Page 41 of The Don

CHAPTER28

LEO

The stakes are higher now than before because of her. What happened back there blew me away, and I struggled to get my head back into business.

No matter how much we wanted to, we couldn’t waste any more time and are now heading toward the charity event, wishing we were safely back in bed, shutting the whole world out.

We say nothing, out loud, anyway, but the way Chastity’s hand is gripping mine tells me everything I need to know.

She’s as anxious as I am because we are heading toward the unexpected. The unknown and it’s not a given that we will make it home tonight.

I can’t even reassure her because I don’t have any assurances. Tonight, are the pre-dinner drinks to the main event tomorrow. Only one person will emerge from Ernest Bagway’s office as Don Ortega, and I hope I live long enough to be a contender.

Security is tight, and I have gone over the plan a thousand times in my head alone, but it’s not up to me this time. It’s the person sitting beside me who is wrapped in her own thoughts.

Chastity is retreating from me, in her mind, anyway, and steeling herself for the reason she was brought here in the first place.

Ryan texts me from the car in front. “He’s arrived.”

My heart lurches knowing Carlos Matasso has walked into the charity event ahead of us.

“My brothers?”

I tap back and the reply doesn’t make me feel any better.

“Not yet.”

We have eyes inside and all around that building tonight, and anything I need to hear is being fed back to me. Diana left earlier in her own car and has been there for one hour already.

As we pull up outside the luxury hotel, Chastity exhales sharply. “So, this is it.”

I can’t even look at her because if I do, I will change my mind in an instant and I merely nod. “It will be fine. Just stick close to me and read the room.”

“Of course.” Her voice wavers a little, which cuts me deeply because what the hell am I doing putting this woman in this situation? I should have called it off and locked her in my room because if anything happens to her because of me, I may as well shoot myself because I wouldn’t be able to live with what I’ve done.

The door opens and my men crowd around the car, and I grasp Chastity’s hand tightly and pull her into the madness with me.

We are ushered along the red carpet, shielded from the flashing paparazzi, and as we step inside the marbled reception, my men guide us toward the huge ballroom that is the setting for tonight’s event.

As we reach the huge doorway, they melt back into the shadows, leaving only Ryan acting as the most personal bodyguard.

We help ourselves to a glass of champagne from a smiling waitress, and as we step into the throng of people, I see a flash of red silk in the distance that captures my eye.

“Is that Diana?” Chastity whispers as she follows my gaze and I growl, “Unfortunately, yes.”

She is laughing at something a man in a dinner suit is saying and on closer scrutiny I see it’s Governor Michaels. Her hand is on his arm, and she is gazing up at him with sweet entrapment, and I almost pity the poor bastard.

Chastity is scanning the room and then she stills, her hand gripping mine so tightly I already know who she’s seen. As I follow her eyeline, my heart pounds with rage when I see Carlos Matasso standing beside his wife Giselle, holding court in the middle of the room.

“Stay calm, baby.” I whisper as he glances up and our eyes meet. I’m almost positive he sees nothing in mine but disinterest because I have practiced the art of that my entire life.

I watch as he smirks before smiling at a passing acquaintance and my fists clench as Chastity whispers, “Just so you know, Leo…” She turns her back on Carlos and presses her lips against mine and her voice is soft but laced with deadly intent. “You don’t have to pay me to kill that bastard. I will do it for pleasure.”

I hate that she reminds me I bought her services because that contract has already been replaced with another. A different kind of binding contract that I will devote my life to making work and yet she doesn’t need to know that right now.

We need to get through the next twenty-four hours before I inform her of our wedding contract because if she thinks I’ll let her walk out of my life at the end of this, she’s got another thing coming.

CHAPTER29

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