Chapter 6 - Truth In The Ashes
Dante lowered the gun, his chest heaving. Behind him in the corridor, two guards were dragging an unconscious, weeping Bianca away toward the holding cells.
Dante stood motionless in the dim light of the cellar, staring at me. The ruthless don of New York looked completely shattered.
""She was bleeding our routes to the Volkovs for over two years,"" Dante said, his voice raw, stripped of all arrogance. ""She fabricated the blog post, doctored the surveillance footage, and forged your bank transfers to eliminate you before you convinced me to change our family security protocols. If Leo hadn't brought this recorder to my desk...""
He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. The boy had saved me.
Leo reached out from his father's arms, his little fingers grasping for the hem of my sweater. ""Sophie safe,"" Leo declared clearly, his voice steady and resolute.
I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around Leo, burying my face in his soft hair as fresh tears streamed down my cheeks. For a moment, Dante didn't move. Then, he closed the distance between us, his massive arms wrapping around both of us, pulling me fiercely against his chest. I could feel the violent thrum of his heart against my cheek.
""Forgive me,"" Dante whispered into my hair, his voice breaking. ""God help me, Sophie, forgive me. I spent my whole life surrounded by snakes, expecting everyone to strike. I almost destroyed the only light this house has ever seen.""
""I was terrified,"" I wept into his shoulder. ""I thought you were going to kill me.""
""Never,"" Dante swore fiercely, pressing his forehead against mine. His dark eyes burned with an intensity that took my breath away. ""I would burn this entire city to the ground before I ever let anyone hurt you again. I swear it on my mother's grave.""
That night, Dante personally carried my things back to the master wing of the estate, moving me into the grand suite directly connected to his. He fired half the security staff who had failed to detect Bianca’s sabotage and doubled the perimeter guards.
As I sat on Leo's bed, gently humming Danny’s favorite lullaby until the little boy drifted off into a peaceful sleep, Dante leaned against the doorframe, watching us in silence.
""You did something no doctor could do,"" Dante said softly, stepping into the room. ""You gave my son a voice. And you gave him a protector.""
""He protected me tonight, Dante,"" I smiled through my exhaustion, brushing Leo's dark bangs from his forehead. ""He’s stronger than you think.""
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Dante walked over, reaching out to gently cup my cheek with his warm, calloused palm. ""We aren't out of the woods yet, Sophie. Bianca's partners, the Volkovs, know their cover is blown. They're going to strike. And they'll come for the things I love most.""
The word hung in the air—*love*. My breath hitched as Dante leaned down, his lips brushing against mine in a kiss that was desperate, possessive, and impossibly gentle.
