Chapter 122: There’s a we.

Monterrio Clan

Dante kissed the old man’s hand before placing it against his forehead.

"Good evening, Grandpa," he said.

His voice was cold, but that was natural for him.

His grandfather looked up at him but didn’t say a word.

Dante frowned, picking up a glass from the table. "Grandpa, are you still angry at me?"

His grandfather looked away, not bothering to respond.

"Grandpa, I have been working on it. I promise."

What he said seemed to finally get his grandfather’s attention.

"I don’t need you to work on it. I need action."

Dante nodded with a sigh. "Of course, Grandpa. We’re going to see results soon. We’re not just watching. We’re taking steps too."

But his grandfather barely listened.

"What steps? It’s been months. Ever since you discovered Serena had found her daughter, this should have been a closed deal. But you’ve spent weeks searching for what’s not missing."

Dante chuckled.

He had always known his grandfather was a man with little patience, but he never understood why it was so important that he got back at the Vassaris.

Yes, his grandfather had always mentioned that Serena was one of the reasons he had lost his parents at a young age. Apart from it being an old feud, this was also revenge.

His grandfather picked up a glass of alcohol, downing its contents in one go.

"I don’t care how you do it, but look at this old man, Dante. I need to see my great-grandson as soon as possible. Nothing is more important."

Of course, the old man was always talking about seeing his great-grandchild as soon as possible, but anytime Dante brought up the idea of having another woman carry his great-grandchild, his grandfather shut it down.

"Dante, this is about the blood of our families. We need to take back what the Vassaris took from us," he always insisted.

When the Vassaris had only a son, his grandfather hadn’t cared. But from the moment he discovered that Serena had a daughter, he had been obsessed with finding her.

"Okay, Grandpa," Dante replied, trying to bring a smile to the old man’s face.

Ever since he lost his parents, the man had been the one to raise him. He had stood by him, and Dante would do anything, even if it included marrying a woman he knew nothing about, just to satisfy his grandfather.

With the response, his grandfather nodded.

"So, how soon should I be expecting her?"

"Very soon, Grandpa. I promise. Very soon."

His eyes glistened with the sort of determination his grandfather had always associated with him.

"We’ve finally discovered who the daughter is," Dante added as assurance.

His grandfather finally looked interested.

"Amie Trevor?"

Dante nodded.

"They have no more chance of playing games with us, Grandpa. I’ll bring her here and make her my wife. She won’t be able to escape the judgment of the Monterrios."

His grandfather finally looked satisfied.

A smirk appeared on his face.

Soon, his grandson would have the Vassari heiress within their reach.

But wealth wasn’t the only thing he wanted.

There was something the Vassaris had taken from him years ago.

And before he died, he intended to take it back.

June was feeding Bingo when Rauf returned from the Vassari mansion.

She had decided to take a break from her investigation. She believed taking a little break would give her a clearer mind when she returned to it.

Rauf paused at the door as he watched her feed the dog.

The fact that he could return home and see her there brought him a strange sense of peace he couldn’t explain.

But instead of returning from the Vassaris assured, Rauf was more confused.

Bingo turned toward him and started wagging his tail happily.

That made June look up too.

"You’re back," she said, trying to hide the smile on her face.

She didn’t want Rauf to know just how curious she was about what he had learned at the Vassari mansion.

Rauf nodded. "Yeah, I’m back."

June shifted on her feet.

"So...?"

She hoped he would catch the hint and tell her everything he had found at the mansion.

"Come on," he said.

There was no point hiding it from June. She was smart, and she would probably discover things on her own anyway.

"Let’s meet in my office. I have a lot to tell you."

It took all of June’s effort not to jump in excitement.

Instead, she nodded as if she wasn’t eager.

"Okay. Let’s meet there."

She led the way toward Rauf’s office and was soon seated in her usual spot, but this time without her jotter and phone.

She barely had time to run to her room to pick them up.

What if Rauf changed his mind before then?

She just had to listen. Whatever she remembered, she would jot down later.

Rauf sat down in his usual seat and relaxed, but instead of starting his narration, he brought out a black card.

"Your mother asked me to give this to you."

June stared at the card.

She knew it was a token to remind her that she hadn’t been forgotten.

She collected it with a small nod.

She would use it well.

"And Chris said he misses you a lot."

For some reason, June felt tears gather in her eyes.

She missed them too.

When Rauf had announced that he was going to the mansion, it had taken a lot of courage for her not to insist on following him.

Rauf noticed the change in the atmosphere.

Before the tears could fall, he told her what they had discovered.

June paid attention as if her life depended on it.

Maybe it did.

When Rauf was done, she moved to the edge of her chair.

"So, what do we do now?"

Rauf stared at her.

Unlike the first time, when he had shunned the word we as if it were taboo, this time he didn’t complain about it.

He only smirked.

June noticed.

There was a we now.

"Don’t worry," Rauf said. "I think we’re still doing the right thing."

June’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"We?"

Rauf’s smirk disappeared.

June smiled.

He rolled his eyes. "Don’t get too excited."

But it was already too late.

She was excited.

Very excited.

Rauf leaned forward, his expression becoming serious again.

"But there are rules."

June’s smile immediately faded.

"Of course there are."

"You don’t contact anyone connected to the Monterrios. You don’t meet anyone. You don’t follow anyone. And if you discover something, you tell me first."

June folded her arms.

"So basically, I do all the research and report to you like you’re my boss?"

"I’m trying to keep you alive."

"And I’m trying to keep myself alive too."

Rauf stared at her for a few seconds before sighing.

"Fine. We’re working together."

June’s lips slowly curved upward.

There it was.

She had won.

Well, partially.

Then she remembered something.

"I found a picture of Dante’s grandfather."

Rauf’s expression changed.

June immediately stood.

"I’ll get my phone."

This time, Rauf didn’t stop her.

But before she could reach the door, his voice stopped her.

"June."

She turned.

Rauf’s expression had become serious again.

"There’s something else you need to know."

June’s hand remained on the door handle.

"What?"

"The man you found in Dante’s picture wasn’t just at the party."

Rauf paused.

"He was watching you."