Chapter 4: The Enemy Wearing the Dragon
I stared at the message on Dante’s phone until the letters blurred.
*ALINA VALDEZ HAS BEEN FOUND.*
Three words.
But they carried the weight of a warning.
My hands went cold.
“Found by who?”” I asked.
Dante didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more than if he had.
Because a man like Dante Rosselli always seemed to have an answer.
He knew who was watching him.
He knew who was lying.
He knew who was dangerous.
But now he looked at the screen like someone had opened a door he thought was permanently locked.
“Dante.””
His eyes lifted.
“You need to listen carefully.””
I hated how serious he sounded.
“I’m not running away from my own life because someone sent a threatening message.””
“It isn’t a threat.””
His voice lowered.
“It’s a confirmation.””
I frowned.
“Confirmation of what?””
“That someone has been searching for you.””
I looked at Leo.
The baby was quietly playing with the edge of Dante’s jacket, completely unaware of the danger surrounding us.
“Why would anyone search for me?””
Dante looked at the folder on the table.
“Because of your mother.””
I shook my head.
“My mother was just a woman who worked hard and raised me.””
“No.””
The firmness in his voice stopped me.
“Your mother was the only person who knew the truth about what happened twenty-eight years ago.””
“What truth?””
Dante looked away.
For the first time, I saw hesitation.
Not from fear.
From guilt.
“My family had enemies long before you were born.””
I crossed my arms.
“And my mother was involved?””
“She was trying to stop something.””
The restaurant suddenly felt too quiet.
I lowered my voice.
“Stop what?””
Dante leaned closer.
“The person who betrayed me.””
Before I could ask another question, the back door of the restaurant opened.
One of Dante’s guards stepped inside.
His face was tense.
“Boss.””
Dante immediately stood.
“What happened?””
The guard glanced at me.
“There’s a car outside.””
“So?””
“It’s been parked across the street for twenty minutes.””
Dante’s expression hardened.
“Describe it.””
“Black sedan. No plates.””
The room seemed to shrink.
Dante looked at me.
“Get Leo.””
I blinked.
“What?””
“Now.””
The command in his voice made my body move before my mind caught up.
I picked up Leo.
The strangest thing happened.
The baby immediately relaxed against me.
Like he trusted me completely.
Dante noticed.
And for a second, his cold expression softened.
Then a sound came from outside.
A car door closing.
Everyone froze.
Dante moved in front of us.
The bodyguards formed a protective circle.
I held Leo tighter.
“What is happening?””
Dante didn’t look back.
“Something that should have happened years ago.””
A shadow moved past the restaurant window.
Then my phone rang.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
My heart dropped.
Dante saw it.
“Don’t answer.””
But I already had.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a man’s voice.
Calm.
Almost friendly.
“Alina Valdez.””
I couldn’t breathe.
“Who is this?””
The man laughed softly.
“You really don’t remember me?””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What do you want?””
A pause.
Then:
“I want what your mother stole.””
I looked at Dante.
His face had gone completely still.
The caller continued.
“And I want the Rosselli baby.””
My blood ran cold.
The call ended.
Dante immediately took my phone.
His eyes were dark.
“He knows about Leo.””
I whispered:
“Who is he?””
Dante stared at the street outside.
Then he said the name I would never forget.
“Marco Vieri.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But the way everyone reacted told me everything.
One of the guards quietly said:
“He’s alive?””
Dante’s jaw tightened.
“I thought I killed his empire.””
A terrible silence followed.
Then Dante looked at me.
“Your mother didn’t just save my life, Alina.””
I swallowed.
“What did she do?””
May you like
His eyes met mine.
“She saved my son’s life before he was even born.””
