Twisted Loyalty

Chapter 26: The Announcement

Dante

The moment we step through the grand entrance of the venue, I feel the shift in the air. The conversations quiet, whispers start to ripple through the crowd, and all eyes turn to us. I didn't tell anyone why I was throwing this party. No one in this room knows what's coming, but that's how I like it—keep them guessing. In a city like Chicago, people will show up for free food, a reason to flaunt their power, and to see who's playing which game tonight.

Nico follows closely behind us, his presence like a shadow—silent, watchful, dangerous. He's here as more than just my right-hand tonight. He's our bodyguard, ready to step in if anything goes sideways. I trust him with my life, and more importantly, with Sienna's.

The crowd parts slightly as we move deeper into the room, the soft murmurs growing louder with speculation. Eyes track us—curiosity, envy, confusion—but no one dares to ask questions outright. Not yet. They're waiting, watching, and I plan to keep them on edge until the perfect moment.

I lean down slightly, my voice low as I glance at Sienna. "Would you like a drink?"

She looks up at me, her expression still tinged with nerves, but she nods. "Champagne, please."

I nod and make my way to the bar, keeping one eye on her as she lingers by Nico. The bartender hands me a glass of champagne, and I return to Sienna, offering it to her with a small smile.

"Here," I say softly as she takes the glass from my hand, her fingers brushing against mine for a second longer than necessary.

"Thank you," she murmurs, her voice almost lost in the noise around us.

For the next hour or so, we move through the room, mingling with the various people who've shown up. It's the usual crowd—businessmen, politicians, men who think they run this city, and women who cling to their arms like trophies. There's a dance of power in every conversation, each person trying to assess where I stand, why I'm hosting this event. But no one gets close to the truth. Not yet.

Sienna stays by my side, quiet but observant. She's new to this world, but she's learning quickly. I can see the way her eyes flick over people, reading their expressions, trying to make sense of the unspoken rules. She's sharp, sharper than most would give her credit for, and I like that.

But as the night wears on, I can sense her tension rising. It's time.

I catch Nico's eye from across the room and give him a slight nod. He moves closer, positioning himself at the edge of the crowd, ready to step in if needed. I turn to Sienna, giving her a reassuring look.

"It's time," I say quietly, and she nods, her grip tightening around her champagne glass for a second before she sets it down.

---

Sienna

As we move toward the front of the room, I can feel the weight of every gaze on us, the way people are watching, waiting for whatever's about to happen. My heart races in my chest, and my palms are damp with nerves. This is it. The moment where we take the lie we've crafted and make it real in the eyes of everyone in this room. In the eyes of the entire city.

I feel Dante's presence beside me, calm, steady, but I can't shake the knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. As we approach the stage, I realize I'm holding my breath, trying to keep my composure. But the pressure is overwhelming. Before I can stop myself, I reach out and grab Dante's hand.

He stiffens for a moment, clearly surprised by the sudden contact, but then, after a beat, he intertwines his fingers with mine. The warmth of his grip is solid, reassuring, and I feel a flicker of relief wash over me. He leans down, his breath warm against my ear.

"Breathe," he murmurs, his voice low and smooth, like a command wrapped in comfort.

A shiver runs down my spine at the sound of his voice, a shiver I didn't expect but one that I don't entirely hate. The feeling grounds me, and I force myself to take a deep breath as we step up onto the stage, hand in hand.

The room quiets, the murmurs dying down as all eyes shift toward us. Dante squeezes my hand briefly before stepping forward, his presence commanding the space with an effortless authority. There's a shift in the air, a silent anticipation that settles over the crowd as they wait for him to speak.

"Power," Dante begins, his voice smooth yet firm, cutting through the silence like a knife. "In this city, it's the currency we all trade in. Business deals, alliances, betrayals—they all revolve around power and who can hold onto it the longest." His gaze sweeps across the room, making sure everyone is listening, and they are. Dante has that effect—he can pull people in without trying. The weight of his words alone is enough to make the room feel smaller, more intimate, even with the dozens of eyes watching him.

I glance around the room, my pulse still racing, but I find some comfort in how effortlessly Dante commands the space. People are watching him, not me. And right now, I'm okay with that. Let him draw their attention, let him control the narrative.

"But power alone isn't enough," Dante continues, his voice lowering just slightly, a subtle shift that draws the crowd in closer. "It's fragile. Fleeting. Without something real to anchor it, to protect it, it crumbles."

There's a pause, just long enough for the tension to build. Then, he turns slightly, his dark eyes finding mine, and the intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch.

"Love," Dante says, the word hanging in the air like a revelation. "Love is what makes us stronger. It's what turns power into something unbreakable."

The crowd leans in, their curiosity palpable. But my heart is pounding in my chest, the word "love" ringing in my ears, charged with an unexpected weight. I can't look away from him.

"And tonight," Dante continues, his voice unwavering, but there's a deeper edge to it now, something almost dangerous in its certainty, "I want to share something with you all. I've found something worth more than power, more than all the control in the world."

He pauses again, his eyes locked onto mine, and I feel the intensity of the moment wrapping around me like a vise.

"I've found love," he says, his voice quiet but deliberate, making sure every word lands. "And tonight, I'm here to announce that Sienna and I are engaged."

I force a breath, trying to calm the whirlwind inside me, but the way he said it—like it was a promise, like it wasn't just for show—it leaves me shaken, and yet, inexplicably drawn in

The words hang in the air for a second before the room erupts into a wave of noise—cheers, gasps, the flash of cameras going off as people scramble to capture the moment. I feel Dante's arm slide around my waist, pulling me closer to him as the crowd surges forward in excitement. Dante doesn't flinch at the chaos. His eyes never leave mine, and for a moment, it feels like we're the only two people in the room.

He looks down at me, his smile wide and genuine—at least, it looks genuine. But I know better. This smile is for the cameras, for the crowd, for the show we're putting on. Still, it makes my heart flutter in a way that I don't want to admit.

I force myself to smile back, lifting my hand and placing it on his chest, making sure the ring—the dark ruby now glittering under the lights—catches everyone's attention. I can feel the weight of his gaze on me, but I focus on the crowd, scanning the faces in the sea of people.

And then I see him.

My heart stops.

Standing near the back of the room, watching with a cold, calculating gaze, is my father.