Chapter 5 - The Unspoken Spark
The storm outside raged through the late evening, heavy rain beating violently against the tall glass windows of the Vance Manor.
Unable to sleep, Sadi walked down the quiet, dimly lit hallway of the second floor. She wore a silk robe Elena had left for her, her mind consumed by thoughts of her destroyed apartment and the uncertain future ahead of her.
As she passed Dante's private study, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. A warm, gold light spilled out onto the dark rug.
She paused, intending to keep walking, but the quiet sound of soft jazz music and glass clinking pulled her attention.
She peeked through the opening.
Dante was sitting at his massive mahogany desk, his white shirt unbuttoned at the collar, a glass of amber scotch in his hand. He was staring out the floor-to-ceiling window at the rain, looking remarkably tired and human—a stark contrast to the terrifying crime boss the city feared.
"You can come in, Sadi," Dante said softly, without turning around.
Sadi pushed the door open, stepping into the room filled with leather-bound books, ancient maps, and the faint smell of rich tobacco and cedarwood.
"How did you know it was me?" she asked.
"I know the rhythm of every heartbeat in this house," Dante replied, turning his chair to face her. "And yours is racing."
Sadi walked closer, standing on the opposite side of his desk. "I couldn't sleep."
"Neither could I," Dante said. He poured a second glass of scotch and pushed it across the polished wood toward her. "Drink. It helps with the nerves."
Sadi hesitated, then picked up the crystal glass and took a small sip. The high-end liquor burned smoothly down her throat, warming her chest.
"I talked to my men twenty minutes ago," Dante said, watching her intently. "We tracked the Senator’s mercenaries to a warehouse down near the docks. By tomorrow morning, the threat against you will be eliminated."
Sadi looked down at her glass. "Eliminated? You mean... you're going to kill them?"
Dante leaned back in his leather chair, his dark eyes searching her face. "This is my world, Sadi. In my world, if you don't crush your enemies completely, they come back to cut your throat while you sleep. I do what is necessary to survive."
"Is that why you saved me?" Sadi asked, looking up into his eyes. "Because it was 'necessary'?"
Dante stood up slowly. He walked around the desk, his tall frame towering over her, cutting off the distance between them until she could smell his cologne—a dangerous mix of spice and rain.
"I saved you because the moment I walked into that break room and saw you holding that broom handle, looking ready to fight the entire world... I saw something I haven't seen in a very long time," Dante said softly, his voice dropping into an intimate whisper.
"What?" Sadi breathed, her heart slamming against her ribs.
"Honesty," Dante murmured.
He reached out, his hand gently grasping her waist, pulling her an inch closer. Sadi’s breath caught in her throat. She should have pulled away. She should have remembered who he was—a man of crime, a shadow of violence.
But as she looked up into his dark, intense eyes, she felt an electric, overwhelming attraction that swept away all reason. He wasn't just a monster. He was a protector—a man who stood like an iron wall between her and the horrors of the world.
"Dante..." she whispered, her hands resting against his solid chest, feeling the heavy, steady thud of his heart.
"Tell me to stop, Sadi," Dante growled softly, his face hovering just inches from hers. "Tell me to back away, and I will."
May you like
Sadi stared at his lips, her pulse skyrocketing.
She didn't tell him to stop. Instead, she leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.
