Chapter 409: You brought the American woman with you to Rome

The private jet descended toward the rooftop of Dimitri’s Rome penthouse with the precision of a pilot who’d made this landing a hundred times.

Eve was pressed against the window, watching Rome spread out below them in all its ancient glory. The Colosseum. The Vatican. The Tiber River winding through the city. Seven hills covered in terracotta roofs and olive-green trees and the kind of history that made everything feel both timeless and impossible.

"It’s beautiful," Eve whispered.

"Wait until you see it from the penthouse," Dimitri said.

The plane touched down with barely a tremor. The engines powered down. The private airstrip crew moved into position for disembarkation.

Dimitri stood and extended his hand to Eve.

She took it, and he pulled her up and into his arms for a moment, just holding her before they stepped out into Rome.

"Stay close to me," Dimitri said. "Rome is beautiful, but it’s also dangerous. And you’re with me, which makes you a target for people who want to hurt me."

"I understand," Eve said.

***

The penthouse was a masterpiece of modern luxury built inside an ancient Roman building.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city. The architecture blended contemporary design with classical elements, marble floors, exposed brick, soaring ceilings. Art hung on the walls...pieces that looked like they belonged in museums. The furniture was minimal but exquisite. Every detail had been chosen with perfect intentionality.

It was breathtaking.

Eve moved through the space like she was walking through a dream.

Her hand trailed along the marble countertop in the kitchen. She stood at the window and looked out at Rome spread beneath her. She explored the main living area, the library filled with books in multiple languages, the private bar with crystal decanters.

Everything about the space whispered wealth and power and absolute control.

"This is incredible," Eve said softly.

Dimitri watched her explore. He was standing back, giving her space, enjoying the moment of her discovery.

When Eve reached the main window, the one that overlooked the entire city....Dimitri moved up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest.

"Do you love it here?" he asked quietly.

Eve leaned back into him, feeling the solid strength of him behind her,

She turned in his arms, keeping one hand on his chest, and looked up at him.

"Yes," Eve said simply. "I love it."

She pulled his face down to hers and kissed him.

When they broke apart, Eve was smiling.

"Tonight," Dimitri said, "I’m taking you to dinner. I’m going to show you Rome. The real Rome. Not the tourist Rome, but the city that belongs to people like us."

"People like us," Eve repeated, and there was something like wonder in her voice.

"People who own what we want," Dimitri said. "People who take what’s ours and hold it no matter what comes."

Eve nodded and moved away from him, drawn back to the window. She stood there, looking out at Rome.

A maid entered, a woman in her fifties who’d worked in this penthouse for years.

"I’ll show you to your room," the maid said to Eve respectfully. "You’ll want to rest before dinner, yes?"

Eve looked at Dimitri, who nodded permission.

She followed the maid away, leaving Dimitri alone in the main room.

***

Marco arrived within seconds of Eve disappearing.

He was carrying a tablet with operational updates and the kind of expression that suggested everything was not fine.

"Your father probably knows you’ve arrived by now," Marco said without preamble. "He’ll be calling soon asking why you’re not at the estate."

"Let him call," Dimitri said, moving to the bar and pouring himself a drink. "I’m not taking Eve anywhere near him."

"Understood," Marco said. "But..."

He was interrupted by Dimitri’s phone ringing.

The caller ID showed: "Father"

Dimitri looked at the phone like it was a snake.

He picked up.

"Yes?" Dimitri said, his tone absolutely neutral.

Antonio’s voice came through the line...angry, controlled, dangerous.

"You brought the American woman with you to Rome," Antonio said. It wasn’t a question. It was an accusation.

Dimitri sat down slowly, settling into the chair like he was getting comfortable for a long conversation.

"My woman goes wherever I go, Father," Dimitri said calmly. "Do you have a problem with that?"

There was a pause on the line. When Antonio spoke again, his voice was ice.

"You have a lot of nerves bringing her here, son," Antonio said. "Have you forgotten what could go wrong with her being here? How do you want the Russo family to take this insult to their alliance?"

Dimitri smiled...a cold, absolutely humorless expression.

"Do I look or sound like I care about your alliance with the Russo?" Dimitri said. "And Lorenzo knows better than to touch my woman, or I will make him regret every breath he’s taken up to that moment."

"That’s very bold talk for a man who doesn’t understand the politics of Rome," Antonio said coldly.

"I understand them perfectly," Dimitri said. "I understand that you made a deal with the Russo to try to control me. I understand that you were using Isabella to bind me to the family alliance. I understand everything, Father. And I’m telling you that it doesn’t matter. Eve is my woman. She stays with me. And anyone who has a problem with that can address it with me."

"Come to the estate and let’s talk," Antonio commanded. "Do not bring your whore with you. We need to discuss something far more serious than your romantic entanglements."

"What?" Dimitri asked.

"I just got intel from my spy at the Russo estate," Antonio said, and his voice had shifted. The anger was still there, but underneath it was something else. Something that sounded almost like concern. "Isabella is missing. And Dante took her."

Dimitri felt something shift inside him.

Isabella.

Dante had taken Isabella.

"Come to the estate this evening," Antonio continued. "I will have your mother prepare for your arrival."

Dimitri’s jaw tightened.

"She is your mistress, not my mother," Dimitri said, his voice cutting and absolute. "I have no family but myself in this city, Father. Remember that."

He ended the call before Antonio could respond.

Dimitri set down his phone and looked at Marco.

"Dante has Isabella," Dimitri said.

"What?" Marco said. "She left with him? Was she taken or did she go willingly?"

"That’s what I don’t know," Dimitri said.

He stood and walked to the window, looking out at Rome.

Marco understood immediately that Dimitri was shifting modes.

"We’ll go to the estate this evening," Dimitri said, still looking at Rome. "My father will give us information about what happened. And then we’ll figure out exactly what Dante thinks he’s accomplished and what we’re going to do about it."

"What about Eve?" Marco asked.

"Eve stays here," Dimitri said. "With full security. No one touches her. No one comes close to her. I don’t care if it’s my father or the Pope himself. Eve doesn’t leave this penthouse except with me."

"Understood," Marco said.

Dimitri turned away from the window.

"Prepare the car," Dimitri said. "We’ll have dinner with Eve first. Then we’ll go to the estate. Then we’ll figure out what fresh hell Dante has started by taking Isabella."