The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the pristine golf course. The soft sound of the club striking the ball and the occasional rustle of leaves were the only noises that filled the space between Dante, Luca, and Vincent. It was supposed to be a day of relaxation, a break from the endless chaos of their lives, but the tension that had been building up in Dante over the past few weeks refused to stay hidden. It weighed on him, pressing down on his chest like a heavy stone.
As the three men moved from one hole to the next, Dante's thoughts were far away from the game. The crisp air, the calm of the greens, the banter between Luca and Vincent—all of it seemed distant, as if he were observing it from a place outside of himself. He had always prided himself on being the rock, the one who stood steady while everything around him shifted. But today, he felt as though the foundations were crumbling beneath him, threatening to swallow him whole.
Finally, after a long silence, it was Luca who broke it. He turned toward Dante, his eyes narrowing, sensing the change in his friend's demeanor.
"Something's been eating at you, Dante," Luca said, his tone calm but probing. "You haven't been yourself lately. You're usually the one who keeps things in check. So, what's going on?"
Vincent, who had been casually adjusting his glove, glanced over at Dante with a raised brow. "Yeah, boss. You've been off. Even the way you've been hitting those shots... it's like you're playing with your mind instead of the game."
Dante didn't respond at first. He kept his eyes on the horizon, his hand gripping the club a little tighter than necessary. The truth was, he didn't know how to respond. How could he explain the whirlwind of emotions that had been consuming him? The weight of the family, the empire, the constant pressure to perform, to lead—it was all becoming too much. But it wasn't just that.
It was Amelia. The way she looked at him with those searching eyes. The way she tried to reach him, to get through the walls he had built around himself. The fact that he couldn't protect her from everything that had followed them into their marriage, the dangers, the lies, the people who would stop at nothing to tear them apart.
He exhaled sharply, turning his gaze to the ground. "I'm... struggling," he confessed, his voice low. "I've always had control over everything. The business, the family... but Amelia... I don't know how to be what she needs. I don't know how to be a husband to her and still be the man I've always been."
Luca and Vincent exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. Luca took a step closer to Dante, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You've been carrying the weight of this family for so long, Dante," Luca said, his voice steady. "But you don't have to do it alone. Not with Amelia. Not with any of us."
Vincent, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke, his tone blunt but filled with a certain raw honesty. "You can't keep pretending like you've got it all under control. I've seen you fight battles, but this is different. This is about something that matters more than power. It's about the woman you married. You've got to fight for her, Dante. If you keep shutting her out, you'll lose her before you even realize what happened."
Dante's chest tightened, his heart hammering in his ribcage. He knew they were right. He had been pushing Amelia away, not because he didn't love her—he loved her more than anything—but because he was afraid. Afraid that if he let her see the man beneath the boss, beneath the mafia leader, she wouldn't want him anymore. He had been trying to protect her from the darkness of his world, but in doing so, he had built a barrier between them that was too high to climb.
"I've never been good at showing weakness," Dante muttered, his eyes flickering with regret. "I've always had to be the strong one. The one everyone depends on. But now… now, I feel like I'm failing her."
Luca's expression softened, his eyes filled with understanding. "You're not failing her. You're human, Dante. You're allowed to feel, to be vulnerable. That's not a weakness; it's what makes you real. And Amelia, she's your partner. She's not going to turn away from you just because you show her who you really are."
Vincent grunted in agreement, taking a long swing at his next shot. "Exactly. Look, you've got a good woman by your side. Don't let the world make you forget that. You've spent years building your empire, but Amelia's the one thing you can't afford to lose."
Dante stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their words settling over him. His gaze turned back toward the distance, the sun now dipping beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across the course. For the first time in a while, he felt a flicker of clarity. He had been so focused on the business, on protecting Amelia from the dangers that surrounded them, that he had forgotten what it meant to truly be with her. To let her in, to share his burdens with her.
"I'll talk to her," he said finally, his voice resolute. "I've been a fool, keeping everything inside. But not anymore. I need to show her that I'm not just the boss. I'm her husband. And I'll fight for her. No matter what."
Luca gave him a nod of approval. "That's the Dante we know. You've got this."
Vincent smirked, looking back at the course. "Just make sure you don't hit any more bad shots, boss. You've got a marriage to fix, not just your swing."
Dante chuckled, feeling the tension inside him loosen just a little. Maybe it was time to let go of the walls he had built. Maybe it was time to let Amelia in.