CHAPTER 2
1105 Words
Only two people stood at the grave.
I was drenched in rain, wearing a borrowed black dress stained with mud and grief.
And Dante De Luca impossibly still beneath a black umbrella, dressed like the devil attending a funeral.
There were no mourners. Don't condole. Not even the De Luca family.Just the priest mumbling Latin while gravediggers smoked nearby.
Dante hadn't spoken since the shooting. Just stared at the coffin with a clenched jaw like he was actually mourning my father's death.
“Pathetic.” He was the one who wanted him dead in the first place. Now he stood there pretending to care.
I was lost in thought, haunted by the image of the masked shooter. Who was he? And what had my father been about to tell me before that explosion? I had questions. Too many.
Matteo whispered something to Dante that turned his face to ice.
"I need to attend to something important, Eleanor. Matteo and I will leave now. Lucas will stay behind and drive you home."
He didn't wait for my response—just turned and walked away, like I wasn't worth another second.
I sighed, watching his car disappear into the mist, then turned back to the grave.
"What's going on, Father? This is too much..." I whispered.
“Eleanor.”
A familiar voice.
“Kade,” I breathed, rushing into his arms. The tears I'd held back fell in heavy waves.
He kissed my forehead, his hand warmed on my back.
“I’m sorry, Eleanor.”
"I'm sorry too, Kade. I had no choice. I never wanted this. I love you."
He hugged me tighter.
"I'll get you out of this. I swear. We'll be together again."
He leaned in for a kiss, but I stopped him.
"Don't. Dante will kill you if he finds out. His men are watching."
Lucas stepped forward, eyes cold, hand twitching near his jacket.
“Leave now, Kade,” I whispered.
Kade looked at Lucas defiantly. “You think I'm scared of him?”
That was enough. Lucas charged forward and punched Kade hard in the jaw, sending him sprawling. Kade tried to retaliate, but Lucas pulled out his gun.
“You touch Dante's wife again, you die.”
“Stop!” I stepped in front of Kade. “Please don't shoot.”
Lucas paused, then lowered the gun reluctantly.
“Kade, go. Please.”
Kade stood, rubbing his jaw. "I'll come for you, Eleanor. Tell Dante I'm going to kill him."
Then he left.
“I'm sorry,” I told Lucas quickly. “He didn't mean it.”
Lucas just grunted. "The boss is waiting. We should go."
Meanwhile at the De Luca Estate...
Dante walked into the mansion, Matteo behind him.
“Dante,” a voice called from the grand staircase.
It was Damian, his younger brother grinning like he'd just stepped off a movie set.
"Hey big bro! What took your sweet time?. The spies are downstairs Matteo's little guests, I assume?" He said with a smirk
"Handle them for now. I'll join you shortly," Dante replied.
Matteo nodded then disappeared.
Dante raised an eyebrow. “I got married today. She's arriving soon.”
Damian's jaw dropped. "Wait, married?! To who? When?! Why wasn't I invited?! Oh my God, I hope she's not a lunatic like the last girl i dated."
Dante was already walking away. “You'll meet her soon.”
Damian blinked after him. “He's going to kill me with these surprises one day.”
In the Torture Room...
Dante stepped into the room. The spies tied to the chairs went dead silent. Blood stained the floor. Fear thickened the air.
One of the spies, broken and bleeding, looked up.
“The Viper,” he said weakly. “I'll never talk.”
Dante held out his hand. Matteo placed a red-hot blade into it without a word.
The spy's bravado vanished.
Dante stabbed the knife into the man's eye, dragging it down his cheek. The screams echoed off stone walls.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!" the second man cried.
"My name is Francisco, Kelvin paid us to spy on you. He says his backed by someone strong. Said you wouldn't dare touch us."
Matteo laughed. “Well, he was wrong.”
Francisco's voice shook. "Please, I didn't want to do it. Forgive me, Viper."
Dante ignored him. He shoved the blade into the first man's chest—missing the heart but making sure it hurt.
Then he turned to Francisco.
“Was Kelvin or his boss involved in Sebastian Cross's dealth?”
"I...I don't know. But I heard them talk about you and Sebastian... something about a key."
Dante wiped his hands clean. "You'll live. You'll carry a message."
He faced Matteo. "Don't kill him. But the other one? Finish him"
Then he left the room.
Back at the Mansion...
I arrived with Lucas. As much as I hated myself for it... I was impressed. The estate was beautiful, grand, and cold in a way that matched its owner.
A young man met me at the door. Bright smile. Warm energy.
“You must be my sister-in-law!”
I blinked. “Uh, yes…Eleanor.”
He smiled wider and took my hand.
"I'm Damian, Dante's brother. I would've shown up for the wedding, but guess who found out ten minutes ago?" He rolled his eyes and laughed.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, actually smiling a little.
"Lucas, bro you can leave. I'll take it from here," Damian said, still beaming.
Lucas nodded and left.
“Come on, I'll show you your room,” Damian said, spinning on his heel like a tour guide. “Don't worry, no dungeons or chains... yet.”
He opened the door to my room.
The room was mostly designed with black decor.
"Of course. My brother thinks he's Batman." He winked.
"Dante's busy now, but he'll come later. Don't worry, I'll be nearby if you need anything, just yell 'Damian the Charming' three times."
I couldn't help but laugh. “Thanks, Damian.”
"No problem. Try not to punch him. Or do. He could use it." He winked and left.
I closed the door, finally alone. The wardrobe was half filled with Dante's things. The other half... were mine. My exact style. My size.
He'd been planning this.
I shivered.
After a shower, I emerged in just a bathrobe. I'd barely reached for a dress when the door opened.
Dante. Bloodstained clothes. Cold eyes.
He stared at me. I backed away slowly until I hit the wall.
He walked toward me. No words. No emotion. Just danger.
God help me.
- Writer
