Chapter 6

Dante

I slammed the door behind me, hard enough to make the walls shake. My thoughts were all over the place as I strode down the hallway.

I couldn’t believe that Federico brought home a woman. A fucking woman. And as if that wasn’t enough of a joke, she showed up with a daughter too.

As if on cue, she walked past me, avoiding my eyes as much as she could. Like a predator I could sense the emotion she was feeling. It was clear that she was afraid.

Good.

Fear was useful. Fear kept people in check and I don’t mind going through the extra mile to make sure she fucking fears me for the rest of her life.

But as that thought settled in my head, my eyes dropped catching a glimpse of her slender hips as she turned down the hallway that led her room.

“Nice body,” I muttered under my breath. “But that face…”

It was too soft and too sweet. Not the kind of girl I fucked with. Not the kind that survived in my world.

I shoved that thought aside and stepped into my father’s oversized office without knocking. The bastard was lounging with a glass of bourbon, acting like this was a normal Wednesday. His back was to me, as he stared out the tall windows like some goddamn king.

He tilted his head, eyes on me. “Did you hear the news?”

I leaned back. “Yeah. That instead of handling business and expanding our hold in the city, you were busy balls-deep in some woman.

He turned, unbothered. “Dante.”

“Don’t. Don’t say my name like we’re good.” I moved to the center of the room, letting every ounce of rage vibrate through my bones.

He raised his brow. “Is this a way to welcome your father?”

“You know I missed you!” He added.

I chuckled. Bitterly. “Come on old man drop the whole nice father act it’s just me and you in this damn office of yours!”

My father furrowed his brows, then he turned his back to the window. I knew what he was doing. He was fucking trying to ignore me.

“She seems nice, isn’t she?” he said. “Maria. She’s elegant. I’m sure you must have met her and her daughter —Melanie. You will learn to like them.”

He was talking like I was still thirteen. Like he was trying to explain to me that the hooker he brought home was just a friend after I heard them fucking in his room.

“I’m not going to learn shit because I don’t give a fuck about the charity case into this house like we needed another fucking project.”

“They are not charity cases,” he snapped, I could already see the heat building up in his eyes.

“That’s not what I’m seeing Federico!” My voice rose.

“You know, now that I’m looking at this on a deeper level, it seems you brought them here to replace the family you broke.” I sneered. “Am I right?”

His jaw tensed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about.” I stepped closer, my voice lowering. “You killed Mom. With your affairs. Your lies. You tore this family apart, and now you think you get a do-over?”

Federico’s nostrils flared. “Watch yourself.”

I smirked. “Or what? You’ll hit me like you used to? Go ahead, old man.”

His glass slammed against the table, bourbon sloshing. “I’m not going down that road Dante, and these people. They have done nothing to you—”

“Of course not!” I cut him off. “My problem is with you, not them, but anyone who is tangled up in Federico’s world would always be an enemy of mine.”

"If you do anything stupid—"

"What?" I stepped close. "You’ll strip me of everything you gave me? I never needed your handouts. Keep your money, your name. I’ll burn every bridge if it means watching you suffer. I’m never going to let you get your happy ending because you stole mine from me.”

His expression cracked, just a little. I saw guilt and grief take over his face, but it didn’t last long. Nothing ever lasted for a long time when it came to Federico. He was a sick bitter man who strived through life without emotions.

That was one thing I had gotten from him. One thing I hated but it ended up being my greatest weapon.

"You need to let the past die, Dante." Federico’s voice tore into my thoughts.

"I can’t fucking let the past die," I said, voice flat. "Not when it lives in my goddamn bloodstream.”

“Dante…”

“I will not let you pretend this is some fairy tale,” I growled, cutting him off. “You’re not getting a second chance or a fucking redemption.“

He stared at me, fists clenched at his sides. But he didn’t speak and that was because he knew I was right.

I turned and stormed out, my muscles tightening at each step I took. As I hit the front steps, Leonardo nearly ran into me.

“Dante,” he said, adjusting his shirt, looking like he’d just crawled out of bed. “Have you heard the news?”

“He brought a new project!”

Leonardo wasn’t shocked by my words. He maintained a steady gaze as he spoke. “You should be happy. Your father’s finally moving on. He’s trying, maybe this might be a sign that he is changing.”

“Trying,” I repeated, with venom in my voice. “Trying is not enough.“

Leonardo frowned. “Why do you say that?”

I pulled out a cigarette, lit it with one hand, and took a long drag. Smoke curled up into the air like a silent scream. This was the only way to stop the thoughts in my mind from consuming me.

“You can never understand,” I said quietly. “And even if you do. You would still worship Federico because he had taken you in when you lost your father. He gave you a job, gave you status, and gave your sister a new life. You can never see the monster that he is.”

Leonardo looked like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.

He just nodded and stepped aside. I walked past him taking more drags from my cigarette. Midway down the stone steps, my phone buzzed.

I looked down at the screen, and a satisfied look took over my face. I had been waiting for this call all week.

I picked up the cell without hesitating.

“Do you have what I need?” I asked and Aaron answered with a simple yes.

“I’m on my way.”

I killed the cigarette, flicked it onto the pavement, and climbed into the driver’s seat of my matte-black Camaro. The engine roared to life beneath my fingers.

As I pulled out of the estate, headlights cut through the early dusk. The anger I felt within had finally disappeared.

When I reached the old steel factory near the water’s edge, I spotted Aaron standing near his truck, wearing an expression that made it seem like he had somewhere better to be.

“Here’s it!” he said, handing me a folder as I got closer to him.

“Is this everything?” I asked.

He nodded, and smirked curled up my lips.

“Good.”

Then my voice dropped to a whisper. “Let’s make sure my father pays for every damn thing.”