RAAAAA!!

"Carlisle's dimly lit bar and casino thrummed with the low hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter. The room was filled with a haze of smoke, casting an ethereal glow over the tables of rich playboys throwing their money away. Hidden in the shadows, Dante Massino sat at a corner table, his piercing caramel gaze fixed on his right-hand boy/girl as they moved gracefully through the throng of underground mafia members. They were always a vision of elegance and intelligence to him-- it's why he could trust them with everything. Their mission tonight was simple: flirt with a few key players and gather any valuable information they might let slip."\n\n"Dante watched intently as his right-hand beauty approached a group of men gathered around a high-stakes poker table. They flashed the group a dazzling smile, their laughter blending seamlessly with the raucous ambiance. Their charm was undeniable, and soon enough, the men were vying for their attention, spilling bits and pieces of their illicit dealings in an attempt to impress his dove. For a moment, Dante allowed himself a brief smile of satisfaction. His little dove was playing their part perfectly, just like they always did." "That's it, dove," "He chuckled to himself, leaning back." "Catch and release." "He shifted his attention to his drink, the amber liquid swirling in his glass as he pondered their next move. But when he looked up again, his secret weapon, his little dove, was gone."\n\nFuck. "Panic surged through him. His dove was never supposed to leave his line of sight. Dante's heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the room, his eyes darting from one face to another. The once familiar faces of the patrons now seemed like potential threats. He pushed away from the table, knocking his drink over, and stormed through the crowd, shoving people aside in his frantic search. His brows knit together, one of his hands balled into a fist so tight that his nails were digging into his palm and drawing blood."\n\n"Angee!" "he shouted, his voice a raw edge in the cacophony of the bar. He was going through each stage of grief as visions of what could have happened to his precious dove, what could be happening right now, flashed in his mind. The mission didn't matter anymore--no mission that would come ever would ever matter if his dove wasn't back where they belonged."\n\n"His desperation grew with every passing second. He flipped tables, scattering cards and chips in every direction, his anger boiling over. The room fell silent, the patrons' eyes widening in fear as they watched Dante's rampage. A few men stood to raise hell, but the look in Dante's eyes made them freeze. No one dared to intervene, not even the bouncers who now stared on in bewilderment. Dante Massino was always a suave and calm patron, an air of arrogance he carried with him like an accessory. This change wasn't just different; it was scary. This was no longer a Massino, but a mad dog."\n\n"Finally, a muffled cry reached his ears, coming from a dimly lit hallway leading to the private rooms. Dante's blood ran cold. He barreled down the corridor, his vision narrowing to a tunnel of rage. At the end of the hall, he found them. His dove was being dragged by a burly thug, his hand clamped tightly around their arm as they struggled to break free. A crazy look crossed Dante's eyes and without hesitation he lunged at the man, his fist connecting with a sickening thud against the thug's jaw. The man staggered back, releasing Dante's dove, who stumbled but quickly regained their balance. However, Dante's fury was unleashed. He rained down blows on the thug, his fists a blur of controlled violence. The man's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as Dante continued his assault, his knuckles bruised and bloodied. He was seeing red, and the only person who could stop him was his beautiful, precious little dove."

"Dante's fists clenched as he watched the man crumple to the ground, blood seeping from his mouth. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. His dove was safe, but that didn't mean he could just let it go."

"I don't give a fuck if you are fine!" "he roared, jerking his arm away from her grasp." "You shouldn't have left my sight like that! What were you thinking?" "His heart still pounded in his chest as he glared at her through narrowed eyes." "This is dangerous work we do-- one wrong move and your life is over."

"He took another deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. She was right; there was no need for this kind of violence now that she was safe"He shook his head, trying to clear the rage from his mind. He reached out and gently cupped her cheek, turning her face up so he could look into her eyes.*

"I'm sorry," "he murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper." "You know I can't help it when you scare me like that." "His thumb traced along the curve of her jawline as he searched for words to express how much she meant to him." "Just...please don't ever do something like that again."

"Dante's heart softened at the sight of her apologetic expression. He could see the fear in her eyes and it tore him apart."

"Don't be sorry," "he said, brushing a lock of hair away from her face with his other hand." "It was my fault for not keeping you close enough." "He sighed heavily, shaking his head once more as if trying to shake off any lingering anger." "You have nothing to apologize for."

"His gaze drifted downwards towards those luscious lips before returning back up into those beautiful green eyes again. The urge to kiss them better was almost overwhelming but he knew now wasn't the time or place for such things so instead," [

he took a step closer, their bodies brushing against each other ever so slightly.*

"Let's get out of here," "he whispered hoarsely into her ear, his voice filled with an undertone of desire that he couldn't quite hide." "We have more important things to discuss." [

"Dante led her out of the dimly lit bar and casino, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back. The cool night air hit them as they stepped outside, a stark contrast to the stuffy atmosphere inside."

"He guided her towards a sleek black car parked nearby, opening the passenger door for her with a flourish." After you, little dove.

"As she slid into the plush leather seat, Dante couldn't help but admire how gracefully she moved. His eyes roamed over her curves before snapping back up to meet hers."

"Buckling himself in beside her, he leaned in close until their faces were mere inches apart." I hope you know that what happened tonight...it won't happen again. "His voice was low and intense," You're too valuable to risk losing.

"His hand found its way to rest high up on her thigh"Erin's heart skipped a beat as she felt his hand on her thigh, the warmth of it spreading through her like wildfire. She could feel his eyes burning into hers, and she knew he was waiting for some kind of response.*

"Dante's grip on her thigh tightened ever so slightly, his fingers digging into the soft fabric of her dress. He could feel the tension in her body begin to dissipate, replaced by a subtle relaxation that only served to heighten his own arousal."

"His eyes narrowed as he gazed at her profile, his mind racing with thoughts of how he could make it up to her." You're not sorry, little dove. "He whispered low and husky against her ear." You're just scared.

"His breath caressed the delicate skin behind her ear, sending shivers down her spine. His hand slid higher up onto the curve of her hip, pulling their bodies closer together."

*I'm going to take care of you now," "he promised softly." "You're going to forget all about what happened tonight."

"Dante's arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he inhaled the sweet scent of her hair." Ah, little dove... "He whispered against her ear" You're so much more than just a mission. "His voice was low and husky with emotion."

"He pulled back slightly, his eyes burning with intensity as he gazed down at her face." I could never be mad at you for trying to protect yourself. You're my partner, my friend... "His voice cracked ever so slightly as he struggled to keep his emotions in check."

"His hands tightened around her waist, pulling her closer still as he buried his face in the curve of her neck." But next time...next time we'll do it together. We'll get out alive and unscathed. Together.

"As he spoke, his lips brushed against the sensitive skin of her"neck, sending shivers down her spine. His warm breath caressed the delicate skin, making her feel like she was melting into his embrace.*