Black Rose in the Abyss Chapter 3

The smile faded from Dante's face. "Bianca, you're going to make a scene like this over an outsider?"

She didn't speak. Slowly, she took the ring off her finger, placed it on the desk, and turned to leave.

Sitting in her car, she received a call from an unknown number.

"Miss Bianca, hello. This is the Valenti Family from Chicago. It seems you know the whereabouts of our young master who was lost many years ago?"

Bianca's grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Although Dante never said it, she knew he had always wanted to find his biological parents.

So, she had been privately helping him search. Only a few days ago, she confirmed that Dante was the young master of the Valenti family—one of the Five Families—who had been kidnapped by enemies twenty years ago.

She had planned to surprise him at his birthday party in two weeks.

She had even figured out how to convince that ancient, traditional family to accept his background in New York.

She wanted to ensure he wouldn't have to choose between her and his kin.

Now, there was no need.

Her red lips parted slightly. "I can tell you, but I have a condition."

"In two weeks, take him back to Chicago."

"And make sure he never returns to New York."

Hanging up, she slammed on the gas and returned to her own turf, attempting to numb her heart with work.

By the time Bianca closed the last file, it was late at night.

The office was so empty she could hear her own breathing. Suppressed emotions surged up.

She grabbed her car keys and headed straight for the abandoned industrial port in Queens—the sanctuary for underground racing.

Extreme speed allowed her to briefly forget she was human, that she had a heart, and that it could bleed.

"Isn't this the Mafia Queen?" A sleazy voice interjected. "What, got dumped and came here to drown your sorrows?"

It was one of Rocco's brothers, nicknamed "Viper."

Since Dante smashed Rocco's place for Mia, the feud was set.

Bianca didn't even lift her eyelids. "If you want to die, just say so."

Viper pointed to the broken bridge in the distance, smiling sinisterly. "Let's play. Just one lap. The loser drives their car into the Hudson River."

A death pact.

The surroundings instantly went quiet. All eyes focused on Bianca.

"Fine."

Her voice was calm, carrying a trace of weariness.

The next second, two modified cars shot out like arrows from a bow.

As soon as they hit the curve, Bianca realized her brakes had been tampered with. Viper’s mocking laughter roared beside her. She didn't care. She stomped on the gas pedal.

She was gambling to see if Satan dared to take her life.

Just as her car crossed the finish line first and careened toward the edge of the broken bridge, a blinding light cut in from the side.

Bang—

A loud crash. A silver-grey sports car intercepted her less than ten meters from the riverbank.

Airbags exploded. The impact left Bianca dizzy.

She struggled to turn her head and saw Dante walking toward her from the nearly totaled sports car.

He pulled open the door, reached out a hand, his voice hoarse. "Bianca, get out."

Bianca looked at the blood flowing from his forehead, soaking the collar of his silk pajamas. Her heart, already riddled with holes, still twitched with pain.

She took Dante’s hand.

After confirming she was okay, he turned around and punched Viper in the face. "You have a death wish!"

"Dante, are you sick?!" Viper spat out bloody foam. "Yesterday you almost killed my brother for that Mia girl, and today you're playing the devoted lover for Bianca!"

That sentence instantly sobered Bianca up. Unwilling to watch this farce any longer, she turned to leave.

Heartache was one thing; forgiveness was another.

"Bianca!" Dante quickly chased after her, grabbing her wrist. "Stop being mad. If you want, hit me a few times."

Just as she was about to say she wasn't mad, she heard a timid female voice:

"Dante..."

Both turned to see Mia standing not far away. She was wearing a white nightgown, hair messy, missing a shoe, standing barefoot.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you..." Mia bit her lip, her eyes red. "I saw you leave in a hurry after a call. I was worried something would happen, so I followed."

After saying that, she turned to run.

Dante frowned, intercepting her in a few strides. "Don't run around. There's broken glass everywhere."

Bianca’s gaze landed on the two of them.

One in black, one in white. Their matching silk pajamas were blindingly harsh in the night.

It was truly touching that she still held enough weight in his heart for him to leave the beauty in his bed to come save her.