𝓢𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓪 𝓚𝓲𝓼𝓼

-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓-

  My heart raced as the scene before me played out like something from a movie. Dante's entrance had been nothing short of dramatic, and his swift resolution of the situation left me both relieved and astounded. As the adrenaline coursed through my veins, I found myself at a loss for words, my breath still catching in my throat.

  Dante turned his attention toward me, his smirk fading into a more serious expression. "You alright?" he asked, his voice gentler than before.

 I nodded, still processing the whirlwind of events. "Yeah, I... I think so. That was... unexpected."

  Dante's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Welcome to my world."

 A mixture of emotions churned within me—gratitude for his timely intervention, curiosity about his capabilities, and a lingering annoyance from our previous interactions. "You're not going to use this as evidence that I actually need you, are you?"

  Dante's smirk returned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I mean, you did say you could easily get a new bodyguard, but don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

 I rolled my eyes, exasperation bubbling up. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

  Dante chuckled, the tension in the air finally dissipating. "You get used to it."

 As I glanced around, the shattered glass on the floor served as a reminder of the intrusion that had just taken place. "I should probably call the police."

  Dante shook his head. "No need. I've got contacts that can handle it off the record. It'll be less paperwork for you."

  I raised an eyebrow, both impressed and wary of the extent of Dante's reach. "Is there anything you can't do?"

 He winked playfully. "I'm still working on my cooking skills."

  A genuine smile tugged at the corners of my lips, a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the air just moments ago. "Well, thanks for... handling things."

 Dante nodded, his demeanor shifting to a more professional stance. "It's what you pay me for."

   As he made his way toward the exit, I found myself speaking up again. "Dante?"

 He paused, glancing back at me. "Yeah?"

 I began, my tone laced with skepticism. "How did you know I was in trouble? You weren't even in the house."

  Dante's gaze met mine, "Uhm..." his demeanor calm and collected. "Let's just say I have ways of staying informed. I have people who keep an eye out for situations like this."

  I crossed my arms, not entirely satisfied with his vague response. "People who keep an eye out? You mean like spies or something?"

  Dante's eyes holding a glint of amusement. "Call them what you will. Think of them as informants. They provide me with information when something's not quite right."