CHAPTER 5 ~ BLOOD, BRUISES, AND BEDTIME PROMISES

SALLY’S POV

The warmth of his chest made me feel safe, too safe. Dante’s arms around me were a shield I hadn’t realized I had needed until I had them again. I was fed, bathed, wrapped in his scent, and finally, I was beginning to relax when his deep voice shattered my peace.

"Get dressed."

I blinked, while still curled against him. "What?"

He leaned back, just enough for our eyes to meet. The softness from earlier? Gone, and all that remained was cold steel and command.

"I said get dressed, we are going to train."

I let out a weak laugh, but he didn’t. "It’s almost midnight." I pointed out.

"And?"

"And I am exhausted."

Dante stood up and stalked toward the closet, tossing a pair of training clothes on the bed. "You don’t get to rest until I am sure you can kill with one hand and fuck with the other."

I choked. "That’s not a real thing."

"It is in my world."

He turned back to face me, eyes blazing. "You want to get your revenge? Then you train. You want to stand beside me as my queen? Then you prove to me you can protect yourself, Princess. No one ever touches what’s mine again, ever."

The way he said mine made my core clench, I didn’t want to admit how much I wanted to belong to him in every way… but I did. I swallowed hard and pushed off the bed. "Fine, let’s do it."

I got dressed quickly and we both left for the training ground, surprisingly, the underground training room looked more like an elite military bunker, cold concrete, steel racks with every weapon imaginable. Dummies that looked too human and Dante? Or should I say Doom? He was already shirtless, wrapping his hands with black tape, tattoos cutting across his arms and chest like blades... He was in his full Doom mode.

He tossed me gloves. "Basic self-defense first, then we move to weapons, don’t hold back. If you want revenge, you better be ready to bleed for it."

"Got it."

"Stance."

I dropped into the position he was showing me.

"Again." He circled me, voice sharp. "Your weight is wrong, center it, feet apart."

I did.

He moved in fast, too fast. My back hit the mat before I could blink.

"Get up."

My ribs throbbed. "You are insane."

He smirked. "And yet, you came to me."

I growled and got back up.

Over and over again, he threw me to the mat. Corrected me, taught me where to hit, when to kick, and how to stab without hesitation.

"You pause when you aim." He snapped. "That pause gets you killed."

"But..."

"No, no fucking excuses, Sally. Kelvin didn’t hesitate when he set you up. Pamela didn’t hesitate when she rode your ex ten inches from your face, so don’t you dare hesitate now."

His words cut deeper than the bruises. I lashed out, this time I landed a punch that sent his head turning.

His smirk widened. "There she is."

Every successful move earned me a reward. A rough kiss, a whispered compliment, a heated look that made my knees weak even when my arms were stronger... Every reward motivated me and I kept going.

Hours passed, my muscles screamed, my knuckles ached, my shirt clung to me, soaked in sweat but I kept going and then, when my body finally collapsed, when I couldn’t lift my leg one more time, Dante crouched down beside me.

"You did good."

I barely had the energy to smile. "Thanks but I feel like I got hit by a truck."

He chuckled. "Good, that means you are learning."

He scooped me into his arms. "Come on, you have earned a bath."

I didn’t argue, I couldn't even if I wanted to.

He took me back to his room, to his bathroom and bathed me like I was glass. His hands gentle where they had once been brutal. He massaged the sore muscles, washed my hair, and whispered words I couldn’t even remember now. All I could focus on was how safe I felt with this killer’s hands on my skin.

He dried me off and carried me to his bed, laid me down like I was the most precious thing in the world. "Thank you." I whispered.

Then he hovered over me, eyes burning.

I reached for him. "Please… take me, I need you." He leaned in, kissed me so softly I nearly wept.

"No."

I blinked. "No?"

"You are sore, weak. You couldn’t handle me right now, and I have missed your pussy too damn much to be gentle."

The heat that rushed through me had me squirming.

"But tomorrow…" His voice dropped, dark and low. "Tomorrow, dress up for me, look stunning. I am taking you out for dinner."

"And after dinner?" I asked curiously.

He smirked, the kind that made me forget how to breathe. "After dinner, I am going to fuck you so hard your bones will beg for mercy." I laughed, curling into his chest.

"Get some rest, Princess."

I nuzzled into him. "I am looking forward to tomorrow."

He didn’t respond, his arms stayed wrapped around me, but I could feel it, he was still awake, still alert. His heartbeat steady, mind clearly racing because Dante never truly sleeps, not when he has enemies to eliminate, deals to secure or in this case… a Queen to mold from ashes.

And I? I was ready to rise.