The Don's runaway bride

CHAPTER FIVE: THE TRUTH

Elena stared at Dante.

"My father is with them?"

Dante nodded once.

"We intercepted a call."

Her heart raced.

"Then let's go get him!"

"It's not that simple."

"Why not?"

"Because they want you."

Elena went still.

Dante stepped closer.

"Your father wasn't taken randomly. They know exactly what they're doing."

"Then I'll go to them."

"No."

She glared at him.

"He's my father!"

"And you're my responsibility."

"I am not your responsibility!"

Dante's expression hardened.

"You became one the moment they started hunting you."

Elena hated how calm he sounded.

She hated that her father was in danger while Dante stood there acting like he controlled everything.

"Tell me who they are."

Dante remained silent.

"Of course."

She laughed bitterly.

"You keep saying you want to protect me, but you refuse to tell me the truth."

"It's not time."

"Then when?"

Dante looked directly into her eyes.

"When I know you can handle it."

Elena stepped closer.

"You don't get to decide what I can handle."

For a moment, Dante said nothing.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

"Speak."

Marco's voice was urgent.

"We found something."

Dante's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"A video."

Elena's stomach dropped.

Dante looked at her.

She knew immediately.

"My father?"

Dante hesitated before handing her the phone.

Her fingers trembled.

She pressed play.

The screen showed a dark room.

A chair.

And her father tied to it.

"Papa!"

Elena covered her mouth.

Vittorio looked exhausted, but alive.

Then someone walked in front of the camera.

Only their back was visible.

A distorted voice spoke.

"Bring us the girl."

Elena's blood froze.

"And your father goes free."

The video ended.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Elena slowly lowered the phone.

"I'll go."

Dante immediately took it from her.

"No."

"You heard them!"

"That's exactly why you're not going."

"He's going to die!"

Dante's voice dropped.

"And so will you if you walk into their hands."

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

"Then what do we do?"

Dante stared at her.

For the first time, his expression softened.

"We find them first."

Elena wiped her tears.

"And how?"

Dante walked toward a painting on the wall.

He pushed it aside.

Behind it was a small safe.

Elena frowned.

"What are you doing?"

Dante entered a code.

The safe opened.

Inside was an old photograph.

He pulled it out.

Elena's breath caught.

It was her mother.

Standing beside a younger Dante.

She stared at him.

Her voice became a whisper.

"You lied to me."

Dante's jaw tightened.

"I never lied."

"You knew her."

"Yes."

"How?"

He looked at the photograph.

Then back at Elena.

"Because before your mother died..."

He paused.

Elena's heart pounded.

"She gave me something."

"What?"

Dante reached into the safe.

And pulled out a small silver key.

"She told me one day, her daughter would come looking for it."

Elena stared at the key.

"What does it open?"

Dante's expression turned dark.

"That's what people are willing to kill you for."