Chapter 5 - The Ultimatum
Victor Romanov did not take kindly to being humiliated in a dirty alleyway.
The Russian boss had spent the last two weeks bleeding Dante's outer territories, burning warehouses, and ambushing low-level Caruso enforcers. But Dante hadn't retaliated. He had been too focused on keeping Clara and Leo safe.
Victor saw this as weakness.
On a Tuesday morning, a black box was delivered to the front gates of the Caruso estate. Dante opened it in his private study.
Inside was a single, bloody silver pawn ticket. Clara’s ticket.
Attached was a note: You went soft for a waitress, Dante. Hand over the shipping ports, or I will rain fire on your fortress and take the girl for myself. You have 24 hours.
Dante’s second-in-command, a grizzled enforcer named Silvio, stood by the desk. "Boss. Romanov is mobilizing. He’s got fifty men heavily armed at the docks. We need to hit him first."
Dante crushed the note in his fist. The soft, gentle man who played Legos on the carpet vanished. The Ice King returned.
"Summon the capos," Dante ordered, his voice cold and hollow. "Arm every man we have. Romanov thinks I've gone soft because I found something to care about. He doesn't realize that finding something to care about just gave me a reason to burn this city to the ground."
Clara, who had been bringing Dante a cup of coffee, froze in the hallway. She heard every word.
She stepped into the study, her face pale. "Dante... they want me? Because you saved me?"
Dante moved to her immediately, taking her face in his large, warm hands. "You listen to me, Clara. You are not a liability. You are the only good thing in my life. I am going to end this tonight. You stay here. Do not leave the panic room."
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"Please don't go," she whispered, tears welling up. "They'll kill you."
"I am the nightmare they check under their beds for, Clara," he kissed her forehead fiercely. "I will come back to you."
