All Chapters of Under his protection : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

AriaDante had said we could stay at the safe house for a couple of days before we had to move. It’s not like I was excited or anything, but as promised, I did get a new phone. One that came with many rules. I wasn’t allowed to call anyone from my old life. That wouldn’t be hard considering I didn’t have any friends. They said Lola was back from maternity leave, so she was running the library. At least some good news.I really hope we can resolve this issue soon so I can get back to my real life.Dante had barely spoken to me all day, just brooding in his room. I never understood his mood swings. One minute he’s all “let me protect you,” another minute he couldn’t be bothered about things I do.Maybe he was working. The sooner he figures out this mess, the better. But I was hungry, and I wasn’t about to try to make dinner.Mustering all the courage I had, I casually walked to the door of his room and knocked.At first, there was no answer, so I did it again.“Come in.” Even though I w

AriaIt’s been two days since I’ve been here, and those two days have been the worst. Alice has made it her life’s mission to make my life a living hell. No matter how much I try to avoid her, she always finds new and improved ways to torture me. Fortunately, the bruise on my face was starting to fade, the angry purple had been replaced with a dull yellow, but that was just about the only good thing going for me.Dante hadn’t replied to any of my messages. I figured he was busy or maybe he had more important things to do but that didn’t stop the annoyance I felt every time I checked my phone.I was almost done getting ready for the day when I heard a soft knock on the door.“Come in,” I called out.Gemma walks in fully dressed and slumps on the bed.I laughed. “It’s not even 8 yet and you seem already tired.”Gemma and I have grown real close in the last couple of days.“Ughhhh,” she groaned. “Everyone is so tense, since the Don is coming today apparently.”I froze.We hadn’t seen eac

DanteShe didn’t say anything at first, simply unfolding her arms and dropping them to her sides.“You can’t say that,” she whispered.“I know,” I replied.“I reached out,” she continued, and I was quiet, finally looking up at me. “You didn’t reply.”“I wanted to,” I said, leaning closer.Time stood still.Just both of us, no distractions, nothing to stop us.Then her eyes moved towards the ring on my finger, and suddenly it felt too heavy.Aria took a step back.“Have you found anything about the men that attacked the house?” she started, folding her arms across her chest again.“Not yet,” I replied. My mask slipped back in place.“Hmmm,” she hummed, thinking for a moment before asking, “How would this work?”“I don’t understand.”“Finding your wife is clearly your priority now, and I don’t intend to keep working for you forever.” Her voice was firm.“You think you are doing me any favors?” Surprise evident in my voice.“All this,” I paused, “is to keep you safe.”“I never asked you

DanteI reached for my gun the moment I noticed his hand move.I didn’t think or hesitate.I simply pulled the trigger.The sound of the gunshot echoed through the room, and his body dropped instantly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor as he fell.Silence.No one moved or spoke.My gaze never left Aria as she stood frozen beside Paolo’s dead body.Something in me twisted and I saw red, not at what I did but for not doing it sooner and letting her be in the same space with a man like him.Slowly and deliberately, I lowered my gun.From the corner of my eyes, I could see Franco smiling. The bastard lives for things like this.“Clean that up,” I said calmly.Two guards rushed to drag Paolo's lifeless body away, while someone else moved to clean up the mess.Dinner resumed like nothing had happened.They knew better than to question their Don, especially now.“Aria.” My voice was loud and firm.The chatter quieted but didn’t stop completely.She turned to face me but didn’t move

Dante“She’s never going to agree to this,” Adriano said.“I would not give her much of a choice.”“You are going to force her?” Disbelieve was evident in his voice.“Given the situation, it’s the only way to protect her, and you know that,” I replied.I had spent almost the entire day with Aria. We basically just ate ice cream and watched movies. It was something she needed considering all she had been through.Adriano had called me to discuss tomorrow’s meeting. I didn’t think it was necessary, considering I already had a plan, but I decided to indulge him.“This is crazy, even for you,” he said, leaning back into his chair. “You can’t marry her, you have a wife.”“I can do whatever I want,” I replied.Aria would never agree willingly, so I knew I had my work cut out for me.The Capos aren’t going to let this one go easily. Killing one of them in public was bold and disrespectful, and for a maid, no less. I knew them, they would request for her to be executed, and if I refused, they