Chapter 56
A R I A N A
I finally locked my office door.
It was very late and the big building was quiet and dark everyone else had gone home hours ago.
I was so tired my eyes hurt from looking at numbers all day and my back ached from sitting for so long.
Dante had sent me a message hours ago.
“The driver is waiting downstairs to take you home. You can leave the rest of the work for tomorrow, do not work too hard. -D”
But I did not listen, I wanted to finish and I wanted to show Dante I was capable.
I wanted him to trust me even more It would make it easier for me to find the papers for my father to get access to more of his resources.
Now I wished I had listened.
I walked out of the building the night air was cold, i growled at the cold as I looked for the car and driver, I had personally gone down to tell the driver to make sure he doesn’t tell Dante that I refuse to follow him, even though he was against it, I had to threaten him with his job.
Poor man.
I looked up and down the street and were no taxis.
The city was quiet.
I sighed deciding to walk till I at least get lucky and see a taxi driver it was a long way to the mansion, but I had no choice.
If only I had listen to Dante and gone home early none of this would have happened.
I started walking.
My high heels clicked on the sidewalk the sound was loud in the quiet night.
I walked for a few blocks then I began to hear voices behind me.
Laughing.
I glanced back.
A group of guys were walking behind me they looked young, they were stumbling and holding bottles.
They were drunk.
My heart started to beat faster as I walked a little quicker.
So did they.
I could hear them getting closer their voices were loud and rough.
“Hey, pretty lady!” one of them yelled. “Where you going all alone p>
I ignored them and kept walking, my head down.
I tried to act like I did not hear them.
“Don’t ignore us!” another one shouted.
They were right behind me now I could smell the alcohol on them.
I started to run.
But my heels made it hard and I was not fast enough.
One of them grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop. “Hey! I said don’t ignore us p>
“Let me go!” I screamed, trying to pull away.
But there were three of them they surrounded me laughing as though I was some clown sent to entertain them.
I was so scared.
I had never been so scared in my life.
“Please,” I begged. “Just let me go p>
One of them pushed me against a wall his hands were rough. “We just want to have some fun p>
I fought and screamed as loud as I could but to no avail, my heart rate escalted, my heat beating raggedly against it ribcage as though it was about to explode.
One of them pinned my arms behind my back. Another one covered my mouth with his dirty hand.
I could not breathe.
I couldn’t scream.
One of the drunk man’s face was close to mine his breath smelled foul I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the worst. I felt another man’s hands tearing at my blouse.
“Please… no” I cried out shutting my eyes as more tears spilled.
Then, suddenly, a loud roar filled the air.
The weight on top of me was yanked away I heard a sickening crunch, followed by a cry of pain.
I opened my eyes.
Dante.
He was there.
His face was a mask of pure, terrifying rage he had thrown the man off me like he was nothing.
Antonio was there too, he was fighting the other two men.
But my eyes were glued to Dante.
The man who had been on top of me tried to get up Dante kicked him hard in the stomach, making him gasp and curl into a ball.
“You dare touch her?” Dante’s voice was a low, dangerous growl. “You dare put your hands on my wife p>
The man on the ground looked up, his eyes wide with fear. “Shit p>
Dante didnt stop, he pulled the man up by his collar and punched him in the face again and again.
I had never seen such violence.
Such raw, uncontrolled anger It scared me almost as much as the attackers had.
The man was not fighting back anymore he was just taking the hits, his face becoming a bloody mess.
Antonio, after quickly handling the other two, ran over to Dante. “Dante! Stop! He’s done! You’re going to kill him p>
Dante didn’t seem to hear he kept hitting the man. “He touched her! He tried to hurt her p>
Antonio had to use all his strength to pull Dante off. “Enough! Look at her! She needs you p>
Those words finally got through to him.
Dante stopped, his chest heaving he looked from the bloody man on the ground to me.
The rage in his eyes faded, replaced by a different kind of fear.
He rushed over to me.
He took off his suit jacket and wrapped it gently around my shoulders, covering my torn clothes.
His hands were shaking.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice rough. “Did they hurt you p>
I couldn’t speak I just shook my head the shock wearing off as I broke into sobs that shook my whole body.
Dante pulled me into his arms he held me tightly, his hand cradling the back of my head. “Shhh,” he whispered into my hair. “I’m here. You’re safe now I’ve got you p>