Twisted Loyalty

Chapter 21: Unspoken Truths

Sienna

The house is still, the quiet wrapping around me like a heavy blanket as I sit curled up on the couch in the living room. My thoughts are racing, tangled up in everything that's happened today—everything that's happened since I met Dante. I can't shake the image of him from earlier, the blood, the exhaustion in his eyes. And then the shower... I flush just thinking about it.

I hear footsteps on the stairs, slow and measured, and my heart picks up pace. A moment later, Dante walks into the room, freshly showered, his hair still damp, wearing the clothes I had left for him. His presence fills the space, and without a word, he moves toward the couch and sits down next to me.

The silence stretches between us, thick and heavy. Neither of us speaks at first. The only sound is the faint ticking of a clock somewhere in the room. I glance over at him, taking in the way he's leaning back, his jaw clenched, his eyes staring straight ahead as if he's lost in his own world.

I want to ask him. I need to ask him. What happened tonight? What did he do? The question is on the tip of my tongue, but something holds me back. The tension in the air is palpable, and I'm not sure I'm ready for the answer.

But eventually, I can't stay quiet anymore.

"Dante," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper, "what happened tonight?"

He doesn't answer right away. His gaze remains fixed on the far wall, his body tense, like he's bracing himself for something. I almost regret asking, but then he lets out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing just a little.

"You don't have to worry about Enzo anymore," he says, his voice low and calm.

I blink, processing his words. You don't have to worry about Enzo anymore. A part of me wants to take that at face value, to just let it be. But I can't. I need to know.

"What do you mean?" I ask, my voice stronger this time. "What did you do?"

Dante's jaw tightens, and for a long moment, he doesn't say anything. The silence between us grows heavier, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. I know what he's going to say. I can feel it. But I need to hear him say it.

"Dante," I press, my voice quieter now, "did you... did you kill him?"

He finally turns his head, his dark eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, I see something raw in his gaze—something that feels both terrifying and comforting at the same time. He doesn't flinch, doesn't look away. He just nods, once, slow and deliberate.

"Yes," he says simply, the weight of that word hanging in the air between us.

I stare at him, the shock of his admission hitting me hard, but not in the way I expected. I don't gasp, I don't cry, I don't feel the revulsion I thought I might. Instead, there's something else stirring inside me. Something darker. Relief.

Because with Enzo dead, I don't have to live in fear anymore. I don't have to worry about him coming after me, or worse. He's gone. For good.

I nod slowly, accepting it. Accepting what Dante has done.

We sit in silence again, the gravity of his actions settling in. My mind is racing, but my heart feels lighter. I should feel guilty about that, but I don't. Maybe that makes me a terrible person, but after everything, I can't bring myself to care.

After what feels like an eternity, Dante breaks the silence. His voice is low, almost hesitant, and when he speaks, it takes me off guard.

"Does it bother you?" Dante asks, his voice low, but intense, as his dark eyes lock onto mine. "Knowing what I did?"