Could Dante Vitali Be Even More Dangerous Than Ava — and Will She Return to Reveal Who He Really Is?

🚨🔥 THE VITALI FAMILY IS HEADING BACK INTO SALEM — BUT DANTE MAY BE CONCEALING SOMETHING MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN HIS DESIGNER SUITS AND SUPPOSEDLY “RESPECTABLE” ITALIAN IMAGE! Franco LoPresti officially makes his first appearance as Dante Vitali on September 14, finally bringing Sami Brady’s mysterious fiancé onto the canvas. Dante is Ava Vitali’s cousin, yet he claims he has spent years separating himself from the criminal reputation attached to their family name. The real question is whether anyone in Salem should believe that story — because in this town, the man who works hardest to convince everyone he is not a gangster could easily turn out to be the person they should fear the most.

Key Takeaways

• Franco LoPresti officially makes his debut as Dante Vitali on September 14.
• Dante is engaged to Sami Brady and is also Ava Vitali’s cousin.
• He grew up in Italy and has reportedly made an effort to separate himself from the Vitali family’s criminal history.
• Sami has previously defended Dante, insisting that he has no involvement with the mob-related side of his relatives.
• Dante enters Salem without Sami physically at his side, immediately creating questions about why he is arriving on his own.
• His timing could potentially place him directly in the middle of the DiMera-Kiriakis corporate turmoil.
• There has been no official confirmation that Tamara Braun will return as Ava.
• Braun’s latest run on DAYS concluded in April 2025.
• Therefore, Ava returning to confront Dante remains speculation — but from a storyline perspective, it could create explosive drama.

Dante Vitali has barely had time to establish himself in Salem, and yet he already carries one massive complication.

His surname.

Vitali.

That is hardly a name associated with quiet, respectable European business.

It carries a past.

Bloodshed.

Organized crime.

Ava.

Martino.

Violence.

Secrets.

And enough painful family history to make almost anyone in Salem immediately consider running a complete background investigation.

Still, Dante apparently expects everyone to accept that he is different.

Based on comments Franco LoPresti made ahead of his first appearance, Dante has supposedly spent much of his life attempting to separate himself from the Vitali reputation and the criminal world connected to that name.

On the surface, that sounds completely understandable.

Which is exactly why nobody in Salem should immediately accept it at face value.

Because this is Days of Our Lives.

The show does not introduce a charming Italian relative from a notorious crime family simply so he can sit comfortably at the Brady Pub, drink coffee and have pleasant conversations about imported olive oil.

Dante came to Salem for a reason.

And that mystery begins with Sami Brady.

Viewers are already familiar with his name because Sami previously revealed that she was engaged to Dante.

When EJ discovered exactly who Sami planned to marry, his reaction was essentially:

A Vitali?

You cannot be serious.

Sami immediately defended Dante.

She insisted he had absolutely nothing to do with the criminal side of the family.

She explained that his relatives remained in Italy and claimed that Dante barely knew Ava or the Pennsylvania branch of the family associated with the darker history of the Vitali name.

Perhaps Sami is telling the complete truth.

Maybe Dante really has spent his entire life trying to escape the crimes and reputation associated with his surname.

That possibility could make his character interesting for a completely different reason.

A man condemned before anyone truly knows him.

A man constantly forced to answer for crimes committed by relatives with whom he has almost no relationship.

A man who genuinely loves Sami, only to discover that marrying her means stepping directly into another family just as complicated, dangerous and dysfunctional as his own.

Think about the possibilities.

The Vitalis against the Bradys.

The Vitalis against the DiMeras.

And Sami caught directly between all of them.

That conflict alone could fuel storylines for months.

But one detail surrounding Dante’s arrival feels especially suspicious.

He comes to Salem without Sami.

That allows everyone in town to form an opinion about him before the woman who believes in him is there to defend him.

And EJ is almost guaranteed to have something to say.

Probably quite a lot.

Picture Dante entering the DiMera mansion.

EJ looks him over carefully.

“So.”

Dante answers with a polite smile.

“So?”

“You’re the Vitali.”

Dante’s expression becomes just a little colder.

“And you’re the DiMera.”

Perfect.

Two men carrying infamous family names.

Two men insisting that they should not automatically be judged by the worst actions of their relatives.

Two men who will probably dislike each other almost immediately.

EJ could begin investigating Dante before Dante has even finished unpacking his luggage.

And perhaps that investigation discovers exactly what Sami swore was not there.

Connections.

Bank accounts.

Former associates.

An Italian company that appears completely legitimate until someone notices that it regularly transfers money to another company that is far less respectable.

Suddenly Dante’s supposedly spotless background becomes much more complicated.

Not necessarily criminal.

Just suspicious enough to make the people of Salem uncomfortable.

But there is one person who would probably understand those complications better than anyone else.

And she is currently absent from this storyline.

Ava Vitali.

Tamara Braun’s latest stint as Ava ended in April 2025, and as of now, there has been no official announcement confirming her return in connection with Dante’s arrival.

That detail matters.

Fans may strongly want Ava to come back.

The storyline almost seems designed for her involvement.

But for now, her return remains only speculation.

And what an incredible possibility that speculation creates.

Imagine Dante spending several weeks convincing everyone in Salem that he is the respectable member of the Vitali family.

Elegant.

Charming.

Wealthy.

Cultured.

No firearms.

No hired muscle.

No organized crime battles.

Then one evening, a celebration is arranged in his honor.

Everyone important is gathered together.

Dante lifts his glass.

“To new beginnings.”

The front door suddenly opens.

Ava steps inside.

The entire room goes silent.

Dante slowly turns toward her.

Ava smiles.

“You were always very good at pretending.”

In one moment, the entire storyline would change.

Because Ava could possess information nobody else in Salem has.

Maybe Dante really is exactly the person he claims to be.

And perhaps Ava distrusts him simply because she believes nobody with the Vitali surname can ever fully escape the darkness surrounding their family.

That alone could create an emotionally layered conflict.

Ava could look at Dante and see a version of herself.

Except Dante received opportunities she never had.

Distance.

Freedom.

Choice.

A comparatively normal childhood.

He was not raised directly beneath Martino’s cruelty.

He was not drugged, controlled, manipulated and emotionally shattered in the same way Ava was.

That difference could create deep resentment.

“You were allowed to be normal.”

Dante might respond:

“You could have been normal too.”

Exactly the wrong thing to say.

Ava steps closer.

“You have no idea what that family did to me.”

At that point, the story stops being merely another mob plot.

It becomes a story about generational trauma.

But there is another possibility that would be considerably darker.

What if Ava already knows Dante’s respectable reputation is nothing more than an illusion?

Perhaps his Italian branch of the family was never truly separated from the criminal organization.

Maybe they simply learned how to hide it more effectively.

Ava’s side relied on obvious intimidation.

Dante’s side relied on corporations.

Shell companies.

Political connections.

Offshore accounts.

The same criminal empire—

just dressed in more expensive clothing.

That version of Dante could make him far more dangerous than the traditional Vitali gangster Salem remembers.

Because nobody would realize what he was doing until it was too late.

He would not threaten Philip Kiriakis.

He would invest in Titan.

He would not openly attack the DiMera family.

He would quietly purchase strategic pieces of their business interests.

He would not send someone to frighten Xander.

Instead, he would discreetly acquire the debt that Xander desperately needs refinanced.

Then Salem would wake up one morning and discover that Dante Vitali had financial influence over nearly everything.

That could create a genuinely modern version of a mob storyline.

No machine guns.

No brutal confrontations inside abandoned warehouses.

Just capitalism controlled by a man carrying a very dangerous family name.

And the timing could not be more convenient.

Titan is vulnerable.

The Kiriakis family continues to operate beneath the massive shadow left by Victor.

The DiMeras can barely go five minutes without turning against one another.

Corporate loyalties and alliances seem to change constantly.

Dante could step directly into that instability and present himself as the solution.

Philip needs capital?

Dante has capital.

Xander needs new investors?

Dante knows investors.

DiMera Enterprises requires stability?

Dante proposes a partnership.

Everyone accepts his assistance.

Then Ava returns and shouts:

“What have you done?”

Because she knows precisely where that money originated.

There is also Sydney DiMera to consider.

Her current Monte Carlo poker storyline already places Dante close to some of Salem’s most powerful families.

That could provide the perfect connection.

Poker may not simply be entertainment for Dante.

Perhaps he uses high-stakes games as a way to locate desperate people.

Philip would be an ideal target.

A man desperate to save Titan.

A man willing to risk enormous amounts of money because the legacy of his family appears to be collapsing around him.

Dante watches Philip carefully.

He studies the way he plays.

He identifies his weaknesses.

He learns exactly how much pressure is required before Philip begins making reckless choices.

That knowledge could eventually become worth far more than anything Dante could win at the poker table.

Maybe Dante even loses deliberately.

A few million dollars?

Meaningless.

Not if the loss allows him to discover that Titan is vulnerable enough to eventually purchase.

That revelation would completely change the audience’s perception of every interaction involving Dante.

Sydney might also believe that she is merely working with Dante or playing poker beside him.

But perhaps Dante is quietly using her as his entrance into the DiMera world.

Sami provides the Brady connection.

Sydney provides the DiMera connection.

Philip gives him valuable information about the Kiriakis family.

One man.

Three major Salem dynasties.

That would be an impressive first week.

And then there is Ava.

If she does return, Dante may immediately attempt to destroy her credibility.

And doing so would not be particularly difficult.

Ava has history.

A considerable amount of it.

Dante could calmly explain to everyone:

“My cousin is unstable.”

Technically, there is plenty in Ava’s past that he could use to support that claim.

Ava warns everyone that Dante is dangerous.

Dante simply gives a sympathetic smile.

“She has always had problems.”

Now everyone in Salem must decide who deserves to be believed.

The sophisticated newcomer?

Or the woman with a long criminal history who insists he is deceiving them?

That setup creates almost perfect psychological warfare.

Ava becomes increasingly desperate because nobody believes her warnings.

Dante becomes increasingly convincing because Ava appears more desperate with every accusation.

Then Ava finally discovers something undeniable.

A photograph.

An old financial ledger.

A hidden family document.

Some piece of evidence directly connecting Dante to the criminal organization he claims to have avoided his entire life.

And for the first time, Dante stops smiling.

The mask slips.

Only for a second.

But it is enough.

Enough for Ava to understand that she was right all along.

“Hello, cousin.”

That moment could ignite an all-out war within the Vitali family.

Yet another possibility might actually create an even more compelling story.

What if Dante truly is innocent?

Ava automatically believes the worst about him.

She sabotages his plans.

Damages his reputation.

Attempts to destroy his engagement to Sami.

And eventually discovers that every assumption she made was wrong.

Then Ava becomes the person repeating the same destructive family patterns that she has spent years trying to escape.

That would force her to confront herself in a meaningful way.

Can Ava accept that one member of the Vitali family may genuinely be different?

Can she stop viewing every relative through the damage Martino caused?

Could Dante even become an unexpected ally?

Perhaps Dante arrives in Salem because the Italian branch of the family is facing a serious threat.

Someone may be systematically targeting every remaining member of the Vitali bloodline.

And Dante believes Ava could be the next person on the list.

He did not come to Salem to eliminate her.

He came because he wanted to warn her.

That twist could make the story even stronger.

Ava initially sees Dante as the enemy.

Dante reveals that both of them have the same enemy.

Now two cousins who barely trust one another must somehow work together.

And Sami?

She would inevitably end up trapped right in the middle.

Because nobody marries Sami Brady without inheriting an entire universe of drama.

If Dante is keeping a secret, Sami will eventually discover it.

If Ava uncovers the truth first, she may have to decide whether telling Sami is really the right thing to do.

And if EJ learns the truth before everyone else?

He will enjoy every second of looking at Sami and saying:

“I warned you.”

That fact alone might be enough to convince Sami to marry Dante anyway.

Because Sami Brady has never been particularly comfortable admitting that EJ was right about anything.

For the moment, however, the confirmed details remain much simpler.

Dante Vitali arrives on September 14.

Franco LoPresti portrays him.

He is Ava’s cousin.

He is Sami’s fiancé.

He was raised in Italy.

And he claims that he has spent his life distancing himself from the criminal shadow hanging over his family.

Everything beyond those confirmed facts is where the real intrigue begins.

Is Dante telling the truth?

Is he concealing something?

Did Sami actually manage to find the one respectable Vitali?

Or did she unknowingly become engaged to the most sophisticated and dangerous mob figure Salem has ever encountered?

And somewhere beyond Salem is Ava Vitali—

the one person who may already know the answer.

So is Dante truly that rare member of the Vitali family who successfully escaped its criminal legacy — or will Ava eventually return to Salem and expose the terrifying truth that Sami Brady’s charming Italian fiancé has secretly been the most dangerous Vitali of them all?