Chapter 15

Dante

The scent of lavender pulled me in to stay longer and extend my sleep. It was relaxing and warm… comfortable. I realized I was no longer describing the scent.

“What the fuck?!”

My eyes snapped open so wide that it brought a sudden headache. I sat up from the bed and automatically searched for the problem.

“W-what what happened? Why am I here?” Hailynn's frantic voice made me turn my attention towards her. My eyes travelled down towards her bare torso. She was covering her chest with the white sheet. Her skin was fair and glowing which I have not noticed last night.

Right. I was too drunk from our sex.

“W-what did you do?” Hailynn’s nervous voice pulled me out of my reverie. I intended to respond a teasing remark that she finally gave in to my charm last night but I froze when I saw that her eyes were glassy with tears. I suddenly felt alarmed.

“Hailynn-”

“No!” She cut off my intention to explain. A tear fell down her face. “I can’t believe you. I can’t believe you took advantage of me.”

“Hey, it’s not like you didn’t like it. You were moaning my name.” My reply was that of teasing but still letting her know that I wasn’t the only one enjoying last night. It takes two to tango as they say. Yet something was suddenly tugging my heart and it made me feel apprehensive.

“I was drunk!” She screeched. She grabbed a pillow and smacked me with it. “Get out! Get out, Dante! I don’t want to see your face.” I blocked the pillow from hitting my face with my arm. The pillow was harmless but I could see the agony on her face. I stood from the bed, completely naked. I wanted to grab the sheet to cover myself but she was already using it for herself.

“You know this is my room.” I was pissed. How dare she throw her silly tantrums at me and disrespect me when clearly she more than enjoyed moaning and screaming my name last night.

Her bawling made me pause, made me realize what I’ve done. Have I gone too far? I don’t feel guilty at all but I certainly do not like what I’m seeing. I decided to leave her alone just as she wanted.

Few hours later, I was sitting at a coffee shop. My second coffee was already cold but my thoughts were always the same.

Hailynn.

The first time I saw her cry, I didn’t like it. It was annoying. Annoyingly different. I was annoyed that it wasn’t annoying for me like that of the other women. Argh. I can't believe I’m thinking like this. It’s just she made me realize a lot of things… and some feelings. And I’m stupid and guilty for playing her emotions.

I admit I was insulted by her reaction from this morning. I didn’t think that when she’s finally sober, she’d feel revolted. I was annoyed but the image of her bawling was my undoing. I’ve hurt her. I took her dignity and took advantage of it.

The sound of my phone ringing pulled me out of my reverie. The screen shows Leo calling. I swiped the phone and answered it.

“We have a problem.” I frowned. “Vassily called. Viktor is dead.” I unconsciously stood abruptly from the shock. The table rattled, almost spilling my coffee. “He thinks it was the English mafia but he doesn’t have proof yet. He asks for a meeting with you, fratello. He’s now the leader of the entire Russian mafia.

“We leave as soon as possible.” I answered.

“Of course. Also Demario has been taken care of.”

“Good.”

I immediately went back to the penthouse and grabbed my passport and some important belongings. I noticed that the whole penthouse was quiet. I stopped at Haillyn’s room. The door was closed. I tried to listen if there’s any noise inside, a sign that she’s there but it was too quiet. I started to get annoyed. I turned the knob and opened the door rather roughly. No sign of Hailynn at all. The bathroom was also open. She left.

I inhaled the growing rage surfacing. I pushed back the thought of her and decided to take care of the existing huge problem we now have. The head of the Ivanov family is dead. His son, Vassily, is now taking over. The Ivanov family and Di Angelo have been in alliance for years. Viktor’s death will cause a huge uproar to us.

I just hope Vassily will not move impulsively.

---

As soon as I landed, I immediately went straight to my office in the mansion.

“Why am I not surprised?” I was met with Vassily’s back. He was sitting on the chair in front of my desk waiting for me.

“He came here as soon as he heard that you flew back.” Leo answered for me.

“I came here to tell you that those English bastards are mine.” He said through gritted teeth. My eyes shifted to his clenched fists. It looked like his veins would burst.

I sauntered towards my desk. I sat at my throne with calm and composure even though Vassily Ivanov is nothing but. He was raging fire. I could figuratively see smoke breathing out his nose and ears. He sees red and nothing could stop this man. Not even me.

“I thought there was still no evidence that it was them.” I felt Leo’s presence stood beside me.

“My gut tells me so, Angelo. And I know in my bones that it was none other than them. They always had beef on my father. They wanted an alliance with us but father refused to do so. We don’t tolerate groups who involved their selves in human trafficking.” His thick Russian accent thickened as his temper rose.

“What if you’re wrong? You'll unconsciously declare war between the two families, Ivanov. You know that I always have your back but we can't risk everything for false accusations.”

“Fine.” He spat but rather he forced himself to agree with me even though his emotions are against it. “I will seek evidence. But if they really did kill my father, Angelo, I will burn their flesh and blood alive. Not a single one of them will escape my wrath.”

“Are you saying that you do not need my assistance with your revenge?”

“Yes. I will handle this on my own, with my family. I know you will not hesitate to help if this indeed will turn into war but I’d rather do this with my family. We will avenge Viktor Ivanov’s death.” I could feel Vassily’s fury and wrath. I am confident in his abilities and he will not stop until he gets what he wants.

“I understand but allow me to assist you in search of your father's murderer. That's the least I could do for your family, amico mio. I am also mournful and in rage with Viktor's death. You know I treated him like my uncle. He was there for us when Uncle Domenico died. He guided Cara and me until his last breath. That's why don’t hesitate to ask for help, amico. You are family too. Once we find who's responsible for it, the floor is all yours.”

Vassily nodded. “Thank you, Angelo. I will make sure this war will be damn bloody just as father’s favorite color.”

---

I sighed as I closed my eyes, my head leaning back against the chair. Vassily left with his men a while ago. He wanted to focus on finding evidence against the English mafia but I suggested that we searched for others as well. We don't know if it's really them. We need a wide range of coverage in looking. What if there are others who wanted Viktor's head or the Ivanov family itself?

“How is she?” I asked suddenly. She dared not to leave my mind at all.

“She's staying back at her apartment. Franco is watching her.” Leo answered while standing beside me.

“Good. Let Franco watch her while I'm away.”

“You know Franco is one of our best trackers. He was the one who actually found Demario. You might need him back here.”

I sighed. “You're right”.

“Should we assign someone else to watch her?” He suggested.

“No. I trust her.”

My mind then drifted back to the night we spent together.