Impure Love (Dark Mafia Duet #2)

28. Dante

28

DANTE

I turn my head from the conversation, scanning the party for Aliyah. She's standing with some asshole, his hand lingering too close to her waist. My jaw tightens, but before I can intervene, she brushes him off, moving towards a group of women. They're all catty gossipers, but better that than some idiot thinking he can touch what's mine. I smirk, satisfaction settling in.

Marco's voice pulls me back. "The shipment is arriving tomorrow, Dante. We need to ensure everything goes smoothly."

I nod, barely hearing Marco's words. My mind wanders back to the memory of Aliyah bent over that desk, her gasps echoing in the room. The way she submitted to me was both thrilling and infuriating. It’s a dance of power and defiance, and she’s beginning to understand her place, yet there's still that fire in her eyes. I can’t help but admire it. I like that. It makes the chase all the more exhilarating.

"Boss?" Marco's tone has a hint of impatience.

"Yeah, I heard you," I snap, refocusing. "Make sure the warehouse is secure. I don't want any surprises."

Marco nods, but his eyes flicker with something close to amusement. He knows where my mind wandered. Bastard.

The conversation shifts, the men discussing routes and bribes, but my gaze keeps drifting back to Aliyah. She's surrounded by those women, their laughter grating. But she looks more relaxed now, her shoulders less tense. I feel a strange mix of pride and possessiveness.

Luca leans in, voice low. "You thinkin' about taking out Vitale? He’s been pushin’ our buttons lately."

"Not yet," I reply, my voice cold. "But I’ve got my eye on him. He steps out of line, he's done."

I glance back at Aliyah, remembering how she looked when I marked her as mine earlier. Even now, I can almost feel the heat of her skin against my fingertips. I fight the urge to drag her over here with me and keep her glued to my side. She’s in my sight, but a heavy sort of feeling settles on me. I shake my head, forcing myself to focus and chalking the feeling up to paranoia. She’s mine and the fear that someone will touch her, is always at the forefront of my mind.

There’s business to handle, and I can’t afford distractions. Not with Vitale breathing down our necks and every move being scrutinized. I take a deep breath, reminding myself that Aliyah will be waiting for me, whether she likes it or not. For now, I need to stay sharp.

The conversation continues, the men strategizing, but I’m still only half-engaged. My thoughts keep effortlessly returning to Aliyah, to the way she’s starting to fit into my world, whether she likes it or not. She’s a challenge, and I relish every moment of it.

"Let's wrap this up," I say, cutting through the chatter. "I’ve got other matters to attend to."

Marco gives me a knowing look but says nothing, his silence speaking volumes. I can see the understanding in his eyes, the unspoken acknowledgment of the weight on my shoulders. He knows better than to question me, and I appreciate his discretion. It’s moments like these that remind me why Marco is indispensable.

The conversation wraps up, and I turn back to where Aliyah was standing. She's not there. Fuck. I mutter under my breath, feeling the heat rise to my face. The thought of something happening to her while she's out of my sight makes my blood boil.

I force myself to chill the fuck out, taking a deep breath. Losing my cool won't help. I start pushing through people, my eyes scanning the room.

"Have you seen Aliyah?" I ask one of my men, grabbing his arm.

He shakes his head. "No, boss. Last I saw, she was talking to the ladies."

"Keep looking," I order, moving on.

I shove past a group of men, ignoring their startled looks. The party is still in full swing, laughter and chatter filling the air, but all I hear is the pounding in my ears. I need to find her. Now.

"Where the hell is she?" I mutter, pushing through another cluster of guests. My patience is wearing thin, and I can feel the rage bubbling up.

Marco appears at my side, his expression calm. "Dante, what's wrong?"

"Aliyah's missing," I snap, my eyes darting around the room. "Find her."

Marco nods, his face hardening. "On it."

I continue my search, shoving people aside without a second thought. The more I look, the more my anger grows. How could she disappear like this?

Fuck, where is she?

Ten minutes later, I’ve scoured this damn party twice now, and there’s no sign of Aliyah. The unsettling feeling gnaws at me, a sensation I’m not accustomed to. My gut tells me something’s really fucking wrong. I growl under my breath, trying not to let panic creep in. She has to be here somewhere.

“Marco!” I bark, my voice cutting through the chatter and laughter of the party.

He appears almost instantly, his expression calm but alert. “Yeah, boss?”

“I can’t find her. I’ve checked everywhere,” I say, my voice low and dangerous.

Marco’s eyes narrow, and he nods. “I’ll get the men to start searching. We’ll find her.”

He turns to leave, but I grab his arm. “And Marco, if anyone lays a hand on her…”

He nods, understanding the unspoken threat. “Got it, Dante. We’ll handle it.”

As Marco moves off to organize the search, I scan the room again. My heart pounds in my chest, but I force myself to stay calm. Losing control won’t help Aliyah. I stride through the crowd, my eyes sharp, looking for any sign of her.

I push through a group of men laughing too loudly, their cigars leaving a thick, acrid cloud in the air. The scent mixes with the clinking of glasses and the murmur of voices, but all I hear is the rush of blood in my ears. She has to be here.

I catch Luca’s eye across the room. He nods and starts moving in my direction, cutting through the crowd with purpose.

“Luca,” I say as he approaches, “Aliyah’s missing. Start searching. Now.”

He nods, his face hardening. “On it.”

I turn and head towards the back of the house, my mind racing. Where could she be? Every possibility runs through my head, each one more dire than the last. I reach the hallway and start opening doors, each empty room only fueling my frustration.

“Aliyah!” I shout, my voice echoing down the corridor. No answer.

Fuck.

I run a hand through my hair, pacing. This isn’t like her. She wouldn’t just disappear. Not without a reason. I can feel the rage bubbling up, threatening to spill over. If someone’s taken her…

I force myself to think. She was here, mingling with those women. She couldn’t have gone far. My mind races through the possibilities. Maybe she went to the bathroom. Maybe she stepped outside for some air.

Or maybe someone’s got her.

I head towards the back exit, my pace quickening. The feeling of dread grows stronger with every step. I burst through the door, into the cool night air. The contrast to the stuffy party inside is stark, the silence almost deafening.

“Aliyah!” I shout again, my voice rough.

Still nothing.

That’s it. Enough of this bullshit.

I march back inside, my blood boiling. “Everyone, stop what the fuck you’re doing!” My voice booms through the room, and the party grinds to a halt. Eyes turn towards me, wide and confused. I stride to the center, looking each one of these bastards in the eye.

“We’re on lockdown,” I declare. “Nobody leaves until we find Aliyah.”

The room erupts in murmurs and whispers. I catch snippets—“What’s going on?” “Who’s Aliyah?” “Is he serious?”—but I don’t give a damn. This is fucking ridiculous. People don’t just disappear. But in our line of work, yes, they do. And that’s what pisses me off the most.

“Marco!” I call, and he appears at my side like the right hand man he is.

“Yeah, boss?”

“Lock the doors. Get everyone searching. I want every room, every corner checked. Now.”

Marco nods, already moving. He barks orders to the men, and they scatter, the tension in the air thickening.

Luca steps up, his face a mask of calm. “You really think someone took her?”

“Does it fucking matter?” I snap. “She’s missing. Find her.”

Luca nods, heading off to join the search. I turn, scanning the crowd. The guests are uneasy, shifting from foot to foot, their drinks forgotten. Good. They should be scared.

“Listen up!” I shout, silencing the murmurs. “Nobody leaves this room until Aliyah is found. If you know something, you better speak up now.”

Silence. Just as I expected. I grind my teeth, the rage simmering just below the surface. If I find out someone here had a hand in this, they’re dead. Simple as that.

I stalk through the room, eyes scanning for any sign of her. My mind races, running through possibilities again. Did she run off again? Did someone take her to get to me? The thought makes my blood boil even hotter.

I see Marco at the far end, talking to a group of men. He catches my eye and shakes his head. Nothing yet. Damn it.

I keep moving, pushing through clusters of people. Every face I see just adds to my frustration. Where the hell is she?

I reach the back hallway, the same one I checked earlier. I kick open the first door, empty. The second, also empty. My fists clench at my sides. This is insane. She can’t just vanish.

I hear footsteps behind me and turn to see Luca. “Any luck?” I growl.

“Not yet,” he says, his voice steady. “We’re still searching.”

“She’s here,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “And I’m gonna find her.”

I storm down the hallway, my mind a blur of rage and determination. Aliyah’s out there, somewhere, and whoever took her is gonna regret it.

“Marco, Luca,” I bark, and they fall in step behind me. “We’re not stopping until she’s found. Got it?”

“Got it, boss,” they reply in unison.

I push open another door, my heart pounding. Aliyah, you better be okay. Because if you’re not, someone’s gonna pay.

And I’ll make damn sure of it.