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Chapter Two

Dante

I ’ve been waiting four years for this.

It’s finally time to get my revenge on Erik Koslov and all the men who helped him take me down, including Sergei Belov and Ivan Romanov. They all tried to kill me and they all failed.

I fucking hate Bratva men. I was once a king in the Italian Mafia. Now, I’m reduced to hiding in the shadows.

After I was seriously injured four years ago, I had no choice but to go into hiding to heal. I could have sent my men after Erik much sooner but I wanted to be in peak health to do it. It took me months to get back to my normal health and by then, other mafia members took control. Men who felt no need to go after Erik and his followers.

I lost power and it fucking crushed me.

I only had my second in command, Matteo, with me, and the two Irish hitmen I had hired.

My plan was to sit and wait and regrow in strength in the shadows where Erik couldn’t see. So, that way, when the time was right, I could really get my revenge.

And the best way to get revenge on men in the world of the mafia is to go after their women. Men in our world will fight to the death to make sure they’re safe. It will also wound them to their core .

But I have no desire to go after Erik’s wife, Anya. She’s pretty and all and I know it would fuck Erik in the head if I stole her but I don’t want used goods. I want a woman I can make my own. One untouched and pure. One that will hurt just as much as if I had stolen Anya myself.

Her sister, Nadia.

She’s just as important to Erik. I’ve observed them over the years from the darkness. I know Erik has a soft spot for his new sister. I know taking her will hurt both him and Anya. That bitch. Anya tried to kill me all those years ago too. Stabbed me right in the fucking back. Literally.

If anyone deserves to hurt just as much as Erik, she does. And so does her father. He kidnapped Elio Romano’s daughter, Aria. She was always like a daughter to me and Sergei thought he could use her as a pawn in his fucking game. She was only twelve at the time. Fortunately, Aria was returned safely. Unharmed. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still angry over it. The fact that Sergei Belov thought he could even steal Aria out from under me pissed me off back then and pisses me off still.

I’m ready for my revenge.

I’m ready to make all of these people hurt.

And I’m ready to make myself known.

“Are you ready to do this?” Matteo asks me from the car we’re stationed in. The sight of the chapel is a tiny speck in the distance. We’re parked by the side of the road, near the woods. This entire place is surrounded by trees. Forest for miles. That’s just perfect for me.

“The wedding has already started.” I saw Nadia go inside the chapel in her wedding dress, Erik by her side. This is going to be so much fun.

“I know. But I just want to make sure you’re prepared for anything to happen.”

“Matteo, I have spent the past four years planning this. I have waited until Nadia was old enough to take as my own. She’s twenty-one now. The perfect age. And I won’t have that Viktor guy take her before I can. I want her to hurt so Erik and Anya and Sergei hurt. I want to break them from the inside out. I want to make them regret ever going after me. They’ve lowered their guard. They expected me to attack years ago and now they won’t be expecting it at all. That’s what makes this so perfect. So, yes, I am prepared that anything can happen today. But I also plan on taking Nadia from her family. And I will do anything to get my revenge.”

“I understand that. I just want to go over the plan one more time.”

Matteo became my second in command just a few years ago, after I went into hiding. He thought I didn’t deserve to lose my top spot in the mafia and he wanted to help me reclaim it. He’s practical. Sensible. Smart.

Unlike me. I’m a raging inferno. I’m chaos. I’m death itself. Or I will be to Erik. Once I kidnap Nadia, he will be so torn apart, he’ll give himself over for me to kill him. But only once I make him suffer. Not before.

Matteo and I look so similar, it would be easy to think we’re brothers. Typical Italian looks – brown hair and eyes, tanned skin, and a penchant for looking good in a suit. I strive to look my best. I have to – it’s a wedding day after all.

“Let’s go over the plan,” I say, entertaining him. If it were up to me, I’d go in their guns a blazing and not give a fuck about anything else. But Matteo has helped me see that I can achieve so much more with a plan.

“You go inside and make yourself know. It will cause chaos. Me and Aiden and Finn will be waiting by each exit of the chapel. Once you enter, the three of us will come in and start firing. Then you grab Nadia. You might have to kill her soon-to-be husband to get him out of the way.”

“That’s fine. It’s not him I want to make suffer. It’s Erik and Anya. Sergei too if that fucking bastard even cares about his daughter at all.” Having observed Sergei over the past couple of years, I’ve seen that he’s on the outs with both his daughters. Stealing Nadia away won’t hurt him emotionally but I’m sure it will hurt his pride. And what else does a Bratva man have except his pride?

“As Aiden and Finn remain behind, I’ll get back in the car and have it ready,” Matteo says. “You grab Nadia and get her inside the car and then we take off. Those men will try to follow us. We have to lose them as soon as possible. Hopefully they won’t be able to get to their cars in time. We have a second car waiting two miles up the road. We switch there and keep on going. For any of this to work, Dante, everything has to be perfect. If one wrong thing happens, then our plan crumbles. It’s already a risky plan.”

“The one good thing about a Bratva wedding is that a lot of the men in there are not armed. Many think it’s taboo to bring a gun to a wedding. Bad luck. We have that in our favor. And the fact that Aiden and Finn are fucking psychos. ”

Aiden and Finn. The two Irish brother hitmen I hired back when I was on top in the Mafia. Because I continue to pay them, they continue to work for me. Money creates strong loyalty in our world.

As a mafia man, I work in power and trade. Items such as guns and drugs are common to sell and become rich from. But Aiden and Finn work in the murder industry. They literally get paid to kill people. To become a part of that world, you have to have something seriously fucked up in your brain.

Which is perfect for me since I’m also fucked up. I know it and I don’t fucking care.

“We’re losing time,” I say. “We need to get in there. Now.”

“Then let’s do it.” He starts the car and quietly drives up to the chapel. No one is outside. Not even guards. These men are so confident no one will attack, they didn’t plan appropriately. That’s going to bite them in the ass.

And I’m going to be laughing the entire time.

I jump from the car and walk confidently towards the chapel. Aiden and Finn are at the side doors, waiting for my cue. Matteo follows me to the door and stations himself there.

Show time.

I push open the chapel doors. My timing couldn’t be better because the priest is in the middle of asking if anyone objects to this marriage.

“I object,” I say, causing everyone to turn towards me and gasp when they realize who I am.

Nadia is at the end of the aisle, looking so fucking tempting in her wedding dress. She’s grown into a beautiful woman over the years. When I first saw her four years ago, she was seventeen. I didn’t have the desire to make her mine back then. I only considered kidnapping her then just to inconvenience Erik.

But now Nadia is no longer a teenager. She’s a woman who I want to claim. One I want to hurt for belonging to Erik and Anya’s family. She’s my enemy.

“What is the meaning of this?” the man next to Nadia says. Her soon-to-be husband. Viktor Smirnov. Tall and intimidating, he’s a typical Russian. I don’t even give him a second glance.

I bring out my gun and aim it at the ceiling and fire. Men and women scream. “Why don’t we make this easy. Hand over the bride and no one has to get hurt.”

“Dante,” Erik growls, walking towards me down the aisle.

I point my gun at him, stopping him in his tracks. “I wouldn’t, if I were you. ”

At that moment, Matteo enters from behind me while Aiden and Finn enter from the sides. All three of them have machine guns. They could murder every single person in this room if they wanted to.

But that’s not what I want. I don’t want Erik or Anya or Sergei to die. I want them to feel the pain of losing a beloved sister and daughter. I want them to feel my fucking pain I’ve had to deal with these past four years as I’ve worked myself back up from nothing.

Erik’s eyes flick to my men and back to me. “What are you doing?”

“I’m doing what I should have done before. Did you think I was dead, Erik? I bet you did. After four years of nothing from me, I’m sure you hoped I was gone. But that is your problem. I’m not gone and you’re not prepared for me.” I nod at Aiden and Finn. “Start shooting.”

They aim their guns into the air and start firing. People throw themselves to the ground. Erik runs over to Anya and throws himself on top of her, leaving me the perfect open space to walk up the aisle straight for Nadia.

Viktor puts himself in front of her. “I’ve heard of you. Dante Moretti. You don’t get the right to come in here and just take whatever you want.”

“I think I do.” I aim my gun at him and fire. The bullet lands in his shoulder, knocking him to the side. The interesting thing I notice is that Nadia doesn’t even scream. She’s frozen as I descend closer and closer.

And then I’m right before her. “You’re even more beautiful up close. Too bad you’re my enemy.”

Then I grab Nadia and throw her over my shoulder and run back down the aisle.

She doesn’t even put up a fight.

Nadia

My world turns upside down, both literally and figuratively.

All I can see is the chaos in the room. The sight of Dante’s men firing their guns into the air. They gun down a few people, which makes the rest of the room complacent. My eyes find Anya, underneath Erik as he protects her. Her eyes scream at me to fight but I can’t seem to move. I’m frozen. It’s been my one weakness. I always struggled to stand up to my father because of fear. I always went along with him because it was easier to do that than to fight.

And it’s the same now.

If I fight against Dante, who knows what could happen? Anya could get shot. Killed. I can’t have her blood on my hands.

And my fear won’t let me fight. It knows that if I play along, I might be ok.

But the further Dante takes me away from my sister and closer to the chapel doors, the more I know in my gut that I won’t be ok. I’m being kidnapped by Dante Moretti. The look in his eyes showed how much he hates me. I’m his enemy. He’ll want to hurt me.

I am the furthest thing from ok.

“Stop him!” I hear Anya cry. She has been my protector all my life. She’s been the one to fight for me when I couldn’t fight for myself. And right now, she can’t fight for me. Not when Dante’s men have machine guns.

I don’t take my eyes off Anya. Despite her screaming at Erik to help me, he doesn’t get off her. He won’t risk her death.

Not even to save me. Not even if it’s what Anya wants. He loves my sister and he will not let her die on his watch.

Viktor is hurt, lying on the ground by the altar. I see Julia kneeling over him, bawling her eyes out.

Then I see my father. He’s not running after me. He’s not shouting at Dante to stop. He’s curled into a ball, trembling with fear. At least now he knows what true fear feels like. For all the pain and fear he made me and Anya feel, it’s just desserts.

Yet, I also want him to save me. I want him to be the dad I’ve always wanted.

Daddy , I mouth as I catch his eye. He only shakes his head and trembles harder.

Then I’m out the door and it closes behind me. Dante’s grip is strong on my lower back as he holds me in place. His shoulder is digging into my stomach. His steps jostle my body.

After running over to a large van, he sets me into the back of it and jumps inside. “Let’s go!” He slams the back door shut as the man behind the wheel drives away from the chapel.

I press my back into the wall of the van, curling my arms around my knees. Maybe if I make myself look as small as possible, Dante won’t see me. He’ll somehow forget about me .

He’s distracted, looking out the window as he barks at his man to drive faster.

“I’m going above the speed limit,” the driver says. “I don’t want to get pulled over by the police. That’s the last thing we need right now.”

“Matteo, stop being so fucking practical. We need to move. We need to reach the other car.”

“Where are Aiden and Finn? Did they make it out?”

“They were still in the chapel when I left. But they know the plan. They know how to take care of themselves. They’re fucking hitmen for Christ’s sake. Is anyone following us?”

Matteo looks in the rearview mirror and shakes his head. “Not yet. The road is empty.”

“Just get us to the other car.”

Dante falls silent then and that’s when he finally looks at me. The power of his whole gaze on me makes me shiver. My throat seizes up. I’ve never known this much fear in my life before.

“Cold?”

I blink at him in confusion.

“You’re shivering.”

“She’s probably afraid,” Matteo says. “You did just kidnap her.”

Dante smirks like the whole thing is funny. “Oh yeah. But if you’re cold, just tell me. I can give you my jacket.”

I somehow doubt he’s offering me his jacket out of the kindness of his heart.

“Do you speak?”

I duck my chin. I can’t say a word to Dante, even if I wanted to. The less he can use against me, the better. If I give him nothing then maybe he’ll just leave me alone.

I know it’s na?ve. Anya would tell me in this moment to stop being so na?ve and to fight and to escape. If I had tried harder to fight against Dante, maybe I could have made it back into the chapel. Maybe Erik could have killed Dante then. Or Viktor. Or even my father. Just someone to save me.

But I would have had to save myself first and I always seem incapable of that.

“Shy?” Dante asks. “That’s fine. I don’t normally go for shy girls but I can make an exception for you.”

Matteo stops the car suddenly. “We’re here.”

“About fucking time.” Dante opens the back door and pulls me out of the car with him .

I see another car parked on the side of the road, hidden in some bushes.

“We’re changing cars,” he explains.

I look down the road. If I could just run, maybe I could get help. I need to try. If only my legs would unclamp and move. Please work , I beg of my body.

But it only remains frozen.

Dante walks me over to the new car. It’s a simple white that looks like any other white car, which means it will blend in with everyone else and my chances of escaping will go down. He gently nudges me inside. I’m surprised he’s not being more rough with me. Men like him are always rough.

Once Dante gets in the back with me and Matteo gets behind the wheel, we’re off, leaving the van behind us. Leaving the chapel behind us.

Leaving my family behind us.

I let out a sudden gasp and bend forward, sticking my head between my legs.

“Find anything interesting down there?” Dante mocks.

I grip my head tighter. If I just ignore him, all of this will disappear. I’ll awake from a dream. I’ll be safe in my bed.

Please, please, please.

When I open my eyes, all I see is the floor of the car beneath my feet. When I glance to my side, all I see is Dante, smirking down at me.

I gasp again, squeezing my eyes shut as a few tears fall down my face.

“You’re truly afraid, aren’t you?” he murmurs.

If I were Anya, I’d probably snap back and say, ‘no shit.’ But I’m not my sister. I don’t have her wit. I don’t have her bravery. If she were in this position, she’d be telling Dante off. She’d make him wish he never kidnaped her in the first place.

But as always, I am not my sister.

“Panicking won’t do you any good. What’s happening is real. You’re being kidnapped.”

“Why?” I whisper.

“So you can speak. Because there was no one better. I could have taken your sister to hurt Erik but what would that have accomplished? Erik would give himself up for her and I’d have to kill him and that would be the end of that. But I don’t want to kill Erik. At least, not yet. I want him to suffer. And you’re the best one to do that.”

“I don’t understand.” My words come out muffled, like I’m speaking under water.

“Because I don’t just want to hurt Erik. I also want to hurt your sister. And your father. And anyone else who works with Erik. I’ve been watching you for the past four years. I know how hard your father has fought to get you back and how much he’s failed at it. You’re the key, Nadia.”

“Key?”

“To hurting your entire family. Erik will fight to find you but he won’t become a madman like he would if it were Anya. Instead, he’ll slowly lose out on hope once he doesn’t save you. He will become a disappointment in Anya’s eyes when he fails to save you. And that will be sweeter than death. Destroying his marriage. Making him weak. Hurting your sister for trying to kill me. And even your father. This will pain him even if he doesn’t show it. That’s why I needed to kidnap you, Nadia. You’re the perfect hostage. So many people care about you. Why is that, I wonder?”

I can only shake my head. I have no idea why I’m loved.

Sometimes, I don’t always feel like I deserve to be loved. Not after how my father made me feel all my life. Sometimes, I think I deserve to be alone.

Dante reaches towards my face, making me flinch back. He pauses until I look at him and then he resumes reaching out towards me. His fingers skim along my cheek.

“You are beautiful, you know that?”

I frown.

“You do know that, don’t you, Nadia?” He drops his hand to his lap. “You’ve only grown more beautiful over the years.”

“Are you… going to hurt me?” My voice is barely above a whisper. It’s like a mouse squeaking to a lion.

“We’ll just have to see, won’t we?”

“You do that a lot.”

He tilts his head to the side. “What?”

“Answer my questions with a question.”

“Mmm. Do I? I guess I do. I like hearing you talk. You have a very… sweet voice. It matches your face.”

My lips part and no sound comes out. What am I supposed to say to that? Dante’s eyes find my lips and darken before flicking back to my face.

“You’re shy. Why?”

“I don’t understand. I just am.”

“So, it’s not because of any trauma? Someone didn’t force you to be quiet your whole life? You’re just… shy?”

I shrug. What does he want from me ?

“This is disappointing,” he mutters. “I was sort of hoping you’d fight back more. Instead you just seem so… sad.”

“You kidnaped me.”

“I know. And yet you seem so docile. Why?”

Now that reason is because of trauma. My father made me so scared, it was just easier to be docile than to fight. I guess nothing has changed since I got out from under his thumb.

“I can’t answer your questions.”

An eager glint enters his eyes. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t understand them. I’m just the way I am. If you’re going to hurt me, then please get it over with. I won’t fight you if you just let me go. I don’t want this.”

“I figured you wouldn’t want this. Nobody wants to get kidnapped.” He leans in closer to me; I can smell his cologne. Spicy. Masculine. Sort of intoxicating in a scary way.

“But I’m not letting you go,” he whispers. “You have a job to do, Nadia. You are going to drive Erik and your sister to madness. You are going to be punished for their actions. Is it fair? No. But I’m not a fair man. I have a job to do myself. It’s my job to make Erik suffer. So I am not going to let you go, Nadia. There’s no need to beg me. Nothing you say will make me change my mind.”

I inhale sharply once he leans away from me.

Looking out the window, I don’t recognize where we are. Dante is going to make sure I’m well and truly hidden away.

If I had any chance of escape, it was back at the chapel. Now, I’m stuck.

Dante has all the power and I have none.