family, he'd send me somewhere safe first.

But this time, he left me with a faint sense of unease.

Dante kissed my forehead and soothed me. "Don't overthink it. You've been too tired lately. Get some rest, and I'll take you and the baby out to the countryside."

I nodded and smiled, saying nothing.

That evening, Dante brought me warm milk as usual and then went back to his office to go over documents.

Holding the milk, I still couldn't calm down.

I'd seen the proof, but those two rings were clearly custom-made. There was no way two of them could be identical by chance.

On top of that, he wasn't the type to carry things around in his pockets.

Not even a scrap of paper.

So how would he keep someone else's diamond ring on him for days?

Turning it over and over, I still had someone look into the arms dealers Dante had been meeting with those past few days.

I didn't wait for the results.

I decided to go home that day to visit my parents.

When I got there, Ellie happened to be home too.

The living room was covered in jewelry and gowns, and a limited-edition sports car was parked out front.

My parents were crowded around Ellie, looking over the things her boyfriend had sent.

When she saw me, my mother couldn't wait to pull me over to the table. "Your sister finally has someone to lean on. Now I can relax."

I'd received gifts like these too.

Some of that jewelry wasn't something you could buy with money alone. You needed a certain status just to have it made.

Especially the car out front.

That car was the only bulletproof-modified limited edition from Southport's underground auction.

I'd seen the advisor win it at that auction once, but I'd never seen him drive it, and after a while I'd stopped thinking about it.

"Your man really doesn't hold back, sis. When are you bringing him around so we can meet him? It's about time you got engaged."

I said it quietly and turned to look at her.

Ellie's eyes slid away, and she brushed it off. "When he's free."

For no clear reason I felt a flutter of panic, all the more so after seeing these things.

My parents had made all our favorite dishes.

I ate distractedly, while Ellie kept staring at her phone.

Halfway through the meal, Ellie suddenly jumped up with a smile.

"My boyfriend wants to take me out. I'm heading off."

I'd barely opened my mouth to ask when she grabbed her bag and slipped out.

For some reason my pulse quickened, and I lost my appetite.

After Ellie left, I took my own bag to head home. My mother wanted me to stay the night, but I declined.

Normally when I came to visit my parents, I'd stay a night and wait for Dante to pick me up the next day.

But today I wanted to get back early.

I had just reached the edge of the estate.

I stopped the car and cut the headlights.

The thing I'd had looked into yesterday had turned up something. I took the call.

On the other end, the detective's voice was hesitant, like he wasn't sure what to say.

"We've confirmed it. For the past two months, the Don's been in talks with a few arms dealers from Southeast Asia."

I lifted my head and listened quietly.

My heart pounded like thunder.

As my gaze rose, a sports car suddenly caught my attention. It was the car Ellie's boyfriend had given her.

In the passenger seat, her back to me, she was wrapped around a man in a deep kiss.

The man had both hands on her waist, tangled up with her.

My eyes stayed locked on them, and the voice in the receiver grew clearer.

"All of those dealers are unmarried. So far there's no sign any of them is getting engaged."

The last of his words had just faded.

Ellie kissed the man's neck, and his face came into view.

My mind went blank, and my breath stopped short.

Dante leaned back with a look of pure enjoyment.

My blood went cold bit by bit, and my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

The voice on the phone kept going.

"And we also found that the Don hasn't met with those arms dealers in two weeks. Their deal was settled two weeks ago."

The phone slipped from my hand.

I felt hollowed out, unable to think.

In the car across from me, Ellie's voice turned more and more suggestive. "I don't like doing it in the car. I want to sleep in your bed."

The words stirred something possessive in Dante.

He peeled off his black gloves, slid an arm around Ellie's waist, and lifted her out of the car.

The two of them stayed pressed against the car door for a while longer, and Dante's breath came ragged and low.

"You can sleep wherever you want."

Ellie smiled. "Even if it's Monica's?"

At that Dante kissed her again, muffled, not answering the question.

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the estate.