Page 52 of Roses are Royal

“We can try to find him if you want,” Dante adds as if I want help from him ever again. He has spent the entire time we’ve known each other lying to me, using me. I’ve been a complete fool who fell right into his trap, thinking I had finally found someone who understood me and accepted me for who I was, but instead, he played me. He knew all about my sad backstory and never said anything. He knew I had actual blood relatives still alive and after everything, still didn’t tell me the truth. How could I ever trust him again? I’m just a pawn in whatever game he is playing with Angelo.

“I don’t want or need your help ever again, Dante. I can’t even stand to look at you right now.”

“Rose, please. Let me explain. Everything I did was to keep you safe. I’ve known for months I wanted to protect you from any pain the truth might cause.”

“I’m sorry…did you just say months? How long exactly have you known about me? We only met like six weeks ago.” My head turns to stare at Dante to ensure I’ve heard him correctly.

Dante looks at Angelo, who gives a small nod as if giving him permission to answer my question. Why would he need Angelo’s approval?

“I’ve known about you for about a year, ever since Angelo told me about the letter Lily wrote.”

“Okay, but that still doesn’t explain how you would ‘know you wanted to protect me.’” I add air quotes, mimicking Dante’s deep voice. “You didn’t know anything about me other than whatever Angelo told you, which I’m sure wasn’t much, considering Liliana gave me up when I was an infant. And I’m assuming she named me Violetta and not Rose. So how exactly did you know anything about me before we met at your house?”

“I…you see…well…so, after Angelo told me about the letter, he asked me to…uh…locate you,” Dante responds with noticeable hesitation in his voice, and I can tell he is choosing his words very carefully. This is probably the first time I have heard him sound nervous or unsure, which is jarring in and of itself outside of the new information I’m receiving. Dante is supposed to be solid, confident, and in control.

“Ooooookay. So what? You ‘located’ me and then thought you would just hire me to do what? Keep an eye on me? Get close to me? What was the end goal here, Dante?” My voice rises with each word. My brain is desperately trying to piece together this puzzle I’ve found myself in.

“Not exactly.”

“Dante, now is not the time to be mysterious. Speak plainly.”

“After Angelo told me about your existence and his illness, he asked me to find you and bring you to him. So…in order to ensure you were actually Violetta, I…watched you.”

“For how long, Dante?” My voice shakes, and I don’t think I want to know the answer, but I need to know at this point.

“About ten months.”

“Ten…months?” I’m shouting now, and I don’t care if I wake up all the neighbors at this point. This man who I thought I could be falling for has basically been stalking me for almost a freaking year? “I need to get out of here.” Quickly standing, I look around as if to gather my stuff when I realize I have no stuff. It’s all at Dante’s house, probably burnt to a crisp at this point with Luc. God, Luc! Shit, if I don’t get out of here, I’m going to have a breakdown in front of all of these strangers, and Dante is now included in that title. Turns out I don’t know him at all.

“You can’t leave.” Dante is standing now too with his hands up like he is trying to calm a caged wild animal. Well, he hasn’t seen anything yet.

“Like hell I can’t leave! Move out of my way, Dante, or I will call the police and tell them all about your stalker tendencies. Not to mention whatever happened at your house tonight. I’m sure they’d be very interested in whatever the hell it is you do for Angelo.” I move to take a step around Dante and toward the front door when one of his hands shoots out to grab my arm to stop me. Thankfully, it’s not the side that was dislocated, but his touch hurts either way, not physically but emotionally from the betrayal I feel.

“It’s not safe, Rose. You need to stay here.”

“Don’t you mean Violetta? Now get your hand off me before I cut it off. And don’t even think about following me!”

With only a slight hesitation, Dante removes his grip on my arm and lets me pass. Before I can reach for the door to escape this nightmare I’ve found myself in, I hear Angelo’s voice.

“Viole…Rose.” He clears his throat with the correction to my name. “Please don’t go. Dante is right; it’s not safe for you out there. Everything we have done has been to protect you. You are family. Your mother would’ve wanted me to keep you safe.”

“Well, consider yourself relieved of your duties because I don’t have a mother or a family.” Without a second glance, I’m out the door and down the steps. I don’t know where I am, other than somewhere in the city. Without a purse or phone, I can’t exactly just call a cab to take me home, but I’ve grown up in this city my entire life and can find my own way home, even if I have to walk the entire way.

66

DANTE

“You better go after her, Dante. You know now, more than ever, she isn’t safe. Especially after they came for her tonight at your house. They have eyes everywhere.” Angelo’s tone has lost the softness with which he spoke to Rose and is now back in the tone he uses as the head of the organization.

“I’ll keep her safe.” A vow I will uphold until my last breath.

“Tomorrow we’ll discuss what happened earlier tonight at your house.” Angelo’s response is layered with anger, but I can also sense an emotion I didn’t think he possessed…fear. Not for himself, but for his granddaughter. “Oh, and Dante”—I turn back to make eye contact with Angelo—“if anything happens to her, I will hold you personally responsible.”

With a nod of acknowledgment, I am out the door and jogging down the sidewalk in an effort to catch up with Rose. I spot her turning the corner and slow my steps to remain at a distance. I don’t want her to know I’m following her, but I want to be close enough to step in if her safety is being threatened.

She might not think she has a family, but she is more like Angelo than she realizes. I could see the pride in his eyes when she stood up for herself and threatened to cut my hand off. With a small smile on my face, I stick to the shadows and follow Rose. I would follow her anywhere at this point.

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