Chapter 5 Frustration with brothers

Dante~

"What happened to her?" I caught Serena before she hit the floor, her body limp in my arms. My four brothers rushed over, eager to see what was happening, but I didn't need their help. I carried her to my bedroom, laying her unconscious form on the bed.

Why do I care? I had never worried about a woman in my life. Yet, there was something different about her, something that made my chest tighten. What makes her so special? She's just a slave-nothing more than a pawn in this game. But here I am, worrying over her, questioning myself.

As I placed her down, her body felt frail under my touch, and for a moment, I recalled the first time I saw her at the auction. She was wearing that tight, red gown-completely out of place yet mesmerizing. I remember my initial instinct: stay away. But the moment her eyes met mine, something shifted inside me. There was a defiance in her gaze that ignited something deep within me-something primal. She wasn't just another woman. She was a challenge.

One of my men had told me that she was Don Moretti's daughter. The moment I realized that I made my decision. She would be mine. Moretti had been a thorn in our side for years, and buying his daughter at an auction would be the ultimate insult.

But something about her went beyond revenge. It was as if my mind and body were drawn to her in ways I couldn't explain. It didn't matter. She was supposed to be nothing more than a tool to hurt Moretti, and yet, here I was... thinking about her in ways I shouldn't.

"Marco, call the doctor," I commanded, trying to push these thoughts aside.

My brothers crowded around the bed, their eyes fixed on her. The way they looked at her-it unsettled me.

Why are they so interested? She's just a girl I bought to please our father. But there was something in their expressions-a shared understanding-that I didn't like.

"Big brother, I think she collapsed from exhaustion. We should give her something to eat," Marco said, his voice cutting through the silence.

I snapped, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

"She's unconscious-how can she eat?" I glared at him, my anger barely contained. Marco's concern for her grated on my nerves. Why does he care? The way he acted toward her... like he thought she was more than just a slave.

I shifted my gaze to Luca, standing quietly by the bed, his eyes glued to Serena's body. His gaze traced along her exposed thighs, his expression filled with lust. My jaw clenched in anger. Why is he looking at her like that? My coat was the only thing covering her, barely hiding her form. Her smooth, flawless skin remained visible and exposed.

I grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her, covering her body.

She's just a slave, not something to be ogled. But the sensation of her skin brushing against mine was still lingering-that softness beneath the coat. My hands, my body, remembered the contact even as I tried to forget it.

"Dante, what are you doing? Her bodyguard now?" Rico's mocking voice grated against my ears, and I turned toward him, my patience wearing thin.

"What are you implying?" My fists clenched as I growled.

Rico smirked. "You're becoming soft. Calling a doctor, covering her up... It seems like you're becoming attached to your new little slave, big brother."

I could feel the heat rise in my chest. The memories of the auction returned-the way her eyes had stared defiantly, the way her lips had parted slightly when the bidding began. She had no idea what was coming, yet she stood there, proud, unbroken. That spark in her had captured something in me-something I hadn't felt before. Was it an attraction? No. It couldn't be.

My blood boiled.

"Shut up, Rico. I'm not protecting her. I'm protecting our family's interests. If something happens to her, Father won't be able to use her against Don Moretti."

Rico chuckled, leaning against the wall, clearly enjoying himself. He always knew how to push my buttons, and he was doing it now, baiting me.

Luca joined in, his smirk widening. "He's right, Dante. You've never cared about any woman before. Why are you worried about her now?"

I could feel myself losing control. They were right. I never cared before. So, why now? What was it about her that made me hesitate-that made me want to shield her from their prying eyes?

"I'm not worried about her!" I growled, my voice louder than it should have been. "I'm focused on making sure Father's plans don't fall apart because of a damn slave."

Marco, sensing the growing tension, stepped in. "Big brother is right. We need to make sure she's alive and well. Father's revenge against Don Moretti depends on it."

His voice was calm, but the way he kept looking at Serena-it bothered me.

Before I could respond, Vito's voice rang out, sharp and irritating as always. "Maybe we should call a ghost to wake her up. Huh?"

We all groaned in unison.

"Get out, Vito," I snapped, my patience thinning. The last thing I needed was his madness, which made this situation worse.

"You can't order me around, Dante. Father made this a competition. I have just as much right to be here with her as you do," Vito retorted, his arrogance on full display.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. Why are they all acting like this? Rico, of course, had to join in, smirking as usual. "Vito's right. You can't push us out."

"Fine," I said coldly. "Stay if you want. I have better things to do than waste my time with a slave." Without another glance, I left the room, my chest tight with frustration.

Why are they treating her like this? She's nothing but a slave-not a queen or some prize to be won. She is just a pawn in this game.

Back in my office, I sat at my desk, staring at the paperwork in front of me. No matter how hard I tried, thoughts of Serena kept creeping back into my mind, gnawing at me like an itch I couldn't scratch. Did she wake up? What're they doing to her?

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. Why am I even thinking about her? I should be focused on my tasks. But the longer I sat there, the more my irritation grew.

My brothers-the way they acted around her, the way they stared-were driving me insane.

I couldn't let this happen. She is just a tool. Father's weapon to hurt Don Moretti. And if I wanted to win this game, I had to be the one to break her. I had to make her kneel.

I picked up the phone, dialing Marco. His voice answered, but what caught my attention was the sound of laughter in the background-Serena's laughter.

My blood boiled. What's happening in there? Why is she laughing?

"That's enough," I growled under my breath, slamming the phone down.

I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to remind her of her place. She's a slave, nothing more. She's not here to laugh or smile-she's here to kneel before my father.

Fueled by rage, I stormed out of my office, my hands shaking as I grabbed my car keys. Serena will learn her place. She will kneel. She will submit. And I will win.