Under his protection

Chapter 3

Dante

I stepped out of the room and decided to leave it unlocked. It is not like she could go anywhere. She wouldn’t make it past the hallway let alone the property. I gave a slight nod toward Carlos who stood right outside her door before heading to my office.

The pickup was supposed to be a simple grab and ditch operation, but those two idiots somehow messed it up. Victor ended up with a broken nose and she came in with scraped knees and tears in her sweater.

They are lucky I have other things to worry about or I would have blown their kneecaps off for putting a mark on her.

This entire Aria situation felt like nothing but a distraction and a complete waste of my time. I did not know who she was or why she mattered but the Don’s last order… His dying wish was to find her and protect her.

Protect her from what? None of it made sense. I have no idea. From her file she did not seem to be in any danger. She was a quiet librarian with a dead-end routine and no ties to any crime family. So why would she be important?

Nothing about her screamed danger

Yet… he insisted

I fully intended to keep her at the back of my mind while I focused on more important matters.

The attacks on La Famiglia had become worse since I became heir. The Russians have become bolder, raiding our warehouses and killing men without fear.

One of those attacks was responsible for the Don’s death. The attack had been meant for me. He was not even supposed to be at that meeting and I had been running late. By the time I arrived he was already shot and left for dead along with his security. He had not taken as many men as he should have, saying it was unnecessary. I still remember holding his body and watching life slip away while he gave me one final order, “Find Aria Russo and protect her”

He offered no explanation so I had two of the few men I trust take her and place her under my protection. From the looks of things she was just as confused as I was which only made the situation more complicated.

The only person who might know why, the Don’s brother, doesn’t exist on paper. Only resurfacing when he wants to and very difficult to track.

To make matters worse there had been no progress in finding out where my wife was. Lucia and I had gotten married about six months ago, a month after I was announced as heir.

We had been friends for more than ten years. So when the Don insisted I find a wife, it only made sense for us to marry since she was the daughter of one of the capos. I did not love her but I cared about her and that was usually enough in these situations. Now she was missing and had vanished without a trace. Despite all my efforts, there had been no ransom or demands which made everything even more suspicious.

Adriano walked in.

"You really should knock" I said without looking up.

"Come on we are past that" he replied as he slumped onto the couch.

Adriano was my second in command and the only person who could talk to me like this and only when we were alone.

"Do you have anything on Lucia yet?" I ask, even though I know the answer.

“Nothing. No calls, no ransom, no sightings. It’s like she evaporated.” He shrugs. “I still think she could’ve gotten lost. She’s… not the brightest.”

"Watch it. That is my wife you are talking about."

"Yh, whatever."

"The Russians are getting bolder. It is clear they have an inside man."

"Do you think it could be your brother Matteo?"

"Matteo may hate me and everything I represent but even he would not stoop so low as to work with the Russians."

"Hmmm, we’ll see. So what do we do to drag this mole out?"

"I am working on it. I have a meeting with the capos tomorrow. hopefully we will discuss the next steps."

"I do not trust those old men."

"You do not have to trust them. Some of them may not agree with the Don’s decision to make me heir but they are loyal to the family and you know that."

He sighed dramatically.

He sits up suddenly.

"Speaking of the Don. What is going on with our new house guest? I heard she broke Victor’s nose" Adriano said with a laugh.

"Yes she is clearly a fighter” I mutter “but I do not have time for that. That is why I need you to do something."

He looked at me with interest but stayed quiet.

"Aria will clearly be here for a while until I figure out what I am supposed to protect her from. Only a select few are aware that she is here. Carlos and Victor will be in charge of her security and Imelda and Aida will take care of the house as usual."

"Alright boss. What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to take care of her old life so no one goes looking for her. We do not need the hassle or the attention”

“And?” He adds noticing I had more to say

“And give her a tour, show her which areas she allowed in”

"Aye aye Captain" he grins standing up to leave.

Be careful,” I warned. “She bites.”

“You almost sound worried,” Adriano said.

“I’m not.”

He left anyway.

Silence settled over the room.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number. That’s weird. Very few people can contact me directly.

I answered.

“Speak.”

For a second, there was only static.

Then—

“You have her.”

My grip tightened around the phone.

“Who is this?”

“That doesn’t matter.” The voice was distorted, unrecognizable. “What matters is that you listen carefully.”

I said nothing.

“The girl you took… she is not just some civilian, she’s important.

My jaw tightened.

“You have one job now. Keep her alive.”

“Or what?”

A pause.

“Or you won’t just lose her.”

The voice dropped slightly.

“You will lose your position… your family… everything you think you control.”

My expression hardened.

“Explain.”

A quiet, almost amused breath came through the line.

“You’re the Don. Figure it out.”

The line went dead.

Slowly, I lowered the phone.

For the first time since bringing her here…

I realized I might not be the one in control.