Page 91 of Ruthless Desire

I stride through the villa's maze-like halls, each step bringing me closer to her, to the inevitable showdown. The air crackles with tension, thick enough to choke on.

I pause outside her door, steeling myself before pushing it open.

Natalie stands by the window, backlit by the morning sun like some twisted angel of vengeance. All sharp angles and coiled tension, a dark reflection of the woman I've molded her into. My eyes devour every curve, every shadow. She knows I'm here, but she doesn't turn.

For a moment, I let myself imagine her silhouette changed, rounded with the swell of pregnancy. Our child, growing inside her. A perfect blend of her fire and my darkness.

I push the thought aside, focusing on the here and now.

"Regretting your life choices yet, solnyshko?" The words slip out, dripping with dark amusement.

She turns slowly, those storm-gray eyes locking onto mine. "Which ones? Trusting you, or not killing you in your sleep?"

I can't help the chuckle that escapes me. Even now, she's got fire. "Both. Neither. Take your pick."

"What does it matter? Can’t you see…" she shoots back. "We're way past the point of no return, Dante."

I close the distance between us in two long strides, reaching out to cup her chin. She doesn't flinch. Doesn't pull away. That's my girl.

"Oh, Natalie," I murmur, thumb brushing her lower lip. "We haven't even hit the climax of this fucked-up fairy tale."

I pull her closer, feeling the heat of her body seep into mine. Her breath catches, but she holds her ground. That's the thing about Natalie – she's as drawn to the darkness as I am, even if she won't admit it.

"Stay here," I command, voice a low growl. "No matter what kind of hellfire rains down out there, you don't leave this room. Got it?"

Her eyes flash with that delicious defiance. For a moment, I think she'll tell me to go fuck myself. But she swallows it down, nodding once.

I lean in, capturing her lips in a bruising kiss. When I pull back, she's breathless, pupils blown wide.

"Remember who you belong to, moy voron," I murmur against her mouth. "From head to toe...and all the broken pieces in between."

I leave her there, knowing she'll obey. Because she has to. Because if she doesn't... I shove the thought aside.

There's a war to win.

The villa's a powder keg of tension as I make my way to the command center. My men snap to attention, fear and determination etched on their faces. Good. They should be afraid. Not of the Corsinis, but of what I'll do to them if they fuck this up.

Alonzo stands at a map covered in red markers. The Corsinis' forces, closing in from all sides like a noose.

"Let them come," I say, voice cold as a corpse. "Time to show these fuckers what happens when you poke the bear."

A soldier bursts in, face white as a sheet. "Boss, they're here. They've breached the second line."

Adrenaline floods my veins, setting every nerve ending on fire. Showtime.

"Move out," I bark.

The world explodes into chaos as we step outside. Gunfire erupts, a symphony of death that'd make Mozart weep. I watch the first wave of Corsinis fall, their bodies hitting the dirt like a fucked-up game of dominoes.

But they keep coming. An endless tide of cannon fodder, each one thinking they'll be the hero who takes down Dante Corleone.

I raise my gun, picking off soldiers with the precision of a surgeon. Each shot is for her. Each life snuffed out brings me one step closer to keeping her safe.

A blast rocks the ground, nearly knocking me on my ass. I look up to see the main gate shatter, Corsini men pouring through the breach like roaches. My men are overwhelmed, falling back under the onslaught.

And then I see him. Nazarov Corsini. The man who dared to threaten what's mine.

Time slows as I take aim. The bullet leaves my gun, cutting through the air like it's got a personal vendetta. But at the last second, Nazarov moves. The shot grazes his shoulder instead of blowing his black heart to kingdom come.

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