SAME DAY - (Sun, 15 January 2023)
Stephano's POV
As soon as we walked into Dante's hospital room, he opened his eyes and looked from me to my father and then at the door and his face had this unreadable expression on and if you didn't know him as well I as I do, then you wouldn't have noticed the fact that he was hoping we were someone else, that we were Aurora as it showed all over his face, well to me at least because I know him. That disappointment that just showed on his face tells me that my plan will not be excepted by him, I can feel it.
"Son how you feeling?" My father asks as soon as he was in front of Dante and all Dante did was look from him to me, without answering.
"Aurora?" He grunted out and my father and I shared a look and then looked down at him, he can't know that she walked away.
"Dante do you know what happened to you?" I asked instead, trying to change the subject and it worked as he clenched his jaw and closed his eyes, while my father looked at me like I'm stupid for even asking him that, since he still thinks Dante drank too much.
"I know I was drugged and that she... she..." He said not able to finish what he was saying as it broke him to even think of it and it pulled at my heart strings to see him like this, she meant a lot to him and this is breaking him.
"What do you mean you were drugged? The doctor said you have alco-" my father was busy saying when I cut him off.
"The doctor told you what I wanted him to say in front of the girls but that's not what's wrong with him, he doesn't have alcohol poisoning, he was drugged and well I'll give you the rest of the information later but for now just know that Dante was infact poisoned with two types of drugs and we think Maddie is responsible" I said or more like tried to explain without going into detail and Dante and my father looked at me surprised.
"What?!" My father yelled.
"How do you know?" Dante grunted shocked.
Both said at the same time and I looked at them and shook my head. "Listen I'll explain to you both later on, now isn't the right time or place to have this conversation but Dante you cannot tell anyone that you were drugged and well you know the rest, just don't tell anyone, including Aurora. Dad I'll explain tonight, just don't let Maddie know that we are on to her" I said to my father and Dante groaned as he tried lifting himself into a sitting position, which my father and I both jumped to help him into a comfortable sitting position.
"What do you mean I mustn't tell Aurora what happened? She saw me naked on the bed and asked if it's true? Clearly she thinks I slept with Maddie, not that she raped me after she drugged me!" He tried shouting but couldn't but by the look on his face, told me he was yelling at me.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN RAPED YOU?!" My father growled out when I shook my head at him.
"I said I'll explain what really happened later okay?" I said and he clenched his jaw and walked towards the window in the room, turning his back to us.
"Listen Dante, I need to find out what Maddie's reasons are first and then we will take it from there, she ca-" I was busy saying when he cut me off.
"What the fuck are you talking about huh? She did this because last time she came onto me I refused her, twice already, she wanted me to fuck her, don't you see that, this is so she can come between Aurora and I, so that she can have me!" He shouted and I was taken aback, I mean this was what it was about? Her wanting him to fuck her? Not because she had other motives? What the fuck?!
"I can see all the questions running through your mind right now but Steph that all happened over the last few weeks, no one knows of that because I didn't tell anyone, not even Aurora but Steph there is no reason for an investigation or a plan or lies. I'm telling Aurora the truth because I didn't betray her, I would never! And then I'll deal with Maddie myself, okay?" He asked seriously and I looked to my father who was now standing opposite me, on the other side of Dante's hospital bed and he nodded his head.
"Fine but I am helping you. I don't care what you say, tell me where you were and I'll get Elijah to check the club's footage and then you can speak to Maddie all you want but I'll deal with her myself. If she did this, then she will pay the consequences Because you could've died! And she fucking... Did that to you and then left you for dead after she got what she wanted?" I said gritting my teeth as I am losing my shit just thinking about what she had done!
"Steph... Look you can check the footage but I will deal with Maddie because she almost killed ME, my best friend betrayed me and took advantage of me, and if I lose Aurora because of that, I'm going to kill her. I don't give a fuck about the damn code or law, fuck that! And neither of you are going to stop me because I'll kill Maddie myself for what she did because I know she did this!" He says seriously and I nodded my head at him, now isn't the time to preach him as I do not want to stress him out any further because his still in danger, he just doesn't know it yet as the doctor is treating him as we speak, to prevent him from getting any worse than he already is.
"Dante son, you just rest up alright? The doctor said he'll keep you here for a few days, maybe a week so I suggest you focus on getting better and forget about all of this for now okay, let your brother handle this" my father said obviously not getting the memo, of course I'm handling this, infact I think I'll question her myself, before Dante returns home and want to question her himself.
"Dad, I don't care what either of you say, I'm doing this MY way! She fucked with me personally, this has got nothing to do with the business so you can't tell me what to do, this is personal, so both of you STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THIS!" He yelled and that's the first time I saw a little bit of the Dante we all know so well, headstrong and stubborn as fuck!
"His right dad, I'll stay out of this, you do it your way but just so you know as soon as I go home, she's gone out of my damn house, I don't want that bitch anywhere near my wife and kids! So you deal with her when you get out of here but for TODAY, I'm kicking her out AND I'll make sure to have her every move watched so she doesn't make a run for it" I said and he nodded his head and so did my father, obviously knowing that I already have a plan as he was looking at me intently, clearly his gotten to know that I NEVER give in so easily, how could I? This is my damn brother she fucked with!
"Fine, you do that and besides I do not want her there when I get home either, so yes get rid of her! Is she here?" He asks and I looked at him confused and he signed. "Is Maddie here?" He asked and I nodded my head at him and he clenched his jaw but looked deep in thought and then he looked at me pleadingly and I knew what his about to ask me.
"Could you bring her in? I want to see her, you can stay here if you want but I want to see her now" he says brokenly and I only nodded my head and typed a message on my phone, knowing there is no other way, at least I'll be here by his side.
"Doc will send her in" I said and he nodded, and turned his head towards the door, staring at it, almost like his willing it to open to reveal HER.
Minutes went by with Dante staring at the door, the room so silent you can hear his heavy breathing as it almost echoes in the room. Just as I looked to the door to see what his looking at so intently, the door opened slowly and then she stuck her head in and I almost gritted my teeth at the way she had us all fooled with her innocence all except for two crazy ass women.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt Anything, the doctor said Dante wanted to see me?" She asks looking at all three of us.
"He does come on in" I said as calmly as I could and she nodded and then walked in and walked straight to Dante, not giving me or my father a second glance.
"How you feeling? Do you have any pain?" She asks as soon as she's in front of him, taking his hand with concern. If I didn't know that she was so manipulative, I would've believed she was actually really concerned about him, and when I looked to Dante, he was just staring at her, disappointment written all over his face.
"How could you?" Was the first thing he asked and she looked taken aback and confused? What the fuck is she playing at?
"What do mean? How could I what, I don't understand?" She asks confused, fucking pretender!
"Don't play with me Maddie, I know what you did. The doctor lied, we know that I was drugged, that you did this to me and then you raped me?!" He asked brokenly, raising his voice at the end and she flinched away, removing her hand from his, but she looked genuinely shocked with what he just said. She's either a fucking award winning actress or she's actually genuine? I think it's the former but I will let him decide.
"What do you mean you were drugged? And I never raped you! You came onto me Dante, don't you remember? Ask Sam, ask the driver if you do not believe me!" She said and I immediately send a text to Sam to get to the hospital.
"Don't fucking play with me Maddie, tell me the truth, why did you do this to me?" Dante asks breathing heavily and I knew this is upsetting him and when I looked at her, she actually looked hurt but at the same time confused and then she looked up at me.
"Steph what is he saying, I don't understand any of this" she says confused and sad or whatever the fuck that is.
"Dante was roofied last night and you fucked him, which is considered RAPE Maddie and now you claim to not know what is happening, now before I step in and get the truth out of you MY way, I'd advise you to tell us everything that happened last night because if I dig and find out that you are actually responsible for this, then Maddie you won't only be dealing with him, I will deal with you myself because my brother almost died!" I said looking into her eyes to see if anything I said will reveal anything through her eyes but it didn't, she still looked lost but nodded her head.
"Okay last night after we had dinner, I told Dante that I'm going to this lounge that I actually saw on Google that day, it's called M1-5 lounge, not sure if you hea-" she was busy saying, when I cut her off as soon as I heard the places name.
"Wait you went to M1-5 Lounge?" I asked and both Dante and Maddie's head snapped my way.
"Yes why? Why do you sound like you just figured something out?" Dante asked as my father stepped closer to.
"That club is a block away from the Latin Kings, they own the club Dante!" I said knowing exactly who could be behind this, maybe Dante wasn't drugged for the benefit of having sex with Maddie, maybe they used that to set her up, in case he makes it, they were trying to kill him.
"What? Those little shit heads?" Dante asks.
His obviously thinking exactly what I was thinking back then, which is why we never bothered with them because we knew they weren't even worth killing as they were just a bunch of 20 something year olds that wanted to be cool as the current leader's father was arrested and now lays in a prison cell rotting. Although it could be since his son took over they decided to strike at us, since they think they are little shits that has some kind of power since they own a fucking sleezy club and have a massive garage that you can find anything you need or want on the streets, some kind of buy and sell of goods, more specifically stolen goods.
"Why would you go there without protection? They might be shit heads the way you put it but they are still a gang and you know if any one of those shit head street Gangs wants to take us out or gets the slightest opportunity they wouldn't hesitate, you fucking put yourself at risk!" I yelled and then picked up my phone and typed a message to Gio to get everyone in here, now!
"I didn't think of that when Maddie suggested we go there" he answered, looking confused, while I turned to Maddie, this is leaving me with even more questions, why would she take him there? Maybe she isn't as innocent as I had just jumped to, maybe this is a set up or she is working with them, or maybe she knew they owned the club and wanted us to ASSUME they did this when she actually did it? Whatever it is, I'll figure it out but for now, I DO NOT TRUST HER! My wife and Aurora can't both be wrong, and I trust my wife with my life and I even trust Aurora over this fucking woman.
"Tell me Maddie, you are not from the States so how did you know of M1-5 Lounge? Why would you even suggest that place of all the clubs in New York, why that one?" I asked looking her dead in the eyes and she didn't even flinch at my deadly glare and calm voice, interesting...
"Like I said, I Googled best clubs in New York as soon as I got to my room after Dante told me we are going out, I didn't even know where it's situated, he led us there as it wasn't far to walk from the restaurant" she says innocently again and I narrowed my eyes at her, when something can be explained simply and easily then it isn't always as black and white as it seems, I've learned this the hard way over the years.
"She right, she did suggest it but I led us there, she didn't even know which way to walk. Fuck I wish I could remember last night, everything's a blank from the moment I got us our drinks, everything from there is blank" he says looking confused and I turned back to Maddie.
"Tell me Maddie what actually happened after Dante brought you the drinks his talking about?" I asked and she looked at me and nodded her head and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, the door opened and Gio, Elijah, Dimitri, Jayden, James and Roberto walked in, I didn't even know they were here.
"James, Jayden and Dimitri got here about half an hour ago, and Roberto got here just as you left the waiting room. I had called them on our way to the hospital earlier" Gio says as soon as he saw my confusion, this fucker can still read me like a damn book, which I only nodded at and then turned back to Maddie, the girl of the hour.
"Continue Maddie, tell us what happened last night" I said and she nodded her head.
"Last night after Dante met me at the table with the drinks he had gotten for us, we sat drinking and joking about for about two hours or so, with him getting us drinks in between, then not too long after I think the tenth glass or so, I noticed Dante was swaying a bit but he insisted on getting another drink, even after I said that we had enough, I mean, we had shots, whiskey and a few beers and that's excluding the cocktails and beers we had at the restaurant, Zagat I think it was.
Anyway, Dante insisted and I offered to get the drinks because I saw he was swaying badly, but then when I got back to the table, Dante had his head low with a half a glass of whiskey or Scotch, I'm not sure, and I thought maybe he got it from a waiter or something but he was laying with his head down on the table on his arm and I sat down next to Dante and drank my glass I got while trying to wake him, it took a few long minutes but I eventually got him awake. That is when I noticed Dante swaying even more, slurring his words and laughing so I removed his phone and had him unlock it, which also took a few minutes and then I send a text to Sam to meet me at the door of the club and bring the car to the entrance, then I tried getting him up, which of course was near to impossible for me to do so and that's when two guys came up behind me and offered to help me and I excepted it, I mean I couldn't possibly carry Dante out of there on my own
So when we got to the car, Dante was groaning and rubbing his hand all over his, you know his dick. Saying he was horny, that's when I closed the partitioner, I mean I didn't want the driver to see Dante acting like that because I thought he was just drunk you know, I was too but he had a few more than me though. Anyway Dante moved closer to me and kissed me, he pulled me onto his lap, and said he wanted to fuck me and one thing led to another and we ended up doing it in the car and when we got home, he did the same thing as soon as we were in his room" she finished her story with flushed cheeks, obviously embarrassed to have to go into detail in front of all of us and we all turned to Dante, who looked even more confused and lost.
"Do you remember any of this?" I asked and he shook his head not looking up at any of us, with his jaw clenched and fist balled up tightly, this must be killing him not knowing what exactly happened.
"Gio, I want you, Rob, Dimitri and Jayden to head with enough men to take out each and every Latin King, I don't want anyone alive except for Rodrigo, I want him alive and untouched, lock him up at the mansion and I want each and every shit hole they call a business destroyed. Make sure you take out every fucking member. I don't give a fuck what you do with the items you find in that garage they call a warehouse, donate it, give it to the homeless, I don't care but when it's clear you blow it up. I want everything turned into Ash!" I gritted out and Gio and the others all nodded their heads.
"What about Pablo?" Gio asked and I smiled at him.
"Don't you worry about Pablo, I'll be paying him a little visit in jail and I will be giving him a little gift, so he knows who took out his son and every fucking member in his fucked up family and then I'll get Nate to arrange every Latin King that's looked up, all in one cell together and burn them!" I said smirking and he chuckled.
"As from this moment I am back and I want a report that states mission complete and all the books on my desk by 7am and I want everyone of you present for a meeting tomorrow, I'll send you the time and location" I said not wanting the snake in the room to hear. "James make sure Paul, Chris, Tim, Sam and Rick attend the meeting as well, and make sure everyone knows that from now on, I'm back and shit is about to change, drastically!" I said and James and everyone in the room nods.
"Elijah get your laptop and get me all the footage from last night, follow Dante's footsteps from the restaurant to and from M1-5 Lounge, I want to know everything that happened and get me the information in an hour!" I gritted out and the five of them said their greeting to Dante, whom has not said anything and just sat there with his head lowered, only lifting to greet the guys and allow them to hug him as they make there way out of the room, leaving Dante, Maddie, myself, my father and James Alone in room.
"Now that, that's sorted. Maddie you and I need to have a little talk" I said to her calmly so she can see how serious I am, as I want her out of my damn house, I do not trust her, she's hiding something but before I could continue as she nodded her head, Dante spoke first.
"No, I'm first!" He gritted out finally lifting his head and turning towards her. "Maddie, why would you just go along with sleeping with me, couldn't you tell something was wrong, that I wouldn't do that?! That I was drugged!" Dante finally asked, something that was on my mind as well and her face changed from embarrassed from her story earlier to confusion.
"How was I suppose to know you were drugged Dante?! You came onto me, said you wanted me and after trying to make you see that we are good together for so many weeks, and being rejected so many times, do you really think I would turn you away when you finally wanted me?! Of course not! We both had a lot to drink and we both acted on what we felt that moment! So don't put this only on me, you wanted it just as much as I did, you made the first move in the car AND in your room, you fucked me! Not the other way around!" She all but yelled angrily, but the fact remains is that she should've known better, since she clearly wasn't that drunk since she can remember everything.
"No need to yell or to get angry, he has a right to question you, infact I want the same damn answer, you keep saying you were both drunk but yet here you stand telling us every single detail of what happened last night, which tells me that maybe you weren't as drunk as you claim to be. So tell me Madeline, what are you not telling us?" I asked seriously, jumping in before Dante could as I didn't want him to get angry and yell back which isn't good for him as he needs rest and no stress.
"I told you everything! I swear and I was drunk, just not as much as him and yes in your eyes I might have taken advantage of his state but look at it from my point of view. His the man I'm in love with and whom I came here for, and he was finally seeing me the way I always seen him and I let him take what he wanted last night because I wanted him for so long, and I am sorry that I didn't realize that he was drugged or that he was sick this morning when I left his room, I'm sorry but that's the truth! I would never hurt him, I love him, I love you Dante, I would never see anything or anyone hurt you, don't you know that by now?" She said with tears in her eyes, now facing Dante, who was shaking his head, he looks beyond hurt and broken.
"Honestly Maddie no I don't, because the fact remains is that whether you knew I was drugged or not, you took advantage of the situation and took what YOU wanted from ME, WITHOUT my permission and honestly, I'll never forgive you for that..." He said brokenly and his voice cracked at the end and she broke into a sob, I don't know what's real with her anymore.
"Dante..." She whispered through her sob and I decided to end this.
"Listen Maddie, about that talk" I said and waited for her to look at me before continuing.
"James over here will take you back to the estate and make sure you pack up all your belongings because I want you out of my house before sundown, he will drop you off anywhere you wish to go but I STRONGLY suggest that you decide to be dropped off at the airport, it'll be best for everyone, most especially YOU because I'm not fully convinced that you are as innocent as you claim to be" I said looking at her dead in the eyes and she's either fucking good or she's really innocent but I am convinced that it's the former.
"You know what, I'm done trying to explain myself to any of you because I can see now how much you all have changed, or maybe I should say the woman you have chosen to bed with, has changed you both into men I don't even know anymore" she says shaking her head disbelievingly and I was about to tell her to watch her damn mouth when speaking about my wife, when she continued looking at Dante.
"I made a mistake coming here for you, you're not the Dante I once knew and loved. She changed you and I hope that you'll wake up one day and see just what a mistake you have made. All you've done since I came here, was break my heart and one day you'll realize your mistake, goodbye Dante, by the time you get out of here, I'll be long gone" she says looking at him with tears in her eyes and for the first time I actually believed what she just said to him, everything she just said, nothing from before sounded this convincing or this close to the truth.
"You are right, one day I will look back with regret. I will think back to this day and realize I made a mistake" Dante said, shocking all of us in the room, especially Maddie who looked taken aback.
"The only thing I'll regret is ever trusting you and letting you go scot-free for what you did to me, that's what I'll regret. But Maddie know this, when you walk out of this room, don't ever turn back because I don't EVER want to see you again, if I do, I will kill you, THAT'S A PROMISE" he said surprising me again. I guess he too thinks that she is infact not telling us everything but his willing to let her go, then I won't go against my brother because no matter what really happened last night, she does mean a lot to him and I think that's the only reason why his letting her go, even if there is a possibility that she was in fact involved in drugging him.
"You'll kill ME? Wow you really have changed into a heartless monster, and I blame HER for that. Goodbye Dante, hope you get well soon" she says this time with no tears, seemly more angry then sad, and then she turned around and walked out of the door with James right behind her.
"I want to know what the footage shows because I know she's lying about something, I'm just not sure what exactly she's hiding but I know she isn't telling us everything" Dante says as soon as the door closed behind them and my father and I looked at each other, knowing Dante is planning something because he wouldn't have let her go if he knew that she was infact hiding something that he wishes to find out.
"I promise I will get to the bottom of all this but for now you need to rest and get better in order to get your strength back so you can get out of here, but for now leave this to us" I said and he nodded his head and I helped him lay back down and told him to get some sleep and that I'll be right outside.
After telling my father to stay with him, that I'll be back as I'm going to check on Kiara. I left the room to find Kiara and Aurora as I need to tell them the truth, since there is no reason to keep this from them any longer since Maddie is leaving. I Also need to make sure Aurora understands that Dante did nothing wrong, that he didn't betray her and that he infact does love her and that he needs her the most right now with everything that's happened to him.
I think that Aurora and I need to sort out our differences once and for all, and be completely open and honest with each other, so we can work on building some sort of friendship or truce for the sake of my brother as well as my wife. She has proven her love for my brother earlier on, when she called us all assholes, when I stopped her from killing Maddie, which was fucking impressive! It's time we come together as a family and be there for Dante and unfortunately for her, she happens to be apart of this family now, apart of MY FAMILY, something she has to get use to! So it's time to make amends...
**
Maddie's POV
As I'm sitting here in the SUV with this James guy on our way to that fucking house to get my clothes, I can't help but to think back at the things Dante just said to me. My heart hurts so much that I can't even think straight! If it wasn't for me he would be dead now, he just doesn't know it, he doesn't know that I actually saved his life a few weeks ago! That I had risked the love of the one man that was completely loyal to me, the one man that loves me so fucking much that it's smothering. But I didn't care at the time because I did it for him!
Everything was planned so perfectly last night but I know I fucked up, I gave him double the recommended dosage. But I didn't know it'll hurt him, I really didn't know! I could've killed the love of my life! When I saw this morning he was vomiting blood, I knew I had to get out of his room and get help to cover my ass because I knew I would be the one to be blame as I was the one he spend the whole day with. Which is why I called my man and he had sorted everything out for me, now I know that when they get the footage, there'll be nothing for them to see, not even Elijah and his famous skills will be able to find anything, my baby boy made sure of it.
So choosing M1-5 lounge worked out after all, since the Latins will be taking the raps for this. See everything was worked out, everything apart from Dante's reaction. Why didn't he fall at my feet after I fucked him so good? Why does he still not love me? Everything I've done for the past year was to have him. I planned it all so we could be together but then he spit in my face! I was there for him when he had no one, when his brother was a fuck up and couldn't be much of a brother when they lost their mother, I was there!
Dante was always my everything, back when we were in University he was my world, sure we didn't have contact for years but that's because Dante moved, and over a year ago is when I only found out where he moved to. That was when I started making so many plans, well HE made most of the plans as his really smart and we'll hot too. But now Dante has made the mistake to break my heart all over again, and his fucking up my plans but of course not the main plan but now he'll be apart of said plan even though he wasn't suppose to be apart of it originally.
Dante made the biggest mistake of his life. He thinks he knows me, that I'm still that young naive girl I was back then, which I am not! I changed for him, to be the strong and confident woman that I know he likes and I did that all for NOTHING because he still chose HER over me. After everything that happened last night, he breaks my heart, again! Now since he chose his side, I'll make sure he regrets it just like I WARNED him. I'll take her away and then I'll strike, how does the saying goes? Play with fire and you will get burned, well Dante baby, you don't know me anymore, I hate being played with, so he will get burned!
(CUE SONG ABOVE)
(PLAY WITH FIRE BY SAM TINNESZ FT YACHT MONEY)
When they think they got me... They don't know who I am! I WILL MAKE THEM ALL PAY because what they don't know is that players CAN'T be played... Because that's exactly what I've done, I played them! And now WE'LL strike with our plan when they least expect it... BUT first the BITCH has got to go! And I know exactly how to do just that... OH WILL SHE LOVE WHAT'S COMING or maybe not but I KNOW I WILL...!
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Hey guys so what do you think? I want to hear your thoughts on this chapter but before you send me your theories, please TAKE NOTE of the little hints I've left in this chapter, if you catch it that is 😉 And remember everything Maddie had just ranted about in her POV, yes it might be confusing now but it'll all make sense in due time BUT If you can guess what she's up to, then by all means do send me your theories 😏 I LIVE FOR THOSE 🙌 I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Next update will be out on Monday or Tuesday, that's if I can start putting pictures in the chapters again, as I have been struggling for the past hour to insert pictures into this chapter but had to remove it as it wouldn't take or even save, not sure if it's my network or a ถถา๕ษ็ว๘ problem again but hopefully it'll be sorted soon but let me know if you can see the cover picture or not. Anyways that's it from me, please don't forget to comment and vote.💜
THANKS FOR READING
KIMMY 😘