Chapter 10 - The Awful Truth
1716 Words
By the time Dante and Luca had both arrived back at Castello Romano, it was around 3:00pm in the afternoon.
As soon as they arrived, the concerned Mafia Don ran straight up the staircase, skipping several steps at a time until he reached the floor where his bedroom was.
The door was abruptly thrown open and Dante marched on inside, his eyes scanning the surroundings for Alexa.
They found none.
“Alexa!” he called out, not seeing any sign of her.
“Bella, where are you?”
Nicola’s voice suddenly spoke from where he stood in the open doorway behind his Don. He had been advised of his Capo’s arrival and headed straight down to speak with Dante.
“She’s in Willow’s guest room right now, boss.” he admitted, walking inside and closing the door behind him.
“I actually thought we could have a quick talk… about what happened today at the Mall. If that’s ok?”
Dante, although feeling a serious impatience to hold Alexa in his arms right now, knew that Nicola would only act this way if he had something very serious to discuss.
Something terrible must have happened.
Nodding his head in approval, the Don made his way over to where his glass bottles sat. He worked to make a scotch on the rocks, suddenly feeling the need to knock the edge off.
“What’s your poison?” Dante called over his shoulder.
“Scotch neat would be great, thanks boss.” Nicola replied with a smile as he sat down on one of the small lounges.
“What happened today, Nicola?” Dante asked, still with his back facing his number two.
He finished pouring both drinks and then turned around to carry them across to where they would be sitting.
Nicola reached out and took the glass of straight scotch from his boss’ hand, smiling and nodding his thanks.
“Talk.”
Dante commanded, taking a seat opposite him.
“Alright. We have reason to believe that the Greco’s have followed us here, to Italy.” Nicola reported solemnly.
Dante’s frown showed his confusion at such a suggestion.
“And what makes you think that?” he queried, lifting his drink and taking a sip of the chilled amber liquid.
The cubes of ice ‘clinked’ against the side of the glass as he moved it up and down again.
“Because… Alonzo paid Alexa a visit in the Mall-”
“-What!”
Dante sat forward, furiously baffled by what he had been told.
“What the f**k are you talking about?”
Nicola went on to explain what little information he had gathered from everyone he had spoken to since the incident.
“Alexa said that Alonzo surprised her in one of the changing room stalls. He had a gun and she said that he… attacked her.” Nicola continued to explain, though rather uneasy about doing so.
It was obvious that Dante was boiling with rage as he sat forward in his chair, his hand gripping the glass with such force that Nicola feared it may smash inwards at any second.
“So, you’re telling me that Alonzo flew all the way to Italy just to attack Alexa?” Dante clarified.
Nicola shrugged as he went on.
“I’m not sure what his intentions were, boss. He’s clearly followed us here, though if you’re asking why, I have no clue.”
Dante took another sip from his glass as Nicola went on.
“It’s clear that the bastard choked her. Alexa’s got obvious bruising all around her neck and she’s finding it hard to swallow let alone talk without some pain.”
Dante’s face contorted angrily as he closed his eyes and growled like a caged animal.
“That f*****g coward!”
But Nicola wasn’t finished…
“There’s… more...”
Nicola sighed heavily, knowing full well how Dante would react to what he had to report next. Choking was one thing, but this...
Taking a deep breath in, Nicola continued.
“I had a physician come and look her over when we returned. Just to make sure she was ok, as a precaution.”
He paused and lowered his gaze.
“And?” Dante probed impatiently.
“And… from what they reported back to me, it seems that Alonzo… penetrated her.”
Dante’s eyes widened to the size of moons as he stared back at Nicola with a darkness the second-in-command had never seen come from him before.
One that terrified even him.
Dante looked possessed!
“The physician reported small tears along her vaginal walls. It’s hard to say what caused it exactly, so I can’t confirm whether he raped her or not...”
Nicola took a breath before going on.
“I’ve sent off for the company’s surveillance footage. It should be arriving within the next hour or so. If he did force himself on her then the footage should show…”
Dante lifted his hand up into the air, closing his eyes and silencing Nicola instantly.
Nicola could see Dante’s chest rising and lowering with each of his furious breaths as his entire body had become terribly rigid and tense.
He had never seen his boss this furious before.
Dante looked like a volcano ready to erupt!
“I will kill that figlio di puttana (son of a b***h) with my own two hands for touching her…” Dante suddenly announced, his voice so deep it almost appeared demonic.
“I want to be first to view the surveillance footage as soon as it arrives. Understood?” Dante commanded.
“Sure thing.” Nicola nodded.
“What should we do about the Greco’s?”
“Find out where they are staying here in Puglia. Lead a team in there to retrieve them. I want that bastardo (bastard) and his coglione (asshole) father brought to me here, alive… do whatever it takes to ensure that this is done as soon as possible.”
Dante gave his command while staring off into the middle distance with a dark expression.
Nicola nodded his head, standing up and placing the glass down onto the table in front of him as he replied and then headed for the doorway.
“Don’t worry boss, I’m on it…” he assured.
“I won’t let you down.”
As the door closed behind Nicola, Dante was left to wallow in his own fury, burning amongst heated flames of disgust, annoyance and spite.
Alonzo had sent him a message in his despicable actions against Alexa. One that Dante would not ignore this time.
This time it would be what tipped the Reaper right over the edge…
Dante was done playing games with the Greco’s.
It was time for him to send a message of his own in response. One that the Greco’s would be sure to remember.
But first, he would go and check in on his beautiful woman. He needed to see that she was alright with his own two eyes.
-
By now Alexa was fast asleep and after a lot of trouble, Willow had managed to lift her best friend up from the floor and place her down onto the mattress of her guest bed to sleep.
There was a soft knock at the door just as Willow was tucking Alexa in with a blanket and the red head turned to face the doorway.
She crossed the room and stopped by the door, unlocking it and opening it only a small crack to see who it was on the other side.
When she saw Dante, she let out a sigh and opened the door further, allowing him to enter the room.
“How is she doing?” Dante asked, stepping inside and peering around.
“She crashed not that long ago. She’s been crying non-stop since… well, since it happened.” Willow explained, being sure to keep her voice soft enough not to wake her friend.
Dante slowly made his way across the room to stop beside the bed.
He stood staring down at the beautiful woman who meant more to him than all the power and money he possessed.
Nicola had told the truth, there were obvious bruised markings around her neck and he frowned at the sight of them.
He proceeded to sit down beside her on the bed and Willow cleared her throat from where she was now standing.
“I’ll um… just go for a walk. Give you two some privacy.” she announced, making her way for the door.
“Willow, wait…”
Dante called out after her, causing her to turn around and meet his eyes.
“Thank you… for all you’ve done for her.” he spoke with a small smile.
Even though it wasn’t like the infamous Reaper or the billionaire CEO to thank others for their efforts, Dante was indeed pleased to have Alexa back here with him, safe and sound.
Willow chuckled in response.
“Seriously, it's no problem. She’s my BFF, Mr. Romano. We’ve known each other since I can remember… I’d do anything for Lex.” she announced.
“Please, call me Dante.” he insisted, surprising himself a little.
“Mr. Romano is so formal.”
“Sure thing, Dante.”
She smiled then turned and headed off, closing the door softly behind her to leave them alone.
As soon as she had, Dante returned his attention towards the sleeping angel before him.
His hand instinctively moved across so that his fingers could brush some stray hair from her face. He tucked it in behind her ear and she groaned softly, moving a little in her sleep.
His emerald eyes locked onto the dark bruises surrounding her neck. He could see the indentations of fingerprints from where he was sitting and it caused his heart to ache.
He wasn't there for her... again.
“I’m so sorry, bella. I failed you…” Dante spoke down to her as his brows furrowed inwards with concern.
“But I promise that I will handle this…”
Dante’s eyes were suddenly ablaze, a bright glowing green as his Reaper side emerged and spoke on his behalf.
“I will make those spineless bastardo’s pay for what they did to you... you have my word.”
- Writer
