Chapter 21
D A N T E
I watched Ariana run out of the dining room, her face pale, hands shaking and her father didn’t even blink just kept talking business like nothing happened.
Disgust twisted in my gut.
This man.
This arrogant, cold bastard, he sat there smiling, thinking my marriage to his daughter changed anything.
As if I’d forget he wasn’t responsible for my parents’ deaths.
The proof was almost ready, just a few more pieces then he’d pay for everyone if his mistakes.
“Ariana seems her father remarked, sipping his wine.
I clenched my jaw. “Maybe because her father sold her like cattle p>
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Ricardo Melendez froze, his glass halfway to his lips.
Then he laughed a cold, humorless sound. “I wanted the merger and you wanted my daughter, business is business, Dante p>
I stood abruptly, my chair scraping loud against the floor. “Excuse me p>
I didn’t wait for permission and just walked out, chasing after Ariana.
The garden was dark, It took me a moment to spot her curled on a stone bench, her face in her hands.
Shoulders shaking.
Crying.
She wiped her face quickly when she heard my footsteps. “I’m fine,” she said before I could speak. “Just needed air p>
Lies.
I stepped closer she stood, trying to walk past me.
Not this time.
I grabbed her arm, pulling her against me she crashed into my chest with a small gasp.
“Let go!” she hissed, pushing at me.
“No.” I held tighter. “Not until you tell me why you’re really out here p>
Ariana laughed bitterly. “What does it matter to you? I’m just part of your business deal, remember p>
Her words stung more than they should have.
“You’re my wife,” I growled.
“By force p>
I shook her slightly. “Your father doesn’t give a damn about you! He never has! Why do you keep p>
“BECAUSE HE’S MY FATHER!” she screamed, her voice breaking.
Then the dam broke.
Sobs wracked her body, real, painful sobs that made my chest ache, she stopped fighting me, her fists unclenching against my shirt.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and wrapped my arms around her, holding her as she cried.
I hated seeing her pain, I wanted to inflict as much even much much more pain she has been through to that fucking bastard.
Even to family he was a greed selfish bastard that only thinks about himself.
I let her cry for as long as she could, her tears soaked through my shirt, her body shaking against mine.
Each sob felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
“I don’t want this,” she choked out, her voice raw. “I just…I want a simple life where no one hurts me. Where I’m not some…some pawn in everyone’s games p>
Her words cut deep because she was right. Her father had used her and I was also using her to get to her father but it doesn’t seem like he’d care, even if I’d take her life as long as his name and company is held up high, he wouldn’t mind.
Very disgusting man.
“Divorce me,” she whispered, looking up at me with those big, wounded eyes. “If it’s my body you want, take it then let me go. I know you don’t need my money, you have more than I could ever offer p>
The pain in her voice nearly brought me to my knees.
Because she was wrong, very wrong.
It wasn’t her body I wanted.
Not just that, anyway. It was everything and more, I wanted heer fire, the way she stood up to me when no one else dared.
It was her heart.
I wanted her to love me the way I loved her.
The realization hit me like a punch to the gut.
I loved her more than I could ever depict.
This stubborn, beautiful, broken woman in my arms.
I couldn’t say it, i couldn’t risk seeing the rejection in her eyes cause i know she’d never be able to love a man like me.
I was no different from her father, we were the kind of men she shouldn’t be around.
“Dante p>
I cut her off, sealing her lips as it was the only medication to the right feeling in my chest.
Ariana makes me feel things I’d never imagine I’d feel again.
The kiss wasn’t rough yet possessive, it was slow, soft and a promise.
Ariana froze at first.
Then, to my shock, she kissed me back, she kissed me back like she didn’t ask for a divorce, like she didn’t despise me.
I deepened the kiss, when we finally broke apart, I pressed my forehead to hers.
“Let me take the pain away,” I murmured. “All of it p>
I didn’t expect her to answer, or to believe but for the first time since I’d met her, Ariana didn’t argue.
She only stared at me with if I wasn’t mistaking a glint of hope.
I had already made a vow I would burn the world to keep her safe.
Even if it meant burning myself in the process.