VICIOUS DEVOTION

CHAPTER TWELVE : The Threat

The Palace – Three Days Later

The letter arrived at dawn.

A single white envelope, sealed with red wax. No return address. No stamp. Just her name—Princess Serafina Valerius—written in elegant, chilling calligraphy.

Commander Voss brought it to her personally. His face was grim.

"Your Highness, I think you should read this alone."

She took the envelope. She opened it.

Inside was a single photograph.

Her. Walking in the Lower Ward. Alone. Unaware.

The photo was taken from behind. Close enough that the photographer could have touched her.

On the back was a single sentence: "We know where she goes. We know when she's alone. Call off the engagement, or she dies."

Serafina's hands trembled.

She looked up at Voss. "Where is Dante?"

"On his way, Your Highness. We sent word the moment the letter arrived."

---

Dante arrived within the hour.

He stormed into her study, his face a mask of cold fury. He took one look at the photograph, and something in him snapped.

"Marchetti," he hissed. "I knew it."

He pulled out his phone, dialed a number.

"Enzo. Lock down the city. Every safehouse. Every warehouse. Every border crossing. The Marchettis are making a move." He paused. "And send the signal. It's time."

He hung up.

"What signal?" Serafina asked.

He turned to her. His eyes were dark, burning with a fire she had never seen before.

"I'm calling a meeting of the families. Every crime syndicate in the region. And I'm going to make them choose."

"Choose what?"

"Choose sides." He walked toward her, his voice low and dangerous. "The Marchettis want war? Fine. I'll give them war. But I won't do it alone. I'm going to gather every ally I have, and I'm going to destroy them. Completely. Utterly. No mercy."

He reached her, cupping her face in his hands.

"But first, I need to know you're safe. I need to know you're protected. Because if anything happens to you—"

"It won't," she said fiercely. "I'm not a damsel, Dante. I'm a warrior. And I'm not going to let anyone use me to hurt you."

He kissed her. Hard. Desperate.

"I know," he whispered. "That's why I love you."