Purchased by the Mafia

3

Dante’s POV

The resemblance between my grandfather and me is striking. I see it every time I look in the mirror.

Same sharp features. Same dark hair. Same piercing eyes.

I’ve always looked up to him. Which is why I knew whatever he had to say was important.

“We’re having a family dinner at the end of the week,” my grandfather said.

“And I want you to bring the woman you plan to marry.”

My face darkened.

“But I thought I made it clear. I don’t believe in love,” I snapped, my voice tight with anger.

“I don’t need a woman in my life. I’m perfectly capable of ruling this cosca on my own.”

I’ve had this conversation with every single member of my family who was bold enough to try me. I thought I made myself clear.

For him to bring it up now, when I was already pissed, was pure rage baiting.

My grandfather’s eyes narrowed. His gaze was a mirror of my own when I was furious.

“You may be the next head of this cosca, but you’re not infallible. Love may not be something you believe in, but marriage is a political tool.

It strengthens your position. Don’t be arrogant enough to think you know everything.”

My jaw clenched. Anger burned through me. If he were anyone else, I would’ve knocked his teeth out.

But he kept going.

“The woman you choose must bring something to the table,” he continued.

“She should be intelligent. Capable. From a good family. Someone who can help you run this family, not just a pretty face to parade at social events. Do you understand?”

Frustration boiled in me. I knew he was right. I hated that he was right.

I was a grown man. I didn’t need to be told what to do. Especially not by him, the one man I couldn’t talk back to.

“You don’t have to teach me everything,” I said firmly, turning to walk out. “I can make my own decisions.”

His voice stopped me cold.

“If you take one more step, I’ll remind you why this entire city fears me. I won’t have you disrespect me. I raised you to be powerful, and it would take me nothing to bring you down. You will bring a woman to dinner by the end of the week. That’s final. And if you don’t, you’ll have me to deal with. I’m tired of the rumors about my grandson being gay.”

He paused.

“Or are you? You can tell me. Or better yet — don’t. Because you know better than to say something like that to me.”

Rage surged, but I bit it back. What was he even saying?

Hating women didn’t make me gay. I’m used to being called gay that he didn’t get to me anymore.

He left without another word.

I couldn’t disrespect him. No matter how much I wanted to.

I paced my room, mind racing. There was no girl in my life I could introduce to him.

A knock pulled me out of it.

Matteo walked in. My right-hand man since childhood. Like a brother or even more.

“I really want to know what you’re thinking about,” he said.

“How long have you been here?” I inquired.

“Long enough to know you were lost.”

“The containers of guns will arrive today,” I told him.

“Make sure there are no problems clearing them.”

“Done. They’re already in the warehouse.”

“Grazie. I knew I could count on you.”

My phone rang.

“No. Don’t kill him,” I answered. “Tell him he has 24 hours to deliver his stepdaughter to me. If he’s late, kill him.”

I hung up.

“Who’s dying today?” Matteo asked.

By the time I finished explaining, my phone rang again.

“What?”

“Bring her through the back gate. No one sees her. And keep eyes on Alessandro. He still owes me. She’s just collateral until he pays.”

I hung up.

“Didn’t you just give him 24 hours?” Matteo frowned.

“Apparently he wants to live.”

“If your grandfather finds out you spared him, you’re dead meat.”

“How will he find out if you don’t tell him?” I shot back. “This house is big enough to hide a thousand people.”

“So how long are you keeping her?”

“As long as I want. If her stepfather pays, I’ll consider giving her back.”

“You really think he cares about her?” Matteo laughed. “He’d let you kill her the second you looked at her.”

“Just have your fun with her then,” Matteo added with a smirk. “You got yourself a toy. As for the money? Kill him or forget it. The Alessandro I know gambled it all away.”

That night I couldn’t stop thinking about what my grandfather said.

For the first time, I didn’t have an answer.

I hated women. The thought of one around me made my skin crawl.

The next morning, after handling the gun shipment, I went straight home.

To see the girl Alessandro traded for his life. She’d been here since last night.

My men said she hadn’t moved. Hadn’t spoken. But she was alive.

I prayed Alessandro hadn’t given me a corpse.

I walked to the last floor of the house. The floor I only used for captives.

“Good day, Boss,” one of my men said, pointing to the door.

As I got closer, I heard her scream. Louder and louder.

I turned to the i***t who told me she hadn’t moved.

“Didn’t you say…”

“Boss, she just woke up. Right now,” he stammered.

“The next time you cut me off, I’ll serve parts of you back to you,” I said coldly.

He opened the door and stepped back.

The moment the door opened she lunged at me.

Without thinking, I grabbed her and threw her to the ground.

She cried out in pain. Good. That was the least of what I had planned.

“One more word and I’ll hang your head up here like a chandelier,” I said.

Then I actually looked at her.

Petite. Hourglass. Low-waist baggy jeans and a tank top. I couldn’t see her face clearly yet, but her body was exactly the kind men who loves women would kill for.

Before I could study her further, she tried to run for the door again.

I shoved her back down.

“So stupid of you to think you could make it out of this door alive.”