The helicopter ride back to the city felt heavier than the journey out. Elena leaned against Dante’s shoulder, his arm wrapped possessively around her waist. The weekend had been pure fantasy endless passion, whispered confessions, and a glimpse of what life with Dante could truly be. But as the glittering Manhattan skyline came into view, reality pressed down on her chest.
Dante noticed her tension. He tilted her chin up and kissed her slowly. “No second thoughts.”
“Not about you,” she whispered. “But everything else… it’s happening so fast.”
When they arrived at the penthouse, Elena’s phone was flooded with missed calls and messages from Marcus. The last one made her stomach drop:
Marcus: I know where you are. We need to talk. Now. Or I’m coming to his building.
Dante read the message over her shoulder, his body going rigid. “Let me handle this.”
“No,” Elena said firmly. “I need to end this properly. For closure.”
Two hours later, she met Marcus at a quiet café far from Dante’s territory. He looked terrible unshaven, eyes bloodshot with anger and pain. The moment she sat down, he slid divorce papers across the table.
“Sign them,” he said coldly. “And tell your criminal boyfriend to stop threatening me.”
Elena’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”
Marcus laughed bitterly. “Don’t play innocent. Two of my friends warned me to back off. People connected to Dante. He’s already trying to ruin my career.” He leaned forward. “Is this really what you want, Elena? To be the w***e of a mafia boss?”
The words stung, but Elena refused to flinch. “I was dying in our marriage, Marcus. You stopped seeing me years ago. Dante makes me feel alive.”
Marcus’s eyes filled with tears. “I loved you. I still do. But you’ve changed. You’re becoming like him.”
The meeting ended in painful silence. Elena signed the papers with a trembling hand and left without looking back. When she returned to the penthouse, Dante was waiting, dark energy radiating from him.
“How did it go?” he asked, pulling her into his arms.
“It’s done. I signed.”
Dante’s kiss was fierce and claiming. Within minutes, he had her bent over the back of the couch, dress hiked up around her waist. He thrust into her hard from behind, one hand fisted in her hair.
“You’re finally mine,” he growled with every powerful stroke. “No more husband. No more barriers.”
Elena moaned loudly, pushing back against him, lost in the pleasure and the dark thrill of her new reality. Dante f****d her with raw possession, slapping her ass and whispering how he would give her everything power, pleasure, protection.
Afterwards, as they lay in bed, Dante traced his fingers along her spine. “There’s something you should know. One of my rivals, the Rossi family no relation to you has been asking questions about the woman I’m keeping close. They see you as leverage.”
Elena tensed. “What does that mean?”
“It means you stay by my side at all times. No more solo meetings. No risks.” His voice dropped. “And if they try anything… I’ll paint the streets red.”
The casual violence in his tone no longer shocked her as much as it should. Instead, it made her feel strangely safe. Protected. Desired.
That night, Elena made a decision. While Dante was in his study handling business, she went through her old photos and messages, deleting years of memories with Marcus. When Dante returned, she was waiting for him wearing nothing but one of his expensive dress shirts.
“I’m ready,” she said softly. “To fully embrace this life. With you.”
Dante’s eyes darkened with pride and lust. He lifted her onto his desk and made love to her slowly, deeply, sealing their new beginning with every thrust and whispered vow.
But as they fell asleep in each other’s arms, neither knew that Marcus, consumed by rage and humiliation, had just made a very dangerous phone call.
A call to one of Dante’s biggest enemies.
The lines had blurred completely.
And war was coming.