Her

I stepped out of the house, the cool evening air brushing against my skin, and there he was-leaning casually against a sleek motorcycle, waiting for me. My eyes widened in surprise. Dante had never mentioned owning a motorcycle before. He smiled when he saw me, his eyes darkening with that familiar look that sent a flutter through my stomach.

Taking my hand, Dante pulled me closer, eyeing me up and down as his lips curved into a smirk. "Petardo, you look stunning," he murmured, his voice low and filled with admiration. His eyes lingered, making my cheeks flush under his gaze.

I tried to play it cool, though my heart was racing. "You don't look too bad yourself," I replied, smiling. He looked ridiculously handsome tonight, dressed in his leather jacket, his hair slightly tousled like he hadn't even tried but somehow nailed the perfect look.

I glanced at the motorcycle, raising an eyebrow. "You ride this?" I asked, curiosity piqued. He always struck me as more of a car guy, with his sleek suits and polished demeanor.

Dante grinned, clearly enjoying my surprise. "Felt like today was the perfect day to take it out. I don't use it much, only for special occasions." He paused, stepping closer to me and brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "And what could be more special than introducing my girlfriend to my friends?"

His words sent a thrill through me, and I chuckled, shaking my head. "Smooth, Mr. Grump."

Dante smiled as he handed me a helmet, securing one on his own head before helping me with mine. His hands lingered just a moment longer than necessary, his fingers brushing my skin softly.

Once I was settled behind him, my arms instinctively wrapped around his waist. The engine roared to life beneath us, and with a quick glance back at me, Dante sped off down the street. The wind rushed past us, and I pressed closer to him, feeling a mixture of exhilaration and nervousness as the city lights blurred around us.

As we drove toward his friends' house, the reality of what was happening began to settle in. I was meeting his friends-people who had known him long before I had. Part of me wondered if they would like me. Would they see what Dante saw in me? I hoped so.

I leaned my head against his back, a smile tugging at my lips despite my nerves. I couldn't wait to see what this night had in store.

Him

As soon as we stepped inside Brian and Natty's house, I felt the familiar warmth that always came with being around friends. The place was buzzing with people, laughter filling the air, but amidst all the chaos, my eyes sought out Brian and Natty. I spotted them almost immediately across the room, their faces lighting up as soon as they saw us.

"Well, look who's here!" Natty grinned, making her way over with Brian right behind her. "And who's this stunning lady?" she added, her voice teasing as she looked at Tara.

Tara's cheeks flushed instantly, the red spreading across her face, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Her bashfulness was endearing, and it didn't help that my own face was heating up at their teasing.

"Yeah, Dante, where've you been hiding her?" Brian chimed in, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he gave Tara an appreciative look.

"She's too pretty for you, Dante," Natty added, nudging me playfully.

Tara shot them both a shy smile, clearly embarrassed by the attention. I could tell she was trying her best to handle it gracefully. I wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning in close to whisper, "You're killing me with that blush, Petardo." She nudged me lightly, trying to fight a grin, but it only made me laugh more.

The evening moved on smoothly, the crowd lively with conversation and laughter. Dinner passed quickly, everyone enjoying the night. Once we were done eating, Brian suddenly turned to Tara.

"So, how about a dance?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Tara's eyes flicked to me for a second before she smiled and took his hand. "Of course!" she replied cheerfully, and they both made their way to the dance floor, leaving me alone with Natty.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Natty nudged me, her voice dropping low. "She's got it bad for you."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling a flutter in my chest. "What? What do you mean?"

Natty chuckled, shaking her head. "Come on, Dante. You don't see the way she looks at you? Every time you say something, her eyes light up. And when you're not looking, she's always glancing your way. She's completely into you."

I glanced at Tara, who was laughing at something Brian had said, and as if she felt my gaze, she looked my way. The second our eyes met, she quickly looked away, a soft blush creeping up her neck. I couldn't help but chuckle, butterflies swirling in my stomach. She was too cute for her own good sometimes.

"See?" Natty nudged me again. "Told you."

A soft smile tugged at my lips, but before I could respond, Natty's tone shifted, her next words bringing me crashing back to reality. "So, what's the plan for Mayfair?"

My mood darkened instantly. "Natty, we don't have to talk about this now. It's your birthday."

She gave me a serious look, her voice soft but firm. "Dante, this is the biggest birthday gift I could ever ask for. We need to get them out."

I sighed, knowing she wouldn't let it drop. She was right, after all. This wasn't just a plan-it was our only chance to free them. "Alright," I said, leaning in slightly to speak more privately. "Here's the plan. Brian's been monitoring their movements. We know they'll be setting up at the Mayfair location around the 20th. That's when we move in."

Natty's eyes darkened with understanding, her voice low. "And when you say 'move in,' you mean...?"

I nodded. "We extract them. Swift and silent. No mess, no attention. We'll use the back entrances, and Brian will disable any security for a clean entry. This is purely about getting them out."

Her gaze sharpened. "And then?"

"We take them somewhere safe," I replied. "They'll disappear. New identities, new lives-far away from all of this."

Natty's expression hardened, and she nodded slowly. "It's about time."

"It is," I agreed, my voice firm. "But we have to be careful. One wrong move, and everything we've worked for falls apart. We can't afford to slip up."

Her eyes flashed with intensity. "I know. We've waited long enough. We won't fail."

I exhaled slowly, knowing that the weight of this mission wasn't just about saving lives-it was about redemption. The scars of the past were still fresh, and there was no room for error. This time, we had to be perfect.

But before Natty could say anything else, her voice softened again. "Dante... does Tara know anything about this yet?"

My heart clenched at the question, my gaze drifting back to Tara as she danced with Brian, her laugh echoing through the room. She looked so carefree, so innocent, and for a moment, I wished I could keep it that way forever.

"No," I admitted, my voice quieter now. "She doesn't. I don't want her involved in this... darkness."

Natty placed a hand on my shoulder, her voice gentle but firm. "Dante, she deserves to know. And from what I've seen tonight, I don't think she'll leave you because of it. She's stronger than you think. Just... consider telling her."

I sighed, knowing she was right, but I couldn't shake the fear of losing Tara. "I'll think about it," I replied, my voice heavy.

Natty gave me a nod of understanding before standing up and placing her empty glass on the table. "Good. Now, go steal your girlfriend back from my boyfriend, okay? You guys should probably get going soon."

I smiled at that, standing up and nodding. "Yeah, we should." As I started to walk toward Tara, Natty called after me, her voice teasing.

"And Dante-treat her right, okay? Don't want her getting hurt."

I smirked back at her. "Of course, ma'am."

With that, I crossed the room, ready to pull Tara back into my arms, where she belonged.

Her

As I swayed gently to the rhythm with Brian, my eyes kept drifting toward Dante. He was sitting across the room, deep in conversation with Natty, but my attention was on him entirely. Every now and then, he'd glance my way, and I'd quickly look away, pretending I hadn't been watching him. It was impossible not to admire him-the way he carried himself, the ease in his movements, his sharp jawline. Even amidst a crowd, Dante was always the one my gaze settled on.

Brian must've noticed because he chuckled softly, breaking the silence between us. "You really love him, don't you?"

I blinked, slightly embarrassed. "Is it that obvious?"

Brian smiled warmly. "He's a good man, Tara. I've known him for a long time, and I've never seen him this... at peace, I guess. There's a light in his eyes now that wasn't there before."

I furrowed my brows, curious. "What do you mean?"

Brian's expression softened as he glanced over at Dante. "Dante's been through a lot growing up. More than anyone should ever have to. He's had his demons, but you... you've made a difference in his life. Just promise me you'll treat him right, okay? He deserves happiness after everything he's been through."

I felt a weight in my chest hearing that, but I nodded, squeezing Brian's hand briefly. "I will. I'll love him with everything I have."

Brian smiled in approval just as Dante approached us. He looked at me with that intense, smoldering gaze that always made my heart skip a beat. "Mind if I steal her away now?" he asked, directing the question to Brian but his eyes never leaving mine.

Brian chuckled. "Of course, go ahead. You two better get going before it gets too late."

With a nod, Dante reached for my hand, guiding me back toward the door. Soon, we were seated on his motorcycle, the engine rumbling beneath us as he started it up. I wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning my cheek against his back as we drove off into the night.

As we cruised through the streets, my mind wandered back to what Brian had said. Dante had never spoken much about his past, and now I understood why. Was that why he always seemed to dodge any questions about his family? I had noticed the tension in him whenever the subject came up, but I never pressed for answers. Maybe I should've, but a part of me didn't want to force him to relive something painful.

I sighed softly, pushing the thoughts aside as I hugged Dante tighter. He patted my hand reassuringly, as if sensing my thoughts. "Good night, Petardo," he said over his shoulder, his voice gentle.

"Good night, Dante," I replied, starting to loosen my grip as we arrived at our place. But just as I was about to step off the bike, I felt his hand grab mine, pulling me back toward him. Before I could react, Dante's lips were pressed against mine, his kiss deep and passionate.

***********

Hey, Pearls! 💎

If you're anything like me and prefer to keep things more fluff than fiery, you might want to skip the next chapter! No worries, we can meet right back here this Saturday for our usual fun. 😉

But for those of you brave enough to dive into the spicy side-please be kind, it's my first time writing these scenes, so go easy on me! 😳🔥

See you on the other side (or this Saturday)! 💖