Chapter 43

Chapter 43
Dante.
“Stay the fuck away from Veronica. I won’t warn you twice.”
I slammed the door shut behind me as I stalked into Lorenzo’s office. He was lounging on a leather chair nursing a glass of whiskey.
A few of his men stood ready to stand in his way. They stood. 
Good.
“Drink?” he asked, lifting the bottle in mock offering.
I sent the glass flying with a swipe of my hand, shards scattering across the floor. “Don’t fuck with me, Lorenzo.”
“Temper, temper.” He taunted. 
I grabbed him by the collar, hauling him halfway out of his seat. “What’s your deal with Veronica? If this is one of your sick little games, end it now. Go back to Italy and crawl into whatever hole you came from.”
He didn’t look the least bit shaken. Instead, he leaned closer, eyes glittering with amusement. “This has nothing to do with you. I’m only visiting an old friend.”
“Bullshit.” My voice was a growl. “You bloody fuck, I saw you kiss her.”
Lorenzo smirked. 
“Since when has my dealings with women ever been your concern? Ahhh.” He tilted his head. “Don’t tell me she’s actually starting to have that much effect on you.”
My jaw was still locked. 
“Can’t say I am too surprised. I wondered when it would show.” He brushed my hands away from his collar making himself comfortable on the couch.
“I have no concern for her. But it seems she might actually be falling for it. She didn’t fight back, at least not the way she’d be pushing you away. If anything…”he drawled. “ …I think she liked it.”
The red haze hit before I could stop it. I drove him from the chair and slammed him hard against the wall, the crack of impact rattling the frames that hung there.
He coughed out a laugh, blood on his teeth. 
“Stay away from Veronica. It’s a threat. I don’t want you anywhere near her.”
His cough turned to chuckles. 
“Careful, cousin. Your uncle already handed power to the wrong hands and I intend to take it back and ruin you completely. Every bit and if that happens to include her…” His lips curled cruelly. “…then so be it.”
That jealousy. I could see it now burning in his eyes but now, unlike before it actually got to me. Much more that I was willing to admit. 
“You touch her again and I’ll bury you,” I snarled, tightening my grip.
“Your wedding is in less than a month, Dante. I’m sure Kiara’s father would be very displeased to know his precious son-in-law has eyes elsewhere. Especially on a scholarship girl who doesn’t belong in your world.”
The words hit mostly because I knew he was right. My father had already threatened Veronica’s life. The smart thing would be to let her go and bend to the inevitable and wear the mask of a loyal husband.
But fuck smart. Fuck safe.
I shoved him harder into the wall.
“What kind of sick game are you playing?”
His bloody smile widened. “It’s kind of a surprise. I wouldn’t want to spoil it. Plus this isn’t a very gentlemanly way to assess the situation, I doubt Veronica would approve.”
I let go of his collar, turned on my heels, and stormed out of the building. The rage was still coursing through me, burning too hot to cage.
My phone buzzed for what had to be the hundredth time today. I didn’t even look. I already knew who it was. Father. Kiara. Everyone desperate to reel me back into the puppet show.
I drove straight to my father’s house, the tires screeching as I pulled into the driveway. By the time I stepped out, I’d already decided—this madness ended tonight.
Inside, Dominik Vasilik greeted me with his usual plastic smile. Beside him sat Kiara, painted to perfection, her face a mask of powder and carefully molded sweetness.
I didn’t take their hands. I didn’t return the smiles. My father’s glare cut into me from across the room, daring me to play along.
Enough.
“I think it’s high time this madness ends,” I said, slicing through the pleasantries. “If you want an alliance so bad, Father, why don’t you marry Kiara?”
The silence was follow was instant, stripping . Dominik’s smile. I stepped forward, eyes locked on my father. 
“Or isn’t she wife material, Father? Why not take her as your bride?”
Dominik’s face darkened in shock. “Dante—”
“He’s drunk.” My father said through clenched teeths. “Sit down let’s finalize the date, and stop behaving like a cunt.”
“To hell with any marriage. If you want it so bad, go get it yourself.”
Dominik’s smile was gone now, replaced with a cold warning. “You should rethink your words, boy. Kiara and you are getting married.”
I scoffed. “Go find someone else to play husband to your spoiled brat. I’m done.”
Suddenly Kiara shot to her feet, tears streaking down her face, she looked at her father before she ran from the room.
All eyes turned to her retreating figure, then back to me. 
Dominik’s head snapped toward his daughter’s empty chair, his jaw ticking then his fury swung back to me like a blade. 
His brows knitted together, and his voice roared across the room.
“What is this nonsense?”
His glare fixed on my father. “You call me here, promise me an alliance, and this is how you honor it? With insults? With your son making a mockery of my daughter in front of my men?”
My father’s lips parted, but Dominik’s rage cut through “If anything happens to Kiara—” his voice dropped, “—I’ll skin the both of you alive and parade what’s left for the world to see.”
He barked an order in Russian. Two guards instantly followed after Kiara, while the others remained stiff at his back, hands near their weapons.
And with that, he turned, his presence burning like a storm as he left the room.
Dominik Vasilik was feared for his empire, but with Kiara he was something worse. A father who would scorch the earth before letting anyone lay a finger on her. I knew that.
My father’s gaze locked onto mine tge moment he was gone, fury burning in his eyes.
“This is all because of that girl, isn’t it?” he spat.
My palm clenched to a fist.
“Stay the fuck away from her.”