Chapter 54: Mark Of Possession
Gianna’s POV
My fork froze halfway to my mouth.
What the hell was Augusto playing at? Why was he so fixated on this marriage idea?!! wasn’t about me, it was about power. He was using the past to provoke Dante, to
Yes, my father had mentioned it once or twice when I was younger, that someday was nothing serious. Just idle talk between men, the kind fathers made when they It was never meant to be real.
But hearing it now… in this room… It made me feel exposed
ar now that this
- do.
Niccolo, but it
to secure alliances.
I didn’t have to look up to feel Dante’s reaction, I sensed it in the shift of his body beside me. When I finally dared to glance his way, his face had hardened, something primal flashing behind his eyes.
I’d seen Dante angry before, but not like this. This wasn’t rage, it was possession. Territory marked in silence. And though part of me trembled under the weight of it, another part knew it wasn’t affection. It was simply control.
He downed the rest of his wine and set the glass down with deliberate calm.
“Seems like that’s never going to happen now, is it?”
Augusto only smiled wider, leaning back in his chair. “Never say never, Don.”
Dante lifted his eyes, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
“If I have to tolerate your leaking mouth any longer, Augusto,” he said evenly, “I just might kick your fat ass out myself.”
Laughter erupted around the table, some of it nervous, some forced. Augusto’s face darkened, his pride clearly bruised.
Dante rose, towering over everyone. “We’ve had enough to eat,” he announced, his voice carrying authority that left no room for debate. “It’s time to dance.”
As if his words were law, and they were, every man in the hall immediately rose, pulling their women to their feet.
The orchestra began to play, low at first, then swelling into something richer. The music filled the hall with a tune, that drew people in whether they wanted to move or not.
Dante leaned closer to me, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “I’ll have to leave you for a moment. Need to speak with a few clan leaders.” His gaze shifted to the corner, where Bruno stood watch. “He’ll stay close. Sit and wait for me.”
I had no choice but to nod. “Alright.”
A few moments later…
I sat still, watching these men I was certain had shed blood without flinching, let loose and dance like ordinary humans with their women. For a second, the brutality in their eyes softened. Their rough hands held their partners delicately. It was almost… unbelievable.
My gaze, however, had a mind of its own. It kept searching for him.
For Dante.
But he wasn’t there.
+25 Bonus
He had stepped out with a few of the Clan heads for a private meeting.
Good, I told myself.
At least he wasn’t beside me, breathing down my neck with that dark, suffocating energy. I could finally breathe on my own for a few minutes.
But could I really relax? Now, in the Mafia’s eyes, I was De Luca’s property. That only made my e harder. Now, nobody would want to cross Dante and help me now.
“It feels good to finally speak with you alone.”
The voice behind me made me turn.
Niccolò stood there. Up close, he looked older, his voice deeper, more grown. “Mind if I join you?”
I shrugged. “Not like I have a say anymore. I guess not.”
He smiled, slid his hands from his pockets, and sat. His eyes softened. “I’m sorry, father, Gigi.”
The sound of that nickname on his lips hit harder than I expected. It had been years since anyone had called me
that.
“It’s fine,” I faked a soft smile.. “I guess that’s the world we were born into. We don’t choose it… we just survive it.”
“Tell me about it,” he muttered, a dry scoff escaping him. “When I first heard what happened, I was afraid for you. I tried to find you, but word spread that Dante got to you first.”
Pain washed through me as the memory resurfaced. “One moment I’d been celebrating, the next there were gunshots and my father collapsing before my eyes.
The blood. The screaming.”
I paused, forcing a breath that didn’t want to come. “The next thing I knew,” I whispered, “I was being threatened … and auctioned. All in one night.”
My throat tightened. “Now I belong to Dante De Luca. That’s my reality.”
Niccolò reached for my hand and squeezed it gently. “You’re brave, Gigi. You’ll get through this.”
I wanted to believe him, but I didn’t know if I could now.
“Maybe.”
I sucked in a breath and slipped my hand free before anyone noticed.
I didn’t want to draw attention. Not here. Not with Dante’s men watching every movement.
My eyes swept over Niccolò, taking him in.
“You’ve changed,” I said softly, trying to lighten the heaviness between us. “Your hair’s longer. And… you’ve added a few more muscles.”
He chuckled. “I don’t look half as good as you. Honestly, it’s good to see you well. My father and I feared how Dante might treat you in his… quest for revenge. But you look…” his eyes lingered briefly over my face, “…divine. I’m glad.”
I reached for my wine, letting the glass cool my fingers.
“Dante De Luca is dangerous,” I said quietly. “But somewhere inside all that darkness, there’s a heart that’s
shown me mercy.”
Niccolò leaned closer, his voice dropping just enough to make my pulse trip.
“Don’t let him fool you, Gigi,” he warned. “Mercy isn’t in his nature. It should be your father sitting at that table, not him. Dante stole everything that was yours. And I swear.” his tone grew serious slightly, “we’re going to set it right.”
I saw the anger burning in Niccolò’s eyes. He meant it. Every word.
But no matter how sincere he looked, I couldn’t bring myself to trust him. Or his father.
“There’s nothing anyone can do now,” I replied. “I’ve accepted my fate.”
“Not if I can help it.”
I smiled faintly at him, unsure whether to believe his promise or pity myself.
Then the music shifted. The deep notes of an old Italian melody filled the hall, my father’s favorite song, My breath caught. From the look on Niccolo’s face, he remembered too.
“Do you remember when your dad would make us dance to this at your birthday parties?” he asked, his eyes glinting with nostalgia.
I blinked, surprised. “You remembered?”
He nodded slowly. “I remember a lot of things about us, Gianna. You have no idea.”
Before I could reply, he reached for my hand again, his touch gentle but sure.
“We can’t let this song go to waste,” he said softly. “One dance.”
I hesitated, trying to pull my hand back. “Niccolò, no. I shouldn’t.”
But he was stronger, his grip firm as he guided me to my feet.
“For old times‘ sake,” he said with a small, hopeful smile.
I shook my head, nerves twisting inside me. If Dante saw this, I knew there’d be trouble. But a quick glance around the hall told me he hadn’t returned yet.
For a brief moment, I let myself breathe, pretending things were normal again, just two old friends dancing to my father’s favorite song.
Niccolò’s hand settled at my waist, warm and steady, as he guided me toward the dance floor My fingers slipped into his, the other resting over his shoulder.
We started moving, slow at first, finding rhythm in the sway of the song. Then I caught the staring, whispering. I could feel their eyes burning into my back.
people
It didn’t feel like fireworks. No sparks, no dizzy pulse of electricity like it was with Dante. It just felt… warm, maybe sweet. The kind of normal I hadn’t felt in a long time.
God, why was I even thinking about Dante now?
“Ignore them,” Niccolò whispered, nodding slightly toward the eyes following us. “They’ve always needed something to gossip about.”
I tried to smile. “How can I ignore them when half the room’s watching us?”
He chuckled softly. “Easy. Just follow my lead.”
So I did. We moved slowly, side to side, to the rhythm of tyd ny, work, and yes favorite,
And for the first time that night, the noise in my headqu
“This feels nice,” he murmured after a while, “I’ve actually looked forward to tog
I glanced up at him, surprised, “You have?”
He smiled faintly, “Yeah, I used to think I’d ask you to dance one day at one of thone stres per pour fat fre But then… you know.”
“But you stopped coming around.”
He sighed, his thumb brushing lightly over my hand, “The wasn’t my choice. My father thought it was better t he handled business with your dad alone, Said it was safer that way, I wanted to come, but he said to the time just got away from us.”
I nodded, staring somewhere over his shoulder, “Yeah. Time does that”
I tilted my head slightly, studying him. “So… what about you, big man? What have you been doing all these years?”
“I’m finishing my master’s,” he said, a hint of pride in his tone. “Business administration. My father’s gearing me up to take over when he steps back.”
My brows rose. “Business admin?”
“Yeah.”
I almost smiled. “That was my major.”
“Really?” He chuckled. “Guess they were grooming both of us for the family business.”
“I wish that was the case,” I muttered under my breath.
His eyes softened. “What do you mean?”
“My dad didn’t think I was good enough to take over,” I rolled my eyes. “Because I’m a girl.”
Niccolò chuckled, shaking his head. “When have you ever acted like a lady? You’ve always wanted more. A life where no man calls the shots.” He mimicked my tone playfully, and for a second, I almost laughed.
My smile faded. I looked away. “All that’s gone now. Seems like my life’s already defin shots now is Dante De Luca.”
His expression darkened at the name. “Gigi…”
Before he could say more, the air shifted.
It was sudden, like a drop in temperature.
I felt it before I even saw him.
Every muscle in Niccolo’s body went still. Slowly, I turned.
And there he was.
Dante.
Looming behind us.
the one calling the
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