Chapter 160 All Alone

Chapter 160 All Alone
Dante’s POV

The moment the car slowed, my heart had already gone full heat throttle. But I didn’t wait.

I threw the door open before the car could get to a final stop and stepped out, running towards the flames.

The heat reached me instantly as the air was thick and getting thicker as I ran towards it.

I ran towards what should have been the tall beautiful structure I built. But instead, my house, my home… was on fire.

Flames were crawling up the walls as the glass had been shattered and smoke filled everywhere.

Everything, everything was gone.

For a second, I just stood there, staring at the mess and not having the will to move, I didn't think, I just stared.

Then something in me cracked open and I dropped right there, right on my knees.

I didn’t feel my knees hitting the ground hard, I didn’t feel anything. My chest rose and fell heavily, then my head dropped slightly.

A quiet breath left my lips as I watched everything I'd built, everything I'd owned.

Everything I held together, burned in flames.

I'm… gone.

My home… gone.

A hollow laugh almost escaped my lips, but it didn’t. Nothing was left with me.

I just stayed there on my knees, watching it burn away.

And for the first time in a long time, there was no reserve left to hold onto.

I felt lost as the flames didn’t stop, if anything, they rose, swallowing the penthouse whole.

I remained on my knees for what? Maybe even an hour or so ago, I couldn’t remember how long I was there.

My head hung low and my hands rested loosely on my thighs as I held back the tears.

The heat burned against my skin, but I didn’t react, I didn’t move, I didn’t think.

Everything was… quiet.

“Boss,” I heard Nico’s voice calling from somewhere distant behind me, like it had to fight its way through walls to reach me.

“Boss, you need to get up,” his voice said again but I said nothing. I didn’t even shift.

“Don,” he tried again in a softer tone, while I felt him get closer. “We need to move.”

I said nothing still as the fire roared louder and sparks shot into the sky.

Gone… everything was gone.

“Don,” he called again, closer now.

Then a hand touched my shoulder, and something in me snapped.

“Don’t,” I simply said, and it was enough to make him freeze.

Silence followed as he said nothing, just pulled his hand away and I felt his heavy steps retreating.

Then I remained like that till another set of footsteps approached me, a slower set, lighter ones, certainly not Nico.

I felt her presence before I turned to her, to Valentina. She didn’t speak immediately, she just walked up to my side and sat by me.

She remained calm, like the fire in front of us didn’t exist, like the world hadn’t just tilted wickedly.

She didn’t try to touch me, she didn’t try to pull me up.

She just… sat there, watching the flames with me.

Seconds passed, maybe even minutes, I didn’t know.

Then she shifted slightly, turned just enough, and lowered herself fully… kneeling beside me.

She remained on her knees just like I was, staring ahead. I turned to her, but didn't ask her what she was doing.

And before I could, another presence dropped by my other side.

I turned to find Nico kneeling by my side, then Marcus joined beside him.

Then more joined in behind me. One by one, boots hit the ground as men lowered themselves.

No words, no questions. Just that single act, and for a long time, no one spoke.

Only the sound of burning filled the air.

Then finally, I inhaled slowly before lifting my head.

Whether I liked it or not, I was the head, I had to speak.

“We will rebuild,” I croaked out and no one responded. But they didn't have to.

Then I turned my head slightly, turning from Valentina to Nico and to Marcus before adding,

“But we'll do it together.”

Then I pushed myself up slowly as my body felt heavier than it should have.

I stood and helped Valentina up to her feet before turning to the rest of the men who stood too.

Then I turned back to the fire one last time before turning away.

“Let’s go,” I commanded.

We filed into the cars one by one as I left everything I had ever had burned inside my penthouse.

We drove down to one of my hotels and got ourselves a reservation for the night as the other men went their separate ways.

Just Valentina and myself got separate rooms for ourselves.

I took a shower and sat on the edge of the couch afterwards with a glass in my hand.

It was untouched under the dim lights as the air had gone still.

Everything felt… disconnected, like I wasn’t fully there.

Like I didn’t matter.

The glass tilted slightly as I finally took a drink. It burned going down, but did nothing.

I took another, still nothing.

Then a knock came from the door.

“Come in,” I replied and Nico stepped in.

He didn’t speak immediately, he just walked over and poured himself a drink.

Then sat across from me as the silence stretched between us.

Then, “What now?” He asked.

And I didn’t hesitate. “We rebuild,” I repeated from earlier.

And he nodded slowly, like he expected that answer.

Then he leaned back slightly. “And Me?” He asked.

Her name still hit hard, but I didn’t let it show.

I took another drink and swallowed slowly before setting the glass down.

“She’s in the past now.”

Serena’s POV

The smell in here was terrible, rotten and suffocating.

But I didn’t stop moving, I couldn’t.

The sewer stretched ahead of me, dark and narrow as the only sound that could be heard was that of the faint dripping of water somewhere deeper inside.

My feet splashed lightly through shallow water as I moved as fast and as carefully as I could.

I didn’t look back, there was nothing to look back to as I had rushed underground the moment I left the premises of the ballroom.

I reached into my gown, pulling out my phone and my fingers moved quickly.

Me: I’m out.

The reply came faster than expected.

Unknown: How?

I paused for a second before typing back.

Me: Doesn’t matter. I made it through.

There was another pause. Then…

Unknown: Good. Then we move to phase two.

My eyes narrowed slightly.

Me: I need to find my mother.

This time, the reply took longer, over a minute before it came again.

Unknown: You will. But not like this.

My grip tightened slightly on the phone.

Me: Then how?

A minute passed before another response.

Unknown: You disappear first.

I exhaled slowly, I wanted to argue, then I gave it a thought. He was right, I knew that now.

Me: Tell me what to do.

And he responded with instructions on how to get to a different city and what to buy.

That night, I didn’t sleep well, even if I wanted to, the smell in here didn't permit such.

I found a dry corner and sat there with my back against the cold wall, thinking, planning my next move.

At some point, I reached down and tore the gown with the fabric ripping easily.

I tore it shorter, just above my knees, giving myself that added freedom.

Then I tore strips of it and wrapped them tightly around my hands and legs.

By the time I was done, the gown barely looked the same.

Then I checked my account, I still had some money in there.

Enough to start with, so I leaned my head back against the wall and closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep.

Morning came quietly, and I moved again, deeper into the sewer.

I followed its instructions.

Left.

Right.

Straight.

Then down again.

It was confusing, twisting, but I didn’t hesitate.

I just kept moving as hours passed, or maybe even more.

Then finally, I saw a faint light in the distance.

I pushed forward, stepped out through the gap into a completely different part of the city.

Completely unfamiliar. Good, that’s what I needed.

I didn’t waste more time, I moved through the streets carefully, blending in with my head down.

I first got myself some simple clothes first, which I changed into and dumped the gown immediately.

I held the necklace in my hands, the one thing I had kept all along. Then I put it over my neck in its place, I wasn't ready to lose it.

Then moved to add some necessary things.

I didn’t ask too many questions, just those that looked to know and they led me where I needed to be.

By the time I was done, I had what I needed, or at least enough to start.

I stepped into a quiet alley and pulled out my phone again.

Me: I’m set.

It took a moment before it replied.

Unknown: Good.

My eyes hardened slightly.

Unknown: Now comes the hard part.

I stared at the screen for a second longer.

Then typed—

Me: I’m ready.