The Dangerous Attraction.

chapter 8 : predator and prey

Ethan could still feel Dante's cold, piercing gaze on his back long after the man had walked away. The room felt too warm, the air too thick, suffocating him. The encounter had left him shaken to his core, and though Valentina and Isabella tried to act like everything was under control, he knew better. He wasn't just caught in their world—he was now the center of it. And that terrified him.The party continued around them, but Ethan felt like he was in a different dimension, watching the events unfold from a distance. The music, the chatter, the laughter—it all seemed muted compared to the dangerous undercurrents swirling beneath the surface. Ethan glanced around, catching snippets of conversation, noticing the subtle, sidelong glances people threw his way. He was no longer just some innocent college boy in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was now a player in a deadly game.Valentina's hand on his arm pulled him back to reality. Her green eyes softened as she looked at him, her usual playful charm replaced by genuine concern. "You're doing great," she said, her voice low enough for only him to hear. "I know this is a lot.""A lot?" Ethan managed a half-hearted chuckle. "This is insane, Val."She sighed, her fingers brushing lightly against his arm. "I know. I'm sorry I dragged you into this, but I promise we'll protect you."Ethan wanted to believe her, but the weight of Dante's words still hung heavy in the back of his mind. *You've just painted a target on his back.* The man hadn't been bluffing. Ethan could feel the truth in his words like a shadow looming over him. He glanced across the room, catching a glimpse of Dante as he mingled with his family and associates. There was an ease in his movements, a predator's confidence. He didn't need to show his hand—everyone already knew the power he wielded.Isabella returned from a brief conversation with one of their allies. She moved like a queen in her black gown, her expression composed, yet the tightness in her jaw revealed the strain she was under. She gave Ethan a quick look, then exchanged glances with Valentina, a silent conversation passing between them."We should leave soon," Isabella said, her voice clipped. "Dante's made his move, and I don't want to stick around for whatever he's planning next."Valentina nodded in agreement. "Let's get out of here."Ethan felt a rush of relief, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the party. But just as they began to make their way toward the exit, a figure stepped into their path. Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the man—Marco Lombardi, Dante's right-hand and a ruthless enforcer in his own right. He wore a smug smile, his sharp eyes flicking between Ethan and the sisters with thinly veiled amusement."Leaving so soon?" Marco drawled, his voice smooth but laced with menace. "The night's just getting started."Isabella's expression hardened. "Move, Marco. We're not in the mood for games."Marco chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Oh, but Isabella, this isn't a game. Not anymore." He turned his gaze to Ethan, his smile widening. "I have to say, you've caused quite a stir tonight, kid. Dante's been talking about you."Ethan's stomach twisted with anxiety. He opened his mouth to speak, but Valentina cut in before he could."Back off, Marco," she said, her voice laced with warning. "You don't want to push us right now."Marco's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, the tension between them crackled like electricity. Ethan could feel the danger radiating from the man, the threat lurking just beneath his calm exterior.But before Marco could respond, Dante appeared behind him, his presence like a dark cloud that immediately shifted the energy in the room. He placed a hand on Marco's shoulder, silencing him with a look, before turning his attention to the Romano sisters and Ethan."Let them go, Marco," Dante said smoothly, his voice carrying a quiet authority that made the hairs on the back of Ethan's neck stand up. "There's no need to make a scene. Not here."Marco hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside, though the malice in his eyes was unmistakable. Dante, however, maintained his cool demeanor, his gaze locking onto Ethan's."You should be more careful, Ethan," Dante said, his voice deceptively calm. "This world is a lot more dangerous than you realize. And the people you think you can trust? They're not always what they seem."Ethan clenched his fists at his sides, his chest tightening with a mix of fear and defiance. He didn't trust Dante—not even for a second—but the man's words gnawed at the edges of his mind. He couldn't help but wonder what he meant.Isabella stepped forward, her voice icy. "Don't try to scare him, Dante. He's not yours to play with."Dante raised an eyebrow, his smile growing sharper. "Is that so? We'll see."Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Marco to follow him. The tension that had built up around them dissipated, but the threat lingered, hanging like a storm cloud waiting to burst.Isabella wasted no time, grabbing Ethan's arm and pulling him toward the exit with Valentina close behind. "Let's go," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument.---The ride back to the Romano mansion was tense, the silence in the car thick with unspoken fears. Ethan sat in the backseat, his mind racing as he tried to process everything that had happened. Dante's words echoed in his head, each one laced with a dark promise.Valentina sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his leg. "You did great tonight, Ethan," she said softly, but her voice lacked its usual lightness. She was worried—he could see it in her eyes."Yeah, great," Ethan muttered, staring out the window. "I feel like I've just painted a target on my back."Valentina didn't respond right away. Instead, she squeezed his leg reassuringly. "We'll keep you safe."But Ethan wasn't so sure. Tonight had proven that no one was truly safe in this world, not even the Romano sisters. He was in over his head, and Dante had made it clear that this was only the beginning.When they finally arrived at the mansion, Isabella was the first to speak, her voice clipped and full of purpose. "We need to talk," she said, looking at both Ethan and Valentina. "Dante's not going to back off. He's going to come for him."Valentina's face hardened. "Then we'll be ready."Isabella shook her head, her expression grim. "We can't just react. We need to take the fight to him. If we keep playing defense, he'll pick us apart."Ethan swallowed hard. The idea of actively going after Dante was terrifying, but he knew Isabella was right. Dante wasn't going to stop until he got what he wanted. And for some reason, that now included Ethan."So, what's the plan?" Ethan asked, his voice shaky but determined.Isabella met his gaze, her eyes cold and calculating. "We strike first. We hit Dante where it hurts, and we make sure he knows that you're off-limits."Valentina nodded, her expression fierce. "We'll make him regret ever coming after you."Ethan's heart raced as he listened to their plan. He had never imagined his life would take such a turn, but here he was—caught in the middle of a deadly mafia war, with two dangerous women determined to protect him at all costs.He just hoped they could pull it off.**To be continued...**