Page 67 of The Don

She sobs. “Growing up in the same house was paradise. I idolized that man. He was the big boss, the macho don, who everyone respected and feared. I desired him. I loved him and all I wanted in life was to become his wife. The woman who slept beside him and he loved with a passion. A better wife than the one he had, I would make sure of it, and I bided my time. I crept into his heart when no one was looking and as soon as he saw the girl had become a woman, he wasted no time in educating me what that meant.”

Her eyes are sad as she whispers, “I hated it when he fucked our mom. I wanted it to be me, and yet he wouldn’t give her up. That night I made sure she found us because I wanted to tear them apart so I could lie in her place. When we were sent to live with Mario, I wanted revenge on Carlos and fucked his son instead. I wanted to prove I was worthy of being a mafia wife and he would regret ever sending me away. I told him that Mario had been murdered and I would help bring his killer to justice. I physically ached for him to need me, to want me, to not be able to live without me, and finally, it was happening. We had plans, so many plans, and then that bastard murdered him on the same day we were going to get everything we had worked so hard for.”

Chastity darts forward and snarls, “Domenico never murdered Carlos. I did, and for your information, it was the fucking easiest kill I have ever made. He was an amateur.”

The fire in Chastity’s eyes is a sight to behold as Diana screams and lunges toward her. Before I can react, Chastity punches her hard in the face and as Diana falls to the ground, yells, “Come on, I’m begging you. Take your shot.”

Diana stares up in horror as she realizes the strength of my woman and as she stands, she heads off in the opposite direction to the edge of the terrace.

“Fuck you.” She swings around and stares at us from the edge and screams, “Go to hell, the fucking lot of you!”

As the last word falls from her lips, a shot rings out and we watch in shock as her white dress stains with blood. It happens in slow motion as she stumbles forward, her eyes wide with pain and disbelief as her life leaves her body along with her mind. A second shot rings out that hits the back of her head because she falls forward, the blood pouring from the wound in the back of her skull and as we stare at the scene in disbelief, three shadows come up behind her, their faces obscured by the glare of the sun.

“Did you miss me, brothers?”

An angel’s voice wafts on the breeze toward us, and we stand as one and head at speed toward the shadows who emerge into the light. I stare in disbelief as Eliza tosses the gun behind her, her smile lighting up the remaining shadows in my heart.

CHAPTER46

ELIZA

It’s so good to be home. I stare at my brothers with unusual emotion because I wasn’t sure how I’d react when I saw them again. They look as I feel, and I’m overwhelmed by the relief and love shining in their eyes.

I glance down at the body of the woman who destroyed our lives and enjoy justice that she died on the exact spot where my mother took her last breath. Destiny perhaps, but definitely karma, and as I turn to my left, I smile at the man who made this possible. My husband.

He smiles with a pride I’m kind of getting used to and nods toward my brothers, who are staring in disbelief at the scene before them.

“Go to your family, my angel. Tell them what they need to know.”

“Really?” I’m a little shocked at that and turn to Baron, who has rare emotion in his eyes as he stares at the body of the woman at our feet.

“Is that ok with you?” I ask him and he nods. “Of course.”

As I step forward, my family crowd around me and I don’t believe I’ve ever been so happy. It’s as if my life has turned full circle in this moment and explanations give way to emotion for once in our lives.

Once the introductions and greetings are out of the way, we sit at the large table as a family of sorts. I sense the curious glances of the women beside my brothers and smile at them, loving the happiness they have brought into their lives. It’s obvious to me because I have that same happiness with my own dark soul and as Malik rests his arm along the back of my chair, I lean back into it, loving the comfort it always brings.

They listen intently as I tell them my story and what happened when they all left. The fact Diana is dead is probably something she should be grateful for because my own suffering at her hands makes for hard listening.

If anything, it brings them more pain than thinking I was dead and I don’t miss the scrutiny with which they regard my husband, who deals with it in his usual mysterious way.

When I finish, I turn to Baron and say shyly, “I’ll let you explain the rest.”

As always, merely staring into Baron’s enigmatic eyes causes me to shiver because I will never work this man out. He holds secrets I doubt will ever surface, and he guards them with a black heart and a wicked smile.

He faces the group and says huskily, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Baron, a friend of your sister and her husband Malik. You may be wondering why I’m here. Let me explain.”

He stares at my brothers and says with no emotion. “Our mothers were sisters.”

Leo doesn’t react and Matteo looks interested, but Dom says roughly, “Then why did we never meet, or even know about you?”

Baron shrugs. “Because your mother was estranged from her family. She chose Giovanni over her birth right and turned her back on everyone from her past.”

Leo glances at Dom and says in his deep, husky voice. “Where are you from?”

Baron says dismissively. “I live in New York and work for the government. That is all I can tell you except why I am here.”

He stares around the group with his usual malevolent gaze. “I came with Eliza to see justice done. The last person responsible for the death of my aunt and to make sure her family has rightfully gained what was stolen from them.”

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