DANTE'S POV
The music from the club thumped through the walls as I made my way to the back room, after I left Helena alone. I wasn't going to be long, I just needed to settle some quick shit since Paulo had called me about some problems with Tony Anotti and from the sound of his voice, it seemed urgent.
When I walked into the room, a low-lit space with dark wooden walls, thick leather chairs, and a large round table at the center, far away from the vibrations of the club. Tony Anotti was seated on a leather chair at the far end of the room, a dirty smirk on his face like he owned the place and I wanted nothing more than to smack the cockiness of him. My eyes travelled down to his knee, still bandaged and busted from where I had shot him at the funeral, I could see that he still hadn't learnt his lesson.
Paulo, was already there too, leaning against the wall with a cigarette in hand, his eyes cold. Armed men stood at the corners, men that moved only on my command, each one of them packing heat, their eyes scanning the room for any sudden movement. Guns were out, visible, reminding everyone of the unspoken rules of the underworld.
"Tony" I called out, not a single trace of endearment in my voice, whatever Tony wanted I needed to him to speak up and be fast about, I didn't have time for the deceit of the Anotti clan not when my mind was mostly fixed on Helena, and the apprehension that crawled within from leaving her out there alone but in here was not a place that could house a lady, especially not one like Helena.
I took a seat across from Tony, eyeing him as he ran a hand over his slicked-back hair, his greasy smile already making my fists clench. I didn't trust him. I never did. His family had always been trouble in Algreen Cove, and I knew that whatever he wanted wasn't going to be an easy negotiation.
"Dante" he called back, mimicking my tone and I grimaced, I didn't have time for this.
"What do you want Tony? I didn't think I'll still be seeing your face in fact I didn't think you'd have the legs to walk all the way here" I sneered at his legs, shooting Paulo a brief look whose face had been fixed in a permanent scowl since I walked in here.
"I want what belongs to me" Tony said and I scoffed.
"Your debt has been paid – and in full, we no longer have any business together"
Tony let out a low chuckle, opening the briefcase and thumbing through the stacks of cash. "See, that's the thing. Money's not what I want anymore."
"Well that has nothing to do with me"
"She was promised to me!" Tony lashed out, he almost sprang up in anger but his knee failed him and he held his own with a painful look on his face.
"Helena – she's the one I want. I don't need this measly money, money has never been a problem for the Anotti's"
I felt my entire body shake in white hot anger at the mention of Helena's name especially from his filthy mouth and I wanted nothing more than to shoot the space between his eyes, but still I held my cool with my fist clenched beside me, it was the only thing stopping me from pulling out a gun.
"I can see you've gone mad Tony and you no longer need both your legs. Helena's mine and she's off limits, your debt has been paid and if that's not enough for you then I don't know what to tell you"
"if not Helena, then Vivianna – one of the sisters, I don't care which one" Beside me, I saw Paulo stiffen at the mention of Vivianna.
"You can take your fucking pick of women elsewhere," I spat, my voice low and dangerous. "Helena's mine. Vivianna's off limits."
Tony shrugged like this was all just a game to him. "Then I guess we have a problem, don't we? 'Cause if I don't get one of them, I'm waging war on the D'Angelo family and you know what that means because either way, I'm getting what belongs to me and I'm not scared of you so your move, Dante."
"You should be scared Tony" my tone was lethal "You wouldn't dare"
The air in the room was thick with tension. Every muscle in my body was coiled, ready to spring. Paulo exhaled smoke, but I could see the fury boiling beneath the surface. Tony Anotti was playing a dangerous game, but he didn't realize just how far I was willing to go to end it.
Tony gave me a devilish smile, leaning forward just enough to meet my gaze head-on. "Maybe I already have."
For a split second, everything froze. I processed his words, the pieces falling into place. My heart began to race, the blood in my veins turning to ice. I shot a glance at Paulo, and he returned it, his jaw tight.
Without a word, I closed my eyes and subtly shifting my left leg and throwing a silent signal to my men pinched at every corner. Within seconds, they grabbed Tony, yanking him out of his chair before he even had time to react. He struggled against their grip, but I was already out of my seat, moving toward him. The edge of the table dug into my hip as I leaned over him, my face inches from his.
"Start talking," I growled, before slamming my fist into his face the satisfaction I felt immediately was immense as blood splattered across his lips, and Tony coughed, but he didn't back down. "What did you do, Tony? Speak!"
He spit blood onto the floor, his smile barely wavering. "You think I'm scared of you, Dante? I don't give a shit about-"
Another punch. This time, harder. His head snapped back, his nose bleeding now. But he was still resisting. My patience was wearing thin, and all I could think about was Helena-alone out there, vulnerable. If he had touched her, if he had gotten to her first-
I grabbed him by the collar, pulling him closer. "I'll blow your fucking kneecap off. Say it."
Tony's breath was ragged, his eyes filled with malice, but just as I reached out for my gun he finally broke. "Maybe I already took her for myself," he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
Red flashed before my eyes, and I dealt him one final blow, sending his head cracking against the floor. But I didn't stay to watch him writhe in pain. Panic surged through me, and I rushed out of the room, my pulse roaring in my ears.
Helena. If he had touched her-
I pushed through the throng of people in the club, my heart hammering in my chest – and when I tell you my heart instantly stopped when Helena wasn't where I left her.
Every single member of the Anotti clan was going to die tonight if a single hair on Helena's body was hurt.
And on everything – I meant it