Page 114 of Theirs to Rule

How can I stand by Dante when he’s part of that world?

And yet…Dante had always accepted me, loved me as I was, no matter how broken or damaged I felt. He’d never judged me, never pushed me to be someone I wasn’t. He’d always been there, steadfast and loyal, loving me in ways I hadn’t even realized I needed.

He’s not perfect,I thought,but he’s trying. He’s doing what he can to make things better, to keep people safe.

And even if I disagreed with how he was doing, it was his intention that I could stand by.

Maybe I didn’t agree with everything he did. Maybe I never would. But he deserved my loyalty. He deserved my love, just as I had always had his.

Chapter 51

Camille

My heart pounded as I knocked on Dante's door. A heavy silence lingered on the other side, stretching my doubts to the breaking point. Could I really do this? Could I stay with Dante, knowing he might still be involved in something as dangerous as selling drugs? The thought gnawed at me, but I was here, and I couldn’t turn back now.

Just as I was about to reconsider, the door swung open, and there he stood. Dante. Bare-chested, wearing nothing but sweatpants, his dark hair tousled like he'd just rolled out of bed. His muscles, sculpted and hard, flexed slightly under his tanned skin, but it was the exhaustion in his eyes that hit me hardest. Dark circles told me he hadn’t been sleeping. While I’d spent the weekend wrapped in Kage’s embrace, Dante had clearly been tormented—and I was the reason why.

"Camille." His deep, gravelly voice tugged me from my thoughts.

“Dante, I’m sorry for just showing up like this.” I could hear the tremble in my voice, the uncertainty creeping in. “But I need to talk to you. I never should have given you that ultimatum. Itwasn’t fair. You’ve always accepted me, no questions asked. And I... I want to do that for you.”

His eyes darkened, guilt creeping in. “I lied to you,” he said softly, his voice thick with regret. “You have every right to hate me for that.”

I shook my head, feeling a pang in my chest. “I don’t hate you, Dante. I never could. Even though I don’t agree with the decisions you’ve made, I know you’re trying to do something good. You believe what you’re doing is right, and I understand that.”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he stepped back to let me in. His hand brushed my arm, and a jolt of electricity shot through me, the connection between us undeniable. I followed him into the living room.

We sat down, facing each other. His expression was guarded, his muscles tense as though he were bracing for a fight.

“I’m not going to pretend I’m completely okay with what you’re doing. But I know that drugs aren’t going to disappear, and in your mind, you’re trying to control something uncontrollable. Maybe... maybe if someone like you had been in my mom’s life, she’d still be here.”

Dante’s jaw clenched. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough, almost strained. “I’m not sure how to take this, Peaches. I thought I’d lost you for good.”

“I’m not walking away,” I said quietly. “Not from you.”

He stared at me, the weight of my words sinking in. “You’re serious?”

I nodded. “Yes. Don’t quit what you’re doing for me. If you believe it’s the right thing, I’ll stand by you.”

Dante looked truly shaken. He ran a hand through his hair, his voice quieter now. “I’ve been thinking... Maybe there are other reasons I should stop. It’s not just about us. I don’t trust Razor anymore. Things have changed.”

I leaned forward, my heart swelling with hope. “Then make that decision for yourself. Not because of me.”

He took my hands, his fingers warm and strong as they closed around mine. “I feel like I’ve just been given a reprieve from a death sentence, Camille. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’ve already missed you. Thinking of never getting to see you again, to never be with you again” he murmured, his voice huskier now, filled with an emotion that made my chest tighten.

My breath caught in my throat as Dante released my hands and lifted one of his to cup my neck, his thumb caressing my skin. Without thinking, I leaned into his touch, my body instinctively responding to the heat of his gaze. His fingers moved slowly, tracing the curve of my collarbone, then down my arm. Every touch felt like a promise, and I couldn’t help but tremble under the weight of it.

“Dante...” My voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to break the tension.

Without warning, he scooped me into his arms, standing with a smooth, effortless motion as he carried me toward his bedroom. The world blurred around me as I clung to him, my heart racing in my chest. Dante kicked open the door to his room and laid me gently on the bed, his eyes never leaving mine. He stood over me for a moment, his gaze dark and intense, before slowly reaching for the hem of my shirt, pulling it up and over my head.

“Be sure, Camille. Because if we do this, you’re mine,” he murmured. “And I’m never letting you go.”

“That’s exactly what I want, Dante.”

“Fuck, Peaches,” he growled. “My Peaches.” He lowered his head and kissed me. His hands roamed over my skin, rough and tender at once, igniting a fire I didn’t know could burn so fiercely. The raw masculinity that radiated from him made it impossible to think of anything but how much I wanted him.His scent, the heat of his body pressed against mine, everything about him consumed me.

He undressed me slowly, savoring every moment. I arched into his touch, needing more, but he kept the pace deliberate, teasing, his dark eyes locked on mine the whole time. When he finally had me bare before him, he paused, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he took me in.

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