Chapter 139 Could it be him?
Dante's POV
I had said the words without thinking, and now I couldn't do the one thing I wish I could, take them back.
I had sounded so sure, but inside, my head was still spinning about with everything.
That gas they pumped into the garage back then had done its job too well.
Even now, hours later, my thoughts felt heavy, like they were heavily pressed down.
I kept seeing flashes of the van, the way the driver and the guy in the passenger seat talked like I wasn’t even there.
They thought I'd be completely out from the gas and the bag over my head, but oh were they wrong.
I remembered every word, and it all came flooding back.
One of them had laughed low and said out loud, “Boss is gonna love this. The Don’s own shadow turned on him. Been feeding us everything for months.”
The other one had grunted. “Yeah, and the best part? He still thinks he’s loyal. He's been showing up everyday and it's like he never leaves when he does. And the little thing with Serena was perfect. Clean work.”
They never said the name, but I was smart enough to put the pieces together.
The timing, the bunker, the way he'd showed up out of nowhere with no scratches, no questions, just with Serena safe all of a sudden.
I blinked hard and looked up at Nico and Marcus who were both already watching me, waiting.
Nico spoke first. “Who do you suspect, Don? Just say it,” he charged.
The question brought back everything and before I could stop myself, my eyes moved over to Marcus.
I stared at him for a long time, longer than I should have.
I stared at the same face I’d trusted for years, the same hands that had pulled me out of more troubles than I could count.
He didn’t flinch though, he just stared back and waited like everything was alright. Just as calm as always.
“I can’t say yet,” I said finally. “Not enough proof, not the kind that matters,” I added.
Nico stepped closer. “Come on, Don. You wouldn’t say you have an idea if it was nothing. Who is it?” He asked again.
Marcus stayed quiet, but I felt his eyes on me. I looked at him again, then shook my head slowly. “I don’t know yet. Not for sure,” I replied.
Marcus exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. “Look, we’re all running on an empty tank here. Let’s get you home, clean up, eat, sleep and when our heads are clear tomorrow, we talk it through,” he suggested.
I nodded as I had to admit that he was right. My legs still felt like paper under my weight.
We walked on very to the sedan and Marcus reached for the driver’s door first.
“I’ll drive,” he offered, but Nico cut in quickly.
“No, we need to get home safely, we aren't in any car chase,” he said playfully.
Marcus chuckled and shook his head. “You never told me my driving was that bad,” he chuckled again
“It's not, but I’m driving. You rest, I’ll drop you off after I get Don home,” Nico pressed on.
Marcus opened his mouth probably to argue again, then shut it.
He offered that half-smile again and slid into the passenger's seat instead while I got in the back.
I barely had any energy to offer any opinion in their bickering.
The engine started smoothly and Nico drove as carefully as I had ever seen him drive.
The ride home was quiet and my head kept turning the same thoughts over and over.
If I was probably in the right state of mind, I would have let him have it for this torturing pace, but I barely cared now.
As we approached the entrance to my penthouse, Marcus leaned back and clapped my shoulder once.
“Rest up, Don. We’ll figure it out soon,” he offered.
Nico nodded. “See you soon, Don,” he added as the car came to a stop for me to step out.
I did and watched as Marcus and Nico nodded me off before Nico pulled away.
I turned towards the penthouse and made my way slowly to the door.
Serena came rushing out from the front door as I stepped closer and she looked like she hadn’t slept a second since I left.
Her hair was loose at all ends and her eyes looked bulgy. The second her eyes met mine, she rushed to meet me where I was.
“Dante, what happened? You look—”
“Can we do this later, please,” I cut in weakly. “I’m okay. I just need to relax a bit and get my head sorted out,” I replied.
She didn’t push, she just slipped her arm around my waist and helped me inside.
Valentina came rushing out too and looked to go all caring and all, but I raised a hand to stop her.
“I need to rest now, please,” I muttered and she nodded, stepping back.
“Food’s ready whenever you are,” she offered and I paused.
“Bring it in 10 minutes,” I instructed and made my way with Serena to the elevator and up.
Serena let me go as we reached the cut point and I made my way slowly towards my room.
As I turned to close the door, I spotted her still standing at the corner and staring at me.
I shook my head and made my way inside, pulling off my clothes immediately and stepping under the hot water.
I remained there till the steam filled the whole bathroom. I got out when I felt I had done enough and got dressed in some clean clothes.
As I stepped out, the plate was already waiting on the table for me. It was a warm chicken soup with loads of meat, the kind of thing that felt normal after a night like this.
Valentina always seemed to know what to serve me.
I ate slowly with every bite helping to clear the fog a bit. But the thoughts didn’t leave completely.
If anything, they returned the more I relaxed.
Marcus. He’d been gone for months, then suddenly, he showed up right when Serena needed saving.
Came out with no injury and the exact timing to swoop in and save her.
And the words in the van kept replaying through my mind, “the Don’s own shadow turned on him.”
Shadow. That had to be someone I knew very well. And who do I know more than him?
I set the fork down as my chest felt too tight to go on.
I had trusted him with my life, but the pieces kept lining up too clean.
I pushed the plate away and stood, the best thing to do was sleep.
That was what I needed. Everything would look different in the morning.
The next morning the house was quiet as I woke up before the sun was fully up with my head clearer but body still sore.
I found Nico in the living room, already dressed for the day.
“I’m not coming in today,” I told him. “Handle the warehouses, double the guards on the east side, and keep eyes on everything, anything looks off, call me,” I instructed.
Nico nodded once. “Done. You have a good rest, Don,” he responded and left.
I grabbed coffee and headed upstairs again, deciding not to use the elevator this time.
But halfway there, I stopped.