Chapter 3 - The Fiancée
Sofia Bellini arrived at midnight wearing a white coat and diamonds.
She walked into Dante’s library like she owned it.
Then she saw me.
“Who is she?”
Dante poured himself a drink.
“The reason I'm alive.”
Sofia looked at me again.
This time with hatred.
“What happened?”
“Your father tried to poison me.”
Her face barely changed.
That was the moment I knew.
Dante knew too.
“You're not surprised,” he said.
“Of course I'm surprised.”
“You're lying.”
“Dante—”
He placed the syringe inside a clear evidence bag on the desk.
Sofia stared at it.
Then looked away.
“Marco confessed.”
Her shoulders stiffened.
“Marco is an idiot.”
Dante’s expression went empty.
“You knew.”
Sofia exhaled.
“My father wanted you removed.”
“And you?”
“I told him not to.”
“But you didn't warn me.”
“You wouldn't have listened.”
Dante laughed without humor.
“I was going to ask you to marry me tomorrow.”
Sofia's eyes flickered.
Dante placed the velvet box on the desk.
For the first time, Sofia looked shaken.
“You bought it?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then Sofia looked at me.
“This is because of her.”
I stared at her.
“I met him tonight.”
“She whispered in your ear.”
“She warned me someone was trying to kill me,” Dante said.
Sofia stepped closer to him.
“You think a waitress understands your world?”
“No.”
Dante looked directly at me.
“That's probably why she saw what everyone in my world missed.”
Sofia’s face hardened.
“My father won't stop.”
“Neither will I.”
“You'll start a war.”
“Your father started it.”
Dante opened the library door.
“We're finished.”
Sofia didn't move.
“Dante.”
“Leave.”
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then walked past me.
At the doorway, she stopped.
“You should have stayed invisible, Ellie.”
Dante stepped between us.
“Her name is Eleanor.”
Sofia smiled coldly.
“Not for long.”
She left.
Dante immediately turned toward Vincent.
“Double security.”
Vincent nodded.
“And Eleanor?”
Dante looked at me.
“She doesn't leave my sight.”
I groaned.
“We discussed this.”
“We discussed imprisonment.”
“And?”
“This is protection.”
“Feels remarkably similar.”
Vincent coughed to hide another laugh.
Dante pointed at the door.
“Vincent.”
“Leaving.”
When we were alone, Dante loosened his collar.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
He looked tired now.
I glanced at the ring.
“You loved her?”
“I thought I did.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Dante looked toward the window.
“No.”
I waited.
He turned back.
“I thought marriage would end a conflict between our families.”
“So the ring was business.”
“Mostly.”
“That explains the building-sized diamond.”
He almost smiled.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Russo.”
His expression changed instantly.
“When?”
A pause.
“I'm coming.”
He hung up.
“What happened?”
“La Stella.”
My chest tightened.
“What about it?”
“There was a fire in the kitchen.”
“Monica?”
“Everyone got out.”
Relief hit me.
Then Dante continued.
“Someone left a message.”
“What message?”
His eyes locked onto mine.
May you like
“Give us the waitress.”
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