C81 We Didn't Know

Dante’s jaw clenched as he scanned the empty road ahead, his dark eyes darting to the rearview mirror where he could just make out Angelo’s car trailing them.

The weight of responsibility bore down on him heavily as Annabelle sat stiffly beside him, her face pale but resolute.

Cathy was in Angelo’s car, chattering away happily, oblivious to the growing tension in the air.

To keep his mind off the fact that his woman had almost killed herself just to get away from him, he decided to turn his mind to other things.

Fucking Tad.

He knew Tad wasn’t in Stoneraine.

His men had confirmed it, and Dante wasn’t one to take chances with incomplete information.

He’d made sure the bastard was far from town before allowing Annabelle to make this trip.

Still, the unease that twisted in his gut refused to settle.

Something felt off.

It had started as a nagging instinct after they had entered the car back, but now it was a full-blown alarm screaming in his head.

Annabelle turned slightly, her green eyes flickering toward him with anxiety as she said, “I really didn’t mean to…”

“Save your breath,” he said tersely.

Her lips thinned, and he could feel the weight of her glare. “Yes, I had my hand on the handle, but pressing the button was a mista….”

Before she could complete her statement, the sharp crack of a rifle shot tore through the air, followed by the thudding sound of a bullet striking the bulletproof window.

The driver slammed on the brakes, jerking the car to a halt as Annabelle cried out and braced herself against the seat.

“Stay down!” Dante barked, already reaching for the gun holstered under his jacket.

“What the hell is going on?” Annabelle demanded, her voice trembling but sharp as steel.

“Ambush,” he growled, opening the car door and stepping out in a low crouch. “Stay in the car, Annabelle. I mean it. Angelo would keep Cathy safe!”

She didn’t argue, for once, sliding down in her seat with her head low.

He saw her clutching Cathy’s small bag protectively, her knuckles white.

Dante motioned to his men as they exited their vehicles, guns raised and scanning the surrounding forest.

The dense foliage provided sufficient cover for an assailant, and the silence after the initial shot was deafening.

“Long-range,” Angelo muttered, crouching beside him. “They’re far, boss.”

“Find them,” Dante snapped, his voice cold. “And make sure they don’t get a second chance.”

Two of his men split off into the woods without a word, moving swiftly and silently.

Dante’s attention returned to the car.

Through the window, he could see Annabelle’s face, pale and tense, her eyes darting between him and the road ahead.

As much as Dante wanted to go after the bastard who had tried to take him, he quelled the urge.

She was his priority now.

He couldn’t keep her out of his sight now. Not after knowing a bastard was gunning for them.

He still had no idea if she was the target, but he could almost bet it had something to do with all the other attacks.

“Flush this bastard out,” he ordered Angelo. “ I am taking them to Stoneraine.”

Angelo said immediately, “Yes, boss.”

Then he had Cathy brought over to Dante’s car.

Annabelle immediately soothed her sister’s fear and held her in a half-hug.

Angelo moved instantly and signalled some of the guards.

Dante opened the car door and leaned in, his presence filling the small space.

Annabelle looked up at him, her fear barely concealed beneath her defiance as she automatically held Cathy tighter.

“There’s nothing to worry about now. That must have been a random shooter,” he lied to ease her mind.

When she didn’t look too convinced, his dark eyes locked onto hers as he said, “I’ll make sure you’re safe. Both of you.”

She swallowed hard but didn’t argue.

Cathy’s safety came first, and she knew better than to waste time protesting.

By the time they arrived in Stoneraine, his anger simmered just beneath the surface.

Angelo had confirmed the shooter was long gone, leaving behind only a well-concealed perch and a spent shell casing.

It had been a warning shot, Dante realised, meant to rattle them.

He parked his car beside a rickety truck and immediately scanned the area.

The house was in shambles, its windows boarded up and what seemed like a once-tidy garden was overgrown with weeds.

The sight of it made Dante’s stomach twist.

He looked over at Annabelle, but her face was turned towards the house as she carefully stepped out.

Cathay wanted to run up the damaged steps, but Annabelle held her back.

Annabelle stood near the front steps, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at the dilapidated house.

Cathy clung to her side, looking up at her sister with wide, worried eyes.

As Dante approached, an older woman with greying hair and a kind, but weathered face emerged from the side of the house.

She hesitated when she saw Dante, her gaze flicking nervously to his imposing figure, but then she turned to Annabelle.

“I’m so sorry, dear,” the woman said, her voice heavy with sympathy. “We didn’t know. She never asked for help.”

Annabelle’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

The woman sighed, wringing her hands. “ I thought you were here because you heard. Your mother... we found her this morning. She collapsed just outside the house. A boy saw her and ran to get help. Joe took her to the hospital in his truck.”

Annabelle’s knees buckled, and she reached for the porch railing to steady herself.

Cathy’s grip tightened on her arm, her small voice trembling as she asked, “Mommy’s at the hospital?”

“Yes, sweetie,” the woman said gently. “She’s being taken care of.”

Dante stepped closer, his hand hovering near Annabelle’s back. “Which hospital?”

The woman rattled off the name of the local facility, and Dante immediately gestured for Angelo to make the necessary arrangements.

Annabelle turned to the woman, her voice cracking as she asked, “Why didn’t anyone check on her? She must have been sick for weeks.”

The neighbour’s expression crumpled. “She never said a word, Annabelle. You know how she is. Proud and private. We didn’t even know she was unwell.”

Annabelle’s face crumpled, and Dante finally placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “We’ll go to her now,” he said, his voice low but steady.

She nodded, biting her lip to keep from crying in front of Cathy.