Chapter 2

Dante

My fists clenched and I shot my brother a glare. “What do you mean you collected his daughter as payment?” I growled in anger. “What the hell were you thinking Matteo?”

Matteo shifted, his face paling as he said. “He—he couldn't pay Dante, so—”

“So what!” I roared, banging my fist on the table. “If he couldn't pay, you put two bullets in his head, not take his fucking daughter!”

“I’m sorry Dante” he said, bowing his head in shame.

“We do not take women, that's not how we do business” I said coldly. “That’s not how I do business” I added.

“But she was the only thing he had to offer, was I supposed to have let him off the hook?” he said, trying to defend himself.

My face twisted in disgust. “I know why you took her. Don’t think I don’t know what you do to women, Matteo.”

Matteo’s face flushed, his eyes darting away. Silence hung heavy between us, thick and suffocating.

“Do you even understand what you've done? You've crossed a fucking line!!” I yelled. “We do not touch wives or mothers or daughters. We do not touch people’s women” I gritted out.

“It’s just one woman, capo! What’s the big deal?” he said in desperation.

I stood up slowly, walking towards him with cold menace, I saw the alarm in his eyes as I picked up a baseball bat. He was only allowed to take two steps back before the bat crashed into his knees. 

“The big deal Matteo, is respect” I said coldly as I swung the bat into his midriff. He doubled over as I continued pounding him with the bat not minding that he was family. 

“Dante, that's enough!” I looked up as my grandma walked in, the soft thud of her cane echoeing in the otherwise silent room. 

“Get him out of my sight” I said calmly, signaling to one of my men. “And the woman, take her to Hannah, make sure she's tied up” I turned towards my grandmother and I could see the twinkle in her eyes.

“What is it?” I asked crunching my eyebrows.

“You know what? I have the perfect use for the girl” my grandma said smiling.

“Hm, and what’s this perfect use grandma” I asked as I walked back to my seat.

“What? You're going to marry her” she said clapping her hands in excitement.

“Excuse me??” I growled in disbelief.

“C’mon Dante, she is a pretty girl, have you looked at her? She's going to make you fine, strong boys” she continued.

I looked at her, baffled. “Are you okay, grandma?” I asked her.

“Don’t you dare look at me like I've gone senile” she huffed. “I’m still in perfect control of my thinking faculties” she added.

“You could have fooled me” I murmured. She slapped my head. I have a great relationship with my grandma, considering the fact that it’s just her and that little piece of shit—Matteo, that are left of the family. I’ve never felt more satisfaction than the day I killed my father. The motherfucker got off on preying on the weak and the scars on the right side of my face are a testament to that.

“You will marry her Dante” she said firmly.

“I’m not going to marry her grandma, the poor little thing will be scared shitless the moment she sees my face” I said.

“That’s why you have to marry her, my boy” She continued, sitting a cross from me. “I’m worried about you.” she whispered. “I don't have much time left and i’m worried about who’s going to take care of you”

“I don't need a wife to take care of me, you should be more worried about Matteo, it’s looking like he picked up more of our father behavior than I thought” I said, getting annoyed all over again.

“That’s why he can't be the one to have the girl, he just wants a play thing” She sighed. “Dante, you're thirty-five years old and I know you act like you're not bothered about your face but the fact that you refuse to show it to the world speaks otherwise” she said. “You let Matteo abuse your name by letting people think he's the capo”

I scoffed as I saw her eyes fill up with tears. I have a soft spot for my grandma considering the fact that she's the only sensible family member I have left.

“Fine!” I growled. “I’ll marry her if that's what you want” I added. I saw her hide a smile and that was when it occurred to me that I've fallen into her trap.

“Today?” she asked her eyes lighting up.

“What do you mean today? Have you taken a look at the girl? she's unconscious” I said, lighting a cigar. I could feel a headache coming as I leaned back into my chair.

“Okay boy, you can stop glaring at me, let’s do tomorrow then?” she asked hopeful.

“Don't push your luck grandma” I said in a low voice. She looked at me for a moment before walking slowly out of the room, the door closing softly behind her.

The silence returned to the room as I smoked the cigar, deep in thought. I could not believe that piece of shit, Antonio, would actually give up his daughter for fifty grand. Feeling the right side of my face ache, I touched the scar that ran from beneath my hairline to the top of my cheek and sighed.

Deciding to take a proper look at the girl I’ll be getting married to soon, I walked into the room I knew she will be. She looked peaceful while asleep. Her long lashes fanned across her cheeks and I could feel my heart tug at the tear streaks on them.

I could not help but agree with my grandma, she was beautiful, her long Auburn hair was spread across the pillow in silken waves. Her skin was smooth and I heard her moan in her sleep as she tried to turn on her side. Feeling like I was invading her privacy, I let myself out of the room.