Page 42 of The Don

CHASTITY

Ialmost can’t breathe. The stench of death lies heavy in the room, and it’s up to me to make sure it’s not here for Leo or me. When I saw Carlos Matasso, I felt myself stiffen with retribution and anger. I ached to march over to him and plunge my knife deep into his heart and cut it out in front of the room full of horrified onlookers. The revenge inside me has taken over, and I am blinded to anything else and there is no way in hell that man will survive the night if I have anything to do with it.

Leo doesn’t need to hear that, though. He told me to stick close to him to keep me safe. I know he is afraid for me. His conditions have changed and purely for selfish reasons. Mine have not. I will avenge my parent’s death and it will be tonight.

As I press my lips against the man I am falling deeply in love with, I pray this won’t be the last time, and I hear an amused giggle as Leo tenses against me.

Pulling back, I turn and see Diana staring at us with amusement as she holds the hand of a man who is a carbon copy of every successful billionaire in the room.

“Leo, darling, meet Governor Michaels. He was telling me how important tonight will be for the many charities he supports.”

The governor stares at Leo with an eagerness that surprises me, almost hero worship, and it’s a little strange.

Leo nods. “Governor.”

The governor trips over his words as he says, “M… Mr. Ortega, I am so glad you’re here. We don’t often see you at these events and I would welcome the chance to discuss some interesting projects I have been working on.”

I can tell Leo would rather claw out his own heart and Diana doesn’t help by saying lightly, “You must come over to the house, Clay.” She bats her lashes at him and purrs, “I insist.”

Her meaning is written across her face for everyone to read and the governor is obviously happy about that as he stares into her eyes and nods, “I’d like that.”

Diana beams at Leo.

“I will arrange dinner one night. What do you say, Leo? Are you up for it?”

It’s as if I’m not even in the room, despite the fact I’m holding Leo’s hand as they treat me as if I’m invisible.

Leo pulls me closer and says with an air of boredom. “Possibly in a few weeks. I have no time at the present. Family business must come first.”

The governor looks put out and Diana’s face falls as Leo smiles at me and says, “I’m getting married.”

I don’t know who is more shocked, me, Diana or the governor and I am spared from reacting at all as Ryan whispers something in Leo’s ear and he says curtly, “If you’ll excuse us, stepmother, Governor.”

As we head off, I whisper, “What the hell was that back there?”

He says nothing and just drops me a wink before turning to Ryan. “Thanks. Perfect timing, as always.”

“Where are we going?” I almost trip over my dress as we walk deeper into the room and Leo snarls, “As far away from them as possible.”

The music starts and I notice several couples taking to the floor and am surprised when Leo slides his arm around my waist and grins.

“Shall we?”

As we start to dance, I rest my head on his shoulder and love the sense of ownership being with him brings.

He holds me as if he’s afraid that I’ll break before he can trap my soul one more time. He is strong, demanding, and arrogant, and yet the sweetest lover any girl could ever wish for. I watched him enter this room, and he noticed nobody of no interest to him. In less than a minute, he had noted the position of everyone of consequence and his mind is working overtime as he figured out his strategy. He is a man after my own heart who I willingly give mine to. I can learn a lot from Leonardo Ortega, and I hope that fate gives me that opportunity.

We dance for three songs, and I wish we could carry on all night. Then he sighs against my cheek and whispers, “We should find Ryan. No matter how much I want to hold you in my arms all night, we are here for business purposes.”

I nod, hating the nature of our business here, but loving the thrill at the same time. I’ve waited too long for this moment, and I can’t allow my attention to be diverted from that.

As we turn to walk from the dancefloor, a shot rings out, plunging the room into chaos. It’s as if everything happens in slow motion as the crowd screams around us and fear enters the room. Leo pulls me hard against him, acting as a human shield and I’m pulled toward the exit just as Ryan charges toward us and from the look on his face, it’s bad.

“Boss, it’s Matteo.”

“Fuck!” The pure agony in that word will live with me for a lifetime and Ryan says with a pained expression, “He’s down.”

“Stay here in the crowd. It’s safer.” Is his parting shot as he races after Ryan and my heart bleeds for him. He can’t lose his brother, he just can’t. He’s already lost so many members of his family. Surely fate can’t be cruel enough to take another one from him.

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