Fated To The Cursed Alpha Don

4. Get A Wife

Dante

Lenora storms in suddenly. Her face is burning with that self-righteous fire she gets whenever she’s about to scold me. She’s wearing one of those tailored suits she loves, black hair pulled back in some tight ponytail that screams authority.

I lean back and let out a slow, exasperated sigh. "Who the f**k let you in here?" My voice is low, barely a mumble, but I don’t even look at her. My eyes stay locked on the woman trembling in front of me.

Gabriella.

She’s f*****g gorgeous, even like this…hair damp and sticking to that stunning face, hazel eyes wide with terror, lips trembling with those short, panicked breaths.

“That’s enough, Dante,” Lenora snaps, pulling me out of my thoughts. “At this rate, you’ll kill her before she tells us where her father is.”

I glance at my aunt, annoyed but not surprised. Lenora’s one of the few people who dare talk to me like that and live to see the next day. She’s earned it, though, always been there for me, always loyal. Not like my father…her brother.

“And that’s exactly what I’m doing,” I say, dragging my fingers down Gabriella’s tear-streaked face. Her skin is soft, warm, and for a second, I’m tempted to see how much softer she’d feel under me.

Lenora crosses her arms. “She needs a break, Dante.”

“I don’t give a f*****g damn.” I let my hand drop and straighten up. “She’s the spawn of that bastard. Why the f**k should I care?”

Lenora sighs. “Anyway, I came to tell you that Andre’s back.”

That gets my attention. My fingers curl into fists at my sides. “Marco,” I bark, “take her down and chain her back to the wall.”

“Yes, sir,” Marco says, moving forward with the other men.

“Wait.” Lenora steps in, her hand brushing Gabriella’s forehead. She frowns and looks at me. “She’s burning up, Dante. She’s sick. She needs medical care.”

“She doesn’t deserve s**t,” I snap. “She’s here to suffer, not be taken care of.” I turn to Marco. “Do as I f*****g said or else—” I don’t even finish. He knows.

“Yes, sir,” Marco nods, already getting to work.

I’m about to leave when I hear her voice. Soft, broken, but loud enough to stop me in my tracks.

“Why are you doing this? What did my father do to you?”

Her hazel eyes meet mine, and for a second, I can’t f*****g move. Her chest is heaving, t**s rising and falling in a way that’s… distracting as hell. I want to grab them. Feel them. Squeeze until she’s moaning, begging me, or hell, maybe crying harder. I don’t give a f**k at this point.

But that thought? That s**t pisses me off. She’s the daughter of that bastard, Stefan Romano. I shouldn’t want her. I shouldn’t even care that she’s hanging here, looking so goddamn fragile, like she’s about to break under my gaze. But f**k, there’s something about her… something that gets under my skin.

“Answer me,” she begs. “Please… tell me what he did to you.”

I smirk, stepping closer. “I would’ve told you,” I say slowly, “but seeing how f*****g desperate you are for the truth is too satisfying. Why don’t you take a wild f*****g guess?”

Her lip trembles, and I wave my hand. “Take her down.”

I don’t wait to see her reaction. I walk out of the dungeon, Lenora trailing behind me. I can hear the sharp click of her heels, her anger practically radiating off her. She’s never really f*****g gotten it. That bleeding heart of hers…sympathetic, soft, always finds a way to piss me off.

“Dante, why are you doing this?” she demands once we’re in the living room.

I spin around, my patience snapping. “Why the f**k am I doing this? He killed my mother, and Mara’s out there suffering because of what that bastard did to her. My sister is broken, Lenora! And you’re f*****g asking me why I’m doing this?”

“Dante,” Lenora’s voice softens, but it just makes me angrier. “Even so… she’s innocent. And we need her!"

“I don't give a damn if we need her!” I say coldly, sinking into the couch. “I don’t give a damn if she’s innocent. My mother was innocent, my little sister was innocent…look what happened to her. I’m not stopping until Gabriella pays for everything her piece-of-s**t father did to my family. So take your pity and shove it, Lenora.”

Her lips tighten. Before the tension can boil over, Andre steps into the room and moves straight to me, dropping to his knees.

He’s one half of my right-hand men, Marco being the other. Out of all the bastards in this brutal world, they’re the rare ones I actually trust. Doesn’t mean I won’t f**k them up if they cross the line.

"Good afternoon, boss," he mutters, head bowed. He knows better than to meet my eyes. As the Don of the Moretti Mafia, my men know the rule—no one looks me in the eyes unless I say so. The last i***t who forgot that? Let’s just say he doesn’t have his eyes anymore.

“Did you find him?” I cut right to the point. No time for pleasantries.

“Yes, sir. Alessio was at… the woods with some friends,” he stutters, hesitating like he’s got more to say but knows better than to piss me off. “He claims that…”

“Shut the f**k up.” My voice slices through the air, and Andre flinches. “Are you trying to defend him?”

“No, sir! I mean… I’m sorry, sir.”

He’s trembling now, and I can’t help the smirk that tugs at my lips. Good. Fear keeps them in line.

“Where is he?”

“In his room, sir.”

“You can go. I’ll deal with Alessio later.”

“Yes, sir.” He scrambles to his feet and gets the hell out.

Lenora watches him leave before turning back to me. “You’re too hard on Alessio,” she says.

“He’s nineteen, Lenora. He’s still a f*****g child and will be treated as such.”

She rolls her eyes. “Stop being so dramatic. He’s not a kid anymore. Cut him some slack.”

“And I’m telling you, Lenora, he’s still a f*****g kid. Stop trying to change my mind. He’s in trouble, and I’m going to teach him a goddamn lesson in obedience.”

“Come on, Dante. You don’t need to punish him.”

“Lenora,” I lean forward, pinning her with a glare, “when are you going back to Italy?”

“Don’t change the subject,” she snaps. “We’re talking about your little brother right now.”

“Did he ask you to beg for him?” I cut her off, standing to my full height and looking down at her. “Too bad. Waste of f*****g time. He shouldn’t have disobeyed me.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but I’m done listening. My word is law, and Alessio’s about to learn that the hard way.

“Before you leave, you know why I’m here right?” Lenora says.

I let out a slow sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. Here we go.

“Dante, you need to get married. The elders of the Moretti Mafia are starting to side with your cousin, Antonio.”

I arch a brow. “Oh yeah? That’s what’s got their panties in a twist? Because Antonio tied the f*****g knot? News flash, everything is still the same.”

“That’s exactly why. You need to get married, Dante. Have an heir. Solidify your position as Don. Marry Gabriella Romano. She's the only one who can help us.”

I let out a low chuckle, but there’s no humor in it. “I don’t want to Lenora. If someone thinks they’ve got the balls to take my position, let ’em f*****g try. I’ll be waiting.”

I’m about to head back to the dungeon when Andre rushes in, panting like he’s run a marathon. He drops to his knees instantly. “Boss,” he gasps. “One of our clubs downtown just got blown up.”

“What? Who the f**k dares?”

“We don’t know yet.”

“Then find out,” I snap. “Whoever it is, bring them to me. Alive.”

“Yes, sir.” He hesitates, shifting uncomfortably.

“What now?”

“Gavi Romano and his men are here,” he whispers.

A cruel smile spreads across my face. “For his sister, Gabriella, I suppose.” I crack my neck, the anticipation already building. “Well, what the f**k are you waiting for? Bring them in.”