25

The taste of Dante lingered on my lips, a mixture of power and danger, a promise sealed in fire and blood. His grip was firm, fingers pressing into my waist, branding me with his touch. The world outside didn’t exist. There was no war, no Gabriel, no enemies waiting in the shadows.

Just him.

Just us.

But nothing good ever lasted.

A voice crackled in Dante’s earpiece, yanking us back into reality.

“Boss, we need to move. Now.”

Dante tensed, his fingers lingering on my skin for a fraction of a second before he pulled away, his expression shifting back into something unreadable.

I took a step back, inhaling deeply, my mind still spinning. “What now?”

Dante exhaled, rolling his shoulders like he was shaking off the moment. “Now, we disappear.”

I frowned. “Disappear?”

Luca stepped in, gun still in hand, his expression tense. “Gabriel wasn’t bluffing. Someone else is coming.”

A cold chill crept down my spine. “Who?”

Dante’s jaw tightened. “We don’t wait to find out.”

He turned to Luca. “Burn it down.”

Luca didn’t hesitate.

Within minutes, the estate was in flames, a roaring inferno consuming the last remnants of Gabriel’s empire. I stood beside Dante, watching the fire devour everything, feeling the heat lick at my skin.

It should have felt like victory.

But it didn’t.

It felt like a warning.

Dante’s voice was low. “You still think this is over?”

I turned to him, my heart steady. “No.”

His smirk was faint. “Good.”

The ride back was tense, the adrenaline still running thick in my veins. My mind raced, trying to process everything.

Gabriel was gone. His empire was in ruins.

And yet, I felt no peace.

Dante sat beside me in the backseat, one arm draped over the leather, his fingers tapping against his knee.

I studied him in the dim light, the sharp angles of his face, the way his eyes remained fixed on the window like he was already thinking ten moves ahead.

“You’re still waiting for the next hit,” I murmured.

His lips quirked. “Always.”

I swallowed. “And if it never comes?”

Dante turned to me, his gaze burning into mine. “It will.”

I exhaled, leaning back into the seat, staring at the passing city lights.

This wasn’t the end.

Not even close.

The safe house felt different when we returned.

Maybe it was me.

Maybe it was the way my father looked at me when I walked into the medical suite, his expression filled with relief, but also something else. Something close to fear.

I sat beside him, ignoring the exhaustion dragging at my limbs. “You should be resting.”

He chuckled, but it was weak. “So should you.”

I hesitated, studying his bruised face, the lines of pain etched into his features. “I’m sorry.”

His brows furrowed. “For what?”

“For all of this.” I gestured vaguely, swallowing the lump in my throat. “For getting you involved. For making you a target.”

My father sighed, reaching for my hand. “Liv, you didn’t put me in danger. This world did.”

I shook my head. “I let it happen.”

His grip tightened. “And you saved me.”

I exhaled sharply, blinking away the sting in my eyes. “I don’t know who I am anymore.”

My father studied me for a long moment. “I do.”

I frowned. “Who?”

He smiled faintly. “Someone who refuses to lose.”

I let out a breathless laugh. “That sounds a lot like Dante.”

His expression darkened just slightly. “Be careful, Liv.”

I stiffened. “Of him?”

My father hesitated. “Of what you’re becoming with him.”

I didn’t answer.

Because deep down, I already knew.

I wasn’t afraid of Dante.

I was afraid of how much I needed him.

Days passed.

The city was quiet, but silence didn’t mean safety.

Dante spent hours locked in meetings with his men, running damage control, assessing what was left of Moretti’s alliances. He was methodical, ruthless, always three steps ahead.

But even he couldn’t ignore the truth.

Something bigger was coming.

And we had no idea who was pulling the strings.

Luca sat across from me at the dining table one morning, sipping his coffee like we weren’t all waiting for the next attack.

“You’re thinking too much,” he muttered.

I raised a brow. “Isn’t that what you all do?”

Luca smirked. “Yeah. But Dante plans. You brood.”

I rolled my eyes. “I do not brood.”

He chuckled. “Sure, princess.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You think it’s really over?”

Luca’s smirk faded. “No.”

I swallowed. “Then why hasn’t anyone made a move?”

Luca leaned back, studying me. “Because they’re waiting.”

I frowned. “For what?”

Luca shrugged. “For us to let our guard down.”

The words settled in my chest like lead.

I stood, pushing away from the table. “Then we don’t give them that chance.”

Luca watched me, something amused in his gaze. “You’re really all in, huh?”

I met his stare without hesitation. “Wouldn’t you be?”

Luca exhaled, nodding once. “Yeah.”

I turned, heading toward Dante’s office, my heart pounding.

Because I was done waiting.

Done playing defense.

Whoever was coming—

They were about to find out exactly who they were dealing with.

And I wasn’t running anymore.

I was fighting.

And this time, I wasn’t losing.