A Capo's Anniversary of Ashes

The crash startled everyone inside. Dante's first instinct was to shield Chloe.

When he saw it was me, his face twisted into a foul scowl.

"Scarlett! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Didn't I tell you where Sofia was? Is your only goal in life to ruin my anniversary with Chloe?"

My eyes swept over the room full of roses, then landed on Dante's chest. The 'S' he'd once tattooed for me had been crudely, brutally altered into a 'C'.

He noticed my gaze, his face showing not a shred of guilt. He spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Chloe deserves everything I have."

"She's not like you. She's just a simple girl who's never been loved like this before…"

Before Dante could finish his tired speech, I cut him off.

"I'm not here for your party."

"Chloe, where is my daughter?"

I leveled a glare at her that made her shrink behind Dante.

Dante roared at me.

"Scarlett! Stop being so damn crazy! Sofia is at home, isn't she?"

"You ruined my 100-day anniversary with Chloe. You need to apologize to her!"

I shoved the photos from the apartment into Dante's face—images of the blood-slicked floor, of Sofia's charm drenched in it.

Dante recoiled. "Where's Sofia? Why are you showing me this?" He quickly masked his panic with scorn. "You're pathetic, you know that? Pulling cheap stunts like this just to get my attention."

A flicker of panic crossed Chloe's face.

But hearing Dante's words, she quickly regained her composure and fanned the flames.

"Scarlett, I know you can't stand Dante being with me, but you don't have to go to such lengths, do you?"

"Sofia is your own daughter. To curse her like this, soaking her things in animal blood… Aren't you afraid of making it come true?"

I drove my foot into her stomach, sending her sprawling to the floor.

I grabbed her by the collar. "I'll ask you one more time. Where is my daughter?"

A bruise was already forming on her leg, but her expression remained defiant.

"I sent Sofia back hours ago. Who knows where you hid her after that?"

"Dante, maybe you should just go back with this crazy woman. I'm afraid she's going to kill me."

Chloe's voice was thick with false tears. In a blind rage, Dante flew at me, his fists flailing wildly.

"Scarlett! You lunatic!"

"Let go of Chloe! Or I swear to God, I'll divorce you!"

"A divorce?" I said, my voice cold as stone. "Fine. But not yet."

"Hand over Sofia, and I'll meet you at City Hall tomorrow morning."

Chloe's eyes lit up, but a trace of surprise flashed in Dante's.

With a cold snort, he sneered.

"Changing tactics? Trying to play hard to get?"

"Too bad. It won't work on me."

"I'll say it again. Let go of Chloe!"

I ignored him. The next second, Dante grabbed a nearby whiskey bottle and smashed it over my head.