Page 45 of His Bride

“Listen carefully,” I say in a deadly voice. “If anything happens to Adriana because of your little dance with Lorenzo, I’ll have your head.”

Giovanni’s eyes widen, fear flickering across his face. Good. He should be afraid.

“The only reason you’re still breathing right now is because you’re her father,” I continue, each word deliberate and sharp. “Don’t make me regret that decision.”

I turn away, unable to look at him any longer. The room feels suffocating, reeking of betrayal and desperation. As I reach for the door handle, I hear Giovanni’s ragged breathing behind me.

“You can’t protect her forever, Dante,” he calls out, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and defeat.

I pause, my hand on the cool metal. “Watch me,” I retort, then wrench the door open.

I stride out, leaving Giovanni to stew in his own fury. The hallway stretches before me, long and empty. My footsteps echo off the walls, matching the pounding of my heart.

Adriana’s face flashes in my mind. Beautiful. Defiant. Mine to protect.

I clench my jaw, resolve hardening within me. Giovanni, Lorenzo, the whole damn world – I’ll burn it all down if that’s what it takes to keep her safe.

The drive home is a blur of neon lights and screeching tires. When I arrive home, I storm into the house and make my way to Adriana’s office. The door’s ajar, a sliver of warm light spilling into the hallway.

I push it open without knocking. “We need to talk.”

Adriana’s head snaps up from her desk, eyes wide with surprise. “Dante? What’s wrong?”

I shut the door behind me, the click of the latch like a gunshot in the tense silence. “Your father,” I say, jaw clenching. “He’s been meeting with Lorenzo De Luca.”

Her face pales, guilt shining in her eyes.

“I… I don’t understand,” she stammers.

“Don’t play dumb, Adriana,” I snarl, moving closer. “Did you know?”

She stands, hands trembling slightly as she smooths her skirt. “Dante, please. Let me explain-”

“Explain what?” I cut her off, slamming my palm on the desk. “That your father’s putting our lives at risk? That he’s betraying everything I’ve built?”

Adriana flinches but doesn’t back down.

. “I saw them,” she admits, anger and hurt reflecting her eyes. “Once. and I confronted my father, I swear.”

My blood boils. She knew and said nothing. I want to shake her, to make her understand the danger we’re in. But the fear in her eyes stops me cold.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, forcing my voice to soften.

She looks away, conflict etched across her face. “He’s my father, Dante. I… I didn’t want to believe he could do something like this.”

I watch her, the way her shoulders slump, the tremble in her lower lip. My anger wars with the urge to protect her, even from this.

“Adriana,” I say, gentler now. “Look at me.”

She meets my gaze, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Your loyalty to your father… I understand it. But this? This puts everything at risk. You, me, our future.”

A tear slips down her cheek.

“I know,” she cries. “I’m sorry, Dante. I should have told you.”

I reach out, wiping the tear away with my thumb. “No more secrets,” I tell her. “From now on, we’re in this together. Understood?”

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