CHAPTER 9

VALESKA

There I was, out in the cold night, with my gun hidden under my shirt, as I moved carefully on the very street my commander said Dante was spotted.

The area was bubbling with people, stores selling their goods with their lights illuminating the roads, and music blasting in every corner to make the place lively.

I spotted two officers in their uniform, moving around, searching for Dante, and four in regular clothes, blending with the crowds.

I don't think they even saw me, otherwise we would have met up and planned together.

But I had no interest in meeting with them or even letting them know I was here.

I want to find Dante and kill him before they get to him.

But where could he be?

What if he has changed his location and we're just wasting our time here?

"Shoot, I think it's about to rain," I said, looking up to see how the clouds had turned dark with drips of water dropping already.

Everyone around began noticing the sign and started hurrying out to find shelter.

I didn't want to leave just yet, as my hands itched to feel my gun, desperate to find that man and send bullets into his body.

But the rain started pouring and I had no choice but to step out of the rain.

Just as I was about to run over to a nearby shade, my feet glued to the ground as my heart raced, and my blood ran cold with intense fear.

Someone in a black hoodie had just walked past me and I immediately recognized him with no sweat!

"Dante?" My fear took over, as I turned over to have a good look at this man, unable to see his face but recognized his figure!

It's him!

That's Dante Cross!

He was approaching a man with tattoos all over his neck, holding the hand of a lady, as he acted naughty with her.

But the moment this fellow saw Dante coming, I saw terror in his eyes.

The fellow pushed the lady right into Dante and ran away like hell. That sent Dante chasing after him like a beast, pushing people out of his way roughly!

Shaken, I forced my legs to move, managing to give it some strength so it won't fail me.

I finally found my enemy, but my insides were screaming with fear, begging me to go back.

But I didn't want to let this opportunity go. I want justice for my own pain.

I want to end this monster!

I chased on and almost lost sight of them because of the rain. It was getting extremely heavy and my clothes were soaked to my skin.

I ran ahead, keeping up with their pace, until I spotted Dante going after this man into an alley, giving him no breathing space to escape him.

He had pulled something out from his pocket and I swear it looked like a dagger!

"No!" I ran quickly, diving just in time into the alley to see Dante halfway into the almost dark tight space, beating this man like trash!

He threw him several times to the wall, stabbed him in the hand with his dagger, making this man cry so loudly that no one could even hear him because of the heavy downpour!

"Mercy! Please have mercy!" I heard the poor man crying, begging Dante for his life.

His cries reminded me of my own trauma and how Dante refused to listen to me when I begged.

This is the kind of man he is.

A monster!

He deserves to die!

The minute Dante raised his dagger up above this man's head... "STOP!" I roared, pulling my gun out, pointing it at him!

But I was too slow to save this man.

Dante already sent his dagger into his head, killing him with one strike!

Horror filled my whole body when I saw this!

He killed him and I... I couldn't act fast.

My knees began shaking and my fingers trembled on the gun, staring at the dead body before Dante, getting petrified by it.

But my fear went shooting high when I lifted my eyes at Dante and found him staring right at me!

"Oh God!" I shivered, staggering back, almost losing my gun!

Our eyes came locking, and I could see that same stare from that day. The one that left a mark on me. The one that gave me sleepless nights.

"Stay... Stay back!" I forced out, pointing my gun with my shaky hands.

It's now or never.

I have Dante at gun point and I just witnessed him murder someone.

If I don't act fast, he'll end me. But if I can stay focused... I can kill him first.

The downpour became extremely heavy, almost blinding me from seeing Dante.

I had just blinked my eyes to get rid of the water covering my view when I saw Dante approaching, causing me to panic!

"STAY BACK!" I shouted, competing with the rain, positioning my finger on the trigger, ready to fire.

But Dante kept coming and I was getting scared.

The little courage in me began crumbling, and I unknowingly pulled the trigger, only to hear nothing.

When I heard that click sound with no bullet... "No, no, no, no!" I panicked, remembering I didn't take the rest of my bullets!

Only one is inside the gun!

Dante also heard the click and that gave him more confidence to approach, faster and heavier.

"No, Stay back!" I shouted, pressing the trigger fast, hoping to get to the one bullet inside!

And just as Dante was almost near, my gun finally fired a shot and I heard Dante groan, grabbing his left arm shoulder!

I gasped in fear as my whole body shook, watching him grip the area I shot, looking back at me with pain and anger in his eyes.

That was a sign that I was doomed.

I failed to kill him!

The bullet only scraped his shoulder. It didn't even go through!

"No," My lips trembled, holding my gun to my chest, knowing it was over.

Dante lowered his hand to reveal his bleeding shoulder, and came storming at me.

"Please, Stay back! Stay back!!" I cried, my fear from that night washing all over me again, as I drifted back into the corner with my back hitting a big trash bin, begging Dante to stay away.

The moment he came close, I screamed out with so much fright, shielding myself so I don't have to see myself getting destroyed all over again.

But instead of feeling Dante grabbing me or feeling his dagger piercing through my skin... I felt my body being pulled close, getting wrapped in an unexpected embrace from Dante!

One hand behind my head, placed comfortably on his chest, and the other around my body, holding me tight.

"What... What's happening?" That question rang in my head, as I opened my eyes and saw it for myself.

He's embracing me. What's going on here?

Before I could understand this sudden gesture from Dante, I heard him whisper to me, saying, "I'm sorry."

That word sent chills down my spine, lifting an invisible weight off my shoulder.

"I'm deeply sorry," He repeated, as his arm around my body went a little bit tight, pressing me against his body.

This was shocking, and at the same time... It was heart wrenching.

I could hear Dante repeat those words for the third, fourth, fifth, sixth time... "No... No!" I broke down in tears, my heart tearing into pieces.

"NO! NOO!!" I screamed with pain, raising a fist, hitting him right on the chest with all my strength, hoping it would crush him.

"NOO! NOOO!!" My scream increased under the rain, keeping my voice away from ears outside this zone.

But only one person could hear my cries and sense the intense pain buried deep inside.

Yet, he wasn't ready to let me out of his hold.

He held on, taking the hit.

I kept crying with my head buried on his chest, only to feel Dante's hand slide down from my head and take me by the chin.

He lifted my face up to his and stared into my eyes, seeing the amount of pain he caused me and how much I hate him for what he did.

I saw the way his brows narrowed with guilt, but I couldn't let it get to me, not even a bit.

"No," I repeated in a snivel, as the rain washed my tears, but not my pain.

Dante couldn't speak.

He had his eyes locked with mine, listening to me refuse his apology for the eighth time.

"I won't," I said, feeling his finger clinging on to my chin, keeping my face up, almost in his.

As he stared into my eyes for a brief second, Dante suddenly brought his face down, locking his lips with mine!

I was shaken by his action, watching in shock as he kissed and held on to me, refusing to let go when I tried to shake him off.

He kissed me deeply, reaching for my head, as both hands held on tenderly and passionately, like I was a piece that mustn't get lost.

His grip was nothing like that night. This time, he was careful and gentle like I was an egg meant to be handled with care, with... With love.

And his kiss... There was something about the way he handled my lips, because I could feel my fear vanishing.

"What are you doing to me, Dante Cross? Why was the very fear you planted in me, fleeing away just from your kiss?" That question lingered in my head, as I felt his lips parting from mine.

When we looked into each other's eyes, I no longer felt terrified of him.

I felt something else different.

What did he do to me?

.

My plan to end Dante failed. Instead, I contacted the commander and told him I found him.

My commander was shocked and began praising me, curious to know where exactly I found him.

"He was outside a donut stand. I guess he just wanted to have a snack," I lied, looking up, locking eyes with Dante.

He was leaning against a light pole, while I sat on the stairs of a closed shop, nursing my legs.

We had to leave that location all the police were searching for him, heading into another spot, four streets away.

My street is just at the other side, but I dare not take him near my apartment.

I still don't trust him, nor am I comfortable with him.

Even though some of my fear was gone, I'm still shaking inside, not knowing what his next move will be.

"All this calmness could be an act to deceive me. I have to be careful."

I told my commander where I was and he immediately sent a police car over to get me.

The person who showed up was John. He came as soon as he heard I was with Dante, parking his car close to the pole where the prison Boss stood.

"Val!" He called, jumping out of the car, rushing over to my point.

I smiled when I saw him, but Dante didn't look pleased.

He gave John a nasty glare, almost scaring him out of his skin.

"Are you okay? You're wet," John said, standing before me.

I smiled and nodded, telling him I was good.

He smiled back and turned to face an angry Dante, gulping down fearfully as he said to me, pulling out a cuff. "Can you do it? I really don't want to go near him."

"No problem," I agreed, grabbing his hand to get back on my feet.

I took the cuffs and walked over to Dante, who placed his hands forward without any argument, waiting for me to cuff him.

As the cuffs came on his wrists... "Are you coming with me?" He suddenly asked in a soft tone, making my heart skip.

My hands had shaken a little when I saw how he stared, with yearning eyes, desperately waiting for me to say yes.

I couldn't speak but lowered my head, cuffing him up and speaking to John, saying, "I'm coming down with you to the station. Can't leave this man alone with you."

I lifted my eyes at Dante, catching a faint smile on his face.