Chapter 1 - THE KISS THAT SILENCED CHICAGO
Nolan Carter was dragging me toward the ballroom doors when I kissed the most dangerous man in Chicago.
I didn't know Dante Moretti.
I didn't ask permission.
I just walked straight up to him, grabbed the front of his suit, and pressed my mouth against his.
For one impossible second, every sound in the ballroom disappeared.
Then Dante's hand closed around my waist.
And my abusive boyfriend stopped dead behind me.
Five seconds earlier, Nolan's fingers had been digging into my arm hard enough to leave bruises.
"Move," he had whispered through a perfect smile.
Around us, hundreds of guests drank champagne beneath crystal chandeliers.
To them, Nolan was handsome.
Successful.
Charming.
To me, he was the man who knew exactly where to hit so nobody at work would see.
"I said move, Claire."
His grip tightened.
I looked toward the exit.
Then across the ballroom.
That was when I saw Dante Moretti.
Fifty-two years old.
Silver at his temples.
Black suit.
No smile.
He stood surrounded by judges, politicians, CEOs, and men who probably had bodies buried beneath their vacation homes.
Yet Dante wasn't trying to impress anyone.
He didn't need to.
Chicago spoke his name carefully.
The Moretti family had ruled parts of the city before I was born.
Even men like Nolan knew that.
So when Nolan pulled me again, something inside me finally broke.
I ripped my arm free.
"Claire."
I walked away.
"Claire!"
I kept walking.
Dante watched me approach.
His expression didn't change.
I stopped in front of him.
My hands were shaking.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
Then I kissed him.
Dante froze.
Someone dropped a glass.
I immediately pulled back.
His dark eyes searched my face.
I expected anger.
Instead, his palm settled firmly against my lower back.
"Who am I saving you from?"
My throat closed.
Before I could answer, Nolan reached us.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Then he recognized Dante.
His anger collapsed into fear.
"Mr. Moretti."
Dante didn't even look at him.
He kept looking at me.
Nolan forced a laugh.
"She gets emotional."
Dante's gaze moved to the red marks around my arm.
"Does she?"
"Claire's my girlfriend. She's confused. I'll take her home."
Home.
My stomach turned.
Nolan reached for me.
I stepped behind Dante.
His eyes flashed.
"Claire."
That warning had controlled me for two years.
Not tonight.
"He hits me."
Nolan went white.
A dozen conversations around us stopped.
"She's lying."
"He hits me," I repeated.
Dante looked at my arm again.
Then he walked toward Nolan.
"Dante, this is between—"
Dante's hand shot up and closed around Nolan's throat.
The entire ballroom froze.
"You will leave," Dante said quietly.
Nolan struggled for air.
"And if you touch her again, you'll discover how generous she's been by calling what you gave her fear."
Dante released him.
Nolan stumbled backward.
His eyes met mine.
Pure hatred.
"I'll see you at home."
Dante's expression hardened.
"No."
One word.
Nolan left.
I thought that was the end.
An hour later, Dante's security chief approached us.
"Boss."
"What?"
The man glanced at me.
"Her boyfriend never went home."
My blood went cold.
"Where is he?"
Dante looked directly at me.
"Outside your apartment."
I swallowed.
"He doesn't have a key anymore."
The security chief gave me a grim look.
"He didn't use one."
"What does that mean?"
Dante reached for his coat.
"It means Nolan broke in."
My legs nearly gave out.
May you like
Then Dante added the part that changed everything.
"And according to my man across the street, he's not alone."
