Once, I had a high fever for a week straight, and Dante guarded me like a man possessed, wanting to lock me up in
the house.
If he hadn’t been buried in work, he never would have let me come here alone.
If I had known I would run into Joey and his scum, I never would have left Italy.
Dante’s gaze dropped to my torn dress, and a raw, unconcealable heartache flashed in his eyes.
He knelt and carefully helped me to my feet.
“It’s alright now.” His voice was soft, but in the dead silent hall, every person heard it clearly.
At a single glance from Dante, the clever boy immediately left my arms. “Papa, some lowlife hurt Mama.” His young voice was laced with a chilling coldness. “They need to pay.”
Dante took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, covering my torn dress.
Chapter 5
+25 BONUS
His face was terrifying and his voice was low, a terrifying calm before the storm. “I’m gone for five minutes,” he growled, “and some blind fool dares to lay a hand on my wife? Tell me who has a death wish.”
The hall was cold, but a current of warmth spread through my chest.
Though I sometimes found Dante’s possessiveness overwhelming, at this moment, I loved his insane protectiveness.
Under the dim lights of the hall, the bracelet I had dropped in the chaos glinted on the floor.
Matteo felt something hard under his foot, bent down, and picked up the sapphire. He held it up high. “Papa, isn’t this your family heirloom?”
Dante took the bracelet, saw the “DM” family crest engraved on it, the bloodstains on the floor, and me in my disheveled state.
This was a provocation against the Moretti family. This was a death sentence.
“Cut the music.”
Dante’s voice was devoid of emotion, each word landing like a death sentence.
Instantly, the entire hall was plunged into silence.
Hundreds of Mafia elites didn’t dare to breathe.
Angelo, seeing all this, still hadn’t grasped the situation.
He pointed at me and shouted to Vivian:
“Mama Vivian, look! She made that big shot angry!”
“Serves her right! She should have listened!”
Vivian tried to cover Angelo’s mouth, but it was too late. Her face was ashen, her legs weak.
Joey stood beside them, completely frozen in terror, unable to utter a word.
“Turn on every goddamn light!” Dante’s voice rose.
Under the harsh glare, Dante finally saw the red welts on my face.
“My love,” he whispered, his voice dangerously low. “Tell me who did this to you.”
He gently caressed my cheek. I looked at him and at the tiny Matteo beside him, and all the grievances I had suppressed erupted in that moment.
I couldn’t hold back the tears.
My voice broke. “You weren’t here,” I sobbed. “They all… they ganged up on me.”
