The car ride was silent.
Deadly silent.
I sat in the back seat of the black SUV, my hands gripping the leather tightly as the city lights blurred past the window.
Dante sat beside me.
His presence filled the car like a storm waiting to explode.
No one spoke.
Not the driver.
Not the two guards sitting in the front.
Just the quiet, terrifying tension radiating from the man next to me.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.
"You don't have to do this," I said softly.
Dante didn't even look at me.
"Do what?"
"Whatever you're planning to do to Ryan."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"That man sold you like property."
My chest hurt hearing it said out loud.
"I know," I whispered.
"But killing him won't change anything."
That finally made him turn his head.
Those dark eyes studied me carefully.
"You're defending him?"
"I'm not," I said quickly.
My voice shook despite my effort to sound calm.
"But he's still… someone I loved."
For a moment, Dante didn't respond.
Then he leaned back in the seat.
"Love," he muttered coldly.
The way he said the word made it sound like something disgusting.
"You'll learn soon enough," he added quietly, "that love is the easiest weapon to use against someone."
I didn't respond.
Because deep down… I already knew he was right.
The car eventually slowed and pulled into the entrance of a massive casino glowing with neon lights.
Loud music and chatter poured out of the building.
My stomach twisted.
Ryan was inside.
Dante stepped out of the car first.
The moment he appeared, the guards at the entrance stiffened immediately.
They opened the doors without question.
Respect.
Fear.
Power.
It was obvious this man ruled far more than just a mansion.
I followed slowly behind him as we entered the casino.
The place was packed.
People laughing.
Drinks clinking.
Cards slamming onto tables.
No one noticed the deadly tension walking through the room.
But suddenly the guards spread out.
And then I saw him.
Ryan.
He sat at a poker table, laughing loudly with a drink in his hand.
My chest tightened painfully.
He looked perfectly fine.
Like nothing had happened.
Like he hadn't just destroyed my life.
Dante stopped walking.
His eyes locked onto Ryan.
The air around him turned icy.
Ryan finally looked up from the table.
At first he looked annoyed.
Then confused.
Then his face went completely pale.
The glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
"D… Dante Russo?"
His voice trembled.
The entire poker table went silent.
Dante walked toward him slowly.
Every step echoing across the floor.
Ryan stumbled to his feet.
"I—I was going to pay you!" he stammered.
Dante stopped in front of him.
"You already did."
Ryan blinked in confusion.
Then his eyes moved past Dante.
And landed on me.
Shock exploded across his face.
"Ava?"
My hands trembled.
"You're… you're here?" he said weakly.
Rage burned through my chest.
"You sold me," I whispered.
Ryan looked around nervously.
"Ava listen—"
"Five million dollars," I continued, my voice shaking with anger. "That's what I'm worth to you?"
The casino had grown quiet.
People were starting to watch.
Ryan ran a hand through his hair.
"I had no choice!"
The words hit like a slap.
"You always have a choice," I said.
Ryan's expression suddenly hardened.
"You wouldn't understand!" he snapped.
My stomach twisted.
"You're weak, Ava. You always have been."
Pain stabbed through my chest.
But before I could respond—
A loud crack echoed through the casino.
Ryan's body flew across the floor.
Gasps filled the room.
Dante slowly lowered his fist.
Ryan groaned on the ground, blood dripping from his mouth.
The entire casino froze.
Dante stepped closer to him.
Calm.
Controlled.
Terrifying.
"You sold something that belongs to me," he said quietly.
Ryan looked up in fear.
"S-she's just a woman!"
Dante's eyes darkened dangerously.
"No."
His gaze flicked briefly toward me.
Then back to Ryan.
"She's carrying my heir."
The entire room gasped.
Ryan's face drained of color.
"What…?"
My heart pounded wildly.
Dante crouched down beside him.
"And you thought you could gamble peacefully after that?"
Ryan started shaking.
"I didn't know!" he cried.
Dante grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer.
His voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
"Exactly."
Ryan's eyes filled with terror.
Because in that moment…
Everyone in the room understood something.
Dante Russo wasn't here for money anymore.
He was here for revenge.
And Ryan had just realized he made the biggest mistake of his life.