Dante's perspective:
When the elevator doors opened I thought I'd seen a ghost. Her hair was a dark red pulled back in a tight tail. She had small black framed glasses that blurred her soft brown eyes but her face. She looked to be the same age Rylee would be and that body, I can definitely imagine Rylee having, if she were alive.
The look on her face was as if she's the one that had just seen a ghost. I haven't been my self lately. Twice now I though I've seen my Rylee on the streets of New York and now her look alike standing just a few feet in front of me.
The doors begin to shut and she hadn't stepped in yet. I reached my hand through the slit at the last second, but when the doors opened she was gone.
Guard: Everything ok boss.
Dante: Yeah James. Everything's fine.
As soon as we walk into the reception area we are greeted by a cute bubbly older woman with short blond hair who practically falls back in her seat with eyes glued on James. More to my amusement is the guy that walks out of the office to greet me. I felt like I was walking on set of the old Toby Maguire Spiderman movie.
Sam: Mr. Santino.
Dante: Mr. Dean.
Sam: Please come in have a seat. Would you like anything. Coffee, tea, scotch?
Dante: No I'm good thanks.
When the door opened and she stepped in my heart slammed into my chest. My little ghost. The entire time during our meeting I kept steeling glances at her. She had a slight underlined Canadian accent. Obviously my Rylee was from Manhattan. God I'll never forget the night I found out about her death.
I watched from my bedroom window as my dads caravan drove in. I noticed immediately there where less men then what had initially left this morning. My uncle Leo stepped out of a car covered in blood with a bandage over the right side of his face. My dad got out of his car with Rylees uncle Roy on his tail. They shook hands before Roy got back in his own car and drove off. My uncle Benny didn't seem to be with them. My heart was pounding like I had just finished running a marathon. There where knots in my stomach. I hadn't know for sure where they went that day. But in my gut I knew.
I ran down the stairs and stormed in the study where my dad and Leo were already sitting with drinks and cigars in their hands. My dad looked up at me with a smirk on his face as he stood and walked over handing me his drink and poured himself another and sat back down. He and Leo raised there glasses.
Mr. Santino: Raise your glass son. We morn this loss of your poor uncle Benny but we rejoice in a new business adventure. They knocked their drinks back and looked my way. I slammed the drink on the desk with out taking any.
Dante: What did you do?
I demanded feeling the heat in my face.
Mr. Santino: I did what I had to do. Mr. banes refused my offer of marriage, so I was inclined to take what should be rightfully mine.
Dante: Where's Rylee?
Mr. Santino: You know, I had almost forgot how well she could play the piano till today. What a shame to see such talent go to waist.
Dante: If you hurt her I swear to god I'll kill you?
Mr. Santino: She was of no use to us.
Tears stung my eyes, but it was the rage inside me that blinded me from what I was doing.
Dante: You bastard.
I picked my glass back up smashing it into Leos head as I grabbed his gun from his waist turning it on my father. He just sat there with a stone cold look on his face challenging me.
Mr. Santino: You always did take after your mother. You think too much with your heart than your head.
He puffed on his cigar and leaned back with a smile.
Mr. Santino: But I gotta hand it to you son. The amount of balls you have right now is something for a father to be proud of. There might still be some hope for you yet.
He played me. Distracted me. Next thing I knew I was hitting the floor. I welcomed death because I knew it was the only chance I'd have of ever seeing my Rye. But I wasn't so lucky. I woke up in our private Jet half way to Italy. One thing worse than death was exile. My father had banished me to live with family in Italy. If I was ever going to have another chance at revenge, I knew what I had to do. I had to obey by his rules. Become the ruthless killer he wanted me to be, do all his small time dirty work to earn my place back in the family. To earn his trust.
For the last ten years I've done exactly that, all while plotting my revenge to take over his empire. I won't hesitate putting a bullet between his eyes this time. First I was going to start with Roy Banes. I was buying up what few business he still owned as part of the deal he made with my father. I was going to slowly strip him of everything before watching him die. It's why I was here. Sitting next to Rylees ghost. Everything about her made me think of Rye. There was no denying the intense instant chemistry we had at first glance in the elevator and the instant swelling of my cock when her hand touched mine, and even though she had that slight accent there was something about the way she spoke, the way she carriers her self.
The way she eyed my ring as she was getting up to leave gave me an odd sensation and I suddenly found my self in a memory of Rylee when she slyly put the ring in the palm of my hand and backed out of the green house.
Rylee: I'll never forget you Dante Santino.
Sudden chills shot through my spine as Emma left. I quickly text my guard Erik who was waiting by the car to follow her while I continued my meeting. Everything about her reports and how she found all the evidence against Roy was impressive. She was by far the most intelligent woman I'd ever met aside from Rylee!
Rylees perspective:
Finally my adorable little older Asian doctor Dr. Lynn walked into my room.
Dr. Lynn: Back so soon Emma.
Rylee: I finally quit the club and thought I'd get a final check up.
Dr. Lynn: It's about time. You're to good for a place like that.
After the physical exam and swabs Dr. Lynn hops up on her stool at the computer to look over my test results from my last exam.
Dr. Lynn: How long you been on your current birth control.
Rylee: Since 16.
Dr. Lynn: And are your cycles still light and abnormal.
Rylee: Yes.
She turns to me rolling the seat closer.
Dr. Lynn: You know everything we discus is in strict confidence right?
Rylee: Where are you going with this Dr. Lynn?
Dr. Lynn: I can't say for certain with out doing an ultra sound but based on blood work and physical examination and what little you told me about your old injuries I don't think you will be able to have children. Can we run the ultrasound?
I nod and lay back as she rolls the machine over and turns it on. For the second time ever I was finding my self thinking of a kid. The rekindled feelings for Dante and the new extreme feelings must be playing emotional and hormonal tricks on me. I had always been fine with the thought of not having kids till I saw Dante in person today.
After viewing the external and internal ultrasound Dr. Lynn handed me a towel to clean my self while she put everything away.
Dr. Lynn: It's as I had expected. The bullet wound destroyed the right Fallopian tube, and the left is barely producing any eggs at all. The ones you do have are much to weak. But the more concerning is the cervix wall it's self. It's very thin and would mostly likely tear with a growing fetus.
Rylee: What do I do if I want kids.
She places a hand on my arm trying to muster a consoling smile.
Dr. Lynn: I'm afraid that's not possible in your condition.
Rylee: What if I stop my birth control?
Dr. Lynn: Those aren't doing anything as it is!
I plaster a fake Emma smile and pat her hand letting her know I'm fine. Just as she reaches for the door to leave she looks back.
Dr. Lynn: In theory if you did want to try there is a fertility drug not licensed in the United States that could possibly help strengthen the wall and the eggs you do have.
She smiles and walks out the door. I grasp hold of that little bit of hope she offered and put it aside for now. I needed to get back to my mission and that meant it was time to take out Anthony aka Kingpin.
When I got to the new townhome we had purchased between the office and Grand Hotel. Gram had already researched Dante's guards from the footage he received on the office surveillance. James Dolton the one that was in the office a 47 year old retired army vet, Erik Murphy the one who tried following me was also an army vet at 29 years old. Then there was the driver Carlton Haze a 45 year old ex race care driver. None of them had any ties to any mafia. They seemed like stand up guys.
Gram: You ok kid.
Rylee: Yeah why?
Gram: You been staring at that tablet for like ten minutes it's been shut off for half that time. You know I know when your distracted. You think he recognized you.
Rylee: I'm honestly not sure Gram. He kept looking at me like he was trying to figure out if he knew me.
Gram: Theres something else. What happened at the doctors.
Rylee: Nothing. Clean bill of health. Which we both already knew since I haven't been with anyone but Cole.
He grunted and left the kitchen. When he returned he brought back his gun cleaning kit and his pair of Glock 17's. He sat down sliding one to me then set his watch to timer mode.
Gram: Go
He clicked the little side button starting the timer. I reacted instinctively disassembling and reassembling the weapon. The second the last piece clicked in place Gram stopped the timer. I know I was distracted but when I need to be on I'm on. Or I thought till he grunted giving me a look of disapproval. I set the gun on the table waiting for Gram to reset the timer. With his thumb on the button he glared at me with challenge.
Gram: Go
This time I know I was faster but still he grunted.
Rylee: What! Come one.
I reached for the watch but he hit the button again resetting the timer before I could see. I swear I saw the corners of his mouth turn up slightly. That meant I had good timing and he was frustrate.
Rylee: Oh my god I beat your time didn't I? That's why you reset the timer.
I set the gun down and challenged him. He raised a brow and lifted his hand. But I shook my head and motioned to his other glock sitting in front of him. I got up and set the microwave for 30 seconds and sat back down. We stare each other down like in an old western gun draw. As soon as the microwave dinged it was on. We both broke down our weapon almost simultaneously and assembled at neck in neck, but I set mine back down a split second before Gram. I stood with my arms raised victorious. He chuckles handing me a rag and pipe cleaner. We sat and clean the guns while Gram continues to try and get more out of me about Dante and the doctors.