Chapter 30: Valentina

Valentina's POV

I watched my brother's tall figure cutting through the crowd, his gray eyes locked on me with an intensity that made my stomach clench.

Leon stood beside me, oblivious to the approaching storm. He was still talking about how I could leverage Dante's influence to take back what was rightfully mine. The DeLuca gang. My father's legacy.

"Val, are you even listening?" Leon's voice seemed distant. "This is your chance. Your stepbrother has the connections, the manpower—"

"Shut up," I hissed, my eyes never leaving Dante's approaching figure. "He's coming."

Leon turned, his expression shifting from confusion to wariness as Dante stopped directly in front of us. The air between them crackled with tension. My ex-boyfriend straightened his shoulders, trying and failing to match Dante's imposing presence.

"Valentina." Dante's voice was deceptively calm, but I knew better. The muscle twitching in his jaw betrayed his anger. "We're leaving."

Leon scoffed. "She's not going anywhere with you, Marino. We're having a private conversation."

I winced at Leon's boldness. He didn't understand who he was dealing with. Dante wasn't just any stepbrother—he was the leader of one of the most feared motorcycle clubs on the East Coast, heir to Lorenzo Marino's empire. The scar across his right brow seemed to deepen as his eyes narrowed.

"Private?" Dante's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Sounds like you were discussing family business. My family."

My heart raced. How much had he heard? I never truly intended to use Dante—at least, that's what I told myself. But Leon wasn't entirely wrong. If there was one person who could help me reclaim what my uncle Salvatore had stolen from me, it was the man standing before us.

"Dante, it's not what you think," I started, my voice steadier than I felt. "Leon was just—"

"I know exactly what he was doing." Dante's gaze shifted to Leon, who took an involuntary step back. "Encouraging my sister to use me as a weapon against her uncle. The same uncle who supplied arms to the Donovan crew last year."

My breath caught. Dante knew about that connection? I'd only heard whispers about my uncle's dealings with Dante's rivals. This confirmed it—there was bad blood there, even if no direct conflict had erupted yet.

Leon recovered his composure. "Look, man, we're just talking options here. Val deserves justice for what happened to her father. You know that better than anyone."

"And you think using me is the way to get it?" Dante's voice dropped dangerously low.

I stepped between them, placing a hand on Dante's chest. I could feel his heart hammering beneath my palm. "Both of you, stop it. This isn't the place."

For a moment, no one moved. The music from The Devil's Forge pounded around us, but it felt miles away. Dante's eyes met mine, and something unreadable passed between us—something that made my skin flush with heat despite the cool night air.

Leon broke the silence. "She's not your property, Marino. Val can make her own decisions."

It happened so fast I barely registered the movement. One second Leon was standing beside me, the next he was pinned against the wall, Dante's forearm pressed against his throat.

"You don't know anything about what my sister needs," Dante growled. "And if I ever hear you talking about using me or my connections again, I'll make sure you regret it."

"Dante!" I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. "Let him go! Please!"

Dante held the position for another heartbeat before releasing Leon, who slumped forward, gasping for air.

"Val, car. Now." Dante's voice left no room for argument.

I hesitated, torn between checking on Leon and obeying my stepbrother. The look in Dante's eyes made the decision for me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered to Leon before turning to follow Dante.

Before I could take three steps, Leon called after me. "This is exactly what I meant, Val! You're letting them control you just like your mother did!"

I froze, the words cutting deeper than Leon could know. Behind me, Dante stopped walking too.

"What did you just say?" Dante asked quietly, turning back.

I moved quickly, placing myself between them again. "It's nothing. He's just angry. Let's go."

But Dante was looking at Leon with renewed interest. "No, I want to hear what he has to say about Isabella."

Leon looked from Dante to me, and I silently pleaded with him to stop talking. He ignored my silent warning.

"Everyone knows Isabella only married your father for protection after Sal took over," Leon said. "And now Val's doing the same thing—hiding behind the Marino name instead of fighting for what's hers."

The words hung in the air for a terrible moment. I couldn't breathe.

"Is that what you think?" Dante asked, his voice dangerously soft as he looked at me. "That you're hiding behind my name?"

"No," I said quickly. "That's not—"

Before I could finish, Dante grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward the parking lot. I struggled against his grip, but it was like trying to bend steel.

"Dante, stop! You're hurting me!"

He didn't slow down until we reached his matte black Challenger. Without a word, he opened the passenger door and practically threw me inside before slamming it shut. I watched through the window as he circled to the driver's side, his movements fluid and controlled despite his obvious anger.

When he slid into the seat beside me, the car seemed to shrink. His scent—leather, whiskey, and something uniquely Dante—filled the space. I pressed myself against the door, as far away from him as possible.

"Dante, I can explain—"

"Don't." His voice was ice. He started the engine, the powerful rumble vibrating through the seats. "If you don't want this to get worse, I suggest you shut up right now."

My mouth snapped closed. Dante's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he peeled out of the parking lot, the tires squealing in protest. The look he gave me sent a shiver down my spine—equal parts anger and something darker, more dangerous.

"If you don't shut up right now," he said, his voice barely audible over the engine, "I swear to God, Val, I'll pull over and fuck you right here in this car."