"Enough." Alessandro's voice echoes through his office.
"He'll break her," I continue, unable to stop. "Not just her body, but her spirit. Everything that makes Valentina who she is. And when he's done, when there's nothing left of the woman you claim to love, will this peace treaty still be worth it?"
The silence that follows feels like the moment before an execution. I've crossed every line, challenged not just Alessandro's authority but his love for his sister.
"You speak as if you care for her," Adriano says finally.
"Someone has to. Because it's clear her family is willing to sacrifice her simply for profits."
Alessandro's expression shifts from cold anger to something far more dangerous.
With deliberate slowness, he reaches into his jacket and pulls out his gun, placing it on the desk between us.
"You forget who you are speaking to." His voice is terrifyingly quiet. "I am not just your boss, Bonetti. I am your Don."
My heart hammers, but I meant it when I said I’d protect Valentina and that I wasn’t afraid to die.
"If Luca were here—" I start, knowing I’m poking the bear. Knowing Alessandro has an insecurity where Luca is concerned.
"Luca isn't here," Alessandro cuts me off. "And if he were, he'd understand what's at stake."
"Bullshit." I scoff. "Luca would never let this happen to Valentina.
He'd put a bullet in Maksim's skull before letting that animal near his sister. And you know it, Don Dante."
Alessandro picks up the gun, and the room grows still. Adriano doesn't move, his face unreadable as he watches his brother.
"You speak of my family like you understand us," Alessandro says. "Like you have the right to question my decisions."
“You asked me to protect Valentina. That’s what I’m doing.”
“From me?” Alessandro’s expression is incredulous as he glances at Adriano before turning back to me.
“The best way to protect her from Maksim is for you to end this part of the deal.” What I don’t say is that yes, I will protect her from him, as he’s the one putting her in danger. “She’s dying inside. If you took the time to look, you’d see it too.”
"Your loyalty has never been in question, Cristian. Until now."
If this is how I die, so be it. I straighten my spine and look my Don in the eye. "My loyalty is to the Dante family. Always has been. Isn't Valentina a Dante? Or is my loyalty only to the men? And if that's the case, why am I assigned to protect her? That is what I'm doing. It's just that right now, I'm protecting her from you."
Ah, fuck, I shouldn’t have let that slip. I've crossed the final line.
"Is your life worth this stance, Bonetti?" he finally asks.
My mouth is dry. "If my life is the price for speaking the truth about Valentina's future, so be it."
Adriano shifts his weight, moving closer to his brother. Both Dante men now stand before me, and I realize how thoroughly I’ve sealed my fate as I await my execution.
"You think yourself noble," Alessandro says, his voice deadly soft. "But you've made things worse. Without you, who protects her from Maksim before the wedding?"
“You could assign her another guard, but what’s the point if you don’t care what Maksim does to her?”
I’d forgotten how swift Alessandro could be until his gun settles against my forehead.
“You’ve got balls, I’ll hand you that,” Adriano says with a shake of his head.
They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re about to die. Me, I’m filled with regret as I wait for the end.
First, I've failed Valentina.
