A Dark Dance

Chapter 9

I turned in Dante’s arms, his breath hot on my cheek as he slept, curled up against me and holding me possessively. His hold was gentle but firm, making it hard to ignore the comfort it offered, as well as the underlying claim. The way his arm draped over my waist, fingers lightly trailing along my skin even in sleep, made something inside me ache and yearn for more. A part of me wants to stay here, to let him claim me—not just in this moment, but in all the ones yet to come. But I can’t bring myself to be a possession to anyone. No matter how much I wanted him, no matter how deeply the desire burrowed into my chest, my resolve held firm. I am my own person, and I refuse to lose myself in someone else.

Carefully, I slip out from under his arm and quietly dress, moving with measured steps so as not to disturb him. I paused for a moment, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, the way his hair fell over his brow, so peaceful and unguarded. There was a tenderness there that made my heart clench, but I knew I couldn’t stay. I thank god that I’d already packed and was ready to go. The house was still quiet; my family had yet to come home. That gave me pause for a moment and I glanced back at Dante, willing to bet he had some hand at that. Perhaps he’d arranged things to give him the privacy to seduce me into accepting him. The silence felt heavy, laden with all the unspoken words and unfinished conversations.

Shoulders set, I grab my purse and head out. I closed the door softly behind me, the click echoing down the empty hallway. Outside, the morning air was cool and fresh, brushing against my skin and clearing my mind.. As I drove away, the memories lingered, bittersweet and beautiful.

##Dante

I came to slowly, the haze of sleep lingering as I tried to orient myself, painfully aware that Viola was no longer in the bed with me. Her absence registered like a physical ache, the warmth she’d left behind already fading against the sheets. For a moment, I lay there listening intently, straining to catch the sound of her footsteps or the quiet hum of water running in the bathroom. I hoped, almost desperately, that she was still somewhere in the house. But deep down, I knew she wasn’t. The silence was too complete, too final. A sense of dread crept in, twisting in my chest as I realized she had gone. Cursing under my breath, I sat up quickly. The door was closed softly, her absence echoing in the empty space around me, and I was left with nothing but the lingering scent of her perfume and the ache of memories already slipping away.

“Dammit,” I cursed, throwing the blankets aside as I stood, dressing quickly.

I hurried to my car, phone in hand, snapping at Marco, “Where did she go?”

He replied groggily, “Boss? I thought you had it covered, so I took a nap.”

A growl rises up in my chest and I speak through gritted teeth, frustration twisting my features as the reality of Viola’s absence settles over me. The urge to tear apart the city and demand answers clashes with the need to keep my composure, and instead, I focus my anger into the phone. “She snuck out,” I spit, barely keeping my voice level. “Have someone watch her job, discreetly. I don’t want her scared off, but I need to know where she’s going, who she’s talking to. Nothing obvious. I want updates if she so much as steps out for coffee.”

“Got it, boss,” Marco says, the sound of his engine sputtering to life in the background as he starts up his car just as the call disconnects. I stare at my phone for a moment, jaw clenched, the silence amplifying the tension swirling inside me. I don’t like losing control, especially not when it comes to Viola. Her leaving without a word left me raw and restless, and I wasn’t about to let her slip away unnoticed. If she thought she could disappear from my world that easily, she was sorely mistaken.

As I reach my car, the chilly morning air bites at my skin, fueling my determination. I start the engine, my thoughts consumed by the need to find her, to understand why she left, and to make sure she stays in my orbit, whether she wants to or not.

Driving back to my mansion, I call my brother, my grip tightening on the steering wheel as the city unfurls before me in the pale morning light. The familiar ache of frustration gnaws at me, making every mile feel longer than the last. “I’m going to be late for the meeting with the team leaders at the company,” I announce, my voice clipped, betraying the storm still brewing inside me. The houses and storefronts blur past, but my mind is elsewhere, replaying every moment from earlier, searching for a sign, a reason.

My brother chuckles on the other end, the sound warm but tinged with exasperation. “I’m guessing your little baby mama isn’t with you, if the irritation in your voice is any clue.” He always knows how to read between the lines, and I can almost see him leaning back in his chair, a smirk on his lips as he waits for my response. The familiarity of his teasing should be comforting, but right now it only sharpens the edge of my mood.

I groan, eyes narrowing on the road as I drive, the morning air cold against the window, matching the chill settling in my chest. “No. Just another bump in the road.” The words come out harsher than intended, but I don’t bother to soften them. The silence that follows is heavy, filled with all the things I’m not saying. I can feel the weight of the day ahead pressing down on me—meetings, decisions, expectations—and none of it seems as important as the absence burning in the passenger seat beside me.

Alesso sighs, the sound heavy with brotherly concern. I can almost picture him in his office, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tries to talk some sense into me. “Dante, you don’t need her. You’ve already bought the company, Martin still has the other girl. Focus on what you’re building, not on what’s slipping away.” His words are practical, logical, the kind of advice he’s always given me, but today they feel hollow, unable to touch the tangled mess inside me.

I grip the phone tighter, passing a slower car with a sharp glance, my frustration simmering. “You think this is about any of that?” I growl into the phone, my voice thick with emotion. The traffic thins as I approach the outskirts of the city, but the tension inside me only grows. “She’s carrying my child, Alesso. Her family can rot for all I care.” The admission hangs between us, raw and unfiltered. I hear Gio’s breath hitch, the gravity of my words sinking in. For a moment, neither of us speaks, the connection silent but charged. I know he’s thinking about what comes next—the choices, the consequences, the future I’ve set in motion. But right now, all I care about is the woman who walked out and the life we created together, no matter how complicated or uncertain the path ahead.

“Dante,” Alesso starts, then sighs, “Just get your ass here soon.”