Page 68 of Chaos & Carnage

“Please,” he pleads, shaking so hard that the guard at his back is the only thing stopping him from falling onto the floor.

“Do you remember the way you treatedmy wifethat night?”

“S-she wasn’t y-your wife y-yet.”

Like that fucking matters!

“You didn’t show her mercy. She didn’t want to fuck you, yet you were ready to drag her off to some back room and pin her down.”

“N-n-no.”

“DON’T FUCKING LIE TO ME!” I roar, fisting the front of his shirt and hauling him out of his chair before slamming him down on top of the table. I lean in to hiss in his ear, “Truth is, your death has been written in the stars since that night. My father naming you as my consigliere only cemented your fate. I hope you never actually thought I’d let you claim that title. It was never yours to own.”

Keeping my tight grip on the front of his shirt, I push away. “Bye, Sam. I can assure you, you won’t be missed.” Before he can start another round of useless pleas, I fire the gun, planting a bullet straight between his brows.

Half an hour later, I stare around the now empty room. Twelve empty seats sit before me. Twelve empty seats that I now have to fill with men that I trust. I may have made a dent today, but I still havea lotof work ahead of me.

***

A week later, I step up to the black, tinted limousine. Running a hand over the front of my tuxedo, I bend to open the door and reach a hand inside. Her white gold wedding ring glitters as she places her palm in mine, and I catch sight of a black strappy stiletto, followed by a long, toned leg. I trail my eyes upward to the midnight blue dress, which fits her like a second skin, contrasting perfectly with her pale skin and fiery red hair.

Finally, I get a good look at her face. Her makeup and hair are professionally done, deep red lipstick painted on her lips and kohl lining her eyes, but I don’t see any of that. All I see are plump lips that I love to kiss and cerulean blue eyes that suck me in like a whirlpool every time I stare at them.

“Beautiful,” I murmur, loving how one word can bring a shy smile to this confident woman’s lips. Tonight is the first time I’m introducing Sawyer to this world—to my world. I’ve hardly seen her all week, too busy cleaning house. All for this moment. I didn’t want her to see what the Antonelliswere. I want her to see what wecanbe. Every interaction she—or anyone from their side of the river—has had has been negative, but I’m working to change that. When Sawyer meets my people for the first time, I want her to see the future, not the past. She’s only ever seen the dark aspect of this life, and don’t get me wrong, much of this lifestyle is violent and cruel, but there is more to it than that. Admittedly, not a part of the life that I have much experience in, but one that I want to embrace—with Sawyer.

Tonight, I’ve thrown a party to celebrate my reign and the beginning of a new era for the Antonellis, but also as a prime opportunity to introduce Sawyer to my world. I think I must be nervous because my heart keeps doing this weird clenching thing in my chest.

“This all looks amazing, Dante,” she murmurs, looking up at the building before us, all lit up for tonight’s event. I decided to throw this evening’s party in what was once a city hall; an old, limestone-clad building constructed with a large entrance portico and six Doric order columns, presenting an impressive image. However, it pales in comparison to the woman standing at my side. I can’t take my eyes off of her, cataloging the widening of her eyes as she takes everything in, the bobbing of her throat as she swallows. Is she… nervous, too?

Holding out my elbow for her to slip her arm through, I escort her up the steps and into the party, which is in full effect. Men and women flit around the room, some dancing, others conversing.

Lor makes his way through the crowd toward us, his gaze dipping to take in the magnificent woman at my side. Once upon a time, that look would have had me glowering and threatening to punch him, but now, it settles something inside me at knowing that he sees exactly what I see when I look at our woman. He knows just how special she is, and knowing she is just as important to him as she is to me gives me peace of mind, especially when I can’t be with her. Which has been more often than not this past week.

Although, Lor hasn’t had much more time than I have. It’s taking the two of us every second to tear apart this organization and begin rebuilding it into something we can both be proud of. Meaning, Sawyer has been spending all her time with Cain and Oliver. Even that doesn’t bother me the way it once would. I’d still prefer she was with me, but knowing she’s safe with them has allowed me to focus on what I need to do here. Having said that, I plan on taking full advantage of our night tonight…

“Spitfire,” Lor purrs as he approaches. “Don’t you look absolutely ravishing in that dress.” Leaning in, he presses a kiss to her cheek before whispering in a voice low enough that only we can hear, “But I bet you’d look even better with it on the floor.”

Sawyer smirks up at Lor with love-struck eyes. Pushing the thin strap of her dress off her shoulder, she dares, “Maybe we should try it and see.”

“No,” I growl, slipping my finger beneath the strap and slowly putting it back in place. Leaning in, I wrap my lips around her earlobe and bite down on the sensitive skin until she squirms. “Don’t be a naughty girl. You’ve already got every guy in the room staring at you. Everything else is just for us.”

“Only you,” she whispers, leaning into my side and reaching out to take Lor’s hand.

“So, are we just going to stand here, or are you going to show me this new and improved family that’s been hogging all of your time recently?”

For the next few hours, I show Sawyer off on my arm, introducing her to a few of the men I trust, including formally introducing her to Antonio and his wife. Most of the underboss positions are still vacant. It will take time to properly vet and learn to trust anyone enough to fill them, but I have extended an olive branch to a few of the men I worked with under my father’s rule, allowing them to prove that my trust in them is not misplaced.

“I was so nervous about tonight,” she confesses later on, when it’s just the two of us in the middle of the dance floor. I don’t dance, but just like last time, I found myself incapable of saying no when she asked. Although, I’m finding that I like the feel of her in my arms as we sway gently from side to side. It feels comfortable, soothing. Maybe I could get used to the occasional dance—with her.

“Why?” For the hundredth time tonight, I am tumbling headfirst into her captivating gaze. I swear, every time I stare into her eyes, they hypnotize me until all I can see, all I can think about, is her.

Only when she looks away, casting a glance around the room, do I come back to myself. “You’ve seen where I was living…”

“Not this again,” I growl.

A tender smile lifts the corners of her lips. “I just mean, my life is so different from yours. It couldn’t be more opposite.” She bites on her bottom lip before confessing, “I was scared that I wouldn’t fit into your world. Fit into all this glitz and glamour. It’s so far from what I know… I—I’m so far out of my depth here,” she chuckles self-consciously, but I see the nerves she’s trying to hide from me.

I brush a thumb over her cheekbone. “I understand all of this is new to you, and I’m sure it’s daunting. But I assure you, you belong here, because you belong with me.” Before she can utter a protest, I continue, “I know you also belong in their world, but who says you can’t live in both? On the surface, the Rejects and Antonellis may appear very different, but underneath it all, our worlds are more similar than I’ve ever cared to admit before. And from what I’ve seen, you fit seamlessly into both.”

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