Page 51 of His Bride

Adriana’s quiet sobs fill the silence. My chest aches at the sound. I want to comfort her, but vengeance burns hotter.

“We need to act fast,” I tell Carmine. “Send out feelers, lean on our contacts. I want answers within twenty-four hours.”

He nods grimly. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, brother.”

I turn to Adriana, still huddled on the couch with Lucia. Her dark hair falls like a curtain, hiding her face. My jaw clenches at the sight of her trembling shoulders.

“Carmine, a word,” I say, jerking my head towards my study.

As we leave, I catch Lucia’s soft voice: “We’ll keep you safe, Adriana. I promise.”

I shut the office door behind us, the sound echoing in the tense silence. Carmine takes a seat, his face a mask of calm, but I can see the concern in his eyes.

“It’s Lorenzo De Luca,” I spit out, pacing the room. “That fucker has been eyeing our territory for months.”

Carmine leans forward, elbows on his knees. “You’re sure?”

“Who else would dare?” My voice is low, dangerous. “He’s always hated our family. And now he’s targeting Adriana.”

I slam my fist on the desk, the pain barely registering. “He thinks he can get to us through her. Thinks she’s our weak point.”

Carmine’s silent for a moment, watching me. I can almost see the gears turning in his head, calculating our next move.

“We need to be smart about this, Dante,” he says finally. “If it is De Luca, we can’t just go in guns blazing.”

I whirl on him. “Why the hell not? He tried to kill my wife!”

“And if we retaliate without proof, we risk starting a war we might not win.”

His words cut through my rage, but only slightly. I know he’s right, but the thought of doing nothing makes my blood boil.

“So what do you suggest?” I demand. “We sit on our hands while that bastard takes another shot at Adriana?”

Carmine stands, his presence filling the room. “We investigate. We gather evidence. And then, brother,” his eyes harden, “we strike so hard they’ll never recover.”

pace the office, every muscle in my body coiled tight. The image of Adriana’s terrified face flashes through my mind, fueling the inferno of my rage.

“Investigation takes time,” I spit out. “Time we might not have. De Luca could be planning his next move right now.”

Carmine leans against the desk, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to my agitation. “We have eyes and ears everywhere, Dante. If De Luca so much as sneezes, we’ll know about it.”

I stop pacing, locking eyes with my brother. “That’s not enough. I want him dead, Carmine. I want his entire operation wiped off the map.”

“And we will get there,” Carmine assures me, his voice steady. “But we do it right. We do it smart.”

I clench my fists, nails digging into my palms. The urge to lash out, to unleash my fury on something—anything—is overwhelming. But Carmine’s words sink in, penetrating the red haze of my anger.

“Fine,” I concede, my voice a low rumble. “But I want daily updates. And if there’s even a hint that he’s planning something else…”

Carmine nods, understanding the unspoken threat. “We’ll act. You have my word.”

The creak of the door interrupts our plotting. Adriana slips in, her eyes wide and determined despite the lingering fear I can see etched in the tightness of her jaw. My chest constricts at the sight of her, a mix of fierce protectiveness and simmering rage.

“I want to help,” she says, her voice soft but steady. “And I need to see Valentina.”

I move towards her, drawn by an instinct I can’t fully control.

“Absolutely not!” I forbid, cupping her face in my hands. “It’s too dangerous.”

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