Forced To Be The Mafia King's Bride (by Oma Green) novel Chapter 176

Dante's POV

Elio's eyes shifted to the rearview mirror. "I see them."

Paolo already had his hand moving toward his side. In the second car behind us, I knew Bruno would have clocked them by now.

"Any idea who they are?"

"No." Elio's hand moved to his waistband. "This route was supposed to be clear."

The SUVs were not hanging back anymore. They were closing in fast, weaving through cars.

"They've been on us for a while. Lose them. Step on it."

"Right away, Don."

Elio hit the gas and the Mercedes surged forward. We shot past a convertible, then a tourist bus. Elio cut left, then right, but the two SUVs matched every move. They took every turn we did, never falling back. They were not trying to hide it anymore.

My mind ran through the list of enemies who could have tracked us here. Monaco was supposed to be quiet. Anyone coming after me here would have to be desperate or too stupid to care about the consequences.

I reached across the seat, my hand finding Gianna's arm. She turned from the window, and when her eyes met mine, she went still.

"Dante…"

"I need you to stay calm." I brushed my thumb against her arm. "Whatever happens, stay low and stay behind me."

"What's happening?" Her eyes moved to the mirror, then back to me. "Who are those cars?"

"I don't know yet."

She swallowed. "That's not a reassuring answer."

It was not meant to be.

Behind us, the SUVs kept coming. They were closing in.

"Elio, faster."

"I'm trying, boss. They're not backing off."

The SUVs split formation. One swung into the lane beside us. The other stayed directly behind, boxing us in. These guys were not amateurs. Someone had to have leaked our location.

The first SUV swung out and blew past us, then cut back in, forcing Elio to brake. Tires screamed. Gianna grabbed the door handle. The second SUV closed in from behind.

"Get down."

Gianna looked confused, glancing at the cars behind us. "What? Why?"

"Gianna, right now."

I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her down in the seat. She let me position her low, protected by the door and the seat back. I looked around for an exit, but we were boxed in.

"Elio…"

"I see it." He was already slowing. No choice.

We came to a stop on a stretch of coastal road. The sea was on our right, cliffs on the left. Nowhere to go.

"The second car behind us?"

"Bruno's blocked in."

I looked down at myself. No weapon. I'd come off the jet clean, not wanting to carry around Gianna. First mistake.

"Elio. Give me something."

He reached under the dash and passed back a Glock. I checked it fast. One in the chamber. Full magazine.

"Stay in the car. Cover Gianna. If shooting starts, you get her out of here. Understood?"

"Boss, you shouldn't go out there without backup…"

"That's an order."

I turned to Gianna. She was pressed low in the seat, looking up at me with wide eyes.

"Dante, no." She grabbed my arm. "You can't go out there."

I held up the Glock. "I'll be fine."

The doors of the front SUV opened. Three men stepped out. Then another three from behind. Six total, all moving together. Dark clothes, hands on weapons.

I reached for the door handle, but Gianna held onto my hand.

"Dante, no. Please don't go out there." Her voice was frantic.

I turned and met her eyes. Fear was written all over her face. Real fear. The kind that made my chest tighten.

For a second, I saw Esmeralda. The last time I had seen that look on her face. The night everything went to hell and I failed her in every way that mattered.

I could not let that happen again with Gianna, who was looking at me like I was her whole world, even after all the fighting and cold silences between us.

Whatever happened out there, I would protect her with my last breath. None of us were dying today. Not her. Not me. Not on this godforsaken stretch of road in Monaco.

"There are six of them. You don't know who they are or what they want. You could get shot. You could…"

I cupped her face with my free hand, cutting her off. Her eyes were glassy with tears. The look on her face broke through me.

"Listen to me. I've been through much worse. I will handle this, and I will come back to you safely. Do you understand?"

One of them stepped forward. Older, scarred face, grey stubble. "Don Deluca. Lower your weapon."

"Not until you tell me who the hell you are and what you want."

My mind was already running through scenarios. If this went south, Paolo and I could take maybe three of them before they got us.

Bruno was blocked in behind, which meant he could not help. Elio would have to get Gianna out. She would be safe. That was all that mattered.

Then, from behind the front SUV, a door opened.

He came around the hood of the vehicle, unhurried. Mid-sixties, silver-haired, built like he had spent his forties in a boxing ring.

He wore a cream suit, collar open, gold watch catching the sun. A cigar rested between two fingers.

He was smiling.

My grip on the gun loosened.

I knew that smile.

"Fuck. Uncle Cesare."

Cesare Deluca spread his arms wide. "Nephew." The word landed like a joke he had been saving all day. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

I let out a breath, lowering the gun slightly. The tension in my shoulders eased, but only slightly. Only my uncle could pull a stunt like this. "I almost put a bullet in your men."

"Yes." He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And yet, here we all are. Alive."

He snapped his fingers once, and every man lowered their weapons.

I tucked the gun behind my waistband and started toward him. Then I heard Gianna's voice, high-pitched and terrified.

"Dante!"

I turned just as she bolted from the car, running straight for me. She crashed into my arms, her whole body shaking. She wrapped her arms around me, holding on like she thought I would disappear. Her face buried against my chest, her breath coming in short gasps.

My arms came around her immediately, one hand pressing against her back, the other cradling her head. She was trembling so hard I could feel it through my shirt. The fear rolling off her was almost physical.

"It's okay, bella. It's just my uncle."

But she was not listening. Her fingers dug into my back, clutching at me like she was trying to make sure I was real.

She had convinced herself I was going to die out here, and now she could not process that I was still standing.

The desperation in the way she shook in my arms melted my heart. She had been truly terrified for me.

I tightened my hold on her, pressing my lips to the top of her head. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."