The next morning, Hayla woke with a mixture of excitement and nerves. Ravenna looked different in the daylight—less glamorous, more real. The streets were busy with people going about their lives, completely unaware of the dangerous world lurking behind closed doors, the world Dante commanded.
She had agreed to meet him again, at a café near the old harbor—a neutral ground far from the grandeur of his mansion. As she walked toward the familiar place, memories of their teenage years crept in: laughter by the river, stolen glances in class, promises whispered under the stars. And yet, now everything was heavier, laden with years of secrets and unspoken truths.
Dante was already there, leaning against a railing overlooking the water. He turned when he saw her and smiled, that same confident, slightly dangerous smile that had made her heart race years ago.
"Good morning," he said casually, though the tension in his eyes betrayed him.
"Morning," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
For a few moments, they walked along the harbor in silence. Seagulls cried overhead, and boats bobbed gently in the water, the scene almost peaceful enough to make Hayla forget the reason she was here. Almost.
"So… why now?" she asked finally. "Why reach out after all these years?"
Dante hesitated, then looked at the harbor. "Because the past doesn't stay buried forever. There are things happening… things you need to know. I couldn't let you stay in the dark."
Hayla felt a chill run down her spine. She didn't fully understand what he meant, but something in his tone warned her that the world she had left behind was creeping back into her life.
"Is this… dangerous?" she asked carefully.
"It can be," he admitted. "But you'll be safe, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you."
The words made her heart flutter. Not because they were romantic in a dramatic way, but because they carried a genuine care, a protection she hadn't realized she'd missed so much.
As they continued walking, Dante began to explain some of the challenges his family faced—rival groups, business threats, and the complicated politics that came with his role. Hayla listened, amazed at how much he had grown, and yet how the same boyish determination she remembered still lingered in him.
"You've changed," she said softly.
"And so have you," he replied. "But some things… some feelings… don't change. Not completely."
Hayla's chest tightened. She wanted to ask more, to dive into the why and how, but she also knew this was just the first step. The past and present were colliding, and she had to be ready for whatever came next.
"Then let's take it slow," she said finally. "We don't have to fix everything at once."
He nodded. "Slow," he agreed. "But together."
And for the first time in a long time, Hayla felt a sense of hope. Maybe the reunion she had dreaded so much could turn into something new—a chance to rewrite the past, and perhaps even build a future.