Page 30 of Dante
"Yes," I confirm. "And we're telling him about us."
"He'll be furious," she warns.
"Let him be," I shrug, unconcerned. "His fury doesn't concern me."
"It should," she insists. "Marco may not have experience, but he's still dangerous when angry."
I lift her chin with one finger, making her meet my gaze. "No one in this city will touch you again. Not your brother, not his men, not anyone. You're mine now, and everyone will know what that means."
She searches my face. "You're really not afraid of him."
"I'm not afraid of anyone," I tell her.
A small smile curves her lips. "That kind of confidence should be annoying, but on you, it's actually quite sexy."
I return her smile, leaning in to steal a passionate kiss.
Hours Later
By eleven-thirty, I’m placing my hand on Elena’s back as we enter the Riverside Club, a gesture that's both protective and possessive. The staff recognize me immediately, scurrying to lead us to the private room where Marco waits.
Marco rises when we enter, his eyes widening when he sees my hand on Elena's back. Pietro stands next to him. The right hand who's been betraying him for years.
"Elena," Marco says, ignoring me entirely. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Marco," she assures him. "Better than fine, actually."
Marco's eyes flick to me, then back to his sister. "What the hell is going on? You disappear after being attacked, spend the night at Veneziano's, and now you're walking in here like—"
"Like I've chosen to be with him?" she finishes. "That's exactly what's happened."
Marco's face flushes with anger. "This is absurd. He's manipulating you, using you to get to me—"
"That's enough," I interrupt, my voice low but carrying enough authority to silence him. "Your sister is perfectly capable of making her own decisions."
"You son of a bitch," Marco snarls, taking a step forward.
"Perhaps we should discuss this privately," Pietro suggests. "Just family."
"Excellent idea," I agree. "Elena and I need to speak with Marco alone. Wait outside, Pietro."
When the door closes behind him, I gesture for Elena to sit, taking the chair beside her. Marco remains standing, too agitated to settle.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing with my sister?" he demands.
"We're not here to discuss my personal life," I reply calmly. "We're here to discuss your operation, and the traitor you call your right hand."
I remove a folder from inside my jacket, placing it on the table. "Pietro has been skimming from your operations for years. Recently, he's escalated to actively working against you, making deals with Moretti and others to undermine your position."
Marco stares at the folder without opening it. "That's impossible. Pietro has been with my family since before I was born."
"Open the folder, Marco," Elena says quietly. "Please."
He finally sits, pulling the folder toward him. Inside are surveillance photos, transaction records, transcripts of intercepted calls. All evidence of Pietro's betrayal.
Marco's face drains of color. "This can't be real."
"It is," I assure him. "The men who attacked Elena? They knew exactly where to find her, exactly when she'd be vulnerable. Only someone close to you would have that information."
