Page 54 of Roses are Royal

“I’m going to need an IV of caffeine at this point if what you’re saying is true. And I don’t have any food here because I’ve been at your house.” What I don’t say is I never have food here because I don’t cook and try to spend as little time here as possible, but that’s besides the point.

“Sit. I’ll explain everything and answer whatever questions you have to the best of my knowledge. I promise. Also, I have a doctor on the way to look at your shoulder and any other injuries you may have.”

After everything, a promise from Dante seems worthless. But I need answers, so I’ll let him think I’m on his side until I can figure out how to disappear. Because it’s looking like that might be my only option at this point. Hopefully, the doctor he called brings some extra-strength painkillers too because it feels like I’ve been hit by a bus.

70

DANTE

“Iknow I briefly explained your connection to Angelo last night, but let me back up a bit.”

“Fine. I’ll listen, but just know I’m going to have a lot of questions.” Rose seems to be handling this a lot better than expected, considering her reaction last night. Maybe she just needed some time to rest and process everything.

If she is going to take over as head of the family, this is the kind of mental strength she’ll need. But secretly, I hope she wants to disappear with me instead. It’s selfish, but I want her to myself and safe from danger. And in this life, danger is the only guarantee.

Here goes nothing. All I can do is lay everything out for Rose and go from there. If this is going to work out between us, I need to be honest with her, finally.

“This all started a little over a year ago when Angelo was diagnosed with cancer. He hid his illness from me and everyone else for a while until I figured out something was wrong and followed him.”

“So I’m not the only one you follow? Interesting.” Rose’s snark makes me smile because I’d rather have her witty banter than silence.

“Yes, well, that is my…specialty within the organization. I’m a shadow. But I’ll explain more about that later. So, after Angelo found out his diagnosis, he started getting his affairs in order for who would take over after his death. He always had a Will, but he wanted to review it one last time just to be sure everything was correct and up to date.

“During the meeting with his lawyer, Angelo explained what was going on with his health, which prompted his lawyer to give him a letter he had been holding in his safe for over thirty years. That letter was the one from Liliana. The one where she confessed to having you and explained what she had done in order to protect you. She gave it to Angelo’s lawyer with instructions to share it only with him if the family was in trouble. And with his cancer diagnosis and no heir to the organization with me leaving, his lawyer made the decision to finally share the letter with Angelo.”

“You say ‘heir’ like Angelo is some kind of royalty.”

“Well, in his line of work, he is considered the king, so to speak.”

“So what? He’s some kind of criminal overlord? You keep saying ‘the organization’ and ‘the family’. That’s giving very old Mafia vibes. Are you trying to tell me that Angelo, my supposed grandfather, is the head of the Mafia?” Rose adds the last part with a soft laugh, as if the thought of it being true is preposterous.

“Yes.”

“Uh, yes what, Dante?”

“Yes, Angelo is the head of the Mafia. But we prefer to use the term organization now. Angelo has worked hard over the past thirty years to make his business endeavors legitimate. As much as possible, that is. Regardless, he is still given the respect someone in his position has earned. And even though the less-than-legal side of the business still partially exists in the shadows, he has been trying to do the right thing ever since…ever since Lily was murdered. He blames himself for her death even though he didn’t pull the trigger. She was killed because of her connection to him as the heir to his empire.”

“I still don’t understand what all this has to do with me.”

“Well, in Angelo’s world, my world, the only person respected enough to take over the business without a turf war from rival families is a blood relative.”

“Why can’t he just let you take over? You said he raised you like a son and you have been working for him your entire life. Surely, people would be okay with you taking over.”

“I didn’t want to take over. I actually wanted out of the organization. But typically the only way out is death. However, I made a deal with Angelo he couldn’t refuse. In exchange for my release from the organization, my freedom, I would find you and deliver you to him.”

Rose doesn’t blink. I don’t think she is going to respond until she lets out a laugh. It’s slightly unhinged, and she can barely speak through her fit of giggles as she tries to compose herself. I think she has officially lost it. I’m not sure what is so funny about what I just explained. If anything, I expected her to be hurt or angry with me for using her for my own gain, but no, she is laughing.

“Oh my god, Dante,” Rose wheezes out, still trying to contain her outburst.

“Rose, are you okay? What is so funny?”

“You. This. Everything. I feel like I’m being punked.” Still giggling, she continues, gesturing around her apartment. “Where are the hidden cameras? Clearly, this whole thing is a fucking joke!”

At first, I’m worried she knows I have cameras hidden in her loft. Then I realize she isn’t referring to my actual hidden cameras, but as if this is some kind of elaborate prank being pulled on her and a camera and television crew is going to pop out from somewhere. Well, my love, you are not going to be laughing when I tell you about the actual hidden cameras. Maybe I’ll save that bit of information for another time when she has calmed down from her apparent hysteria.

“This isn’t a joke, Belladonna,” I say, trying to calm her and convey the seriousness of the matter.

“Don’t! Don’t you dare call me that, Dante! And why do you call me that? You and your precious nicknames. Was it so you didn’t accidentally call me Violetta or something ridiculous?”