Page 69 of Ruthless Desire

Dante is a whirlwind of lethal efficiency, arming himself with an ease that speaks of long practice. He tosses me a small pistol, and I nearly drop it in shock.

"Last resort," he says grimly. "Stay behind me, do exactly as I say, and we might make it out of this alive."

I nod, terror closing my throat.

We slip into the hallway, and chaos engulfs us. The air is thick with gunsmoke and the metallic tang of blood. Dante moves like a predator, each step purposeful. I struggle to keep up, my legs still wobbly from hours of suspension.

A figure lunges from a doorway. Dante's gun barks twice, and the man crumples. I bite back a scream.

"Keep moving," Dante orders, his voice cold as ice. This isn't my captor, my tormenter. This is Dante Corleone, the ruthless don who rules the underworld with an iron fist.

We wind through Shadowcrest's labyrinthine corridors. Twice more, Dante dispatches attackers with terrifying ease. I'm torn between relief at his skill and horror at the brutality.

Finally, we reach a hidden garage. Dante shoves me into a nondescript sedan, peeling out before I can even fasten my seatbelt.

"Where are we going?" I ask, voice trembling.

"Somewhere safe," he replies tersely. "A place not even my closest associates know about."

I glance back at the shrinking silhouette of Shadowcrest. Flames lick at the windows of the upper floors, and my stomach churns.

"Eyes front," Dante snaps. "Don't look back."

I obey, sinking into the seat. My mind reels, trying to process the whiplash of the past hour. From captive to... what? Accomplice? Refugee?

One thing's certain – nothing will ever be the same after tonight.

As the city blurs past, I steal a glance at Dante. His jaw is clenched, knuckles white on the steering wheel. For the first time, I see a crack in his impenetrable armor.

Is it wrong that part of me thrills at his vulnerability? At the knowledge that he needs me, if only as a pawn in whatever game he's playing?

I close my eyes, exhaustion finally catching up. Whatever comes next, I know one thing for certain:

The Natalie who entered Shadowcrest is gone. Who I'll be when I wake up... that remains to be seen.

Chapter 22 Dante

The engine roars as I push the black escalade to its limits, weaving through the night-shrouded streets of Accel City. My knuckles are white on the steering wheel, jaw clenched so tight I can hear my teeth grinding. Beside me, Natalie's quiet gasps punctuate the tense silence, her fear screams loudly in the confined space of the car.

I want to reach out, to soothe her trembling form, but I can't afford the distraction. Not now, when every shadow could hide an assassin, every turn could lead us into an ambush.

Fuck. How did it come to this? Me, Dante fucking Corleone, running like a scared rabbit. The thought makes bile rise in my throat, my pride howling in outrage.

But then I hear it – a soft whimper from Natalie as we take a corner too fast. The sound cuts through my fury like a knife, reminding me why I'm doing this. Why I'm swallowing my ego and fleeing the empire I've built with blood and iron.

Her. It's all for her.

My eyes flick to the rearview mirror, drinking in the sight of her. She's curled into herself, arms wrapped tight around her body as if she could hold the pieces together by sheer force of will. Her hair is a tangled mess, face streaked with tears and soot. She's never looked more beautiful.

"We're almost there, moy voron," I murmur, softening my voice. "Just hold on a little longer."

She doesn't respond, but I see her nod slightly. Good girl.

I allow myself a moment to drink her in – disheveled hair, tear-stained cheeks, the angry red marks from the ropes still visible on her wrists. A masterpiece of my own making.

Twenty minutes later, we pull into the underground garage of a nondescript apartment building. It's one of my many bolt-holes scattered throughout the city, known only to me and a select few of my most trusted lieutenants.

I kill the engine and turn to Natalie. "We're safe here, for now. No one knows about this place."

---