CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

DANTE

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I sip my scotch and stare out across the library as the first bird begins singing outside. It’s still dark. I don’t know what time it is.

I don’t care.

I couldn’t sleep even if I tried, so I didn’t bother lying down.

Adelina was supposed to be in my bed and if she’s not in there, neither am I.

This could be the alcohol talking.

I glance at the books, the leather lounge suite, and photos of my family on the wall. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in this room being lectured by my father, listening to him, learning from him.

I knew I’d be the one sitting in this large red leather armchair one day as the head of the family.

This early?

It was always a possibility, but I never expected it.

At best, I thought we had another ten or even thirty years. Hell, he was two years shy of his sixtieth birthday.

My mother has been in twice.

“Dante. Go to bed. You will work this out,” she said the first time, shaking her head at me when I told her to fuck off.

My father would have punched me for talking to her like that.

The second time, she was less compassionate.

“You know, maybe if you hadn’t kidnapped the girl.”

“Get out!” I yelled.

“You need to sleep. There will be consequences for last night and you need to sober up. You need to think clearly.”

I snorted.

What a fucking joke.

I see the blood staining Adelina’s drive in my mind and know she’s right. It was a message for her, her father, and the damn world.

Adelina is mine.

“She loves you. Just give her time,” Mama said.

That got my attention, so I’d leaned forward on my knees. “Say that again.”

Like a true mother, she walked across the room, not scared of my violent mood, and ran her hand through my hair.

“I said that girl loves you. She always has. Did you do anything except boss her around?” she asked.

A reasonable question.

“Did you ask her how she feels? Ask her what her dreams are?”

More good questions.

I told her I was marrying her. I said a lot of things. But questions? I asked her if she wanted to suck my cock. If she touched herself when she thought of me.

Probably not the same.

One afternoon, I thought I had my answer. I watched her in the cameras as she lay on the linens with her legs wide, sliding her fingers inside herself. Rolling her nipples between her fingers.

Quickly, after my cock had leaped to attention, I realized she was doing it to get attention. It had infuriated me because I’d told Adelina my men were watching.

No one else saw the footage but me.

My own private sex show.

I stare at my phone, which sits on the arm of the large chair I’m sitting on and swipe it to unlock it. I don’t pick it up, as if not fully committing yet.

I click on the app and swallow the last of my scotch, letting out a sound.

Then I press the image I know will take me to that day.

Adelina’s moans fill the room, and my cock instantly goes hard. Who knew it was possible to be aroused and angry at the same time?

I leave the phone on the seat as if by doing so I’m not accepting she’s gone, and this is all I have of her.

For now.

I click the button to go full screen.

“Oh, this feels good.” She moans, spreading legs and circling her clit.

Little minx.

I unzip my tuxedo pants and pull out my cock. It was only hours ago I stroked myself and came on her pussy. Now I wish I’d lifted her and let her drop down over it, taking it fully inside her.

My hand wraps around my shaft as her lips curve and eyes press closed, enjoying the game she was playing with me.

She cups her breast, and I begin stroking. Tight and hard, my grip is mean on my cock.

I want her.

I want that mouth that is gaping with a hint of a smile around it, sucking on me. I want to hear her pain as I press down her throat and make her swallow my come.

I thrust my hips up into my hand.

Adelina rolls her head, pressing inside her pussy, and lets out more little mewls.

Fuck.

My hand rapidly strokes my shaft now; my balls tighten and tuck up, ready to explode.

“Addy!” I yell into the room as my seed spills over me.

Pleasure I almost don’t welcome rolls through me and when it stops, I toss my head back and curse.

I’m so fucking angry with her.

Did you do anything except boss her around?

I grab the phone and head up to my bedroom, where I shower and then slide on a pair of briefs and brush my teeth.

My hand slides over one of my pecs, and I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

I’m powerful.

Covered in tattoos and in my eyes I see fury, revenge...

Pain.

I’m going to fucking marry you. You’ll be happy, kitten. I promise. For the rest of your life, I’ll give you everything you want.

My natural tendency is to send my men to war and get Adelina back. But she wasn’t taken from me. She left.

I spit, rinse, and drop my toothbrush into the holder. Then walk back into my bedroom.

I stare at the bed.

She should be in it.

I reach for my phone on the bedroom cabinet and pull up a number. Then let it dial.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Then she answers but doesn’t speak. I listen to her breathing, the rustle of her sheets as she moves.

“Please don’t kill anyone else,” she says softly, and my eyes press closed.

It takes me another moment to reply.

“Come home.”

“I don’t know where home is,” she replies after a second, and I can hear the tears in her voice.

Then she hangs up.

I slam my phone against the wall. “Fuck!”