Dangerous Melodies - Chapter 43: Chapter 43

DANTE
I sat on the sofa, staring at the empty doorway where she’d just walked out. My mind spun, tangled in a mess of words I couldn’t take back. I’d said things I didn’t mean, things that still echoed in my head, twisting like a sickening chant.
"You’re pushing me too far."
I had snapped at her, and she’d turned and walked away, leaving me to stew in the aftermath of my mess.
I’m such an asshole.
She had every reason to be angry. Hell, I was angry too, angry at myself. I didn’t mean to lash out like that.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I ran my hands through my hair, frustrated. I should’ve been calm. I should’ve thought it through. I knew better than to let my emotions get the best of me. I wasn’t some dumb kid anymore.
But Marisol had a way of pushing me, shoving me into places I didn’t want to go. Into places that scared the hell out of me.
And now here I was, feeling like the world’s biggest hypocrite. I wanted her. More than anything. But there were lines I couldn’t cross. Not with my life, not with my past. Not with the shit storm I was still fighting.
I can’t do this. I can’t be the man she needs.
I couldn’t admit it to myself, let alone her; I didn’t even know if I could, but the truth was I had no idea how to navigate this. Marisol was a storm I didn’t know how to weather. She was everything I wanted and everything that threatened to bring down the world I’d built for myself.
I could still hear her voice, cold and biting.
“I can’t stand the stench of you on me.”
I fucking hurt her.
Her words had been cutting, but I knew that was her defense mechanism. She didn’t let people see when she was hurt. She’d learned to mask it behind those biting comebacks. And while I understood why she did it, that didn’t make it any easier.
The closeness, the way we fit together, the way her touch burned through me, it was a fire I wasn’t sure I could control. She made me feel alive, but she also scared me. Because I didn’t have control. And now I’d gone and ruined it with the words I’d thrown at her.
I shoved my hands into my pockets, breathing heavily, my body still on edge from what we’d just shared. But even that felt small now, replaced by the gnawing sense of guilt clawing at me. I had to keep my distance, had to pull back, had to control this.
But damn it, I hated myself for it.
I wasn’t supposed to care this much. I wasn’t supposed to be caught up in her like this. I should’ve kept my walls up, but the moment she stepped into my life, I let them crumble.
She had every right to be pissed. I had pushed her too far. And now … now I didn’t even know where we stood.
I need to fix this. But how?
I hadn’t been ready for any of this, for her, and now it felt like I was losing everything, one harsh word at a time. I didn’t know how to navigate us, or how to manage this relationship, but I had to.
Because Marisol, she was everything.
She deserved more than the wreck I’d become. A life free from the shadows of my past, untouched by everything I’d done. She needed someone unafraid to give her what she wanted, what she truly needed.
And I wasn’t that man.
Yet every time she looked at me, every time her voice softened, like she was waiting for something from me, it got harder to remember why I had to keep pushing her away.
But she didn’t need me; she needed stability. She needed security. Not a man who couldn’t even take responsibility for his own emotions, let alone her future.
I fucked up.
DANTE
The mid-morning sun cast long shadows across the estate as a sleek black car pulled up to the entrance. It had been a week since the fight: seven days of cautious peace, of space and small gestures that passed for a truce. We hadn’t talked about what happened. But we hadn’t fallen apart either. Not entirely.
We’d found a rhythm. One careful enough to survive on.
Felix’s voice came through the intercom.
“Marisol’s father is at the gate for an impromptu visit.”
I moved to the window, my shoulders tensing as Roberto Franco stepped out. His gaze swept over the grounds like he owned the place, a smug little smile tugging at his mouth. He took his time, eyes dragging over every detail like he was tallying up my worth.
Impeccably dressed, of course. Smile polished to perfection. But beneath the charm, I saw the truth. Deception clung to him like his tailored suit. Annoyance flickered across his features when he caught sight of the security detail. He wasn’t used to being handled.
I’d known this moment would come. I just hadn’t expected it now. Not after a week of quiet. Not when things were finally settling with Marisol. The last thing I needed was him slithering back into her life, stirring the pot, planting seeds.
I had already given the order. Every inch of his car, his luggage, even his clothes were being checked. No explosives. No weapons. No bugs. Only after the green light did I let them wave him through. Then came the pat down.
But I wasn’t fooled.
Roberto’s most dangerous weapon had always been the one no one could confiscate. His mind.
As he was escorted inside, I moved quickly, wanting this encounter buried as quietly as possible. I entered the grand living room where Roberto waited, tension thick in the air.
Seconds later, Marisol appeared, her steps slow, hesitant, her eyes locking on him. Her face changed. Fear, loathing, and defiance flickered across her features before she came to a stop near the doorway.
He turned toward her, his smile widening like this was some joyous reunion. As he stepped forward, the scent of cigars and overpriced cologne clung to the surrounding air.
“Ah, my beautiful daughter,” he said, stepping forward with his arms out like he expected a warm embrace. “I’ve missed you.”
Marisol stiffened. Her breath quickened, her whole body taut like it might pull back, but then something shifted in her. She didn’t retreat. Instead, she moved beside me, and her shoulder brushed mine. Heat radiated off her skin, taut with fury.
That tiny point of contact was enough. She found me there, solid and unwavering. I held my ground, and so did she.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” she said, cold and clear, voice sharp as broken glass.
Pride surged through me at the sound of it. Fierce and steady. She was steel under pressure. All I saw in that moment was her power. Her refusal to back down.
I stayed silent, holding her courage like a shield while every instinct inside me screamed to protect her. She’d always had this fire. Now the world would see it, too.
And I wasn’t sure how Roberto would respond.
His smile faltered for just a second. Then he turned to me, slipping into the role of doting father like he wore it daily.
“Dante, you’ve taken good care of my daughter, I see. I wanted to come personally to congratulate you both on your marriage.”
My stare didn’t waver. I kept my voice flat.
“You’ve come a long way for congratulations.”
He chuckled, but it held no warmth.
“Must there be an ulterior motive, Dante? Can a father not wish to see his daughter happy, especially now that she’s married into such a powerful family?”
His gaze roamed the room, eyes lingering on every detail of the estate.
“Though, I must admit, this union took me by surprise. I had... future plans for Marisol.”
The chill in his tone wasn't subtle.
A warning. A reminder.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.