Chapter 154 I can't even eat
Dante’s POV
I turned on the spot, sending my eyes as far and near as I could.
The crowd had grown thick now, bigger than I'd ever seen it before.
But that wouldn't stop me, it can't. I stepped into the crowd immediately, with some even giving way for me as I walked through.
But not all did, a few familiar faces I had met along the journey stepped in my way, most trying out a conversation.
I skipped past a few, but didn't dare do that to any family head. I stopped and shook hands with the head of the Naples crew, an old ally from Milan.
They were a quiet family from the south. We had a pretty short conversation and exchanged warm smiles.
“Good to see you,” he said as he pulled me in for a hug.
“Same here, safe travels,”I replied. “And enjoy the night.”
He smiled and we parted ways, so I kept moving immediately with my eyes scanning for Serena.
I didn't spot her after another few minutes then I walked into another crowd who stepped in my way with smiles.
I warmly greeted them as fast as I could and started walking away again. Then stopped for a quick handshake with the head of the Asian delegation.
I offered a nod to the Australian family that had flown in and stood behind him before exchanging a short word with the African contingent that always brought interesting gifts.
There was no time to collect their gifts and told them to hand them over to the guards to keep for me or wait till after the ball.
They gladly accepted and I was on my way again. I scanned the crowd again as I moved, spotting more faces that I knew.
Families from all over the world, from Asia, to Australia, to Africa, to Europe. Everyone had come, everyone except the one I had been watching for.
Then as I walked on, my eyes fell on someone I had least expected to see.
The head of the Romano family.
He was standing near the food section, talking to a small group and laughing like he was some sort of saint.
He had the same calm, confident posture he used to have when he met with my dad back then.
The same way he used to look when he hosted his own events years ago.
I stopped. I had sent him an invitation, like I did to almost everyone. I hadn’t checked every name personally to know who had rejected or not.
Luca's response was seen cause it was starred, somehow, we never really bothered to know what The Romanos felt about it.
I thought about walking over, shaking his hand and asking why he was here after everything.
But the thought made my jaw tighten. If I went to him now, I didn’t know if I’d start a fight or if he would.
And the last thing I needed tonight was a scene in front of everyone.
I decided to step back, so I turned away, moving towards the other side of the room.
But he noticed me.
From the corner of my eyes, I spotted as he pointed towards me and started walking towards me.
I instantly felt that still walking away now would make me look like a wimp, so I turned around immediately and kept a straight face as he approached.
He reached me and clapped my shoulder, pulling me in like we were family. I remained stiff all through.
“Dante,” he said in a smooth voice. “The ball looks wonderful. Just like your father used to do it. The flowers, the music, the lights, everything is perfect. You’ve made the family proud.”
I shook my head, pulled back and shook his hand, keeping everything in as that was what the ball was about.
His grip was firm and I was surprised as to how chill he was. After everything that had happened between our families, after the ambush, after pulling down my warehouse through Luca, he was standing here smiling like it was just another night.
“Thank you,” I said, keeping my voice even. “I’m glad you could make it.”
He laughed softly. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said in his thick voice.
Then he stepped closer, still smiling, and pulled me into a quick hug before his lips went close to my ear.
“I hope Serena is not here,” he whispered. “If she is, get her out. Tell her to leave, this night might not end well like before.”
He stepped back, still smiling, still laughing like he had just told a joke.
“Enjoy your night, Dante,” he said loudly, patting my shoulder again. “It’s going to be a good one.”
Then walked away, still laughing and disappearing into the crowd.
I stood there with my heart pounding. Did he just warn me?
I felt a cold chill run down my spine.
I kept scanning, this time, politely cutting off all greetings and just sparing heads with a handshake.
And then finally, after what felt like forever, I spotted her.
She was standing beside one of the side tables with her back to me.
I groaned and walked towards her immediately, but the closer I got, the more I realized she wasn't alone.
Infact, she was actually standing with a man dressed in all black with a thick mask over his face.
I couldn't recognize him from anywhere and immediately rushed towards Serena.
“Serena, come with me,” I said quietly as I pulled her.
“Wait, Dante, that's—” she started but the man had walked off completely.
I didn’t answer her, I just turned to where he had been and searched everywhere for him, but he had disappeared.
“You’re not supposed to be talking to anyone,” I finally said to her.
Serena’s eyes widened as I pulled her away from the table, completely from that place, leading her towards the private booth.
“You need to stay in the private booth,” I told her. “For the rest of the night. Don’t leave it.”
Serena didn’t try to tell me about the person she had seen.
She just followed me, quietly.
Serena’s POV
My mind kept going back to the guy I had just seen.
His cold eyes, the way he stared at me through the mask, it haunted me.
The name Dante had never mentioned, but the way he reacted told me everything.
I turned to Dante to try and tell him about the person I had seen, the one with the glasses.
But he was already tense and looking pretty uneasy, so I waited till we got to the booth.
“What were you doing?” He asked as he let me go inside the booth.
“That guy, you know him,” I breathe out.
“What are you talking about?” He asked.
“You know him, the guy that was stalking us weeks ago at your warehouse, the one you chased down through the woods in your car,” I explained.
He squinted his eyes and looked to want to argue, but swallowed it and nodded his head.
“Okay,” he said. “Okay. I remember now.
“Yeah, we need to do something. Like get him or something,” I suggested.
Then Dante ran a hand through his hair. “Serena, we can't. The ball is supposed to be a safe place, we can't apprehend or anything. Besides, the system at the door checks everyone walking in, nothing has ever gone past it,” he replied.
I wanted to argue, but he silenced me with his two hands on my shoulder and a firm nod.
I nodded back and we both settled in the booth.
“Food?” He asked and I nodded, deciding to while away the time with a meal.
Then he signaled to a waiter who stood nearby to bring food and it wasn't long before more waitresses in masks came over with our food.
They set the plates down carefully with grilled chicken, rice, vegetables, and all dishes perfectly arranged.
I was about to start eating when one of the staff, an elderly woman in a mask, rushed over to Dante and whispered something to Dante.
Dante’s face changed.
He turned to me immediately.
“Don’t eat that food.”