DANTE'S POV
"The Anotti's are going to pay for ruining my wedding brunch"
I tapped my cigarette on the coffee table, a glass of whiskey in my hand while I listened to my cousin Paulo drone about how he was going to get back at the Anotti's for what they did to the De Luca's. It was all mouth of course, it wasn't his fight and the only reason he seemed so upset about it was they were ruining his whole wedding experience with Vivianna, she seemed like a sweet girl but I doubted Paulo was doing it for love. No man in Algreen Cove got married based on just love, marriage was business for us, I'm offering your something and I want your sweet virgin daughter in return.
Now this trailed my mind back to Helena, our marriage had been an alliance deal, strictly business, she would play the sweet doting and faithful wife and I helped her Papa move his goods across state and that was it. I didn't have to be faithful, the D'angelo men were never faithful but as her luck would have it, I didn't touch another woman until Gianna came around and I was forced to discard her because let's face I wasn't going to give up the opportunity to be with the woman I only truly loved.
I didn't regret that decision until a few days ago when I set my eyes on Helena again, after five long years. She looked – different. Beautiful, more refined, her baby fat gone, her back straight and poised with baby doe eyes that seemed to cause a bulge in my pants
"Dante – Dante are you fucking listening?" my cousin's voice interrupted my thoughts and I glanced back at him.
"It's not your war to fight Paulo, let the De Luca's deal with their mess" I thought of Helena again. the blood dripping down her face as she defiantly shook her head to my offer of protection. I wasn't usually a sadist but it was kind of hot, I felt a reluctant rush of heat run to my groin.
Oh she was going to be death of me.
"So what you're going to let a bunch of women deal with the Anotti's on their own,"
I shrugged in response, hell I was going to do that but I wanted Helena to need me, I didn't need her trust me but I wanted to her to need, to beg at my knees for my protection because I was the only one willing to mess with the Anotti's for her sake, I was the only one brave enough. I wasn't feared for nothing and she knew it. I would rather my head placed on a spike than to let another man lay his filthy hands on her.
I wonder how she tasted now. Probably sweet like vanilla mixed with the darkness that ran in my veins, oh it was going to be hell.
She was slender and I was pretty sure she was flexible enough to raise her legs above her head or wrap them around my torso while I – I stopped my thoughts, I was getting too excited now and I needed to slow it down for my sake and hers even.
"I'll take of it" I said to Paulo, downing my whiskey in one go."But for now, we have to prepare for the funeral"
Few days later, I step out of the car with Paulo for the funeral and a strange weight settles in my gut, a blunt heaviness I couldn't seem to shake. Something was brewing in the air, thick black and evil probably like the blood flowing through my veins. Maybe it was the thought of seeing her, or maybe it was also the possibility of the Anotti's striking again, they were as unpredictable as a cat but I'd like to think they'll have enough respect for the dead they had caused.
I smooth a hand over my suit as I stepped into the stonewall chapel. The black suits, the solemn faces of grief, it was all too familiar. I had attended enough funerals in this town to be used to it by now, my demons had taught me well but what I couldn't quite ignore was the sight of her.
Helena
Talk about a man's wet dream.
Her body, wearing a simple black dress that clung to all the right places. Her hair was a weakness of mine: black, silky and long enough I could wrap it around my fist twice. That thought had flitted through my mind unwilling. And at church, at her father and brother's funeral. Jesus forgive me.
I slip into a seat at the back, across from her so I could watch her. I'd watched as she gave a solemn smile to people who came to offer her condolences, like it was a queue to see her Majesty.
I was six foot five, hardly subtle but she wouldn't notice me for another five minutes at which at the time she would glare at me.
Well deserved.
She was sweet to everyone but me, but still well deserved.
The funeral starts, the minister starts preaching and I try to focus on anything but the tension humming in the air. All I can think about is the feeling in my gut, the one that's screaming at me to stay alert, to be ready.
Then it happens
The church doors open with a creak, and a group of men in black suits file in, their movements slow and deliberate. They're not here to mourn. I can tell just by looking at them-the way they walk, the cold determination in their eyes. It takes all of three seconds for me to realize what's happening.
Shit.
It was the Anotti's
"Stop the funeral!" the men move forward, towards the coffins and they seize them immediately while the crowd breaks out in murmurs.
"We're here to collect our debt" Tony Anotti speaks out, the leader of the Anotti clan, ruthless as they come with a heart darker than mine but still he wasn't a match. I shift in my seat, my hand instinctively moving to the holster beneath my jacket. This is about to get ugly.
I see Helena's eyes widen in horror as she jolts up immediately "Don't you have no respect from the dead? After the funeral, we can talk. All that is owed will be paid to you"
"Shut up woman, no man owing me will be allowed to be laid peacefully. I want what is owed and I want it right now except – " his eyes flick to her, a cruel smile spreading across his face,
"Except we can work something out, how about I take you instead? As collateral until my debt is paid".
He steps towards her, his hands outstretched as if he's about to grab her by her waist.
That's when everything snaps
When I said I didn't want any man laying their filthy hands on her, I fucking meant.
I pull out my gun and I fire a shot.