All Chapters of His Brother's Bride: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

(Dante's POV)The atmosphere in the Blackwood mansion was suffocating.Don Salvatore Blackwood sat in his high-backed chair, his face a mask of cold fury. At fifty-eight, he'd seen it all, but he never imagined his own sons would bring such shame upon the family.Across the long table, Dante’s older brother, Vincent, scowled at a stack of newspapers. Every front page was a variation of the same story."Chicago Mob Family Implicated in Bullying Scandal.""Blackwood Brothers Toy with Working-Class Girl.""The Dark Side of Power."Dante and Marco stood before the table like criminals awaiting sentencing."Do you have any idea what you've done?" Salvatore’s voice was low and dangerous. "The FBI is now looking into our businesses. Our friends in city hall are distancing themselves. Our company stocks have dropped thirty percent."Vincent slammed the papers on the table. "Twenty-four hours! In just twenty-four hours, you nearly destroyed decades of this family's work!""Father, we..." Dante

(Dante's POV)The harsh hospital lights burned Dante's eyes as he woke up, a thick bandage wrapped around his head.The door opened and Isabella walked in, her face an unwelcome sight. "Darling, you're finally awake," she cooed, rushing to his bedside.Dante stared at her, thinking of Rose's grandmother. It was this woman's fault."Dante, I have wonderful news," Isabella said, placing a hand on her flat stomach. "I'm pregnant. With your baby. You have to take care of me."The thought of her stomach only reminded him of the child Rose had lost. He let out a cold laugh and pulled a thick folder from the nightstand, tossing it at her."You sure it's mine?" Dante's voice was like a blade. "Or are you just picking a father from one of these dozen guys?"Isabella's hands trembled as she opened the folder. It was filled with photos and records of her sordid affairs—hotel check-ins, pictures with other men, surveillance shots from clubs."You... you had me investigated?""I just wanted to see

A week later, there was a commotion at the camp. I ran outside to see two federal agents carrying a third. The man being carried had a blood-soaked arm.It was Alex."What happened?" I rushed over, my heart in my throat."Ambush. Bullet grazed his arm, lost some blood," his partner, Johnson, explained. "Miss Rose, you got medical supplies?""Yes, this way!"I led them to the medical tent. Alex was pale but conscious. He even managed a weak smile when he saw me. "Broke my promise. Sorry for worrying you.""Don't talk." My hands trembled as I inspected his wound. I took a deep breath and forced myself to be calm, cleaning the gash."This might sting a little.""It's fine," Alex said, his eyes locked on my face. "With you here, it doesn't hurt at all."My face flushed, but I kept working, applying ointment and wrapping the bandage. My grandmother had been a nurse and taught me the basics."You're a natural at this," Johnson remarked."My grandmother taught me.""All done," I said, steppin

The next evening, Dante came to find me. He looked stronger. "Rose, we need to talk.""If it's about your health, talk to the doctor," I said, not looking up from the supplies I was organizing."It's not about my health," he said, stepping in front of me. "Rose, I need to apologize. For everything."I finally looked at him. "Apologize?""Yes," Dante's eyes were full of regret. "Isabella lied to me. She told me you bullied her in school. I was a fool to believe her. Rose, I never loved her. It was always you."I set down the bandages and laughed, a cold, empty sound. "She lied to you?""Yes, and I—""Enough," I cut him off. "Dante, let me ask you one question."He held his breath."The night my grandmother was dying, where were you?"His face went white."I... I was at home...""With who?""Isabella... she..." his voice trailed off."Then what is there to explain?" My voice was like ice. "My grandmother wanted to see you one last time, and you were busy in bed with Isabella, weren't you

Three months later, gunfire erupted again.I was huddled in the corner of an abandoned warehouse, clutching my camera as bullets whizzed overhead. The interview had gone south. We'd stumbled into a drug deal."Rose! Get down!"A familiar voice cut through the chaos. I turned, and couldn't believe my eyes.Dante and Marco were charging toward me, guns blazing, laying down cover fire."Dammit, she's hit!" Marco cursed, seeing the blood on my arm."Rose, can you walk?" Dante knelt beside me, quickly assessing the wound.I looked at them, a storm of complicated feelings swirling inside me. "I can walk," I said flatly.They covered me as we broke through the firefight. By the time we reached safety, Marco's shoulder had a bullet hole in it, and a ricochet had gashed Dante's cheek."Your injuries..." I started to say."It's nothing," Dante shook his head. "Yours is more serious. We need to treat it now."They patched me up with practiced, gentle hands. They had both lost weight and looked ex