Fated To The Mafia King

VI

Once again, his eyes locked onto her, taking in every detail. How had he not realized it before? How had he forgotten her?

But now, fate had brought them together again—almost as if destiny had planned it all along.

"I knew I hadn’t committed the greatest sin of my life—yet. But perhaps I would, now."

A shiver ran down Celia’s spine. The man before her wasn’t just looking at her—he was seeing through her, as if searching for something buried deep within her soul. His presence was suffocating, his gaze too intense, too familiar. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't place where she had seen him before.

From beside them, Ricardo cleared his throat, cutting through the thick silence.

"Dante, I believe you were leaving."

Dante didn’t move. Instead, he turned toward Ricardo, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"You never tried to remind me about the woman who was promised to me."

Ricardo frowned, his brows drawing together. “What are you talking about?”

Dante’s gaze flicked back to where Celia had been standing, but she was gone. His smirk deepened. "Celia. My to-be wife. Your daughter."

Ricardo’s expression darkened. “That arrangement was a mistake. I think you should leave, Dante.”

Dante let out a low chuckle. “A mistake? Don’t act like you don’t remember, Ricardo. My father and you agreed to this years ago. Or have you conveniently forgotten?”

The color drained slightly from Ricardo’s face, but he quickly composed himself. “That was nothing but drunken talk between two old fools. It meant nothing.”

Dante tilted his head, his amusement unwavering. “It meant everything. In our world, a promise made is a promise kept.”

Ricardo’s jaw clenched. He had dedicated his life to Dante’s father, serving loyally, ensuring things ran smoothly under his command. But that didn’t mean he had ever wanted his daughter to be part of this life.

"Celia is not a bargaining chip," he bit out. "I kept her away from this world for a reason."

Dante stepped closer, his presence dominating the room. His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable edge to it.

"The moment my eyes locked onto her, I had already claimed her. There is no going back, Ricardo. Even if a pact had never been made, she would still be mine." His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "You can fight it all you want. But it won’t change the truth."

Ricardo’s fists clenched at his sides. His eyes burned with defiance.

"You listen to me, boy—"

The words barely left his mouth before Dante moved. In a blink, he was in front of Ricardo, his grip like steel as he grabbed the older man by the collar, yanking him forward. The air grew thick, charged with a deadly tension.

"Watch your mouth," Dante said, his voice a dangerous whisper. "You forget your place. I am not your subordinate, nor am I a boy for you to talk down to. You worked under my father. That makes you a man who once took orders—from my bloodline." His grip tightened. "So let me make one thing clear. You do not disrespect me. Ever."

Ricardo's breathing was heavy, but he held Dante’s gaze, his pride refusing to crumble.

Dante smirked, releasing him with a slight shove. "Now, let’s try again. Do you have something else to say?"

Ricardo exhaled sharply, hatred and helplessness warring in his eyes. “You think I’ll just hand her over to you? Like she’s a piece of property?”

Dante straightened his jacket, brushing off an invisible speck of dust. “I don’t need your permission.”

Ricardo stepped forward, his anger barely contained. "You think you can take her and everything will be fine? That she’ll just fall into place in your world?" He let out a bitter laugh. "Celia is not some pawn in your little empire. She has a life—one I built far away from this filth. She doesn’t belong to you. She doesn’t belong to any of this.”

Dante’s smirk faded. His patience was thinning.

"And yet, here we are." His tone was colder now, his expression unreadable. "Do you think keeping her away all these years actually kept her safe? You of all people should know how this world works, Ricardo. She has my name on her, whether you accept it or not. And the moment she stepped into that ballroom, she walked straight into my hands."

Ricardo’s breathing was heavy, his mind racing. He knew Dante was dangerous—too much like his father. But there was something else in the young man’s gaze. A possessiveness. A certainty.

"I know the kind of life you lead," Ricardo said, his voice quiet but firm. "I know what you are. And I won’t let you drag her into that."

Dante didn’t hesitate. "Then what will you do?" His voice was like a blade, cutting through Ricardo’s resistance. "Hide her forever? Lock her away? Because that’s the only way you could ever keep her from me."

Ricardo exhaled sharply. He hated this. Hated that Dante was right. No matter what he did, Celia was already tangled in this web. And in this world, there were far worse men than Dante.

He closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again, filled with reluctant acceptance.

"You swear to me," Ricardo said, his voice thick with warning, "that no harm will come to her?"

Dante’s gaze softened—just a fraction. "No harm will come to her."

A long silence stretched between them before Ricardo finally looked away.

"Then take her." The words felt like poison in his mouth.

Dante’s smirk returned, slow and victorious.

"I already have."

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Hey everyone,

I just wanted to apologize for the delay in the update. Life got a bit busy, but I’m back now and ready to bring more of the story to you! Thanks so much for your patience, and I appreciate all the support.😊

Stay tuned for more!!💞💞