Page 20 of The Don's Soulmate

Now inches away from his face, I grab his collar. "Leave now, or I'll make it my concern," I warn, my patience wearing dangerously thin.

"Fuck off," he spits, stepping menacingly towards me despite my grip on him. “That’s my future wife, and I’ll do with her as I please.”

I spit on the floor beside him. This ugly, old man is to marry… her? Impossible. Rage boils within me as I wonder what choices led her to this fate. Poor thing. There’s no way I’m leaving her with this brute.

"Last chance," I grit out, barely containing the fury bubbling beneath the surface. “Leave now.”

“Go to hell!” he snarls, launching himself at me with wild fury. Rage courses through my veins. I am a lethal weapon, and this man has no idea who he's dealing with. Instinctively, my training kicks in. I dodge his clumsy attack and land a brutal punch to his jaw, sending him crashing to the ground. The woman gasps, her eyes wide with shock and relief as she watches him crumple at my feet.

But he doesn’t stay down for long. He jumps back up, and damn it, I’m thrilled to let him have it.

Chapter 9

Carlotta

I must admit, I’m petrified. The evening with Ugo had been a disaster from the start, but I never expected him to exert such brutal dominance over me. Never, in a million years, did I think he would flirt with another woman on our first night out as an engaged couple. How dare he humiliate me like that! If Papa hears this, he will not let it slide.

Outside, the cool night air does little to calm my racing thoughts. I hug myself, trying to stop the shivering. Suddenly, Ugo is there, his eyes dark with fury. Before I can react, he slaps me, the sting sharp and shocking. I stumble backwards. Ugo’s large form bustles me into a side alley, where he slams me against a wall, his fingers clawing at my dress, tearing the delicate fabric.

I struggle, trying to fend him off. My breaths come in ragged grasps, and my pleas sound hollow and frail in my own ears.

Out of nowhere, a stranger intervenes. At first, I only hear his voice, then I see him as Ugo gets out of my face and turns to the man. It’s him. The same stranger who saved my life at the bank. His presence a very welcome beacon of hope in the chaos.

Surprise doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I watch from my place against the wall, heart pounding, as he sends Ugo crashing to the ground. For a moment, I believe that one punch might be all it takes to bring down a vile, weak old man like Ugo for good.

I sigh with relief, my body trembling as a wave of safety washes over me.

But then, Ugo rises again. Of course he does. His pride won’t let him stay down, even if it’s for the better. Ugo hasn’t seen my savior fight before.

But I have. And I already know which way the odds are leaning. If only I knew his name.

My savior slow-claps three times, the sound echoing in the alley. His face breaks into an excited, almost thrilled smile as Ugo dares to stand again.

“You bastard!” Ugo roars, charging at him.

My savior’s smile widens, welcoming Ugo’s attack. With lightning speed, he sidesteps Ugo’s clumsy tackle. In one swiftmotion, he grabs Ugo by the throat, his grip firm and unyielding. Ugo struggles, gasping for air, his face turning a sickly shade of purple as my savior’s fingers tighten around his neck.

I watch, horrified. Ugo’s eyes bulge, and the fight slowly draining from his body. His legs shake, and terror grips me - he might be killed.

“Stop!” I scream, my voice breaking. I can’t be a bystander to anyone’s death, even if it’s the man who assaulted me moments ago. “You’ll kill him!”

The stranger from the bank glances at me with such surprise that I wonder if he forgot I was here. His eyes lock with mine, and time seems to stand still. In this charged moment, the world narrows down to just the two of us. I’m lost in confusion—where am I, why am I here, and who is he?

Suddenly, there’s a sputter and a writhing motion. I avert my gaze, realizing its Ugo, still struggling beneath my savior’s grip. “Release him,” I whisper, my eyes locked on my tormentor.

With a scoff, my savior taunts Ugo. “Are you really that weak?” he sneers, finally releasing him and letting him collapse to the ground.

A creeping horror takes hold as Ugo stubbornly refuses to give up. His desperate, wild kicks aimed at my savior’s shins only amplify the chaos. What chills me more is my savior’s chilling laughter.

“You’re marrying him?” my savior asks, glancing at me with a mixture of amusement and disdain before stepping back.

Relief washes over me as he stops fighting my fiancé, but it is short-lived. Just seconds later, Ugo scrambles to his feet and lunges at my savior again, relentless in his pursuit.

My savior moves with a fluidity that’s almost hypnotic, evading Ugo with effortless grace. Ugo, blinded by rage, can only chase in frustrated, clumsy circles. Meanwhile, my savior, cold and calculating, seems to be toying with him, savoring the challenge.

“I’m going to get you,” Ugo threatens, his chin quivering with rage. “And then I’m going to go after the whore you’re fighting over.”

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