The crowd dispersed, everyone stepping backwards out of harm's way. No one would get involved. Not with the president.
Which meant there was only me.
I let go of Jenna’s hand, ripping it out of her grip, and shot forward.
“Dante, stop!” I yelled, only to find my feet lifted from the floor as two hands circled my waist and swung me to the side.
“Not the fucking time, woman!” Hacksaw hissed into my ear. “Are you wanting to get yourself killed?”
“He’s going to kill Vienna if we do nothing!” I snapped back, straining to get out of his grip.
I heard another crack of Dante’s fist, followed by the sound of Vienna spitting. I dared a look and saw a pool of blood on the floor.
“I’m not going to fight you, brother. If you need to hit me, then fucking hit me. Get it all out of your system. But when you’re done, I’m still going to be here. I’m still going to be your brother!”
Dante hit him again.
“I fucked up. I never should have done it. And I should have told you the second it was over. But—”
Another crack.
“Dante, stop!” I yelled again, straining against Hacksaw even harder. “This isn’t worth it! It meant nothing! You’re ruining everything for the sake of a drunken kiss! It was fucked up, and it was wrong, but it was a mistake. Do you want to lose your brother over this? You’re throwing everything away forsomething that lasted less than a minute. Did I react like this when you slept with Beth?”
It was wrong of me to throw his past in his face like that. It was like comparing apples and bananas. The situation was completely different. I wasn’t his old lady then, and there weren’t years of history written in our book. But it was the only thing I could think of to get through to him.
Apparently it was the wrong thing to say, because it just made Dante hit Vienna harder.
Vienna dodged the blows, shoving at Dante just enough to get himself out of harm's way, but never retaliating.
“Ask yourself why she did it, Dante! I was a fucking idiot, but ask yourself whyshedid it! The woman is confused, angry, hurt… she doesn’t know whether she’s fucking coming or going, because the two of you can’t stop playing games long enough to have a fucking conversation and work through your issues! So, punch me if you need to,” Vienna yelled, shoving Dante backwards. “Do whatever you need to work through this anger. But when you’re done, the issues are still going to be there. Whatever you’re feeling is still going to be there!”
“Would you forgive me if it was Gabriella?” Dante said, his jaw tight.
I saw the flash of rage in Vienna’s eyes before he replied. “Do you know what,brother?This would never even be close to a possibility with Gabriella, because I would never have treated her the way you treat Rachel. There was never any doubt in Gabriella’s mind that I loved her, because I spent every single second, of every fucking day proving that to her. I worshipped the fucking ground she walked on. I wouldn’t have allowed her to believe for even a moment that she wasn’t made for me. Perfect for me. I loved every fucking inch of her, openly and freely. You love Rachel when it’s convenient for you to do so, and that’s what you’re really fucking mad about. Because the truthis, if you were an actual fucking man and treated your woman the way we’re supposed to, thisnever would have fucking happened!”He all but yelled the last bit at him before the dam burst and his temper hit its peak. He hit Dante back, and time seemed to move in slow motion. I watched as Dante grabbed him, his fist in the air, a nasty snarl on his face.
“Daddy?” A soft voice came from the archway to the house. “What are you doing to my uncle Vienna?”
“Bee,” I breathed, spinning around to face her, just as Dante let go of Vienna and stormed out of the bar.
“Everything is okay, sweetheart. You know what these parties are like. Get yourself back off to bed,” I said softly, nodding at Heather, who had rushed up behind her. “I promise, we’re all okay.”
“Uncle Vienna is bleeding,” she said, pointing a finger in Vienna’s direction.
“Come on,” Vienna smiled, jogging over to her and scooping her into his arms. “Off to bed with you. Uncle Vienna is always bleeding, you know that. I’m still as handsome as ever, aren’t I?” He pulled an ugly face at her, making her grin through the tears shining in her eyes. “Let’s read a bedtime story like we used to, eh? There’s nothing to be worried about down here.”
Their voices drifted off as he carried her upstairs and I looked in the direction Dante had stormed off, knowing I had no choice but to follow him.
Chapter 81
Dante
I heard Rachel follow me as I left the room, but I didn’t slow down my walk, nor did I turn to face her.
What could I say to her? All I could see were her and Vienna together. All I could imagine was the way she responded to him, the things she would have said to him.
It fucking broke me.
“Dante!” she called after me. I wanted to turn around and see her. I wanted to hear her explain and have her run into my arms, everything forgiven and forgotten. But I couldn’t.
