Impure Love (Dark Mafia Duet #2)

8. Dante

8

DANTE

T he phone's shrill ring pierces the silence of my bedroom, yanking me from the thin thread of sleep I’ve been clinging to. I grab it, practically growling, “This better be fucking important.”

“Boss, the girl has left her apartment.”

I sit up, the sheets tangling around my legs. “Where did she go?”

“I lost her at the subway station.”

The phone nearly cracks under the pressure of my grip. “Lost her? How the fuck did you lose her?”

“There were too many people, and she moved fast. She knows how to blend in.”

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to think. “Alright, get back to the station. Sweep the area. Check every camera, every corner. She couldn’t have gone far.”

“Yes, Boss.”

I end the call, the frustration boiling under my skin. Aliyah. That girl is slipping through my fingers, and it’s driving me insane. Every time I close my eyes, I see her face, those wide, terrified eyes. It's more than just wanting her; it's needing her.

I get up, pacing the room. The darkness is giving way to the early light of morning. She thinks she can run, hide in the shadows of this city. But New York is my territory, and she’s just a mouse in my maze.

I grab my clothes, throwing them on with purpose. The mansion is quiet at this hour, my men either asleep or on watch. As I step into the hallway, I catch sight of Marco, his expression one of controlled concern.

“She’s gone, Boss?” he asks, falling into step beside me.

“For now. We’ll find her.”

Marco nods, understanding the weight of my words. He knows me well enough to recognize that failure is not an option. “I’ll get the team ready. We’ll cover every exit, every possible hideout.”

“Good. And get me the latest footage from the station. I want eyes on every screen.”

“On it.”

We move through the mansion with silent efficiency, the air thick with unspoken determination. My mind races with possibilities, each one more infuriating than the last. She’s clever, I’ll give her that. But clever only gets you so far.

As we enter the control room, the screens light up with feeds from various parts of the city. I lean in, scanning each one for any sign of her. Marco and the others are already at work, dissecting every frame.

“She won’t get far,” Marco says, his voice steady.

“She better not,” I reply, my eyes fixed on the screens. “Because when I find her, there won’t be anywhere left for her to hide.”

I lean back in my chair, a smirk curling my lips. Finally, she’s out. The thrill of the chase courses through me, making me adjust myself. I’ve drawn her out, and now it’s time to swoop in, to sink my claws—and other parts—into her.

“Marco,” I call out, my voice steady and commanding.

He steps forward, his eyes meeting mine. “Boss?”

“I want our best men on this. No screw-ups.”

He nods, understanding the gravity. “Who do you have in mind?”

I tap my fingers on the desk, considering. “Luca, for sure. He’s good at tracking without being seen. Get Tony too; he’s got a knack for sniffing out hiding spots. And Vinny. He’s fucking relentless.”

Marco pulls out his phone, already dialing. “Luca, Tony, Vinny. Got it.”

As he arranges the team, I rise and walk to the window, looking out over the city. My city. Every street, every corner, belongs to me. And soon, so will she.

Marco’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “They’re on their way. Should be here in ten.”

“Good,” I say, turning back to him. “Make sure they know the stakes. I want her found, and I want her brought to me.”

Marco’s eyes flicker with understanding. “Understood. Anything else?”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice dropping an octave. “Tell them to be gentle when they find her. She’s not to be harmed.” The thought of anyone’s hands on her beside mine fills me with an uncontrollable surge of rage. If anyone hurts her, so help me I will lose my shit and make everyone pay.

Marco nods, his expression serious. “I’ll make sure they know.”

Satisfied, I return to my desk, picking up the phone. “And Marco?”

He pauses, phone halfway to his ear. “Yes, Boss?”

“Make sure they understand the importance of this task. I don’t want any fuckups.”

“Absolutely, Boss.”

The anticipation is building within me. This is the part I enjoy most—the hunt. She’s out there, thinking she can escape. But she’ll learn soon enough. There’s no escaping me.

I settle back into my chair, fingers steepled, eyes narrowing as I picture her face. Those wide, terrified eyes. She can run, she can hide, but in the end, she’ll be mine. It’s only a matter of time.

The guys show up quickly, just as I expected. Luca, Tony, and Vinny file into the control room, their expressions sharp and focused. Marco is already briefing them on the situation.

“She slipped through our fingers at the subway station,” Marco says, his tone clipped. “We need to cover the entire city. No stone unturned.”

Luca nods, cracking his knuckles. “Got it. We’ll set up surveillance at all the major transit points. She won’t get far.”

I step forward, commanding their attention. “This is a high-priority operation. I want eyes on every corner of this city. Use our contacts, bribe whoever you need to. I don’t care how the fuck you do it, just find her.”

Tony, always the quiet one, simply nods. Vinny, on the other hand, can’t resist a smirk. “You got it, Boss. She won’t stay hidden for long.”

“Good,” I say, my voice cold and unyielding. “And remember, she’s not to be harmed. Bring her to me intact.”

Marco distributes the tasks efficiently, the men splitting up to cover different sectors. I watch as they set up a network of surveillance, each move calculated and precise. This is what we’re good at—finding people who don’t want to be found.

The control room buzzes with activity, the screens lighting up with feeds from various parts of the city. I lean over Marco’s shoulder, scrutinizing each one.

“Any sign of her?” I ask.

“Not yet,” he replies, eyes glued to the monitors. “But it’s only a matter of time,” he adds, echoing my thoughts.

I nod, feeling a mix of frustration and anticipation. She’s out there, somewhere. Running, hiding. Thinking she can escape. But this city is mine, and so is she.

As the hours tick by, my men report back, their updates steady and thorough. Each one brings us a little closer, narrows the search.

“Boss,” Luca’s voice crackles through the radio. “We’ve got a possible sighting near the East Village. Sending you the feed now.”

I lean in, watching as the camera pans over a busy street. There, in the crowd, a flash of dark hair. My heart pounds with excitement and possessiveness.

“Keep an eye on her,” I command. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“Yes, Boss.”

I stay glued to the screens, my eyes scanning every movement, every face. But as the hours drag on, fatigue starts to set in. My body betrays me, the adrenaline wearing off.

“Marco, take over,” I say, rubbing my eyes. “I need some rest. Keep me updated.”

“Will do, Boss,” he replies, his tone as serious as ever.

I leave the control room, the excitement still thrumming under my skin. My steps are heavy as I head back to my room, the weight of the chase pressing down on me. Despite the thrill, exhaustion pulls at me.

I collapse onto the bed, my mind still racing. Images of Aliyah flood my thoughts—her wide, terrified eyes, the way she looked at me. The way she’ll look when I finally have her.

Sleep takes over, the promise of the hunt lingering in my dreams.

The evening sun casts a golden glow through the mansion windows of my office when my phone goes off. I lean back in my chair, a sense of satisfaction washing over me as I open the file Marco just sent. The pictures of Aliyah appear on my screen, one by one, each one more captivating than the last.

There she is brow furrowed as she sleeps on the shitty bed. The fear palpable even through the pixels. She’s staying at some dingy hostel, a far cry from the luxury she deserves—or the luxury she’ll soon find herself in, once she’s mine.

I study the pictures, my gaze lingering on her curves, the way her clothes cling to her body. Fuck she's perfect, even in her fear. Especially in her fear. I can almost hear her screams, feel her struggle as I take what's mine. This is going to be fun.

My fingers trace the edges of the screen, imagining the warmth of her skin beneath my touch. Her vulnerability calls to me, a tempting invitation to assert my dominance. She doesn't know it yet, but her resistance will only make the conquest sweeter. Each tear, each tremor, will be a testament to my power over her.

Marco’s voice comes through the speakerphone on my desk. “We’ve got eyes on her, Boss. She’s in room 305.”

“Good work,” I reply, my eyes glued to her unsuspecting form. “Make sure she doesn’t slip away again.”

“She won’t,” Marco assures, his tone confident.

“Anything else I should know?” I ask, my voice steady.

“We’ve got the place under surveillance. If she makes a move, we’ll know.”

“Perfect. Keep me updated.”

I end the call and lean back, a smirk playing on my lips. The game is in motion, and she’s the unwitting pawn. She thinks she can run, hide in the shadows of this city. But she’s wrong. I always get what I want.

I click through the photos again, savoring each one. I can already picture her in my mansion, trembling under my gaze, submitting to my every whim. The thought sends a thrill through me, making my blood race.

I can’t wait to see her face when she realizes there’s no escape. When she understands that she belongs to me.

The anticipation is a sweet torture, the thrill coursing through me. I’ve waited this long; I can wait a little longer. After all, the best things in life are worth the wait.

And Aliyah? She’s definitely worth it.