CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

DANTE

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“Who?” the Marine replies.

“Cut the shit.” I tell Braxton. “If I know the name, clearly I know who you are working for. And with.”

I don’t.

I got the name from someone I paid a fuck ton of money to, but even he doesn’t know who or what they are.

So I tried my luck.

Braxton runs his fingers along his jaw, a tell that he’s uncomfortable with this conversation. Which tells me I am onto something.

Listen, I’m not a man you can trust. Don’t say anymore. We’re on different sides, Baldassare. Despite me marrying your sister.

Maybe we are. But you and the Dark Kings are going to help me.

“How exactly do you see me helping you?” Braxton asks, still not acknowledging whatever this black ops group is.

I wasn’t expecting him to rub his hands together eagerly, then opening up like the new brother he is and telling me everything.

It would be helpful, but unlikely.

Connor Barrett will be furious, if he’s the money behind all this. It’s still a bit of a guess, but Braxton is looking a little pale and a lot less confident.

“You can start by bringing Gianna home to see her mother. And tell her I want her to attend my wedding.” I suppress my smile, thinking how fucking gorgeous Addy is going to look in a big white dress.

I need to get her a ring. One that shows the world who she is—will be—and that she’s mine.

“To the woman you kidnapped who hasn’t said yes?” Braxton asks.

Well, that didn’t take long for his confidence to return.

Dick.

I wave out my hand. “Semantics. We are g—”

“Boss!” Jono busts through the door and I spin, my heart jackhammering inside my chest. I’m across the space before Nick can get through the door after him.

“Where is she?” I growl, knowing Adelina is gone.

Images of her lying dead, being dragged out by her father’s men, shot...god.

What the fuck happened?

“She’s gone.” Jono holds her dress in his hands. “I don’t know how I missed it.”

The fuck?

I take in the fabric and lift my eyes to him in question.

“She walked out naked?” I frown, confused.

“Boss. Fuck. I went inside the room when she was taking too long and found a woman lying on the ground with the dress draped over her. Adelina must’ve walked right out in front of me.”

She. Did. What?

My gun is in my hand and pointed at his forehead before I know what I’m doing.

“Stop,” Braxton says and shoves my arm, just as the bullet leaves the weapon. It pings off the outside of the building.

“Fuck.” Jono drops to his knees.

I whirl.

“The fuck are you doing?” I yell at Braxton, pointing the gun at him. “Is this your doing?”

His hands lift in defense. “No. I have no interest in Adelina.”

Shaking with fury, I stare at him until my head clears enough—for now—to believe him.

“Dante!” Nick demands my attention, and I turn back.

She’s gone.

Who took her? Did she run? Did someone wait for her in the restrooms?

“Check the cameras,” Braxton says behind me. “I know, but just check them and...”

I slowly turn to him and listen as he has a fucking conversation with himself.

Fuck me.

How have I let this happen again?!

“You’re bugged? The fuck!” I lift my gun again, this time I jab it in his chest. “Who is it? The FB fucking I?”

He glares at me.

“Yeah, he’s losing his mind. See if they can tap into the outside cameras too. She’s likely gone by now if she had help.” He keeps talking and I’m almost ready to pull the damn trigger.

With his hands still up, Braxton meets me in the eye and the darkness that I saw in him weeks ago is back. When he speaks it's with a low menacing growl. “Drop the gun or I will remove it.”

I’m about to point out that he’s in no position to tell me what to do when he adds. “Or someone else will.”

He lifts a brow while I work it out.

Fuck.

He was never alone. He was guarded the entire time. It was stupid of me to think he wasn’t. These men are Marines. Barrett’s organization is a top private security firm doing contracts for high paying individuals and companies.

As if Braxton would just show up here unprotected.

“Two seconds.” He growls.

“I can shoot you in one.” I take a step forward and hear him say “ hold.”

“You think I won’t?” I hiss. “Shoot me and we both go down.”

“Last warning. I won’t be able to hold them off after this.”

I lower it an inch and he glances down at his cock. Then back at me. I’m tempted to smile.

“ Fine, shoot him .”

I move the gun and lift my hands, glancing around. “Your boy lives. I’ll even let him keep his cock.”

“Not fucking funny,” Braxton grumbles and I figure it’s to both me and his team.

Pocketing my weapon, I add, “If I find out you lied, your entire family is dead.”

“Well, that includes your sister...” Braxton says as two of my men appear, panting.

“Leo Baldoni left with her,” one of them tells me. I grind my teeth, fury like I’ve never felt runs through my veins. It burns.

It’s like acid filling my heart.

Marry me and be my wife.

If you want to marry me and spend your life with me, then you’ll set me free and propose like a real man, Dante Baldassare.

You want me to get down on my fucking knees, because I will.

No. Not here. Not while you have me locked up.

I didn’t have a gun to your head when your mouth was around my cock. Or when you had your fingers in your cunt.

I’ve always wanted you.

God, when she said that I’ve never wanted a woman so much in my life. I had to touch her. I had to find that wet, hot space at her core and feel her juices.

Tonight you will sleep in my bed. Not as my prisoner, but as the woman I love.

Then she ran from me.

She betrayed me.

I know I took away her freedom, but Adelina was never going to accept me any other way.

I’ve always wanted you.

The way her mouth wrapped around my cock; her eyes locked on mine.

I run a hand through my hair as my men and Braxton wait for my next move.

“Get the car,” I tell them, then glance at Braxton for a moment before walking away.

He knows what I want and how to reach me.

My priority has shifted. Getting Adelina back home and into my arms is all I can think of.