*DANTE VINO POV*

You had one job. One fucking job, and she still managed to end up by herself. 

I wasn't sure who I was more upset with: Rebel for blatantly separating herself from me, or myself for allowing it. 

I spent my entire life accepting the fact that I was going to spend my days filled with loneliness, it was a fate that I learned to accept very early on. People like me, we didn't get happy endings. We didn't get the luxury of a loving woman that we could come home to. To have someone who we could talk about our day with. To have a significant other that we could share our life with. In this life, it was always a trade off: we could either fall in love and reveal our weakness, or stay lonely and keep the ones we love safe. 

Needless to say, I always went with the latter. 

But when that hazel eyed goddess crashed into my life, everything changed. I found myself wanting  to be with her in ways I never thought about before. 

 I'd find myself daydreaming about coming home to her, kissing her as I walked through the door and spending every evening next to her side. I imagined waking up next to her, and even cooking her breakfast as we woke up to the sounds of the birds chirping in the garden. I pictured us relaxing on the beach, laughing and living a carefree life. I pondered a house that she could make her own, a place where we could start a family. 

I imagined a life where I spent every waking moment with her. 

Rebel wasn't just some girl to me, she everything. She's the light in my dim world. She is the air that filled my lungs. She's the reason I wake up each morning. She's the binding force that's keeping me sane in this ludicrous world I called my reality. 

She eased the loneliness in ways that I never thought possible. Just being around her is enough to calm the endless storm within my aching soul. She accepted me, and didn't judge or attempt to change the person I was born to become. Whenever she was near me, it was as if everyone else in this dreadful world just vanished, leaving only the two of us to enjoy each others company amidst the peaceful silence.

Rebel was one of a kind, and I knew that being with her is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'd be damned if anyone is going to take her away from me. 

I scanned the floor, looking for my beautiful girl in her long, black gown. My heart began racing as my eyes darted from guest to guest, hoping that I'd see her gorgeous face or hazel eyes amongst the crowd. I looked over at Stephan and Natalia, only to feel my heart sink as I saw Rebel wasn't with them.

Anxiety coursed through me as I continued looking through the crowd, and I sighed in relief as I saw my girls curvy figure standing in the middle of the room. But that calmness quickly faded as I saw that she was speaking to a man. A man that I've been hunting for years. A man that has been looming over my family for as long as I can remember. A man who singlehandedly ruined my life in more ways than I can count. 

Xavier Pavlovski. 

I quickly turned on my heel, and began walking towards Rebel, completely ignoring Eduardo and his associate as I abruptly left the conversation. 

"Dante?" Eduardo said hesitantly as he grabbed my shoulder. I shrugged him off immediately before I nearly jogged towards my girl. 

I didn't give a fuck if Eduardo thought I was rude. I didn't give a fuck about this ball. I didn't give a fuck about anything but Rebel. 

I maneuvered through the crowd, shoving people recklessly as I neared her, my heart thumping in anticipation as I tried to mentally talk myself out of snapping Pavlovskis neck right here and now. 

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A feminine voice said as a hand pushed against my chest. I looked down slightly to see Scarlett, staring at me with a small smirk on her face and a sinister glare in her eyes. 

"I'd suggest you move before I break your fucking hand." I warned, my tone laced with anger. 

"Tsk tsk tsk. I thought you were smarter than that." Scarlett said as she leaned forward, pressing her chest against mine. "You can't hurt me here. It's against your little rules." She warned as she dug her sharp nails into my chest and gave me an evil smile. 

"Likewise." I said as I looked over her head to see Rebel still standing there, talking to the most wicked man on the face of the Earth. 

"Well, unlike you, I'm not affiliated to any Mafia." Scarlet said as she dug her nails deeper into my chest. "So I can do whatever the fuck I want to." She said as she smiled and thrusted her hand toward me. 

Her hand was quick, but my reflexes were quicker. I grabbed her wrist, and looked down at her hand. I wasn't surprised when I saw a small knife, aimed directly towards my abdomen. I pressed against her hand, forcing the blade to stay at a standstill about an inch away from my suit jacket. I tightened my grip on her wrist and twisted it, making her clench her jaw to suppress a yell as a popping sound filled the air. I grabbed her other wrist, trapping her in place and preventing her from moving. 

"As much as I would love to slit your fucking throat right now, I have more important matters to attend to." I growled before quickly twisting both of her wrists, making her whimper in pain. I gracefully grabbed the knife from her hand, placing it in my pocket for safe keeping before walking towards Rebel. 

"Fuck you, Dante." I heard her growl from behind me. Normally, anyone who even thought about drawing a weapon against me would have been killed on the spot. But because of this fucking ball, I had to refrain myself. 

"So what'll it be, Rebel?" Pavlovski asked as he looked down at my girl. 

I watched with wide eyes as she grabbed his jacket collar and pulled him towards her, making him hunch slightly. She quickly rammed her head forward, head butting him roughly in the face. 

That's my fucking girl.

I placed a hand on her shoulder, making her jump slightly as she looked backwards. Rebel instantly relaxed as her eyes met mine before she looked back at Pavlovski. 

"Fuck you." She said as Pavlovski placed a finger on his now bleeding lip. 

"Hm. A very... unwise decision on your part." Pavlovski stated as he held his hand out in front of his face, examining the blood on his middle finger before looking at me. 

"Ah. Dante. Pleasure to see you." He said in a sinister tone. 

"Wish I could say the same." I said as he narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?" I asked before quickly wrapping my arm around Rebels waist and pulling her close to me. 

"I was just having a quick word with your delightful date." He said in a dry tone as he looked back at Rebel once more. I tensed at his words, not believing a single thing that came out of his fucking mouth. 

"Oh relax, boy." Pavlovski said as he shot me a smirk. "You know just as well as I do that I can't do anything to you here." He said as he raised an eyebrow. 

"That didn't stop your assassin from trying." I said as I narrowed my eyes at him. 

"What Scarlet did tonight was on her own accord. Besides, I would never break the Ball's rules." Pavlovski countered, tilting his head slightly. 

"Excuse me, excuse me." A woman said over a microphone. She was standing on a stage in the center of the room, making everyone go quiet and look up at her. "Ladies and gentleman, if you could please take your seats. The main course is about to arrive. Thank you." She said, making the crowd begin to whisper as they dispersed. 

"Well then, do enjoy your meal Dante." Pavlovski said in a deep voice as he stared at me. A small smile began to spread on his lips as placed his hands in his pockets. 

I stared at him for a moment, before holding Rebel close and turning around. I quickly and cautiously walked away from Pavlovski, who was still standing behind us. 

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I asked Rebel under my breath as we began walking towards our table. The seating arrangements were always planned, and each year we were randomly assigned a table. This year we were directly in front of the stage. 

"I'm fine, but Dante." Rebel said as she stared at me with wide eyes. "He... he tried making a deal with me." She said as we neared the center table.

"He told me that I can either come with him willingly, or he'd be forced to take 'drastic measures'." Rebel said as her eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know what came over me, but I just felt the need to headbutt him." She said as she tilted her head and smirked. 

"I'm so fucking proud of you babe." I said as I gave he a smirk. We arrived at our table, and I pulled out her seat for her. As she sat down, Natalia and Stephan joined us, both sitting on the sides of Rebel and I. 

"Don't worry babe, after the main course, we'll escape out the back." I said as I sat down next to her and grabbed her hand. She gave me a small smile before nodding slightly. 

I watched as she grabbed her napkin and placed it on her lap, making a piece of paper fall out in the process. She furrowed her eyebrows as she bent down to pick it up. I watched curiously as Rebel unfolded the piece of paper, and looked at it in confusion for a moment before her eyes grew wide in fear. 

"Rebel, what's wrong?" I asked as I grabbed her thigh. 

"Dante... is this what I think it is?" She said as she looked at me and handed me the piece of paper. I grabbed it, and looked at it for a few moments as a flood of unwanted nostalgia came over me like a tidal wave. 

It was a piece of paper that was more than a warning, it was a promise. It was on a document that was presented to my families estate more times that I could count. On it was a name that I'd never expect. 

It was a death threat from Pavlovski, the very same threat that arrived before he assassinated majority of my family tree. 

Except the name on this threat wasn't a Vino: It was Angie Simmons.

The fucker was going after Rebel's mother.