DANTE'S POV
I got another lead today. I'm almost a step closer to the people from the sex trafficking organization that killed my sister. At first, I was only going to kill the people involved with my sister but now, now I want to burn them all to the ground. I want to target every single person from that organization and I want to ruin them. I want to bring down the disgusting empire they have used for so many years to destroy the lives of young innocent girls.
After talking to Adeline yesterday, I only got more irritated and angrier at what happened to my sister. She didn't deserve what happened to her. She was only at the right place but at the wrong time and she was immediately targeted. They just took advantage of her and left her on the side of the road for dead.
The image of her limp and unresponsive body on the road still invades my mind every time I close my eyes. I dream about her and how I wasn't able to save her, about how when I found her, it was already too late. Adeline's diagnosis was right. I know I have trauma from what happened but the resentment and anger I feel, the pure vengeance I feel can only be quenched when all of them are dead.
I've hated myself since I lost my sister. I haven't been able to think of anything else but revenge until I met Adeline. She brings a little bit of peace to all the chaos in my mind. But she just doesn't understand and I can't tell her what happened. At least not yet.
I can't let her dig and dig into my life or else she'll find out things about me that she won't be able to handle and I might lose her forever. I have to keep her away from my personal life for as long as possible. At least until I kill all the people who wronged me.
I've killed a lot of people from this sex trafficking organization already and they're already on the lookout for me. They have no idea what I look like or how to find me, but they know they have an enemy that keeps killing them one by one. I'm very careful and precautious so it'll be difficult for me to be found out.
However, if they find out who I am and then find out I'm associated with Adeline, they'll want to use her against me and I can't ruin her life like that. I should have just stayed away from her and never asked her out. Now I'm in too deep and I can't let her go. I brought her into this even if she doesn't know it yet and it's now my responsibility to protect her and make sure no harm comes to her.
I was stalking her before because I was attracted to her but now, I need to watch her like a hawk. I need to know her every move and I need to be close to her always. I lost my sister. I'll die before I lose Adeline.
I sit in my car with my windows up. In my car, no one from outside can see what's inside. I'm on the outside of a fancy club right now and the two men I'm spying on tonight just walked in. They have something to do with the sex trafficking organization I'm targeting and I've been tracking them down for weeks and finally, here they are. Right in front of me.
My plan tonight is not to kill them. No, I won't stain my hands with blood tonight. I just want to see if I can spy on the meeting they're having at this club so I can get more information about their filthy organization. As soon as the men walk into the club, I get out of my car and take slow and confident strides towards the entrance, determined to follow them diligently so I don't lose them.
I walk through the entrance with a fake VIP card I made and the guards don't think twice before letting me in. I follow the men and intentionally bump into one of them, making sure to hide my face so they don't see me. I just placed a small voice recorder into the suit of one of the men so every conversation they have in the room they're going to will be transferred straight to me.
I walk past them, not giving them a chance to complain about me bumping into them. I head determinedly towards the bar and order a drink. I need to stick around for a while longer until their meeting is over so I know exactly how many people are in there.
As I sit alone at the bar, a blonde woman walks towards me and places her hand on my back. I ignore her and keep my gaze fixed forwards. I haven't given another woman a minute of my attention since I met Adeline and I'm not about to start now.
"What are you doing here all by yourself handsome? You need someone to take care of you?" The girl's hand travels from my back to my lap and I furrow my brows in annoyance as I turn my gaze towards her.
"No thank you." I say deeply and the expression on my face might have given her the right impression because she frowns in surprise and hurries along on her way.
"Funny seeing you here." I hear a familiar manly voice coming from behind me and when he gets into my field of vision, I notice it's Liam, Adeline's best friend. I glance towards him from the side of my eye as I take a sip from my glass.
"I could say the same for you." I state and focus my attention on him. He looks like he's trying to read me and I think I know exactly what his problem is. He doesn't trust me and he doesn't like the fact that I'm with Adeline. I don't blame him for being protective over her, but I don't have time for this right now. I need to focus on what I'm here for.
"So, you and Addie huh?" He says taking a seat next to me and I fight the urge to roll my eyes. I'm not trying to seem rude or anything, but I need to leave exactly when the people I'm spying on leave, so I can follow them and I don't need any distractions right now. What the hell is Liam even doing here?
"Yeah. Me and Addie." I turn my head towards him and grin.
"What's your deal man? You've known her for like what? Five seconds and you two are together already?" He places one hand on the counter and turns towards me on his seat.
"I don't have a deal. I just happen to like your friend." I answer him simply although 'like' is a huge understatement for what I feel for Adeline.
"Yeah?" He scoffs. "On what basis. You don't know her." He argues.
"I'll learn." I defend.
"Look man. Addie's important to me and the last person she was with treated her like shit. I'm just looking out for her. I just think it's weird that you two are so close when you literally just met and-"
"I'm the last person you need to worry about when it comes to Adeline." I cut him off but part of me feels what I just said is a lie. I'm either the safest or the most dangerous person for her right now. He stares at me for a moment longer before finally grinning at me. He doesn't trust me just yet, that much is clear but Liam doesn't look the type to start unnecessary drama.
"Good then." He relaxes on his seat. "So, what brings you here?"
"Business." I say and at the corner of my eye, I see the men I followed in here walk downstairs along with four other men. Their meeting must be over which means, it's my cue to leave and follow them. Before getting in here, I was able to find out where the cars of the first two men I followed in here were parked. I knocked out the guards and placed tracking devices on each of their cars.
If I can find out where they live, then I can pay them a visit and find out more. Game on.
"Nice chat Liam. Apologies but I have to go." I gulp the rest of my drink in one go and offer Liam a friendly nod before leaving the club.
Time to get my hands dirty, if necessary.