I showed it to Dante, and his expression darkened. "Whoever this is, they're playing games. But they made a mistake leaving a trace."
In the days that followed, Dante doubled security at the house. Missy had fled police custody, after refusing to reveal the mastermind's identity,despite all the pressure that was being mounted on her. Whosoever she was working for must be highly connected, or at least enough to get her out of police custody in the middle of an ongoing investigation.
The next few days felt like living in a fragile bubble, one that could burst at any moment. Dante had hired extra security, and now, two intimidating men in suits guarded the entrance to our apartment, taking shifts between day and night. Despite the added security measures, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
Dante had become even more overprotective, barely letting me out of his sight. I couldn't blame him, though. If our roles were reversed, I'd be just as paranoid.
We tried to keep things normal. I still worked remotely while Dante handled business from his home office. Yet, there was an unspoken tension between us, especially after Missy's sudden disappearance. Despite the accusations against her, I couldn't see her as a villain. Something about it just didn't make sense.
One morning, Dante was in his office on yet another call with the detective when I decided to make us some breakfast. As I cracked eggs into the pan, I heard footsteps approaching.
"You don't have to cook, you know," Dante said, placing his hand over my shoulder.
I turned off the stove and faced him. "I'm alright, Dante. You don't have to treat me like I'm about to break."
He cupped my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. "I'm just scared of losing you."
A knock at the door interrupted the moment. One of the security guards stepped in. "Mr. Dante, the detective is here to see you, he has some news."
The air around us immediately stiffened. "Send him in," Dante responded tensely.
The detective came in, his face set in a serious expression. "We've got some news. Missy has been found."
My eyes widened. "Is she okay?"
"She's alive. Barely. We found her unconscious in a very critical condition in a warehouse downtown. It looked like she had been held captive and beaten. She's in the hospital now, but still unresponsive."
Dante cursed under his breath. "Who the hell is behind all of this?"
"We don't know. The injuries suggest she's been there for a short period of time which means it hadn't been long since the culprit left the place before we arrived. Whoever is behind this is careful and calculated."
A wave of sympathy washed over me. "Poor Missy, she has to go through all this, trying to protect her family."
The detective nodded. "We'll look into the security footage and see what we can find. But I thought you should know—Missy had a note crumpled in her hand when we found her. It said, "If I can't have him, no one will"
Dante's brows furrowed. "What the hell?"
" Do you recall anyone you might have had a relationship with in the past? Possibly a romantic relationship?"
Dante shook his head. "I've had several romantic relationships in the past, but nothing out of the ordinary."
The detective handed him a photo. "This was also found in the warehouse. It's a picture of you, Sienna."
My blood ran cold. The photo showed me leaving the office one evening, completely unaware that someone had been watching. Dante's grip tightened around my shoulders.
"They're targeting her specifically," he muttered.
"Yes, whosoever it is knows that targeting her is the easiest way to get to you," The detective replied. "We're increasing patrols around your apartment. Stay vigilant."
After he left, I sank onto the couch, my mind racing. "Why would anyone go through so much trouble to target me?"
Dante sat next to me, rubbing my back in soothing circles. "It's not just you, Sienna. Whoever's doing this knows that hurting you hurts me."
His words were comforting but I couldn't help but wish I could just disappear, far away from all this chaos. I could read the look in his eyes, guilt tripping. "Stop it," I said, placing my hand over his.
"Stop what?" He asked, confused.
"Stop blaming yourself. None of this is your fault, we'll get through it" I assured him.
"How wouldn't I blame myself, Sienna? All this is happening because someone is trying to get at me. I'm really sorry you have to go through all this" he said, kneeling towards me, evidently remorseful. But I assured him he didn't have to carry the guilt, doing that wouldn't change anything or make the situation better.
That evening, I couldn't sleep. Every little noise startled me, and Dante noticed. He couldn't let me leave his sight and so he decided to stay in my room with me for the night. He pulled me into his lap, letting me rest against his chest. "Tell me what's on your mind," he whispered.
"I keep thinking... What if this doesn't end? What if they don't stop until I'm... gone?"
His arms tightened around me. "I won't let that happen. You're safe here with me."
I buried my face in his shirt, clinging to his strength. "What if it's someone we know? Someone close?"
He hesitated. "It crossed my mind. But until we have proof, I can't start doubting everyone around us. That would just drive us both insane."
The next morning, Dante had to go to the office to oversee some urgent matters. Reluctantly, he left me under the watchful eyes of the guards. I spent the day trying to distract myself, but anxiety got the best of me.
Around noon, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize. I hesitated before answering.
"Sienna," a distorted voice said. "If you think this will be over soon, you're making a mistake."
My hand trembled. "Who is this? What do you want?"
"Payback. You took Dante away from me, and now I won't rest until I make you miserable and get him back. This is just the beginning."