Page 30 of Shadows of Steel
Before I can respond, Dante turns sharply toward Piero, his voice authoritative and concise. “Prepare a bag for her.”
I hadn’t even noticed when the others arrived, yet suddenly the apartment is brimming with Dante’s men, each moving swiftly, purposefully, an organized chaos.
I wrench my hand from his grasp, stepping back. “I’m not leaving with you.”
His eyes sharpen, cool authority radiating from his gaze. “I wasn’t asking.”
“I’ve taken care of myself my entire life,” I retort firmly. “I have no need for you to play my saviour.”
A muscle twitches in his jaw, irritation momentarily darkening his features. “We’ll revisit this conversation later. For now, your safety is my only concern.”
“I already told you, I’m not going anywhere with you.”
His eyes narrow dangerously, a silent battle unfolding between us. The tension builds until, abruptly, his expression softens. The irritation dissipates, calm takes its place.
He takes a step backward. “Very well.” He says evenly, voice deceptively composed. “Have it your way.”
He turns on his heel and exits without another word, his men following seamlessly in his wake, vanishing one by one. I remain rooted in place, momentarily stunned by their sudden withdrawal. My gaze involuntarily drifts toward the blood again, lingering on the sinister message scrawled across the wall. A violent shiver rattles through my frame, forcing me to tear my eyes away. I stumble numbly into the living room, fingers tangled in my hair, heart hammering relentlessly in my chest.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
And what exactly just transpired between Dante and me?
Chapter 11
Dante
The moment I’m inside the car, I pull out my phone and dial. The call is answered on the second ring.
“Mr. Salvatore.” Harlow’s landlord greets, his voice careful.
“You have a tenant.” I state flatly, my tone devoid of emotion.
A long pause follows, and I sense his uncertainty before he finally responds. “Yes, I...”
“She’s moving out.” I inform him.
A silence stretches between us, before he speaks again, clearly caught off guard. “I... what?”
I glance at my watch. “Within the hour.” I reply, my voice as cold as steel.
“Sir, I...” He stammers, but I don’t let him finish.
“You will come here and personally escort her out. Alternatively, you will make it absolutely clear that she has no other option but to leave immediately. Should she refuse, remind her that accepting is the only choice she has.” My voice remains calm, but there’s an undeniable weight to it. “If I discover she sets foot in that apartment again, it won’t be just you who pays the price. Your family will feel it too.”
A shaky exhale comes through the receiver. “Understood.”
I end the call.
It’s done.
She wants to challenge me? Fine. Let her believe she’s won. But she’s coming with me, one way or another.
Naturally, I have the landlord’s details. The moment I uncovered that she was Ricci’s long-lost daughter, I had my team conduct a thorough background check. I know everything, where she’s resided, every person she’s communicated with, even the precise manner in which she takes her coffee.
My jaw clenches as I type a message to Mario, my second-in-command. I need answers. I need to know what transpired in that apartment. Was the blood from an animal or something else? He’d better find out. But I have a sickening feeling in my gut that it wassomeone’s.
I also need him to tighten security around Harlow. The writing on the wall seemed personal. No one dares threaten what belongs to me. If anyone so much as breathes in her direction, I’ll have them eliminated before they even realize the mistake they’ve made.
