Chapter 100: My Was Family
Dante’s POV
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly. Bruno stepped inside, shoulders tense, eyes heavy with guilt. He closed the door behind him and lingered near it, like a man waiting for judgment.
“Boss,” he started, voice low. “I heard about Gianna trying to escape. I came as soon as I got your message. I’m sorry I didn’t show up yesterday… my phone…”
“Your phone’s been unreachable for close to twenty–four hours.” I didn’t look up from the papers spread across my desk. My tone stayed calm, but the edge in it was impossible to miss. “That’s unacceptable, Bruno. You know better.”
“I know,” he muttered. “I was… dealing with something personal.”
“Stop.”
I set the pen down. Didn’t look up yet.
His fell silent, but I heard the slight hitch in his breathing.
“I know exactly where you were.” My voice dropped lower as I finally raised my eyes to his. “And who you were with.”
The color drained from his face. His lips parted, then closed again.
“Don…”
“Of all the people I expected to disappoint me like this,” I continued, standing from my chair, “it wasn’t you. You’re my head of security. The man I trust with my life. And yet, for twenty–four hours, you vanished while Gianna nearly escaped through a secret passage only three people are supposed to know exists.”
Bruno’s hand lifted halfway in a surrender before falling again. His shoulders slumped. “I messed up,” he said finally, voice breaking. “I know I did.”
“This isn’t some simple fuck–up a new recruit would make.”
My fingers curled against the edge of the desk, holding back the anger that wanted to explode, to throw something, to make him understand the magnitude of what he’d done.
I came around the desk, stopping in front of him. “That secret passage was meant for emergencies only. Life or death. My father showed it to me before he died. It isn’t on any blueprint. It isn’t written down anywhere. And somehow, Mira knew about it. Which means Gianna knew about it. Want to tell me how that happened?”
Bruno’s eyes fell to the floor. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I told Mira. A few months ago. I didn’t mean for it to go that far, I just…”
“You thought,” I finished for him, letting out a low laugh that didn’t hold an ounce of humor. “You thought with your heart instead of your head. You thought it was harmless, telling your girlfriend something that could destroy everything we’ve built.”
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Chapter 100 My Was Family
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“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn’t fix this.” My voice rose before I forced it back down. “That passage could get us all killed. If the wrong people find out…”
“They won’t,” he cut in, desperate. “Mira would never tell anyone else. She only told Gianna because…”
“It already did!” My voice thundered through the room. “She told Gianna everything. How long before she slips again? How long before it comes out over wine or during brunch with someone else?”
“It won’t happen again,” he insisted. His fists clenched at his sides. “I swear on my life.”
He took a shaky breath. “You’re right to be angry. I screwed up. I betrayed your trust. Whatever punishment you give me, I’ll take it. Just… please, don’t punish Mira. She didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It’s my fault.”
I studied him. This man who’d stood beside me through wars and bloodshed. Who’d taken bullets meant for me. Who I’d called brother more times than I could count.
Now standing here because he’d betrayed the one secret I’d trusted him with. Because of a woman.
The irony wasn’t lost on me.
As much as I wanted to make them both understand the severity of this, to teach them a lesson they’d never forget, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not just because Gianna had pleaded on their behalf, but because they’d both become family. And hurting them would hurt me.
I exhaled slowly and leaned back against the desk.
“You… you knew?”
“Of course I knew. You think I don’t notice when my head of security starts disappearing every Thursday evening? When you both suddenly find reasons to be in the east garden at the same time?”
He looked stunned. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I trusted you,” I said simply. “I trusted that you’d keep your personal life separate from the job. That you’d come to me if things got serious enough to matter.”
He let out a weak laugh. “Her parents worked for our enemies. I didn’t know how you’d take it, me being with someone from that family.”
“I know exactly who her parents were. They’re dead now. I took Mira and her mother in afterward. They’ve been loyal ever since. I trust them. But trust in this world isn’t blanket coverage. There’s a difference between trusting someone with the household and trusting them with a secret that could get us all killed.”
He nodded slowly, guilt clouding his face. “I never thought she’d tell anyone. I swear.”
“You didn’t think,” I cut in. “You felt. And in our world, feelings get people killed.”
Bruno went still. Silent. His jaw worked, but no words came out. He knew I was right.
The anger drained from my shoulders. I exhaled slowly, and despite everything, a grin tugged at the corner of my mouth.
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Chapter 180 My Wem Fensify
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“Gianna already begged for both of you this morning.”
His head jerked up. “She what?”
“She asked me not to punish you or Mira,” I said, “Claimed it was her fault. Said she manipulated Mira, that you had nothing to do with the escape.”
Bruno’s expression softened. “That’s… generous of her.”
“It is.” I folded my arms, studying him. “You’re like a brother to ine, Bruno. We’ve bled together. I trust you with my life.”
He nodded slowly. “And I trust you with mine.”
I held his gaze. “But love makes people stupid. Makes them sloppy. It makes them reveal secrets just to protect someone. To prove trust.”
My eyes narrowed slightly. “You love her. Mira.”
It wasn’t a question, but he answered anyway.
“Yes. I love her.”
“Enough to marry her?”
That caught him off guard. His brows drew together. “I… yes. Eventually. When the time’s right.”
“The time’s never right for men like us.” I leaned against the desk, arms crossed. “One day you’re here, the next you’re gone. If you love her, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Make it.”
Bruno stared at me like I’d just sprouted a second head.
“I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to get married.”
“I never told you not to.” My mouth curved faintly. “But it’s clear you’d risk it all for her. Something you never would’ve done before. So make it count while you can.”
Bruno managed a weak smile. “I’ll try.”
“Good.” I straightened. “On other news, I proposed to Gianna this morning.
))
His head snapped up, eyes wide. Then came the grin. “No shit? How’d that go?”
I gave a short laugh, shaking my head. I wasn’t ready to tell him about the fit she’d thrown.
“Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
He chuckled, still stunned, while I pushed off the desk, forcing my tone back to work mode. “The wedding’s happening in a few days.”
“What? So soon?” His brows shot up. “That was fast.”
“Weren’t you the one pushing me to get it done?” My tone edged toward dry amusement. “You said it yourself, it was the only way.”
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Chapter 100: My Was Family
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“Yeah, but still…”
“No buts.” My voice hardened again. “Gianna’s a flight risk. She’s smart, resourceful, manipulative. She already tried once. She’ll try again if given the chance. And Augusto or Niccolò would help her if they could. But once she’s my wife, they’ll back off.”
Bruno nodded slowly, the understanding settling over his features.
“You’re right. I get it. I know how hard this is… but I’m glad you’re doing it. For Esme. For the empire.‘
For Esme.
That’s what it was supposed to be about. Duty. Stability. But deep down, I knew there was more to it than that, something I wasn’t ready to admit, not even to myself.
I forced my focus back. “I need you to go to the house and bring my daughter and Selene. I’ve already called them, told them to pack. They sounded super excited, but they don’t know about the marriage. Make sure it stays that way. I want to tell them in person. Especially Arielle.”
“Understood, Don.” He stepped closer and gave my shoulder a brief, brotherly tap. “And… thank you. For forgiving me. For letting this go.”
“I’m not firing you, or Mira.” My tone was firm. “But if either of you ever compromise this family’s security again, there won’t be another conversation. Are we clear?”
“Crystal clear, boss. I respect that.”
He grinned once and walked away.
I stood there, staring at the closed door.
My family was coming.
Seline would lose her mind the second she found out about the marriage, especially after trying to make a move on me and getting shut down when I chose Gianna instead. I could already see it coming. 2
Somehow, she’d twist it into being about me betraying Esme, her sister’s memory, her image, everything she
held sacred.
But what worried me most was what she’d spin and tell Arielle.
I needed to take control of the situation before Selene did.
