Chapter 6: Dante And Valentina

Valentina

The past few days had felt like walking a tightrope—one wrong step, and I’d plunge into a chaos I wasn’t sure I could escape. Between Lorenzo’s schemes and Dante’s unsettling presence, the walls of the Marino mansion seemed to close in on me.

I needed a distraction.

So when Sofia called to invite me out, I said yes without hesitation. Sofia was one of the few people I’d kept in touch with after moving here. She’d just passed the bar exam, and her excitement was contagious.

“I’m celebrating tonight, Val,” she had said, practically squealing through the phone. “You better show up, or I’ll drag you out myself.”

She knew me too well. Left to my own devices, I’d brood in my room until my thoughts turned to places they shouldn’t—like the memory of Dante’s lips brushing against my fingers.

That wasn’t happening tonight.

—-

The bar was buzzing with energy when I arrived. Music pulsed from inside, the beat mingling with the chatter of patrons spilling onto the sidewalk. The neon sign above the entrance cast a faint pink glow over the scene, making everything feel slightly surreal.

As I approached, I caught sight of him.

Dante.

He was leaning against the wall near the entrance, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The glow of the ember lit his features in sharp relief—the strong line of his jaw, the shadow of stubble, the unbothered intensity in his gray eyes.

My stomach flipped, and I hated myself for it.

He didn’t acknowledge me as I passed, but I could feel his gaze on me, heavy and unrelenting. I ignored him, forcing my feet to move faster until I was inside the bar.

—-

Sofia greeted me with a hug the moment I walked in, her blonde curls bouncing as she laughed. “Val! You made it!”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” I said, smiling despite myself.

My other friend, Nora, waved at me from our booth. Her dark, serious eyes softened as she smiled, raising her glass in greeting. Nora had always been the grounded one of our trio, her sharp mind and quiet confidence a steadying presence.

We slipped into the booth, the three of us quickly falling into an easy rhythm. For the first time in days, I felt myself relax.

Sofia regaled us with tales of her grueling study sessions and the moment she saw her results online. Nora, ever the supportive listener, offered a few wisecracks that had us all laughing.

I let myself get swept up in their stories, the warmth of their friendship pushing back the shadows that had been creeping in. The drinks helped too—just enough to blur the edges of my thoughts without tipping me into recklessness.

Halfway through the night, Sofia’s phone buzzed, and she groaned.

“Work emergency,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Apparently, being a newly minted lawyer doesn’t mean I get to skip the drama.”

Nora chuckled. “We’ll forgive you this time. But only because it’s your night.”

Sofia gave us both quick hugs before dashing out the door, leaving me and Nora to finish the last round.

“This was fun,” I said as we stood to leave.

Nora nodded. “It was. We should do a girls’ night soon—dinner, movies, the works.”

“Absolutely.”

We stepped outside, the cool night air a welcome relief after the warmth of the bar. The city hummed around us, the glow of streetlights and distant sounds of traffic creating a backdrop of quiet chaos.

And then I saw him.

Dante was leaning against his motorcycle, the picture of effortless rebellion. His dark leather jacket clung to his broad shoulders, and his long legs were stretched out casually. The cigarette from earlier was gone, but the intensity in his gaze remained.

Nora froze beside me, her hand tightening on my arm.

“Val,” she whispered, her voice full of awe. “Who is that?”

I didn’t need to look to know who she was talking about.

“Just someone I know,” I said, keeping my tone deliberately neutral.

Nora’s eyes widened. “Someone you know? He looks like he walked out of a movie. Who is he?”

“Yeah, who is he?” Sofia chimed in, having returned just in time to witness the scene. She let out a low whistle. “That’s not just someone you know, Val. That’s someone you introduce to your friends.”

“He’s my stepbrother,” I said flatly, hoping the revelation would kill the conversation.

Instead, Sofia’s jaw dropped, and Nora’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Stepbrother?” Sofia repeated, her tone heavy with implication. “That’s… interesting.”

“It’s not,” I said quickly, already regretting my honesty.

Dante’s lips curved into a faint smirk, as if he could hear every word. He didn’t move from his spot, but his gaze lingered, cool and assessing.

“You sure you don’t want to introduce us?” Nora teased, nudging me.

“I’m sure,” I said firmly. “Let’s go.”

They both laughed, but thankfully, they followed my lead as we started down the street.

Still, I couldn’t shake the weight of Dante’s gaze on my back. It burned, a constant reminder of the tension simmering between us.

And for reasons I couldn’t quite name, I didn’t hate it.

Dante

I didn’t plan to follow her, but when Valentina walked into the bar, something made me stay. I watched her weave through the crowd, her movements deliberate, her focus elsewhere. Her two friends noticed me outside, sneaking glances and whispering, but Valentina didn’t even look in my direction.

That amused me.

When she left the bar, her friends giggling about me loud enough for her to hear, I stayed leaning against my bike. I didn’t say a word. She ignored me again, though I didn’t miss the subtle tension in her posture. She wanted to pretend I wasn’t there.

I let her. For now.

Back at the mansion, I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts kept drifting to her—those sharp hazel eyes and the way she held herself, like she didn’t owe anyone a damn thing. She was different.

My phone buzzed, and I picked it up to see Matteo’s name.

“The officials tied to that deal were arrested,” he said when I answered. “Without them, Lorenzo’s local power is shaky. The gangs will use this to test him, see how far they can push.”

“And?”

“Lorenzo’s name goes down, so does yours. You’ve spent years building something outside his shadow, but the fallout will hit you too. That’s how this world works.”

I didn’t respond, but Matteo wasn’t finished. “There’s more. Those accounts tied to your mother? They’re tangled in this. If anyone starts digging, it could get ugly fast.”

My grip tightened on the phone. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you need to get ahead of this. Go back, Dante. Keep an eye on Lorenzo and make sure no one gets their hands on those accounts. If you want answers, that’s where they’ll be.”

I let out a slow breath. “Fine. I’ll handle it.”

Hanging up, I stared at the ceiling again, my mind racing. Returning to that house wasn’t just about Lorenzo or the accounts. It was also about her.

My little kitten.

I wanted to see her again.