Page 55 of The Don's Soulmate

"Can you believe it, Carlotta? We're finally out!" Sofia screams into my ear, her eyes shining with joy.

"I know," I reply, grinning. "It's been far too long."

“Cocktails, now!” she commands, dragging me forward with her.

We make our way through the throng of people, finding a small table near the back where we can still hear the music and see the dance floor. The bartender catches our eye, and we order our drinks – a mojito for me, and a cosmopolitan for Sofia.

"Cheers to freedom and friendship," Sofia says, clinking her glass against mine. The smile on her face is infectious, and I can't help but feel a surge of happiness course through me.

"Cheers indeed," I agree, taking a sip of my mojito. The cool, minty taste is refreshing, making me feel even more alive.

But as the night wears on, I notice Sofia becoming increasingly distracted. Her eyes keep darting to her phone, and she seems preoccupied with her thoughts. At first, I try to ignore it, hoping that she'll snap out of it and rejoin the festivities. But eventually, her constant checking of her phone starts to worry me.

"Is everything alright, Sofia?" I ask, concern lacing my voice.

She looks up from her phone, startled, as if she'd forgotten I was there. "Oh, yes, everything's fine," she assures me, but her eyes betray that she’s distracted. "I just need to take care of something really quick. I'll be right back, okay?"

"Of course," I reply, nodding. She leaves the table with her nose in her screen and a smile on her face, disappearing into the shadows of the bar. I can't help but feel a pang of anxiety for my friend. What could possibly be so important that it would pull her away from our long-awaited night out together?

After several minutes pass, my concern for Sofia grows stronger. I can't just sit here any longer, letting my imagination run wild with all the possible things that might have happened to her. I gather my courage and stand up from our table, deciding to search for her.

Navigating through the crowd, I try to catch a glimpse of Sofia's familiar blonde hair. The music pulsates around me, its beat thrumming in my chest, but it does little to distract me from mygrowing worry. My eyes scan the dimly lit corners of the bar, searching for any sign of my friend.

"Where could she be?" I mutter to myself as I weave through the sea of people enjoying their night out.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I spot her in the shadows near the back of the bar. She's not alone. She’s in the arms of a man, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. They giggle into each other's mouths, their bodies pressed close together, their intimate actions hinting at a secret lover. I squint through the darkness, trying to make out his face, but he remains a mystery to me.

My heart skips a beat, and my lips curve into a surprised smile. So, this is what had been keeping her so preoccupied tonight! She has found herself a secret romance. A part of me wants to tease her about it later, but I know now isn't the time. She deserves her privacy, her moment of happiness after everything she does for me.

With a soft chuckle, I turn away, leaving them to their escapades. I decide to give Sofia and her mystery man some time together, and head towards the bar to get another round of drinks for us both.

Just when I’m about to reach, I catch sight of someone familiar at the bar. My heart skips a beat and heat flushes my cheeks, but it's not from excitement – it's pure, unadulterated rage.

Ettore Mancini, the man whose harshness continues to echo in my memories, stands there sipping his whiskey, an air of arrogance surrounding him like a dark cloud. He's with a group of men, laughing and talking, their voices drowned out by the pulsing beats of the music.

"Damn you, Ettore Mancini," I whisper to myself, the words barely audible even to me. My heart races, torn between anger and a forbidden desire that threatens to consume me. I know I should stay away from him, but something deep within me yearns for more.

A confrontation. That’s what I tell myself for an excuse. He owes me an apology for abandoning me after making love to me like that.

But, in my heart, I know it’s more than that.

As if sensing my gaze, Ettore's eyes lock onto mine, and my breath catches in my throat. A slow, predatory smile spreads across his lips, sending chills down my spine.

I swallow hard, feeling the walls closing in around me, trapping me in this dangerous game of cat and mouse. But, it’s no longer a game I can afford to play. If I’m even accidentally seen with him, Ugo would have me chained to his bed for eternity.

And so, with a wretched heart filled with sorrow and rage, I turn on my heels and go in whichever direction would get me away from Ettore Mancini.

Chapter 24

Ettore

No. I must be dreaming. One moment, I’m having drinks and the next? I see her.

I’ve been spying on her house for two wretched months, and here she stands in front of me at a bar, of all places? Those same locks, those curves. I could recognize her anywhere.

And then, she turns in my direction. For a brief second, her eyes register the sight in front of her.Me. And then, she looks furious. I know she’s angry at me, and rightly so, after I left her by the roadside for wanting to return to those assholes she calls family. But right now, I don’t feel her anger. All I can focus on is relief. She's safe, at least for now. Her green eyes lock onto mine as if pulled by some invisible force, and I can't look away.

She's dressed in a little black dress that hugs every curve of her body, igniting a familiar hunger in me. I've always had a weakness for the color black on her coffee-colored skin.

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