26

"Are they playing the law of ice now?" asked Dante, seeing that we weren't saying anything; I didn't expect him to show up like that, after having been eavesdropping on their conversation, but Mauro looked like his soul had been taken away.

This was the perfect opportunity to sink the ship that was still afloat, but it was not the time; not while there was a stranger in the villa and so close to him.

"If they thought I wasn't going to find out they were out here, they still don't know me; they're being watched 24 hours a day, especially you," he pointed at Mauro, but it seemed it was for me, as he kept watching me insistently, "So, who's going to talk first?" he asked.

"Dante, me...

"What you need to know is that Evie and I got back together," Mauro interrupted me and hugged me from behind, taking me by surprise.

"Let me go, Mauro, don't tell lies!" I demanded, trying to remove the arms around me. I was feeling nauseous; those that came along with the anger and hatred I felt towards him, "What's wrong with you?" my words were silenced with a forced kiss and I didn't have time to refuse, when Dante was already on top of his younger brother.

He had him by the shirt tight and their faces were so close, I could feel Mauro's fear reach my place.

"You dared to force a woman to kiss you?" mumbled Dante angrily.

"She's my girlfriend.

"No, she's not," he promptly denied and my heart pounded with great speed, "She's mine now," he confessed loudly and I opened my eyes at the same time as Mauro. Unlike him, I was nervous, but he, again, felt like the earth was eating him in bites.

"What?

"What you heard, and now, you better stay away from her, unless you don't appreciate your reputation," he finished saying and pushed him, to the point where he had to maneuver to keep from falling.

I hadn't pictured Dante that way, he looked like he was going to hit his brother for touching me and that kind of gave me satisfaction.

The black-haired one came back to my height and without fear, he grabbed me by the waist, to force me to go with him; I was still stunned by what was happening, but I couldn't help smiling at Mauro's defeat.

He saw me and knew that I was now above him.

He no longer needed proof to prove how important I was to him, making it clear that he could fight even his only brother.

"Stay here and we'll talk tomorrow, I'm not good at dealing like this," Dante forced me into my room, intending to leave me alone, but it was obvious he was upset.

"Are you going to talk to Mauro?

"Talk? I couldn't even look at him without feeling like killing him," he confessed, massaging the hundred, obviously stressed, "I know I'm not usually like this and maybe you got scared, but after today, that jealousy I felt for a long time..., I don't know," he downplayed it and I watched him strangely, trying to understand why my heart was beating so fast.

"It wasn't that big of a deal; after this I doubt I'll do it again.

He looked at me sideways, "Did you talk to him? And besides that, what were you doing together in the darkness of the garden for him to take you into his confidence?" he suddenly stepped in front of me and I recoiled in fright.

"What are you doing?" I put my hands on his chest to avoid his approach and he immediately noticed.

"I'm sorry, I should better go. I lose control easily when I get angry," he backed away confused, however he stopped halfway. He grabbed my waist and pulled me to him until our lips met, with need, "You are mine, Evie, completely mine," he objected and his skin touching mine tickled me, as if they were opposing forces fighting for the truth, "Neither he, nor any other man will ever touch you again.

"Like at that black market sale?" I whispered to myself without thinking and he stopped at once, looking at me as if a ghost had appeared.

"What did you say?

"Did I say it out loud?" I covered my mouth, oblivious, but it was clear there was no turning back now.

"Did they touch you?" he stared at me and I saw the exact moment when his irises darkened, to the point where I could no longer see the pupil, "And you weren't planning on telling me?

"Yes, but when I saw on my own what you are capable of doing, I thought I could put myself at risk and...," I tried to explain, but he was already pacing the room, cell phone in hand, "I know I should have, but it's over, I can't do anything to...," he shushed me, raising a hand.

"Quiet," I shut my mouth, obedient, but I was disturbed by the determination with which he was searching his cell phone, as if he was about to send a hitman to assassinate the owners.

I opened my eyes - what if that was it?

"I needed the perfect excuse to get rid of someone, but I didn't expect it to be you; right now if you tell me no, I'd destroy this village completely and we're not done talking yet," he warned and I realized right away that he was right to have hidden it; I probably wouldn't be like a military man preparing a missile attack on the enemy nation, just because of a reporting error.

I couldn't deny that I hated the idea of having been part of a dirty business and having been a victim of people who lived off the bad life of others, like mine, but from there to getting rid of people, the distance was lives.

Not even I, in my worst judgment, would have wanted to murder Mauro with my hands, although he deserved it.

"Sono Dante Di Marco, accetto l'incontro con la direzione. Ascolterò quello che avete per me (This is Dante Di Marco, I will accept the management meeting. I will listen to what you have for me)," he spoke in Italian, so the only thing I understood was his name. However, that gave him room for concern.

It was late at night in Italy, whoever I had spoken to at that hour was surely awake or living on the other side of the world; where I was kidnapped.

He left the room without a word and I followed him worriedly.

"Dante, what are you going to do?" I asked insistently.

He paused only for a moment, "I'm going to kill them all," he continued on his way, leaving me as a statue in my place.