Chapter 8 Not Good
Serena's POV
I didn't know what it was he was staring at, but the look in his eyes ran chills down my spine.
Dante stood frozen at that single spot, the longest he had remained at one spot since he lost the chase. He had that single bullet still pinched between his fingers like there was something special about it.
His face had gone rock hard, but not the usual kind that made him look untouchable. This was different. This was the look of a man staring at his own grave.
I took a cautious step closer, careful not to make a sound till the leaves crunched loudly under my shoes.
“Dante… what is it?” I finally asked.
He didn’t answer right away. Just drew in a long, shaky breath—like he was trying to steady his thoughts. Then he held the casing out to me without a word.
I took it, careful not to let our skin touch. The bullet still felt warm as it would straight from the gun. It was surprisingly heavier than I expected.
I turned it over in my palm, squinting closely at it as it grew darker fast. I struggled to see exactly what had gutted him.
Nothing out of place caught my eye though. Just a regular casing, dented from impact and a bit dirty. I looked up at him when I lost hope. “What exactly am I to be looking for here?”
He started pacing wildly again, kicking up leaves and branches on the way. “It’s the sign," Dante finally replied.
“The sign?” I echoed after him with a frown.
“Yeah.” He stopped then ran a hand through his hair. “The mark on the bullets he used,” he continued.
I brought the casing closer to my face, tilting it until the dim light caught a tiny indentation near the rim. I had to squint harder to get a better look, and there it was—a serpent, coiled around straight with its mouth open like it was striking.
So small you’d miss it if you weren’t looking.
My stomach dropped. “What does it mean?”
Dante’s jaw flexed. “It’s the Romano mark. They etch it into every round they load. Every weapon in their warehouses carry it.”
I stared at the serpent again, the chill sinking deeper now. “So… you believe the mystery guy is working for the Romanos?”
Dante exhaled slowly, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe it himself. Then he glanced at the sky, like he was checking how much night we had left. “You need to get home. It’s getting late, not safe for you to be out by this time.”
I blinked. “What about you?”
“I’ve got work to do. I’ll be there soon,” he deadpanned.
“No.” I stepped towards him and raised my voice slightly higher than I meant to. “I’m not going anywhere without you.”
He let out a rough laugh, no humor behind it though, and shook his head. “Don’t start, piccola. Not tonight.”
He pulled out his phone, thumbed around the screen, and muttered something low in Italian. “Nico, vieni nei boschi adesso.”
He hung up without waiting for a reply.
My stomach twisted. That hunch I’d been ignoring all day flared out now. “You want me to go with Nico?”
Dante didn’t answer. Just turned away, staring into the darkening woods where the van had sped off.
I felt my temper rising. “No. I’m not going anywhere. Especially not with him—”
The words barely left my mouth before he rushed at me.
One second he was five feet away. The next, his hand was around my throat, backing me up till the cold metal of the Escalade door stung my skin. He didn’t squeeze though—just pinned me there, gripping hard enough to exert his control.
His face was inches from mine as he leaned in closer. “Don’t you dare forget your place,” he whispered in a dangerously low voice. “You are mine. You do what the fuck I want. How I want. When I want!"
His other hand slid down my side, over my hip, palming my ass hard enough to make me shiver. His gaze dropped to my neck, then lower, lingering on the exposed top of my breasts which was pushed up by the way he had me pinned.
Heat flooded me, replacing any ounce of fear.
“Do you understand?!" He growled, digging his fingers into my thigh now.
I swallowed against his palm and nodded.
He released me so suddenly my knees crashed against the floor. I caught myself, holding the door handle for support as he stalked off into the woods without another word.
I stood there shaking. My skin burned where his hand had been. My chest burned from anger... or probably desire, either way, I was hurt.
Lights shone through the dark a few minutes later from a distance away. Then Nico’s SUV rolled up slowly. Dante stepped out of where he had been at the same time, like he’d never left.
He stepped towards Nico. “L’ho inseguito, ma l’ho perso a sinistra. È dei Romano. Dobbiamo contattarli. Ora.”
Nico nodded once. “Capito, Don.”
Then Dante came straight for me. Didn’t say anything—just hooked an arm around my waist and pulled me against his chest. His hand slid up my thigh again, while the other brushed stray hair from my face almost tenderly.
He didn’t look at Nico when he spoke. “You’ll take my little piccola home.”
“Va bene, Don.”
Dante’s eyes washed over me one last time, filled with desire. Then he leaned in and let his lips brush my ear as he whispered. “Be a good girl for Daddy and go with Nico.”
He pulled apart, but not far enough. His lips hovered so close to mine I could feel his breath. Every part of me screamed to close the distance, to kiss him, to beg him to come with us.
He didn’t let me. Instead he pushed me towards Nico.
I stumbled forward and Nico caught my arm roughly. “Let’s go.”
I twisted back towards Dante. “Wait—”
“And Nico,” Dante called out in a flat voice, causing Nico to stop dead in his tracks. “Se le succede qualcosa alla mia piccola, desidererai la morte dalle mie mani.”
Nico’s jaw tightened. He nodded once.
He opened the back seat for me and waited till I climbed in. He looked irritated by how long it took me, but when I finally did enter, he banged the door shut.
As Nico circled to the driver’s side, Dante added, “Ci vediamo all’ultimo magazzino.”
Nico gave another nod and slid behind the wheel. The SUV pulled away slowly and onto the gravel. We drove in silence, having nothing to say to each other. I knew very well he didn't like me.
I sat stiff with my arms crossed over my chest and staring out the window at the trees blurring past. Every few seconds I caught Nico’s eyes in the rear-view mirror. Watching me. Always watching me.
His gaze irritated me. And finally I couldn’t take it anymore. “What is it, Nico?” I snapped.
He didn’t answer right away. Just smiled. The kind of smile that made my stomach knot.
Then, without warning, he yanked the wheel forcefully, forcing us to the side and sending me crashing into the door before slamming the brakes.
My heart slammed against my chest, and before I could ask what he was doing, Nico killed the engine.
This can't be good.