Page 19 of Ruined in Vows

“Yes, Dante,” Mamma speaks up.

I look over at her, seeing the same fear in her eyes that mirrors mine.

“If you don’t believe me, then come to the penthouse suite at The Diamond Resort and Casino,” I all but beg. “I–”

“I can’t,” he cuts me off harshly.

“Please,” I plead. “We are in town until Sunday. Let me prove it to you, Dante. I have proof of us together, but I left my cell phone at my hotel.” I curse myself for not having the foresight to bring my phone. Athena brought hers to take pictures, so I didn’t think that I needed to bring mine.

“Convenient.” His laugh is sardonic. “And stop fucking calling me by that name,” he hisses, turning to face me and running his hand through his hair in frustration.

“No.” I snap in frustration. “It is your name.” Taking a cautious step toward him, I feel the guards move with me. Placing my hand on his chest, I watch closely as he sucks in a breath. His eyes close as if my touch physically pains him, but I know he is feeling the same as me. Our undeniable connection. Surely, he must know that there was a reason he approached me. Subconsciously, his soul knows mine.

“Why did you follow me?” I ask, but don’t give him a chance to answer. “You felt it didn't you? Our connection.” It’s a statement because I know he did. You would have to be blind not to see the sparks flying between us right now. He groans, moving away from me. My hand falls from his body, and I hate that he has severed our link.

He shakes his head, his eyes searching my face as he mulls over my words. Hope blooms inside me, only to crash and burn when he turns his back on me.

“I don’t feel anything,” he mumbles before walking away and disappearing into the crowds.

Pain radiates through me at his dismissal. It’s so strong I almost fall to my knees. Mamma grabs my right arm as Athena, who has stayed quiet through this whole interaction, holds the left. It’s the only reason I am standing right now. If it were not for their support I would be on the dirty asphalt.

“What the hell just happened?” Mamma whispers, concern lacing every word.

I shake my head, choking out, “I don’t know, but it's him, Mamma.”

“I know,” she murmurs, rubbing at my arm.

Straightening, I turn to face the guards, barking out orders. “Two of you follow him. We are going back to the hotel. Call Nico when you find out where Dante is.” They do as they’re bid, disappearing through the throngs of people just like the man I love did, not even a minute ago.

“Come on. Let’s go. We need to talk to Nico.” Determination courses through my body as we start for our hotel.

No matter what happens.

I am making it my mission to remind Dante of who he is.

My voice is choked, my chin trembles when I relay everything that just happened to my brother.

He stares at me as if I have completely lost my mind and he is about to take me to the nearest institution. It's only when my mamma speaks up that I see the tiniest flash of optimism lightup his eyes. He wants this to be real, but he also doesn't want to get his hopes up if I have got this all wrong. Truthfully, I would believe I conjured him in my traumatized mind had Mamma and Athena not seen Dante with their own eyes.

Nico runs his fingers through his dark hair, watching me closely. His features are indifferent, blank and frankly infuriating. Looking away from me, he glances at Mamma then his wife. Ocean looks as hopeful as I feel. I know she feels guilty for what happened, though I never blamed her. But she has worn the guilt like a badge of honor, since the awful day we were given the news of Dante’s death.

“So, what you are telling me is that Dante is alive? That you saw him with your own eyes and even talked to him?” Nico finally asks.

I nod. “Yes. Ask Alessio. It was him, Nic.”

My brother glances at Alessio, a silent question in his eyes. Alessio clears his throat. “It looked like Dante, boss. Allegra even pointed out the tiny scar on his finger.”

A sigh of relief escapes me at Alessio’s response.

A thoughtful look crosses his features. He is silent for a long moment, no doubt mulling everything over. “Fuck. If it is Dante, then there is more to this than we are aware of. This has got to be a setup of some sort. Though we believe Riccardo is somehow involved, we can’t be sure.”

A cell ringing has us all looking at Alessio. He glances at the screen before swiping to answer. I know without asking, it's the call we have been waiting for. “Yeah?” he pauses, listening to whatever is being said. “Okay. Come back to the hotel. Nico will let you know how he wants to proceed.” He ends the call, looking over at us. “He entered The Palazzo Hotel and used the elevator up to the private offices. Our men are on the way back and will await your instructions for what you want to happen next.”

Nico stands, pacing the room in front of the big window. “I don’t know what to do. We have no clue what we are dealing with here, or the extent of – if it is him - Dante’s medical condition,” my brother rasps, and despite not knowing what is going on with Dante, it was clear in our short interaction that something has happened to his memory. “Fuck, we don’t even know what he has been through or who orchestrated this. He said he was married right?”

“Yeah,” I whisper over the lump in my throat.

Nico’s eyes narrow. “And you're sure it was him?” he asks for what feels like the hundredth time.

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