chapter 5

Antonio

The next morning, I rose with a renewed sense of purpose. Sofia Venditti was going to be mine, no matter what. But first, I needed to deal with a nuisance: Dante Russo.

I made my way down to the basement of my compound, my steps echoing against the stone floor. The air was heavy with the smell of blood and fear.

My men had Dante tied to a chair in the center of the room. He was beaten and bruised, but still conscious.

As I stepped closer to Dante, I noticed a man standing nearby. It was my trusted lieutenant, Vincenzo, his face impassive as always.

"Vincenzo," I said, "take note of the names of Dante's associates. We need to know who is involved in this plot."

Vincenzo nodded, producing a black ledger. "I have started gathering information, boss," he replied. "We will root out the traitors soon enough."

Dante spat on the ground, glaring up at me.

Vincezo's stony facade softened slightly as a hint of amusement played across his face. "Boss," he said, his voice taking on a lighter tone. "I couldn't help but notice you're rather...preoccupied these days. Perhaps a certain red-headed beauty is responsible for that."

I shot Vincenzo a sharp look, but he only smiled wider. "Come on, boss," he said, "the way you were looking at her last night, it was like you'd never seen a woman before."

Vincenzo gave me a knowing look. "You're usually so focused, so in control, boss. But Sofia Venditti seems to have you all tied up in knots." He chuckled at his own pun, glancing briefly at Dante, still tied to the chair.

"I am not tied up in knots," I said, my tone icy. "I know exactly what I am doing."

Vincenzo just laughed. "I'll believe that when you're not so concerned with how she wears her hair."

Vincenzo went on, clearly enjoying teasing me. "Though maybe the boss doesn't care about hair—maybe he's just more interested in the rest of her." He raised an eyebrow, the sly smirk on his face irritating me further.

"You're pushing your luck, cousin," I warned.

Vincenzo's amusement increased. "Just telling it like I see it, boss.

"And from what I've seen, you're making decisions you wouldn't normally make," Vincenzo added, his eyes darting over to Dante, then back to me. "Losing your focus, losing your edge. Maybe a certain fiery woman is distracting you from your true purpose."

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to show my frustration. "I'm still in control, cousin," I said. "Nothing is distracting me from my purpose."

"Very well, boss," Vincenzo said, his tone laced with subtle mockery. "Then I've got just the thing for you."

He led me to one of the most exclusive clubs in the city, where music blared and the air was heavy with the scent of alcohol and perfume. The dance floor was packed with people, but there was one dancer in particular who immediately caught my eye.

There, on the stage, was Sofia Venditti, her red hair cascading down her shoulders, a sultry smirk on her lips.

I stood, frozen in place, as Sofia danced with a seductive grace I had never seen before. She moved like a predator, her hips swaying, her body entwined with that of another woman, their bodies moving together like two pieces of a puzzle.

Beside me, Vincenzo leaned in. "I told you, boss," he said with a grin. "Looks like your fiancée has got more than just a rebellious streak—she's got a wild side, too."

"I know what I'm doing, cousin," I growled, my eyes still fixed on Sofia. "And if she thinks she can play me for a fool, she has another thing coming."

Vincenzo shook his head, his amusement clear. "She may be playing you, boss," he said. "But she's doing a damn good job of it."

I narrowed my eyes. "We'll see about that," I said. "This club is mine.

I gestured to one of my bouncers, a mountain of a man named Gianni. "Clear the stage," I said. "I have something I need to attend to."

Gianni nodded and moved towards the stage, but Sofia didn't flinch. She just kept dancing, her gaze locked on mine. The tension between us was palpable, like a live wire crackling with electricity.

"This is getting good," Vincenzo said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Enjoy the show, boss."

With the stage clear, Sofia continued to dance, her movements growing more daring and sensual by the second. She was taunting me, daring me to make a move, and I could feel the anger boiling in my veins.

But I knew better than to lose control. Instead, I waited, watching as Sofia spun and writhed, the music pounding in my ears. And then, just as she approached the edge of the stage, I made my move.

I grabbed her wrist, yanking her down from the stage.

I dragged Sofia behind the curtain, my grip tight on her arm. "What do you think you're doing?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.

"I'm dancing," Sofia replied, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Is that a crime now?"

"In this club, it is," I growled. "In this city, it is."

"And you think you own this city?" Sofia retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I don't just think it," I said, my voice dark. "I know it."

I leaned closer to her, close enough to feel the heat of her breath on my skin. "And you're going to learn to respect me," I whispered, my hand sliding up her arm, my fingers finding their way to the curve of her neck.

Sofia's breath hitched, her eyes widening slightly. But she didn't pull away, didn't move a muscle.

I smiled, victorious.

"You're mine, Sofia Venditti," I growled, my voice low and fierce. "And you're going to learn that I'm not a man to be trifled with."

I leaned forward, pressing my lips against hers, claiming her in a kiss that was both possessive and desperate. Sofia responded with equal fervor, her tongue tangling with mine, her hands gripping my shoulders.

As the kiss intensified, our bodies pressed closer together, and I could feel the heat of her against me.

I broke away from the kiss, staring into Sofia's eyes, my chest heaving. "You think you can dance for other men?" I hissed, my voice a low rumble. "You think you can tease me like this?"

Sofia trembled in my arms, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Maybe I do," she whispered, her voice husky with desire. "What are you going to do about it?"

Sofia

I regretted those words the minute they came out of my mouth but I wasn't going to let Antonio know that. I know he could see through my facade , his eyes reading into my soul. The minute Antonio touched me my entire body burned with desire, I have never felt this way with anyone before. I internally blamed myself for coming here knowing fully well Antonio had a 99.9% chance of owning this club , why did I let lilian drag me here in the first place. She is probably getting some while I have to deal with the consequences of my actions and before I knew it I succumbed to the darkness that had been calling me.