Chapter 46

Chapter 46
Dante.

This was the second whole bottle of whiskey I had drowned in within the last hour.

My phone sat abandoned on the counter of Rickon’s bar, vibrating nonstop with calls from my father.

Was what I had done reckless?

Absolutely.

Did I regret it?

Fuck no.

If he so badly wanted a perfect alliance with the Vasilik family, then he might as well have a goddamn wedding himself.

I emptied the rest of the whiskey in my glass before standing.

There were consequences to today’s stunt. Huge ones. Some of them would inevitably fall on Veronica. And that thought alone had kept me awake for days.

I had given her space while dealing with the disaster I created. Everything she needed to complete her internship, I had prepared them beforehand making sure they got to her at the right time.

But hearing she had gone back to work at Rickon’s told me everything I needed to know.

She needed money. Which meant she was struggling again.

My jaw tightened at the thought.

Her bills had stopped coming in months ago. Her mother’s hospital payments, rent, electricity—everything.

She had cut me off completely.

She really wanted nothing to do with me that badly, huh?

I exhaled sharply before grabbing my keys and heading upstairs toward the private conference floor where tonight’s dinner was being held.

The event was an annual gathering where some of the most powerful young figures in our world came together to form alliances, maintain appearances, and quietly decide who would become tomorrow’s enemy.

It was less of a dinner and more of a battlefield dressed in luxury.

Only one representative from each major quarter attended. The next generation. Future leaders. Future monsters.

Normally, I hated these meetings.

But as acting Don of the Italian quarter, my attendance was no longer optional. Unfortunately, tonight’s gathering just had to be held at Rickon’s. Meaning Veronica was somewhere in the same building.

Though I hadn’t seen her since arriving, which was probably for the best.

I stepped into the private suite and was immediately greeted by familiar faces and calculated smiles.

The room itself was ridiculous in the way only rich people could justify, massive crystal chandelier overhead, walls lined with dark marble, gold accents catching against dim lighting.

At the centre sat a long dinner table designed for seven.

Seven seats for the seven major quarters.

The Americans, English Europeans, Nigerians representing the African coalition, then the larger regional factions, the French, Italians, Russians and finally…

The Japanese.

My eyes paused briefly.

Interesting.

Because the Japanese rarely attended these gatherings personally.

Yet tonight, seated calmly beside the empty French chair, was a woman dressed in charcoal grey silk dress, a confident smile on her face. 

Miyako Saitō.

I didn’t know her personally, but I had heard a thing or two. This was the  youngest representative the Japanese quarter had ever sent.

And judging by the silence around her, everyone else in the room already understood exactly how dangerous that made her.

I caught Lorenzo seated by the french quarters, comfortably exchanging pleasantries with the rest of the room, honestly i would give him the credit, very rarely did you see an Italian head of the French quarters. 

“Don Dante Russo.”

A feminine voice called from behind me.

I turned.

Miyako Saitō stood directly in front of me now, close enough for me to catch the faint scent of cherry blossom and something sharper beneath it. Dangerous women always smelled deceptively soft.

Up close, she looked even younger than the rumors suggested, but there was nothing immature about the way she held herself. 

The charcoal grey silk dress clung perfectly to her figure, elegant without trying too hard, and the deep red heels immediately caught my attention.

Interesting choice.

“I was beginning to wonder if the famous Italian Don enjoyed making entrances.” she said in flawless English.

A smirk tugged at my mouth. “And here I thought the Japanese quarter preferred silence over conversation.”

The corner of her lips lifted faintly.

“Only when necessary.”

She extended her hand toward me.

“Miyako Saitō.”

I took her hand carefully, lowering slightly to press a brief kiss against her knuckles.

“Beautiful name,” I murmured, holding her gaze. “Though I think the woman wearing it is far more distracting.”

Most women reacted to flirting one of two ways, nervousness or eagerness.

Miyako did neither.

Instead, amusement flickered in her eyes.

“Thank you,” she replied calmly. “Though I can’t take full credit. I wouldn’t have looked this good without the nice hotel staff member who picked the outfit.”

My brows lifted slightly. “Well, she definitely knows her tea.”

I pulled out the chair beside mine for her before taking my seat.

“You’re making history tonight,” I commented. “First female representative the Japanese quarter has ever sent.” My gaze lingered on her knowingly. “That can’t have been easy. Especially under a man like Takahiro Endō.”

A few subtle reactions moved around the table at the mention of the former Japanese Don.

“He must either trust you immensely… or fear you enough not to say no.”

That earned me the first genuine reaction from her.

“Perhaps both.”

I leaned back lazily in my chair, studying her more carefully now.

“You don’t seem nervous enough for someone sitting among predators.”

“And you don’t seem sober enough to be judging anyone,” she replied smoothly.

A quiet laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

Sharp tongue.

“I like you already.”

“I’m sure you say that often.”

“Only when it’s true.”

Her gaze held mine for a second longer than necessary before she looked away to take a sip of wine.

I found myself oddly intrigued.

Most people walked into these gatherings trying too hard to prove something. Power. Wealth. Intelligence.

Miyako didn’t seem interested in proving anything at all. Which somehow made her stand above everyone else in the room.

“So,” I drawled, resting one arm lazily against my chair, “tell me a little about yourself, Miyako Saitō.”

She swirled the wine slowly inside her glass before meeting my eyes again.

“If I reveal everything now, I am afraid there won’t be anything left for you to uncover later.” A careful smirk touched her lips, “And someone like you should understand the appeal of mystery.”

I stared at her for a second before a low chuckle left my throat.

“Fair enough.”