Page 62 of Ruthless Desire

I jab at the ignition button, the engine roaring to life beneath me. Throw the shifter into drive, my foot slamming down on the accelerator.

The SUV lurches forward, tires squealing against the asphalt. I hear a thud, a muffled curse, and glance back to see Dante sprawled on the ground, his suit torn and bloody.

A vicious thrill shoots through me at the sight. The predator brought low, if only for a moment.

But I don't have time to savor it. Already he's picking himself up, his eyes locking onto mine through the tinted glass. The promise in them steals my breath and chills my blood.

He will find me. He will catch me. And when he does...

I shudder, wrenching my gaze away. Focus on the road ahead, the blur of streetlights overhead.

I have to get away. Have to put as much distance as possible between myself and the monster wearing a man's skin.

But as I careen through the empty streets, my pulse a staccato drum in my ears, the reality of my situation sinks in with sickening clarity.

I have no money. No phone, no means of contacting anyone. I'm a woman alone, broken and battered, driving a stolen car through the most dangerous parts of the city.

And even if I could find help, even if I could evade Dante's clutches for more than a few gasping breaths... where would I go? What would I do?

The world beyond Shadowcrest's walls feels alien now, a place I no longer know how to navigate. Dante has consumed my existence so completely, I'm not sure who I am without him.

Chapter 20 Dante

The notification pings on my phone, and I can't help but chuckle. My little bird thinks she can fly the coop. How adorably naive.

I swirl the amber liquid in my glass, savoring the smoky aroma of 25-year-old Macallan. From my penthouse office, I watch the city sprawl beneath me, a glittering tapestry of vice and ambition. My kingdom, ruled with an iron fist and a charming smile.

"Boss?" Alonzo's gruff voice breaks through my musings. "GPS shows her heading east on the parkway."

I turn, meeting his anxious gaze with a raised eyebrow. "And you sound concerned because...?"

He shifts uncomfortably, no doubt remembering the fate of the last man who lost track of my prized possession. "It's just... shouldn't we go after her? Before she gets too far?"

A laugh escapes me, low and rich with dark amusement. "Oh, Alonzo. You underestimate me. And more importantly, you underestimate the depths of my... investment in our dear Natalie."

I set down my glass and move to the sophisticated computer setup that dominates one wall of the office. With a few taps, I bring up a map of the city, a blinking red dot showing the Escalade's position.

"You see, my friend, Natalie isn't running away. She's simply setting the stage for the next act in our little drama."

Alonzo furrows his brow, clearly not following. "I don't understand, boss. She stole your car, she's trying to escape. How is this part of your plan?"

I sigh, patience wearing thin. Sometimes I wonder if I'm surrounded by mental midgets. "Because, Alonzo, I let her take the car, practically gift-wrapped her escape route."

His eyes widen as understanding dawns. "You wanted her to run."

"Bingo," I smirk, turning back to the screens. "Natalie needs to learn a very important lesson. That there is no escape, no reprieve from my grasp. That every move she makes, every breath she takes, is because I allow it."

I tap another key, and a new window pops up – live feed from inside the Escalade. Natalie's face fills the screen, tear-streaked and wild-eyed, her hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel.

"Look at her," I murmur, more to myself than Alonzo. "So fierce, so determined. It would almost be admirable if it weren't so futile."

I watch for a moment longer, drinking in the sight of her desperation. Then, with a shake of my head, I turn away. "Time to reel in our little runaway. Make the call."

Alonzo nods, already dialing. "Captain Romano? Yeah, it's me. We've got a situation. Mr. Corleone's fiancée... she's had an episode. Stolen his car, might be a danger to herself or others. We need a roadblock, east side of the parkway. And Captain? Mr. Corleone would appreciate your... discretion in this matter."

I tune out the rest of the conversation, my mind already several steps ahead. Natalie thinks she's making a bid for freedom, but she's really just dancing to my tune. Every move, every choice, has been carefully orchestrated to bring us to this moment.

"It's done, boss," Alonzo reports, pocketing his phone. "Roadblock will be in place within ten minutes."

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