Chapter 10: The Meeting
856 Words
Dante left before dawn.
Elena woke to an empty bed. The sheets were cold where he had been.
She sat up. Her body ached from the night before. But the ache was sweet.
A note was on the pillow.
*"Stay inside. Do not leave the house. I will return."*
She held the note to her chest. Then she got dressed and went downstairs.
Rosa was in the kitchen. She looked at Elena with knowing eyes.
"He left an hour ago."
"I know."
"Are you worried?"
"Yes."
Rosa poured her coffee. "He's survived worse. He'll come back."
Elena wanted to believe that.
---
The morning crawled.
Elena tried to read. Could not focus. Tried to train. Could not concentrate.
Every sound made her jump. Every phone call made her heart race.
At noon, she went to the study. Sat behind Dante's desk. Stared at his chair.
She prayed he would come back.
At 2 PM, the phone rang.
Elena grabbed it. "Hello?"
"Elena." Dante's voice. Tired but alive.
"You're okay."
"I'm okay. The meeting is over. I'm coming home."
"What happened?"
"Tell you when I see you."
He hung up.
Elena sank into the chair. Tears of relief filled her eyes.
---
He walked through the door at 5 PM.
His suit was rumpled. There was a bruise forming on his jaw. But he was alive.
Elena ran to him. Threw her arms around him.
"You're bleeding."
"It's nothing."
She touched his jaw. He flinched.
"That's not nothing."
Dante pulled her close. "The meeting was a trap. Just like we expected."
"What happened?"
"They wanted to negotiate. I told them there was nothing to negotiate. The Rossi family owes me. They'll pay."
"And the bruise?"
"One of them got a hit in. I broke his arm."
Elena shook her head. "You're impossible."
"So you've said."
---
They sat in the study. Dante poured himself a drink.
"The Rossi family won't stop. This was a warning. The next time, they'll bring more men."
"Then we need more men."
"I have more men. But the Rossi family has allies. Powerful ones."
"Then we need allies too."
Dante looked at her. "You sound like a mob boss."
"I sound like someone who wants to keep you alive."
He set down his glass. Took her hands.
"I'm not easy to kill."
"I know. But I'd rather not test that theory."
---
That night, they ate dinner in the kitchen.
Rosa made pasta. Garlic bread. Salad.
Elena ate hungrily. She hadn't realized how hungry she was.
"The Rossi family mentioned you," Dante said quietly.
Elena's fork stopped. "What did they say?"
"They said they knew about us. They said they would use you against me."
"Let them try."
Dante looked at her. "You're not afraid?"
"I'm terrified. But I'm more afraid of losing you."
He reached across the table. Took her hand.
"I won't let them hurt you."
"I know."
---
After dinner, they walked through the garden.
The stars were bright. The air was cool.
"Elena."
"Yes?"
"If something happens to me—"
"Nothing is going to happen to you."
"If something happens, I want you to run. Take Rosa. Go to the safe house. Don't look back."
Elena stopped walking. Turned to face him.
"I'm not running, Dante. Not from you. Not from them."
"You're stubborn."
"I learned from the best."
He kissed her. Slow. Deep.
"I don't deserve you."
"Probably not. But you have me anyway."
---
They sat on the bench. The same bench where they had watched the stars before.
"I never thought I would have this," Dante said.
"Have what?"
"Someone who cares. Someone who stays."
"You never let anyone stay."
"I know. But you didn't give me a choice."
Elena smiled. "That's because you're impossible."
"So you've said."
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Tomorrow, we train. Tomorrow, we prepare. Tomorrow, we fight."
"Tonight, we rest."
"Tonight, we rest."
They sat in silence, holding hands.
The enemy was still out there. The danger was still real.
But in this moment, there was only peace.
And for Elena, that was everything.
---
Later, in his room, they lay in each other's arms.
"Tell me something about yourself," Dante said. "Something no one else knows."
Elena was quiet for a moment.
"My mother used to sing to me. Every night before bed. I don't remember the songs. But I remember her voice."
"What happened to her?"
"Sickness. When I was twelve. My father couldn't handle it. He started gambling to escape. Lost everything."
"I'm sorry."
"It made me strong. It made me who I am."
Dante pulled her closer.
"You're the strongest person I know."
"I'm just surviving."
"No. You're thriving. There's a difference."
Elena kissed his chest.
"Tell me something about you. Something no one else knows."
Dante was quiet for a long moment.
"I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"Of losing you."
Elena looked up at him. His gray eyes were vulnerable.
"You're not going to lose me."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
He kissed her forehead.
They slept in each other's arms.
Tomorrow, the fight would continue.
But tonight, they had each other.
And that was enough.
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