CHAPTER 10
1238 Words
Kelvin’s face turned pale. His eyes darted to his sleeping son in Dante’s arms as sweat rolled down his entire body like a silent confession.
He dropped to his knees.
“The Viper… please… I was foolish. Please spare my son. He’s just a child,” he begged, his voice trembling.
Dante smirked. He gently caressed the boy’s head, his touch almost… tender. “You have a very sweet family, Kelvin,” he said calmly. “A loyal mother… and a smart son.”
His lips curved faintly.
“In your absence, we had quite the conversation. Funny enough, your son Leonardo is a big fan of mine.”
His gaze darkened. “But his foolish father thought he had protection… thought he could play games with me.”
Dante carefully placed the boy on the sofa.
Then he turned.
Kelvin’s body shook violently, his leg trembling uncontrollably under Dante’s shadow.
Dante squatted in front of him, locking eyes. “No one can save you from me, Kelvin. Not God. Not the Devil.”
A pause.
“The only person who can save you… is me.”
Kelvin swallowed hard.
“Your guards,” Dante continued softly, “the ones meant to protect you… ran the moment they saw me.”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“I haven’t had time for you lately. I’ve been… busy with my cupcake.”
His voice dropped.
“Now tell me… who are you working for?”
“I….I don’t really know him,” Kelvin stammered. “We call him Ressurgi. I don’t know what he wants from you, but… he’s dangerous. I could feel it… I could see it.”
Dante’s expression shifted slightly.
“Ressurgi…” he muttered. “What does he look like?”
“He always wore sunglasses… rough-looking… mid-forties, maybe. That’s all I know.
Dante clenched his jaw. “I don’t recognize him.”
He leaned closer.“Did he ever mention the name Sebastian Cross?”
Kelvin hesitated.“The man who was murdered in your presence?”
“Yes.”
Kelvin nodded slowly. “He mentioned him once… the day he died.”
Dante’s grip tightened on Kelvin’s collar.
“What did he say?”
Kelvin’s lips trembled. “He said… ‘Noir has risen. No one can stop me… not you, Dante… or Sebastian Cross.’”
Silence.
Dante froze.
His face twisted in disbelief.
“Noir…?” he whispered. “It can’t be…”
Before he could continue, his phone rang.
Matteo.
Dante hesitated for a split second before answering.
“Dante,” Matteo’s voice came through, tense. “Your wife just left the mansion. Said she was visiting her uncle, but she slipped past the guards.”
Dante’s grip tightened. “Thanks for informing me.”
He ended the call immediately.
He checked the tracker.
His eyes narrowed.“What is she doing… alone?”
Bing.
A message popped up.
“Eleanor was contacted by someone claiming to know her father.”
Dante’s expression darkened instantly.
Realization struck like lightning.
“This is a setup.”
His voice turned cold. “Me being here… leaving her unguarded…”
His eyes snapped to Kelvin.“He was never after me.”
A dangerous whisper: “He was after her.”
Dante grabbed Kelvin by the neck and lifted him slightly.“You were just a pawn in Noir’s game.”
His grip tightened.“If anything happens to her… you won’t live long enough to see your son again.”
He threw him to the ground.
Kelvin coughed violently.
Dante didn’t look back.
Dante stormed into his car and dialed Matteo again.
“He’s back, Mat… Noir. He’s back.”
“What?! That’s impossible—”
“I’m sending you her location. Get to her now.”
“I’m on it.”
Call ended.
Dante gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“You’re in trouble, Cupcake…”
ELEANOR’S POV
The street was almost deserted.
Only the faint chirping of birds filled the silence.I clutched the gun I had stolen from the guard, my hands slightly shaking.
Fear sat in my chest… but I needed answers.
I checked the address again. This was it.
An abandoned church.
I stepped inside.
Cobwebs stretched across the corners. Dust coated every surface. The air felt… forgotten.
“Why would he choose a place like this?” I whispered.
“You’re finally here.”
I spun around instantly, raising my gun.
A man stood there.
Black shades. Cowboy hat. Half his face hidden.
He smiled.
“Calm down. No need for the gun.”
I fired.The bullet hit the ground near his leg.
“Stay back. Start talking.”
He chuckled. “You’re starting to act like your husband. Seems he’s teaching you well.”
I tightened my grip. “I don’t have time for games. Talk… or I leave.”
“Alright.”He dusted a chair casually and sat down.
“Sebastian died… and took many secrets with him.”
He lit a cigar.
“Oh, and… I’m Ressurgi.” Smoke curled into the air.
“Forgive me, Lord, for smoking in your house… but it’s abandoned, so—deal with it.”
I frowned.
“What secrets?”
He stood and walked toward me slowly.
Until my gun pressed against his chest.
“Ask yourself something first,” he whispered.
“Are you ready to know the truth?”
“Don’t play with me.”
He smiled faintly. “Did you know your father once fell into a ten-million-dollar debt… because of his brother?”
My eyes widened.
I didn’t.
“But somehow… that debt disappeared. Just like that. No trace.”
My voice dropped.“How?”
He leaned closer.“That’s all I know.”
Before I could respond—
Engines roared outside.
My heart jumped.
Dante.
Ressurgi sighed. “I should leave. Your husband isn’t my biggest fan… and the feeling is mutual.”
He turned..
“How dare you!”
Dante’s voice thundered through the church.
Ressurgi stopped… then smirked. “Dante. Nice to finally meet you.”
“Stay away from my wife.”
Matteo rushed in, disarmed me swiftly, and pulled me back.
“Let’s go.” “Let go of me! I don’t need you!”
“Careful with her,” Ressurgi said casually. “I was only having a conversation with an old friend’s daughter.”
Then he called out…
“Eleanor.”
I froze.
“The man who killed your father… is closer than you think.”
My breath caught.
Matteo dragged me out.
Dante stepped closer to him.
“You should stay away from her…”
He pause.
“…Noir.”
For a split second—
Ressurgi’s expression cracked, then he smiled. “Impressive. I underestimated you, Viper.”
He leaned in slightly.
“I know you too, Dante. I know why you married her.”
He whisper:
“You’re just like her father… hiding secrets from her.”
Dante’s jaw tightened.
“I’ve risen to reclaim what’s mine,” Noir said coldly. “You can’t stop me.”
Dante’s voice dropped to something lethal. “I’ll send you back to hell.”
He turned and walked away.
Noir stood still, fists clenched.
Then slowly…
he smiled.
“You prepared for my return, my love…”
His voice softened dangerously.“I’m here to stay this time.”
“And he can’t stop me.”
- Writer
