Chapter 140 A trip to the Gym
Dante's POV
When last did I do anything that didn't have to do with guns or fighting?
The thought hit me hard as I stood there on the stairs with my hand hovering over the railing.
My life had become nothing but blood and bullets, a shadow for so long that I almost forgot what normal felt like.
The gas from last night was still dancing around my head, but I had never thought this clearly in a while.
This wasn't the gas, it was everything. The stress of running, of constantly looking over my shoulder. My body was telling me it had had enough.
I looked down at my arm and the muscle was still there, but it looked weaker than it used to.
My arms felt thinner and each step I took on the stairs burned down my legs.
This wasn't me. I had never taken this long to recover from a fight. I wasn’t the same guy who could go three days straight without sleep and still hit like a truck.
I had to admit that I was losing shape slowly, and quietly.
This wasn’t me.
I rubbed the back of my neck and made up my mind right there.
I have to go to the gym. Not later, but right now.
I needed to move, to sweat, to remember what my body was supposed to feel like when it wasn’t running on adrenaline and coffee.
I skipped the rest of the steps two at a time, pushing myself beyond the pain to my room.
In there, I changed into a pair of black shorts, and a gray tank top, with my old trainers that still fit perfectly.
It wasn't anything fancy, just enough to work.
I grabbed a white towel and stepped back out into the hallway.
Serena came out of her room at the exact same second.
Her hair was still messy from sleep and she still had her morning face. But the moment she spotted me, her eyes went wide for a second.
“Dante!” She called and rushed after me. “How are you feeling?” She asked as she reached my side.
“I'm totally fine,” I lied.
“No, I know you aren't. But let's pretend you are,” she added with a chuckle.
I shook my head and made to leave.
“You’re going somewhere?” She asked, looking over my dressing.
“Yeah, to the gym actually,” I replied. “Been too long.”
She giggled loudly and beamed from ear to ear. “Can I come? Can I come? Please,” she pushed immediately with her hand on mine.
I hesitated for a second, the gym was supposed to be my head-clearing spot, taking her along would defeat that point.
She saw the pause and stepped closer. “Please? I need to do something that doesn’t involve running or hiding or worrying about my mom for once. Just… normal stuff. With you,” she begged and gave me what should be her puppy dog eyes.
I stared at her, then refused to believe the puppy eyes had anything to do with it when I began seeing reason with her.
The truth was, I hadn’t done one single normal thing with her since all this started. It's always been fighting, or protecting or more blood.
I exhaled softly. “Alright, but we keep it light, okay?”
She lit up like I’d just handed her the moon. “Yes! Give me two minutes to change!” She yelled and ran back into her room before I could say anything else.
Serena's POV
I closed the door and leaned against it for a second, grinning so wide my cheeks hurt.
Going to the gym with Dante.
No guns, no Luca, no car chases, just us, sweat and music.
Maybe a bit of laughing here and there, but just us.
My heart was actually racing from excitement instead of fear for once.
This was what normal people do, this was exactly what I needed.
I rushed and pulled out my best gym set I found in the drawer, a pair of black shorts that actually fit nicely and a fitted tank top that wasn’t too tight but still cute.
I tied my hair up quickly, brushed and splashed water on my face, checked the mirror and only moved when I was pleased.
I low-key wanted to look like I belonged next to him, not like some girl who’d been running for her life.
When I stepped back out, Dante was waiting.
His eyes did that quick drop down to my legs, then back up to my face.
He tried to play it cool, but I caught it, and heat rushed to my cheeks but I liked it. I liked it a lot.
“Ready?” Hee asked as I reached him.
“Very ready,” I replied with a beam.
We took the elevator down together and Valentina came out from the kitchen the second she saw us.
She had a warm smile already on her face. “Morning, you two,” she greeted.
“Morning, Valentina,” I replied and Dante simply nodded.
“I see you both look to be going to the gym this morning, that's perfect, especially for you, Dante,” she teased. “Breakfast? I can make something quick,” she added.
But Dante shook his head. “We’re eating out this morning. Light stuff before the gym,” he replied and I nearly slipped.
Dante barely ate out, or at least he hadn't since I got here. This wasn't normal.
“Alrighty, have fun,” Valentina called out as we stepped out.
Today as a whole felt different, he even held the door for me on the way out from the building and waved his guards off when we stepped out.
We got into the car and he chose to drive, something he barely ever did without guards.
We drove to this small café two blocks away with outdoor tables and a fresh bread smell, nothing fancy.
He ordered eggs with bread and coffee. I got the same plus a banana.
Something simple I guess. Perfect before working out.
We sat outside in the morning sun and ate slowly. No heavy talk, just a quiet moment with the sound of cars in the distance.
It felt like a real date, and my chest got warm all over again.
The gym was only five minutes away, and when we walked inside I actually stopped in the middle of the lobby.
It was huge, like really huge. It had marble floors, giant windows, and rows of shiny equipment that looked brand new.
The air smelled great, and one wall was lined up with only mirrors.
Then another had a rock climbing section that went up three stories. It felt more like a spa than a gym.
I turned to Dante, eyes wide. “Let me guess, you own this,” I said with a smirk.
Then he offered a small smile. “Wrong, but I do own a good stake in it anyway,” he added with a shrug.
“Of course you do,” I replied with a laugh. “Is there anything in this city you don’t own?”
He shrugged again with that cocky little grin coming out.
“You know why they call us the biggest family in the city?” He asked with another cocky smirk.
I rolled my eyes and didn't respond cause I knew he'd tell me anyway.
“We pretty much own the city,” he added as expected.
I chuckled and bumped his shoulder lightly. “Okay, but don’t let it go to your head or you won’t be able to lift anything besides your ego,” I shot back playfully.
He laughed, one that sounded pretty real and easy, the sound made my stomach flip.
Then as we approached the front desk, the guy working there saw Dante and straightened up fast. “Private executive suite, sir?” He asked and Dante nodded.
Two minutes later we stepped into the most insane space I’d ever seen.
It was basically a private apartment for working out. It had every machine you could imagine, all brand new.
A heavy bag in one corner, a small boxing ring in the back.
Speakers playing soft music at the corners, and through a glass wall I could see a private hot tub.
The best part? There was no other person in there, just the
two of us.
Dante dropped his towel on a bench. “No instructor today, just you and I,” he smirked.
And something told me it wasn't just going to be about gyming.