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Chapter 25: Ready to get back to Her
Dante’s POV
Seline closed the distance between us, her pleading eyes locked onto mine.
“Please,” she whispered, “let this go. For Esmeralda.”
“No.” My voice intensified. “You don’t get to tell me to let this go.” My palm slammed against the desk, the sound cracking through the room. “You weren’t there when I found out Arielle and Esmeralda were missing. You didn’t feel that panic, knowing I might never see them again. And when I finally did…”
My throat burned. “When I finally saw them, that bastard shot at Esme as she ran to me. Over and over.”
Her eyes widened. I didn’t stop.
“You didn’t see him smile with those damn golden teeth while she fell right here.” I jabbed a finger toward the floor. “She died in my arms, Celine. Your sister bled out while I begged her to stay alive, for us.” 2
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
“You never mean to,” I cut in coldly. “Let me make this clear, I don’t care if it takes fifty years. I’ll wait as long as it takes to put a bullet in Lorenzo’s skull.”
The air in the room felt suffocating. I turned away from her, my chest tight, needing space. She was forcing me to relive memories I’d buried deep, ones I wasn’t ready to bleed out again.
I felt her step closer. Her hands rested lightly on my shoulders, as if she could anchor me there. “I’m still here, Dante. You still have me.”
She turned me toward her, reaching for my face. I pulled back before her fingers could touch me.
She didn’t understand. She never would. She thought time and love could stitch this wound shut. But I lived with the guilt every day, and it was mine to carry. I had brought Lorenzo into our lives. That blood was on my hands.
Her voice was barely a whisper. “None of this was your fault. You’ve punished yourself long enough. It’s time to let go of the pain.”
“I can’t.” My voice cracked. “Every night I close my eyes, I see her… calling out to me for help…” The words broke in my throat.
Her gaze searched mine. “Then let me in.”
1
She reached for me again, leaning in… but I stepped back.
“Let us in,” she corrected softly. “Arielle. Let Arielle in. She needs you.
>>
!
She knew it was my weakness. And she was using it.
“Just stay the week,” she pleaded. “At least, please.”
I shook my head. I needed to go back to Gia. I needed to finish what I’d started with Gianna, the daughter of the
man who had stolen everything from me. Arielle was safe here. Guarded. Protected.
“No.” My voice was final. “I leave tonight.”
“Dante… please…”
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Chapter 25 Ready to get back to Hese
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“That’s enough,” I said, turning away. “Celine… please. I’d like to be alone.”
She stood there for a long moment, disappointment and grief written across her face. She looked like she wanted to say more, but in the end… she just walked away.
When Seline left earlier, I needed a few minutes to cool off. My mind was still burning with the conversation, but I forced myself to push it aside.
I went to my daughter’s room. The door was half–open, and soft music drifted out.
She was stretched out on the bed, propped against a pillow, her laptop open and a pair of AirPods in. Her foot tapped lazily to the beat.
I stepped inside. “Thought you were supposed to be resting. Since when does a glowing laptop count as rest?”
She slid one AirPod out, grinning. “Music relaxes me. So technically, I am resting.”
I gave her a look and sat on the edge of her bed. “Oh yeah? What are you listening to?”
“Promise you won’t judge?” she teased, holding out the spare AirPod.
I took it, put it in, and listened. Some mellow R\&B track pulsed in my ear. “Not bad, better than some of the noise you’ve played before,” I admitted. “But your playlist’s suspiciously short on classics.”
She rolled her eyes. “Here we go again. You’re about to say real music died years ago.”
“Because it did.” I smirked, scrolling through her playlist on the laptop. “So, how’ve your exams been going?”
“Eh. They’re going well… other than the fainting episode,” she said, waving a hand. “But I’m prepared to ace everyone in my class. Especially some cocky boys who think they’re smarter than all the girls.”
I paused, glancing up at her in surprise. Wow… who is this brave, strong daughter I raised?
“I don’t want you stressing too much, we don’t want to trigger another episode,” I nudged her shoulders playfully. “But I do want you kicking those boys down, you’re a De Luca, after all.”
“That’s right!” she grinned, holding up her palm for a high–five. I slapped it firmly, a little smile tugging at my
mouth.
I let the topic drift into something lighter, wanting to make the most of this time with her. “So, what shows have you been watching?”
We slipped into easy conversation, about her friends, the TV series she’d been binge–watching, and the new playlist she’d made. I also introduced her to some old favorites. She laughed at a few of my choices, but I caught her adding one or two to her list. For a while, it felt like nothing else existed outside this room.
Eventually, I glanced at the clock, it was past nine pm. “Alright. Time for bed.”
She groaned. “Dad, I’m fourteen. I’m not a baby anymore.”
“You’ll always be my baby. And you’re going to do what I tell you to do.”
She smirked. “Sometimes you sound like we’re in the military.”
“Maybe you need to remember who your father is,” I shot back.
She laughed softly but started closing her laptop. I stood and pulled the blanket over her. “Goodnight, Selene.” 4
She held onto my hand. “Dad… you’re not leaving me, right?”
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I sat back down. “I promise I’ll be back in a few days.‘
Her eyes locked onto mine, searching for something, maybe the truth.
“I know you loved Mom and me so much… that’s why you can’t let this revenge plot go. But I love you, Dad, and I already lost one parent. Please don’t let them take you from me.”
The ache in my chest made it hard to speak. I kissed her forehead. “That will never happen. No one will take me from you. I love you, baby.”
She smiled faintly. “Then… don’t leave until I fall asleep.”
“Yes, sweetheart.” I lay beside her, her head against my shoulder. I ran my fingers through her hair until her breathing slowed, and she drifted off.
When I was sure she was deep in sleep, I gently shifted her onto the pillow, tucked the blanket around her, and pressed another kiss to her forehead.
“I’ll make them pay for your mother,” I whispered. “And I’ll always love you.”
I slipped out quietly, ready to get back to Gianna Giovanni and finish what I’d started.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
