The Emperor (Dark Verse, #3)

by RuNyx

To every survivor, whether you carry your scars on your flesh or in your soul, whether you’ve seen the worst of humankind or fought the worst of fates, you’re still here. This is for you.

“You ever try to leash me, I’ll fucking strangle you with it.” If angels could sing, that was the moment Dante heard the whole freaking choir.

“You’re not going to walk through life, Amara,” he uttered roughly, each word a vow that cemented itself in her heart. “You’ll dance through it. And I’ll fucking remove anyone who tries to break your rhythm. I promise you.”

Yeah, she was fucking important to him.

‘Fate is always weaving its threads, Dante. We just don’t see them until our eyes open.’

Dante went to see her every day, and after a while, he realized she wanted him to.

Years passed. She became his person.

She became his person. She became his.

“I will kiss you and brand myself upon your heart, Amara,” he told her quietly. “Just make sure you’re ready for me to.”

“You’re the beat to my heart, Amara,” he whispered against her mouth, pressing his forehead to hers, and something that had been wilted inside Amara unfurled, opening, soaking, blooming in the emotion she could see in his eyes. She was the beat to his heart and he was the beat to hers, both of them pulsing together. Maybe, they were both the same beats. Maybe, theirs was the same heart.

“What if I get hurt?” she whispered into his jacket. He pulled back so she could see him, his eyes solemn, soft, sincere on hers. His face dipped closer and he pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “Then, I’ll kiss your scars.” And just like that, the little of her heart she’d been holding onto was his.

DANTEEEEEE😭

Fuck, no, she didn’t break. Not his fierce warrior queen.

“That ‘common little whore’ is going to be the mother of my children one day, father,” Dante smiled at the man. “Your grandchildren. The future Maronis.”

“You’re in my blood, beating in my fucking heart. The only way you go is when the heart stops.”

“But I can’t give you more than that right now. I tried staying away, letting you live your life. Fuck, I’ve tried-” he pressed his forehead to hers. “I can’t, Amara. You’re the beat to my fucking heart.”

“I would wait for you for an eternity, Dante Maroni,”

“One day, I’m going to put my ring on that finger, Amara,” he grit out, pushing up another inch into her. “One day, I’m going to put my babies inside you. Just wait for me, baby. Please wait for me.”

“You” thrust “are” thrust “mine”.

“You’re the queen on the board, Amara. You’re my most powerful piece, but my most vulnerable. They get you, they get me, and the game is over. So, I’ll do whatever I need to make sure they never get you. Even if that means hiding you like my dirty little secret for the time being.”

“Nobody touches you, Amara, or I’ll spend a lot of time cleaning up a lot of blood.” “And same goes for you?” she asked, just wanting to confirm. “I’m not a hypocrite, baby,”

“So, will you play with me, my queen?” Amara looked into the eyes of the man she loved, saw that same love reflected back at her, and sealed their fates. “Yes, I will, my king.”

Home. He felt like home.

It was time. Time for him to take the throne. Time for him to find MrX. Time for his queen to come home. Lorenzo Maroni’s countdown had begun.

Not one motherfucker in this place is touching you or my child.

“This hell is my kingdom now, Amara,” he told her, his eyes solemn. “As long as I’m alive, it won’t touch you. And I intend to live a very long, very happy life with you.”

“You are a fucking warrior queen, and I’m so proud of you,”

“As soon as we walk out that door, you’re going to see a side of me tonight you’ve never seen before. I’m going to slaughter them, and you’ll have to see that. Think you’ll love me after?” She gripped his wrists, nodding. “In sickness in health, in life in death, in murder in mayhem, isn’t that how it goes?”

“You’re the beat to my heart, Amara.” “And you’re mine,”

“You’re mine, Amara. Mine to cherish, mine to protect, mine to love. We may not be husband and wife to the world but I have been married to you in my heart for eight years. And no matter what comes at us, we will get through it together. We build our empire together. No more running. Promise me.” “Even if we lose the baby and I can’t give you any more?” He tightened his grip on her hand. “Even then.”

“Give me your dreams and your nightmares, your pleasure and your pain, your fantasies and your fears. Give me everything. Be my queen outside, and my filthy girl inside,” he hammered his hips into hers, his words coming out rough, gritty, raw. “And make me fucking yours, so everyone who looks at my ring knows I have you finally. Say yes, Amara.”

“You’re my magnum opus, Amara,” he told her, pressing his forehead against hers, a move that always brought the turmoil in him to a standstill. “And I am your humble servant.” “No,” she whispered, her words falling against his lips. “You are my emperor.”

“You’re the beat to my heart, Amara. Now, she’s a beat too.” She wiped the lipstick from his mouth. “And mine.”