Page 17 of The Don's Eternal Vows

And now, I could hold its sister, the very one laced around this man’s neck.

My heart races as he continues.

"This coin represents everything my family has become. Our struggles, our triumphs." His eyes, nearly black in the low light, bore into mine. "It's worth more than all the riches I possess."

Without hesitation, Gianni removes the chain from his neck and holds it out to me. "If this can bring Genoveva back, it's yours."

My fingers tremble as I take the coin, recognition flooding through me. It's identical to the one given to me two centuries ago by a desperate king—the coin of life, my salvation.

I close my hand around it, careful not to let my excitement show. "Are you sure?" I ask, giving him one last chance to reconsider.

Gianni nods, his resolve unwavering. "For her, I'd give anything."

Little does he know, he's just given me everything. From within, I find the aches disappear, and my vision slowly becomes clearer.

As I cradle the coin in my palm, I feel the pulse of ancient magic thrumming through my veins, giving me life. The forest outside seems to hold its breath, the trees leaning in closer, their leaves whispering secrets only I can hear. I am timeless, a conduit between worlds, and this moment stretches into eternity.

"You've made a choice that echoes through the heavens and below," I murmur, my voice carrying the weight of countless lifetimes. My eyes, which have seen empires rise and fall, lock onto Gianni's. "Are you prepared for what comes next?"

Gianni's jaw tightens, his dark eyes flashing with determination. "Whatever it takes," he growls, his voice low and gravelly.

I raise my hand, the coin glinting in the ethereal light that seems to emanate from within me. "Then let the veil between worlds part," I intone, feeling the familiar rush of power coursing through my body.

The air around us grows thick, shimmering like heat waves rising from sunbaked asphalt.

"I’ve given you what you asked. What will you do now?" Gianni asks, his voice impatient.

I smile, my teeth gleaming like pearls in the moonlight. "The price has been paid. Now, we dance with fate."

Chapter 7

Gianni

I stand motionless in the dimly lit cottage, my eyes locked on the gypsy's weathered hands as she clutches the chain holding the ancestral gold coin I gave her. The flickering candlelight casts eerie shadows across her face, deepening the creases around her eyes. My heart pounds, a staccato rhythm against my ribs as I wait for her to speak.

"Well?" I growl, my gravelly voice barely above a whisper, impatient for answers. "How do I get my wife back?"

The woman's gaze remains fixed on the coin, her fingers tracing its edges with reverence. The air thickens with anticipation, heavy and oppressive.

Suddenly, a gust of wind sweeps through the cottage from the open window, extinguishing half the candles and plunging us into near darkness. The gypsy's silver hair billows around herface like a living entity, writhing and twisting with the wind. My eyes widen, strange suspicion coursing through me.

"What trickery is this?" I demand, my hand instinctively reaching for the gun concealed beneath my tailored jacket.

The gypsy's eyes snap to mine, piercing and knowing. "No trickery. Only the winds of fate answering your call."

I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, a chill racing down my spine despite the warmth of the cottage. This is more than I bargained for, more than I expected when I followed the directives of this mysterious woman. But for Genoveva, I'd walk through the fires of hell itself.

So, what’s a little uncertainty?

"Tell me," I say, leaning in close, my voice dropping to that near-whisper that commands attention. "Tell me how to find her."

The wind dies as suddenly as it arose, leaving an unnatural stillness in its wake. The gypsy's eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I swear I see eternity reflected in their depths.

"To save a soul from the underworld requires more than coin. It demands your blood and your sacrifice," she says, her voice as brittle as dried leaves.

I clench my fists, nails biting into my palms. "Whatever it takes," I vow, the memory of Genoveva's smile flashing before my eyes. "I'll pay any price to bring her back."

“Ok,” she smiles and walks to a cupboard at the end of the room.

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