Chapter 6

• Dante strode toward Aria with a chilling calmness that sent shivers down her spine. In one swift motion, he raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face. The sting echoed in her mind as she screamed in pain, tears immediately springing to her eyes.
• “Shut up,” he snapped, his expression devoid of empathy. The long-haired man, Zander, held her firmly, his grip like iron, rendering her unable to escape.
• Dante turned to Zander, a smile creeping onto his lips. “Good job, Zander. I expect nothing less than loyalty from you. You’ve always proven to be my good, loyal dog.”
• Aria felt a wave of nausea wash over her as Dante’s words sank in. He grabbed her hair again, yanking her head back to force her to meet his cold gaze. “I wanted to make you my woman, but I think you deserve nothing more than the basement,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
• The mention of the basement sent a jolt of fear through her. Memories of the dark, cold place flooded her mind, a prison of despair where hope seemed to vanish. “No! Please!” she cried, her voice trembling with terror. “Not the basement! I can’t go back there!”
• Dante’s expression remained unchanged as he turned to Zander. “Chain her in the basement again. She deserves that punishment,” he ordered with a chilling finality.
• Zander nodded silently, his face impassive as he began to pull Aria toward the door. Panic surged within her, and she fought against his grip, desperate to break free. “Please, don’t take me there!” she screamed, her heart racing. “I’ll do anything! Just don’t put me in the basement!”
• Dante paused, his interest piqued by her desperation. “What’s this? You’ll do anything?” he mused, a calculating look in his eyes. “What do you propose?”
• “Please, I’ll give you what you want,” she pleaded, her voice cracking as she fought back tears. “But not as a slave… as your wife. You don’t need to keep me in chains. I can be yours willingly.”
• Dante’s steps faltered, and he turned to face her fully, curiosity replacing some of the cruelty in his gaze. “I can have you whenever I want,” he replied, his tone dismissive. “Why do I need to marry you?”
• Aria’s heart raced as she searched for the right words, desperation clawing at her throat. “Because… because I can give you loyalty, love, everything you want. You don’t need to force me. Just give me a chance!”
• For a moment, silence hung in the air, the tension palpable. Dante studied her, and for a fleeting second, she thought she saw a flicker of interest in his eyes. But then, the smirk returned, and he stepped closer, invading her space. “You think you can bargain with me? You’re just a toy, Aria. Toys don’t get to choose.”
• With that, he motioned to Zander. “Take her away. She’ll learn her place.”
• As Zander began to drag her out of the room, Aria’s heart sank. “Please! I’ll do anything!” she begged, her voice filled with desperation. “Just don’t send me back to that hell!”
• As soon as Aria uttered her desperate promise to do anything, Dante's expression shifted. A small, almost mocking smile appeared on his lips, and he leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. “Why would I trust you? Just a moment ago, you tried to kill me,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
• Aria’s heart raced as she struggled to find the right words. “I… I was afraid,” she stammered, her voice shaking. “Anyone can do desperate things to protect themselves. Just give me a chance, please!”
• Dante stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. The air around them thickened with tension as he studied her, his gaze piercing. “Fear can make people do irrational things,” he warned, his voice low and menacing. “But it can also make them deceitful. How do I know you won’t turn on me again the moment you think you have an opportunity?”
• “I won’t! I promise!” Aria pleaded, her eyes wide with sincerity. “I’ll prove my loyalty to you. Just let me show you that I can be more than just a scared girl. I can be strong for you.”
• He remained silent for a moment, the smile fading from his face as he considered her words. Aria could see the wheels turning in his mind, weighing her desperation against his own instincts.
• “Trust is hard to come by in my world,” he said finally, his voice steady and cold. “You’ll have to earn it, and I won’t tolerate any more betrayal. If you fail me again, the consequences will be severe.”
• Aria nodded vigorously, feeling a mix of relief and dread. “I understand. I’ll do whatever it takes. Just please, don’t send me back to the basement,” she implored, her voice trembling with emotion.
• Dante studied her for a moment longer, then stepped back, his expression inscrutable. “We’ll see if you can keep that promise,” he said.
• Just then, Dante’s mobile buzzed sharply, cutting through the heavy atmosphere in the room. He glanced at the screen and saw it was one of his most trusted men, Marco. With a swift motion, he answered the call, his expression shifting from curiosity to cold intensity.
• “Sir,” Marco’s voice came through, laced with urgency. “We have a situation. Your stepbrother, Luca, has escaped from captivity. He’s a threat to your life.”
• Dante’s eyes narrowed, and a dangerous glint flickered across his face. The mention of Luca sent a surge of anger coursing through him. “What do you mean he escaped?” he shouted, his voice echoing in the room. “How could you let this happen?”
• “Sir, it was unexpected. We underestimated his resourcefulness. He’s on the loose, and we believe he’s coming for you,” Marco replied, his voice steady despite the tension.
• Dante gritted his teeth, his mind racing with the implications of Luca’s escape. “Find him. I want him dead. I won’t tolerate any problems from him,” he ordered, his tone icy and devoid of mercy.
• “Yes, sir. We’ll track him down,” Marco affirmed quickly before hanging up.
• Dante’s expression darkened further as he processed the threat. He turned to Zander, who had been waiting silently nearby. “Bring this woman with you,” he commanded, his voice sharp. “Keep a close eye on her. Stay with her, but not here. You know what you have to do.”
• Dante’s voice followed them as they exited, cold and commanding. “Let’s see how much she’s trustworthy,” he said, his words lingering in the air like a dark omen.
• Zander nodded, his demeanor serious. He stepped forward, grabbing Aria’s arm with a firm grip. “Come on,” he said, dragging her along as she stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Dante’s focus.
• “Where are we going?” Aria asked, anxiety creeping into her voice as she glanced back at Dante.
• He didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the floor as if contemplating his next move. The air was thick with tension, and Aria could sense the danger that lurked just beneath the surface.
• “Let me go!” she protested, trying to pull away from Zander’s grip, but he only tightened his hold, leading her out of the room.