DANTE’S POV
Panic gripped me instantly, my stomach twisting into knots, My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of her, but I couldn’t catch a glimpse of her menacing red gown and her long flowing hair anywhere and my vision seemed to fizzle out a bit as I clenched my fist into tight balls beside me, someone was going to die tonight if anything had happened to her.
“Fucking Tony” I cursed under my breath, my heart thundering in my chest. Tony’s grin haunted me, the way he hinted that he’d already made his move. I couldn’t even lie to myself, the Anotti’s were ruthless bastards and they were known for playing dirty in everything they did, what was Anthonio thinking getting involved with them, now he was dead and his daughters were a target but not on my watch, they were part of the D’angelos and it was my duty to protect them.
Anger surged through me like wildfire, threatening to blind me as I made my way towards the dj booth shoving through the crowd without hesitation and a with a reckless urgency, I didn’t bother with words when I reached the dj, he wasn’t going to hear me over the deafening music and I needed to save my strength to strangle the bastard that had Helena. I grabbed the cable, yanking it out of the socket, and the music died with a sudden screech. Silence fell across the club, an eerie hush that made every pair of eyes turn toward me.
Without a second thought, I stormed toward the bartender, the one I’d noticed behind the counter where I had left Helena, if anyone knew where Helena had gone he’d be the one and if he didn’t, he’ll be dying first tonight.
He was wiping glasses, his face frozen in confusion as I approached. I grabbed him by the collar before he could react, slamming him against the counter.
“Where is she?” I growled, my voice low and menacing.
“Wh wh who are you talking about?” His eyes widened in fear, but he hesitated, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
Fucking idiot.
“I swear to God,” I hissed, tightening my grip, “if you don’t start talking, I’ll come after you, your family, and every single person who knows your name, you don’t want to mess with me. Where the hell is she? The lady I left here, red dress, long brown hair”
The bartender’s eyes bulged, and he stammered, recognition flickering in his eyes “She was seated here but she followed some guy, she looked drunk like really out of it ”
“Drunk? Did you serve her alcohol?”
“She ordered a mocktail, I wasn’t really paying attention after that, I just saw them walk away and she seemed really out of it it wasn’t so long ago maybe if you’re fast you can catch them”
“Fucking idiot, next time you pay fucking attention” I shoved him to the corner and bolted for the exit, with Paulo hot on my heels. The heat of the night hit my face like a slap as I burst out into the parking lot. The air was thick and humid, the muffled sound of the city in the background, but the lot was eerily still.
My pulse was a roaring drum in my ears, and there on the ground was a single show Helena’s shoe, black and with a pencil heel, it was the same exact shoe that she had worn outside the house. I felt my blood run cold, a new wave of panic gripping me as I heard retreating footsteps at the far end of the lot.
Paulo and I exchanged a quick look, and I didn’t need to say anything. We were already moving, sprinting toward the sound without hesitation and I hoped it was whoever had Helena so I could kill him with my bare hands.
My prayers were answered as I turned the corner fury flooded my veins. There she was-Helena, visibly inebriated, struggling against a man who was trying to shove her into a car. Her other shoe was missing, her legs wobbling like they couldn’t hold her weight.
In that instant, I was blind with rage. Every muscle in my body tensed, and I moved without thinking. But before I could reach them, Paulo shot forward first before I had the chance to bring out my gun but I knew it was the wrong the move because I could hit her accidently but Paulo was up to the task as he tackled the man to the ground so quickly that he didn’t even see us coming.
Fucking bastard!
Helena’s body fell into my arms, and the moment I caught her, she slumped against me, her eyes half-lidded and glassy. Her fingers grasping at my shirt as if she couldn’t get enough contact. Her breath was hot against my neck, and her words were slurred, almost incoherent.
“Hey husband or no fiance we’re not married yet” she whispered, her voice thick with intoxication “Come here, I need to tell you something” she gestured me closer, her hands cupping my ears and she whispered.
“Maybe we could break the rules tonight, my whole body is aching for you Dante”
I looked down at her, realizing with a sickening twist in my gut that she wasn’t just drunk, in fact she wasn’t even drunk she had been drugged Ecstasy or maybe something even stronger. Her pupils were blown wide, her skin flushed, and her movements were erratic, like she couldn’t control herself.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, holding her tighter to keep her steady.
Paulo was still dealing with the bastard on the ground, delivering punches that echoed through the parking lot. But I couldn’t focus on that. I had to get Helena out of here, and fast. She was burning up, her body hot and trembling against mine, and I could feel the way she was pressing closer, like she needed something only I could give her.
“Dante… I feel… so hot,” she murmured, her fingers clutching my shirt tighter, her breath still hot against my ears and slowly I could feels her nails digging into my flesh, her entire body pulsed with a certain frequency that seemed impossible to control. I needed to get her out of here, before she clawed me naked and I wouldn’t want to stop her.
I looked up at Paulo, who had the situation handled, the guy now a bloody mess on the ground. “Handle him, keep him locked up with that bastard Tony. They’re tomorrows problem” I ordered, my voice tight and he gave me a quick nod “I’m taking her with me.”
Without another word, I scooped Helena up into my arms and carried her back toward the car. Her head lolled against my chest, her body limp but still twitching with the effects of the drug, and just then she whispered in my ears.
“Are you going to fuck me Dante?” I paused, her words were taunting.
Fuck Helena, you can’t be saying such words to me.