Chapter 4. The Warning

Camila’s POV

My alarm dragged me out of sleep before I was ready to face the day.

I groaned, rolled onto my back, and stared at the ceiling for several seconds. Everything that had happened still felt unreal. My father had traded me to a stranger. I had been taken to the Moretti estate. I had met Dante’s family, sat at their table, and discovered that the Devil enjoyed testing people.

Now I was expected to attend school as if my life had not changed overnight.

I forced myself out of bed and changed into a simple outfit. When I reached the kitchen, I stopped.

A black backpack rested on the table beside several notebooks, new pens, and neatly arranged school supplies.

I picked up the bag and opened it.

“Who bought all of this?”

“I hope you like it.”

I turned so quickly that I almost dropped the backpack.

Lucia stood behind me with a warm smile.

“You scared me.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” She laughed softly. “Dante chose everything himself. He said you should have what you need.”

I looked down at the supplies.

My father had refused to buy new school materials for years. I had used the same notebooks until the pages were full and the covers were falling apart. Pens were the only things I replaced regularly, mostly because they always seemed to disappear from my room.

“This is perfect,” I said, resting my head against the table. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I glanced at the clock.

My eyes widened.

“I’m going to be late.”

Lucia waved as I rushed toward the door. “Have a good day!”

“You too!”

As I walked away from the mansion, I kept thinking about her.

How could someone so kind have ended up married to Vittorio Moretti?

The walk to school took longer than I expected. By the time I reached Ravenswood High, my legs were tired and my thoughts were even more exhausted.

I made my way toward my locker.

Before I could open it, someone covered my eyes from behind.

“Guess who?”

I smiled despite myself. “I have no idea.”

The hands disappeared.

“It’s your best friend,” Maya announced proudly.

I turned around and hugged her.

“Hey, Maya.”

She squeezed me tightly. “It has been one crazy weekend.”

“You have no idea.”

“Tell me everything at lunch.”

We walked through the hallway together. Maya talked about school gossip, a teacher who had nearly fallen asleep during class, and the football game that evening.

I tried to listen, but my mind kept returning to Dante.

His cold eyes.

His hand around my waist.

The way he had promised not to hurt me, as if that should have been enough to make me trust him.

Maya suddenly leaned closer.

“Evan is staring at you.”

I nearly tripped.

“He is not.”

I glanced down the hallway and immediately looked away when Evan caught me looking.

Maya shook her head. “He makes it obvious.”

“It is not like he is going to talk to me.”

“Camila.”

A deep voice interrupted us.

Evan Hayes stood beside Maya, smiling.

He had been one of my closest friends when we were children. His family had moved away when we were young, and he had only returned to town earlier that year.

He looked completely different now.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and athletic. His black hair was thick and slightly messy, while his dark eyes held a familiar warmth. He had become the captain of the school football team, and half the girls at Ravenswood seemed to have a crush on him.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hi.” His smile grew. “I know we have not talked much since I came back, but I wanted to ask you something.”

Maya looked between us with a knowing expression.

Evan rubbed the back of his neck. “Would you come to the game tonight?”

He looked hopeful, and I did not want to disappoint him.

“Sure.”

His entire face brightened. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Great. I’ll see you there.”

He jogged back toward the football players gathered near the gym.

The moment he reached them, his friends cheered.

Maya turned toward me. “He likes you.”

“He does not.”

“He is attractive, he is sweet, and he has been waiting for you to come back into his life.”

“He would not understand my life.”

“You do not know that.”

I stared at the floor.

Maya nudged my arm. “You cannot reject every boy just because you are afraid of getting hurt.”

“I am not afraid.”

She raised an eyebrow.

I sighed. “Fine. I will give him a chance.”

The words felt strange.

If Dante was allowed to have other women, then why was I expected to remain completely alone?

Maya grinned. “I’m coming to the game with you.”

“You were already going.”

“I’m coming to support my baby.”

“Your baby?”

“My boyfriend, Ryan.”

“Of course.”

She linked her arm through mine as we entered our classroom.

The day passed slowly.

By the time school ended, I had almost forgotten about everything waiting for me at the Moretti estate.

Almost.

That evening, Maya and I sat in the bleachers while the football team practiced under the stadium lights. The air was cold, but the crowd was loud enough to make the entire field feel alive.

Ryan jogged toward the bleachers during a break and kissed Maya quickly.

“Diaz,” he called to me. “I heard you came here for Evan.”

“Maybe I did.”

Ryan laughed. “He has been waiting for you all day.”

“Good luck,” Maya shouted as he returned to the field.

Ryan blew her a kiss.

I rolled my eyes. “You two are unbearable.”

“You are just jealous.”

“Never.”

At halftime, Evan walked toward us, breathing heavily from the game.

“You came.”

“I said I would.”

“I’m glad.” He glanced toward the field. “I have to go back soon, but we can talk after the game.”

“Of course.”

He smiled and ran back toward the players.

Maya leaned against my shoulder. “He is completely in love with you.”

“You are being dramatic.”

“I am being accurate.”

My phone suddenly vibrated.

Then it vibrated again.

And again.

I pulled it from my bag.

The messages appeared one after another.

Where are you?

Come home now.

School ended an hour ago.

Hurry up.

I’m coming to get you.

My stomach dropped.

I had not noticed the time. I had been so distracted by the game that I had forgotten to tell anyone where I was.

“Damn it.”

I grabbed my bag and stood.

Maya looked at me. “What happened?”

Before I could answer, the crowd grew quiet.

I looked toward the entrance of the stadium.

Dante was walking toward the bleachers.

He wore a black suit, his expression hard and his eyes fixed on me. Anger radiated from him so strongly that people moved out of his way without being asked.

Maya’s mouth fell open.

“Oh my God.”

“Do not say anything.”

“But he is…”

“Be quiet.”

Dante stopped at the bottom of the bleachers.

“Where the hell were you?”

Every conversation around us stopped.

The players on the field turned toward us. Even the coach stopped shouting instructions.

“I was here,” I said quietly.

His jaw tightened.

“We are going home.”

His voice was low, but the command was clear.

I hurried down the bleachers.

“Camila!”

Evan called my name.

I stopped.

Dante’s expression became even darker.

Evan ran toward us and grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?”

“I’m fine,” I told him. “I promise.”

Dante looked at Evan’s hand around my arm.

“Did I say you could touch her?”

Evan released me but stepped closer. “You should not have to give permission for anyone to touch her.”

Dante’s shoulders stiffened.

He was taller and more muscular than Evan, but Evan did not back down.

“Evan,” I warned.

“Get out of here,” Dante said. “I do not give second chances.”

“And what if I don’t?”

Evan never finished the question.

Dante’s fist struck his jaw.

The impact echoed through the stadium.

Evan fell hard onto the ground. Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth as his eyes struggled to focus.

I stumbled backward in shock.

The entire football team stared.

Dante flexed his hand and looked at his knuckles.

“Damn it.”

Then he turned toward me.

I flinched.

For a second, I expected the same pain I had felt in my father’s office.

Dante noticed.

His expression changed, but only slightly.

“Get in the car.”

I did not argue.

I ran toward the waiting vehicle and climbed into the passenger seat. Dante entered a moment later and started the engine.

Neither of us spoke during the drive.

The silence became unbearable.

Finally, Dante glanced at me.

“Why did you protect yourself?”

I looked down at my hands.

“What are you talking about?”

“When I turned toward you, you flinched.”

“No reason.”

He reached across the console and stopped my restless hands with one of his.

“Answer me.”

“I said there was no reason.”

“You’re lying.”

His grip loosened, but he did not remove his hand.

“I’ll find out what happened to you.”

“Why do you care?”

He raised an eyebrow.

Then he lifted his hand suddenly, mimicking the motion of a strike.

I flinched again.

“Damn it,” I whispered.

Dante lowered his hand.

“That is why.”

I stared out the window.

“Just leave it alone. It is not important.”

“You should know something if you are going to marry me.”

He pulled the car to the side of the road and turned toward me.

“I am not going to hit you.”

I kept my gaze on the passing headlights.

“You are angry now, but eventually you will get angry at me. Then you will become used to it.”

“I do not hit women.”

His voice was firm.

“Especially not my wife.”

I finally looked at him.

Dante’s eyes held mine, serious and unwavering.

I had barely known him for two days. He was possessive, violent, and frightening when provoked.

I could not trust a promise from a man I hardly knew.

Words were easy.

Only his actions would tell me whether Dante Moretti was different from my father.

I looked away again as the car pulled back onto the road.

For the first time, I wondered whether the Devil was capable of keeping his word.