Dante's Possession

UNKNOWN

Arlington. As the temperature drops to sixty-four degrees Fahrenheit, Arlington residents are preparing for the winter season.

Children play near the gates of Kenzo’s new mansion on the outskirts of town, directly behind Dante’s beach vacation home.

Dante checks the cameras installed inside his family’s home while leaning back in his office chair.

From what they know, the Societa Oscura has no enemies roaming the streets, but Dante still wants to keep an eye on his mother and sister.

He adores the two of them and would never wish harm on them, but he does worry that they could fall victim to one of his many enemies.

Kenzo’s nightclubs are completely booked for the rest of the year with couples and singles looking to get involved in the BDSM scene.

Kenzo has purchased all the properties along the strip and is converting them into BDSM play clubs. Dante, his right-hand man, keeps the organization running smoothly.

These are the city’s top men, and they have more money than sense. High-rise buildings are being constructed, and Dante and Kenzo are working hard to give them the image they desire.

The lunatics are riding the streets and keeping everyone in line. If necessary, Dante and Kenzo will sort them out. Arlington is now safer than it has ever been.

Brothels are being introduced, with women agreeing to participate if a safety contract is signed beforehand. Trafficking rings are being demolished, and men are no longer breaking the law.

Welcome to Arlington.

DANTE

“She’s good, man. Fuck knows what they did to her, but I and Rebecca are the most compatible that we have ever been before.”

I tap my fingers on the black leather chair in Kenzo’s new study looking at the cameras. I worry about my family.

My mom doesn’t know anything about the job that I do because I have kept it a secret, which means she is unaware of the dangers that surround her.

To track her, I had to install a tracking device on her phone. I know it sounds terrible, but it had to be done.

I prefer Kenzo’s new house. His previous place was demolished after it was blown up by the Mexicans. It was devastating to witness, but it is what it is.

That was only a material asset, and Kenzo was glad Rebecca wasn’t inside when the structure caved in.

To be honest, I’m happy to see the end of last year because that was one hell of a roller coaster. It’s a shame, really, because Kenzo was learning to love his new place. It was built a couple of months before Rebecca vanished.

Finding out about Rex took its toll on him, Rebecca, and Trish. I couldn’t believe it myself. I was struggling to wrap my head around it because Rex was with the Societa Oscura before Kenzo and I were. We thought he was loyal.

When Trish was found, there wasn’t much of her left, and Kenzo had to make the important decision to send her off to Draven to get some serious counseling. I don’t mind, but I did become fond of her.

At least Kenzo has learned his lesson and will never turn his back on Rebecca again, or let her go for that matter. Not that he would want to do that considering she’s exactly what he needs, and he is what she needs.

“I’m sorry, brother. I truly am, but you need to let her live her life now. She’s been through enough torment and torture in one lifetime, you can’t go adding to that.”

I lean back in my seat, and Kenzo sits back on the black leather couch and lays his head down on the palms of his hands. He’s stressed out because Rebecca wants to see Trish, but he knows Trish will hurt her emotionally.

The connection between Rebecca and Trisha was like no other. When she returned, she was a completely different person, and it was a shock that neither of us expected.

“At least she’s getting the help that she needs now. She’s in safe hands with Draven, just think about it that way.” I shrug my shoulders. I don’t know what else I should say about his situation.

“I guess you’re right.” Kenzo stands up and walks out the door holding an old-style book in his hands. I shrug my shoulders and exit his study because there’s no reason for me to be there if he’s not.

Entering his kitchen, I lean against the doorframe and wait for Kenzo to acknowledge me.

“Right, I’m shooting off, bro.” He nods his head, and I grab my keys and exit his house.

Sliding into the driver’s seat of my BMW, I drive out of the gates. I can’t be bothered to stop and talk to the new security guards that are on duty. I’m shattered and need to get back to see my mom.

She was horrified when I fell into a coma last year, and I remember how she held me crying, begging for me to wake up. It still breaks my heart to this day, and I will always remember her face when I woke up.

Just because I was still and not talking doesn’t mean I wasn’t living in hell. I could hear everything, and as much as I would shout, nobody could hear me. I never want to experience that again.

Pulling up outside, I use my keys to enter through the front door and take my suit jacket off. After hanging it up on the coatrack, I pull my pistol out of the inside pocket and push it into the back of my black slacks.

Entering the living room, I slide my hands into my pockets and sigh.

For fuck’s sake, why is Hazel here again? I’m sure that girl lives at this house more than her own. I gave up on her a couple of years back because she was giving me mixed signals. She was mostly talk and zero action.

I remember when I saw her on the bus, and she ran away from me. I never tried after that. She was too much work for me to handle, so I deleted her number and removed her from my life.

It’s safe to say that she’s no longer in my life even if she is nineteen now.

HAZEL

“Me and Dante want to go out for food later, girls.”

I sit on the couch next to Chloe while Annette talks about her and Dante’s plans for the night. I don’t know how this has happened, but I have been included in the conversation. I’m now going to eat out with them.

“Oh no. It’s okay. Thanks anyway.” I smile at Annette, and she shakes her head.

“I don’t want to impose. I will get something to eat on the way home,” I tell her honestly, holding my hands up. I don’t want to annoy Dante, not after last time.

Annette stands up and walks over to her purse. Opening it up, she pulls out some money and waves it above her head excitedly. Chloe laughs, and I give her a fake smile.

“No, Hazel. You’re coming with us,” Annette tells me. She’s being the mom that she has been since I was a kid. I have always remembered her to be the mom that I needed when I was growing up.

My biological mom and I don’t have a great relationship. She’s only interested in getting drunk with her friends and making a scene.

My dad left when I was only six years old, and from that day, my mom turned to alcohol and drugs. I hate going home. I spend the majority of my time here with Chloe and her loving mom, not that Dante enjoys having me around.

I’m sure that man hates me with a vengeance ever since I told him I didn’t want to have sex out in public. Who would? I have my sanity to keep clean for goodness’ sake.

Plus, he’s too energetic for me, even if my stomach twisting in knots is telling me that I could keep up with him. I won’t deny it, my attraction to him is well above 100 percent.

“Hazel, I won’t tell you again. I know that you don’t have any money on you, and that means that you will go without a hot meal. I’m sure I’ve told you many times before that you can live here.

“Why do you keep going back there? Argh, I don’t know.” Annette stands next to the window holding her hips. Everything about that woman screams parental guardian. Chloe lays her hand on my shoulder and raises her eyebrows at me.

Her black hair sways down her back. I love how shiny it is! Her blue eyes are amazing too, which makes me jealous because I’ve always loved blue eyes.

Her mom is the spitting image of her with blue eyes, and Dante has green eyes with olive skin, but he has a tan because he flew over to Italy a couple of weeks ago.

“Come on. You have nothing to lose. We’re going to get Italian food tonight,” Chloe tells me. I feel cheeky for even considering saying yes.

Annette always does this, and throughout my high school years, she always packed two lunches because she knew I wouldn’t have anything to eat throughout the day. She is the perfect role model.

I tried to stay away when Dante went into a coma because they were in mourning over their loss. It was heartbreaking to learn that he would not survive. He had a bleed on the brain, and they said he would never wake up.

Kenzo had noticed something that day. I remember him waking up unexpectedly, which surprised all of us, but he wouldn’t have had that chance if Kenzo hadn’t gotten him moved to his house.

In my opinion, a miracle, but even in the days leading up to that one day, Annette would check in on me and make sure I was fed and had clean clothes on my back.

I visited the hospital three times and couldn’t bear seeing Dante’s lifeless body on the bed. It wasn’t the Dante that I remembered, and the doctors told me that he wasn’t there.

To them, he had died a couple of days prior to my visit. The machine was the only thing that was keeping him alive. The nurses tried multiple tests and told me it was time to say my goodbyes, which is what I did.

When I came back out of the room, Annette was handing me a sandwich and telling me to eat it. She is the biggest diamond in my eyes, and this has been a secret that we have kept between us since I was seven.

I appreciate her, Chloe, and Dante for everything. The money that Dante was bringing in was supporting me too. He doesn’t know that, but this is the reason why I appreciate him.

I don’t want to step on his feet because I owe him more than he realizes. The child support money that my mom was receiving? She was drinking it all and filling her stomach with pills.

It’s all very sad, but it’s part of my miserable life.

“Only if you are sure,” I tell Annette, and she nods her head. “I always am, dear.”