Page 17 of Beautiful Vows

“You turned him to me,” I whisper, the memories flooding back. “Why?”

“Because he was the reason she died,” Antonio confesses. “He was the man who was so bitter at his son’s death that he was hell-bent on making your mother pay.”

“Why, though?” I press, my voice filled with desperation as I search for more answers. “Why was my mother to blame?”

Antonio shakes his head, a pained expression crossing his features. “It doesn’t matter now. He paid for his sins.”

As the weight of the revelation settles upon us, the room spins, and my vision blurs. I blink my eyes hard, attempting to push away the pain that threatens to consume me. But suddenly it’s overwhelming, crashing over me like a tidal wave, and I stagger, feeling myself losing control.

My breath becomes shallow, and I clutch my thigh, desperately trying to steady myself. But as the world around me becomes a flurry of colors and shapes and my legs grow weak, I’m unable to bear the weight of my body.

A gasp escapes my lips, followed by a whimper, as my legs give in to the overwhelming pain. The room is spinning faster and faster, and my vision fades into darkness.

“Lia,” I hear, but everything else feels like a distant haze as the sounds around me blend. I’m vaguely aware of Antonio’s concerned voice calling out my name over and over. But the rest of his words are muffled, as if they’re coming from a faraway place.

My body feels heavy, my limbs unresponsive. I feel like I’m floating on air as fear seizes my lungs.

I try to focus as consciousness teeters on the edge, and I’m slipping further away with each passing moment.

I close my eyes as I surrender to the darkness, and hope that I wake.

Chapter 6

Dante

After a shower and a change of clothes, I rush to Angels and Sinners to meet Romeo Conti. The moment I step inside, the club’s atmosphere envelops me—a hazy, smoke-filled space where the darkness covers so many sins. The air is thick with the scent of cigarettes, cologne, and arousal.

On stage, an auction is in full swing. Scantily clad dancers, their bodies glistening under the spotlights, parade across the platform. The auctioneer’s rapid-fire chatter booms over the pulsating bass of the dance floor as men in expensive suits and women dripping in jewels raise their paddles, their eyes gleaming with lust.

Before approaching Romeo, I make a calculated move. I spot Rafe near the bar, giving him a wave before I meet Cade by the VIP section. We engage in a brief but animated conversation, ensuring my face is clearly visible to the security cameras.

“I need to be here an hour ago,” I whisper in Cade’s ear before I depart.

He knows what that means.

A carefully crafted interaction will serve as my alibi, placing me in the club, and at the specific time.

With my digital footprint established, I slide onto a bar stool next to Romeo Conti. He’s nursing a whiskey, his gaze distant, mirroring the melancholy in his hunched shoulders.

“Romeo,” I greet him, signaling the bartender for my usual.

He looks up, his eyes reflecting the neon lights. “Dante. How are you? What’s going on?”

“Thanks for coming.”

“You said it was important. Spill.”

“The Syndicate is weak. It’s time we made a run on the leadership. With Bianchi and Rossi dead, we only have Gallo and our fathers to topple.”

“I’m sure Ricardo won’t agree that he's weak.” Romeo takes a sip of his whiskey. “But nobody knows who is taking over for Giuseppe Rossi yet. His only child died years ago.”

“Which makes it easier for us to make our case. Ricardo will vote in our favor, Rossi has no vote. We vote for each other. And the old guys are out.”

“I suppose.” He swirls his drink, watching the amber liquid dance on the sides of the glass.

“What’s your problem?”

He sighs. “I ended things with Milly.”

---