Elena's heart stopped.
The man was tall and rough-looking, with a scar running down his cheek and cruel amusement in his eyes.
He lifted the gun slightly.
"No sudden movements," he said.
Her fingers tightened around the weapon Dante gave her.
Her mind screamed.
Shoot.
But her hands wouldn't move.
The man laughed softly.
"Cute. He gave you a gun."
He stepped closer.
"You think you'll actually use it?"
Her pulse hammered.
"I will," she whispered.
He didn't believe her.
That was obvious.
He took another step forward.
"Dante Moretti really risked everything for you," he said. "I wonder why."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I think you do."
Another step.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
BANG
The sound exploded through the room.
The man jerked violently.
A bullet tore through his shoulder.
He crashed to the floor.
Elena gasped.
Dante stood behind him.
Gun still raised.
Eyes blazing with fury.
The room fell silent.
Dante walked forward slowly.
The man groaned on the floor.
"You made a mistake coming here," Dante said coldly.
The man laughed weakly.
"Too late, Moretti… they know about the girl."
Dante didn't hesitate.
BANG
The gunshot ended the conversation.
Elena flinched.
The man went still.
Dead.
Dante lowered the weapon.
Then he turned toward her.
"You okay?"
She nodded quickly.
But her hands were still shaking.
"I thought you said they wouldn't get up here," she said breathlessly.
"They weren't supposed to."
"That's not very comforting."
He stepped closer.
"Did he touch you?"
"No."
"Did he threaten you?"
"He tried."
Dante's jaw clenched.
Anger radiated from him.
But when he looked at her again…
Something changed.
Concern.
Relief.
Something deeper.
Elena suddenly realized how close they were standing.
Only inches apart.
Her heart was racing again.
Not from fear.
From him.
"You came back," she whispered.
"I told you I would."
Their eyes locked.
Neither of them moved.
The tension between them felt electric.
Dangerous.
Then Elena did something she didn't expect.
She stepped closer.
"You're insane," she said softly.
"Probably."
"You scare me."
"I know."
"But…"
Her voice dropped.
"I feel safer when you're here."
Something in Dante's expression broke slightly.
Like a crack in armor.
Then suddenly—
He pulled her toward him.
And kissed her.
The kiss wasn't gentle.
It wasn't careful.
It was intense.
Raw.
Months of emotion packed into a single moment.
Elena gasped against his lips.
But she didn't pull away.
Her hands gripped his shirt.
His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.
For a second the world disappeared.
No enemies.
No syndicates.
No danger.
Just heat.
Just him.
Just them.
Then Dante suddenly stopped.
He stepped back.
Breathing hard.
"That was a mistake," he said.
Elena blinked.
"A mistake?"
"Yes."
"You didn't look like you thought it was a mistake."
His jaw tightened.
"This changes things."
"How?"
His voice dropped.
"Because now they don't just want to kill you."
A chill ran down her spine.
"They'll want to use you."
Elena swallowed.
"Against you?"
He nodded slowly.
"Yes."
And for the first time…
Dante Moretti looked afraid.