Chapter 24: There was no going back.
Dante’s POV
Ariel curled back into my arms, tucking herself under my chin like she used to when she was younger. Her voice came soft against my chest.
“Dad… are they still going to let me take the exams?”
I pulled back just enough to see her face. “Don’t worry about that. Dad will take care of it.” I brushed her hair behind her ear. “Even if we have to bring the entire exam board to this house… you’ll take it right here in your bed if that’s what it takes. I’ll make it happen.”
Her lips curved. “Thanks, Dad… you’re the best.”
She stared up at me for a moment, searching my face the way she always does when she’s about to ask something bigger.
“Dad…” she started again, “when are you coming back to live with us fully?”
I stilled.
“We all miss you. Even Aunty Seline. She acts strong, but… she misses you too.”
I looked over at Seline, but she avoided my gaze, telling me something was up. Then I looked back down at Arielle. 1
“Soon, sweetheart. I already told you… I’ve got a few urgent matters to settle. Once that’s done, we can…”
“Is this about finding Mom’s killers?” she interrupted. “And making them pay?”
I hesitated. My eyes shifted toward Seline again.
Was she filling Ariel’s head with this again?
Seline knew where I stood when it came to revenge, and she didn’t agree. She’d made that clear more than once. But even if she disagreed, it wouldn’t stop me. Nothing would.
I looked down at my daughter. Fourteen. Still my little girl, but not a child anymore. She was old enough now. Old enough to hear the truth. 2
“You’re right,” I agreed, voice low. “I’m on a mission to find the man who took your mother away from us, and to make each of them pay for everything they’ve cost our family.”
Ariel’s face dropped. “I miss Mom every day,” she whispered. “Those evil men… they stole her from us. And it hurts, Dad. But… we carry her in us. Every day. She still lives through us. Her memories.”
I stared at her for a second, chest tightening.
She was so much like her mother.
Always knew what to say. Always had this calm, wise presence about her, even at fourteen. Smart, thoughtful, sensitive. Way too mature for her age. But that’s who she was. That’s who I raised.
That’s who we raised.
She had survived things no child should’ve faced. And still… she carried on. Stronger than anyone I knew. Sometimes I feared she was carrying too much for someone her age.
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Chapter 24 there was no going back
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But I’d brought her into this world, and I’d protect her with my last breath.
“You’re right, sweetheart,” I said gently. “Your mom lives in all of us. And I know she’s looking down right now… proud of the beautiful, brave girl you’re becoming.”
Seline’s eyes glistened. “You think so?”
“I know so.”
She reached over and took my hand in hers.
“Dad…” her voice was strained now, “I also think Mom would want you to stop chasing after her killers. She’d want you here. With us. Not out there burning yourself alive over revenge.”
I looked down at her hand in mine, then slowly pulled away.
“Sweetheart… let’s not talk about this right now.”
I placed my hand gently on her shoulder. “Right now, I want you to rest. And feel better. For Daddy, okay?”
Seline narrowed her eyes slightly. “Dad… you’re deflecting.” 3
I let out a short breath and gave her a teasing smirk. “Maybe. But that’s why I’m your father. Which means I get to order you to rest, and you don’t get to argue with me.”
Arielle laughed under her breath. “You’re so dramatic.”
“Comes with the title.” I ruffled her hair. “Now close those eyes before I call in a nurse to sing you lullabies.”
She giggled again, and for a second, the room felt lighter. Normal.
But I wasn’t finished.
My smile faded as I turned to Seline. “Let’s talk. Outside.”
She gave a small nod and followed me as we stepped quietly out of the room, closing the door behind us.
I didn’t think, I just moved. My hand shot out, clamping around Seline’s wrist, yanking her with me.
She stumbled, frowning, but I didn’t stop until we were in my study and the door was shut behind us.
“I know it’s you.”
The words came out harsher, louder than I intended, but I didn’t care.
Her brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t.” I stepped in, close enough to feel her breath. “You’ve been putting Arielle up to this, telling her to beg me to forget my revenge plans. Filling her head with ideas you know damn well I can’t fulfill.”
“Dante… I’m doing no such thing.” She shook her head. “She’s just a child who misses her father.”
“That’s not the point.” My jaw tightened. “I never told Arielle about any of this. She couldn’t have known unless you told her. Admit it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Dante, you’re hardly ever around. In case you haven’t noticed, your daughter is growing up, she’s asking why her father is always away. So pardon me if I told her the truth for once.”
Her words hit me hard… so hard my head swam.
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Chapter 24 There was no going back
+25 Bonus
Was she really saying I didn’t care enough about my daughter? That I wasn’t here for her? She couldn’t be more
wrong.
“How could you?” I bit out. “Asking her to talk me out of my revenge… that’s asking me to abandon protecting our family. You want me to walk away from what I swore I’d do. That’s low, even for you.”
She crossed her arms. “You might be mad at me, but you need to understand… I did this for you. For us. For our family.”
“If you really cared about our family,” I snapped, “you’d know exactly why I can’t stop. You’d know the kind of pain Vincenzo caused us.” 2
I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a deadly edge. “Maybe you need me to remind you. I spared that bastard’s life after he tried to steal from me, and how did he repay me? He had my daughter kidnapped. Locked my little girl in the dark. Starved her. Terrified her until something inside her broke. And now you’re telling me to just let it go?”
My fists curled. The heat in my chest felt like it could burn through my ribs.
“I remember the way she wouldn’t speak for weeks. The way she’d shake when a door closed too hard. You saw what he did to her.”
She flinched, trying to wave away the memory. “I was there after you rescued her, Dante. But it’s been five years. You haven’t found him. Maybe… maybe it’s time to stop.”
Inside, I almost laughed. She didn’t know.
She didn’t know. She couldn’t know. She had no idea I’d ambushed Lorenzo and shot him, forcing him to fake his death and disappear into some filthy little cage somewhere for safety. No idea I’d already bought his daughter, Gianna, and that she was going to lead me straight to Vincenzo Giovanni. She didn’t know I’d been planning this for years, that every move had been deliberate. She thought I’d failed. She thought I’d given up. She didn’t know how close I was now. There was no going back.
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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.
