Page 3 of The Don

Rose enters and closes the door behind her. “So,” she starts and clicks her tongue.

“This doesn’t sound good.” My stomach churns and vomit sits at the base of my throat. Has Dominic decided I need to leave? Where will I go?

“Um.” Rose purses her lips together before reaching for my hands. “We have to go to Ruben’s today.”

My heart hammers inside my chest, waiting for her to give me the bad news—the ‘you have to leave.’ “What time are you going?” I ask in a small voice.

“By ‘we’ I mean us.” She lifts her hand and makes a circular movement with her finger. “You, me, and Dominic. All three of us.”

“Why do I have to go?”

“So.” She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “Dominic wants to take me on a honeymoon.” Oh. “And, Ruben has offered for you to stay with him while we’re gone.”

I’ve imposed too much on Rose and Dominic’s life, and I really should find a place of my own to move into. “I’m sorry,” I say, ashamed that I’ve monopolized her. “I’ll find somewhere to go. I know I’ve been a huge pain in the neck.”

“No!” Rose holds her hand up for me to stop talking. “We’re family, Eliza, and family stick together.”

“I’ve outstayed my welcome.”

“No, you haven’t,” she argues. “Dominic and I spoke about it, and we both want what’s best for you. And with Adrian still out there planning some crazy revenge, we’re concerned about you. You can’t leave.”

“Can’t I stay here?” I plead.

“Ruben and Dominic think it’s best if you stay with Ruben.” I swallow the burn in my throat and lower my chin slowly. Rose kneels before me and takes my hands in hers. “Eliza, has Ruben ever done anything to you?”

“God no!” I say with haste. I still remember the way he looked at me when I walked down the aisle. He refused to tear his eyes away from me regardless of the fact that I was marrying his nephew. His intense focus made my heart flutter and my stomach flip with excitement. But I was marrying him.

“I have to agree with Dominic, Eliza. It’s best you stay with Ruben while we’re on our honeymoon. He’ll look after you, and he’ll keep you safe from Adrian.” I offer her no more than a small nod and a tight smile. “Well, I hate to do this to you, but we’re leaving in an hour.”

“An hour?” I look up at her and feel my heart jump and beat with force inside my chest. “I have to get ready. What do I wear?” I bring my finger to skim across my lips. “I have to wash my hair. What would Ruben like me to wear?” My panic is swiftly escalating.

“Hey,” Rose says and squeezes my hands together. “It’s a casual lunch, nothing over the top. Dominic said it’ll just be the four of us.”

My throat constricts but I manage to say, “Alright.” She has no idea the things Adrian would do to me. How he’d tell me we’d be going out for dinner and to dress nicely, only for him to take me to...

“Eliza, what’s wrong?” Rose snaps me out of my darkest memories. “You’re trembling.”

“I’m fine,” I say while attempting to regain my composure. “You’ll be there the whole time, right?”

“I won’t even go to the bathroom.” She releases my hands and leans forward to hug me. “I know this is hard, but I’ll be with you, I promise.” Rose places a soft kiss to my temple before pulling back and running her hands up and down my arms. “You’ve got this.”

“Yep.” My frantic thoughts and the massive lump in my throat tell me I don’t have this. But I’ll push past it, because I’ll have Rose with me, and I completely trust her.

“I have to get ready. I’m just wearing jeans and a t-shirt.”

“Jeans and a t-shirt? To the Don’s house? No, you need to dress up. Wear a dress, heels, full face of makeup, everything.”

Rose’s eyes widen as she shakes her head. “No. Jeans and a t-shirt. If you want to wear a sundress you can, but you’re not going to go over the top.”

“But that’s what the Don will expect.”

She takes my hands in hers again. “Trust me, please.”

Her pleading eyes force me to nod. “I trust you with my life, Rose.”

Her smile is wide. “Good.” She stands to her feet. “Jeans and a t-shirt, or a sundress.”

I won’t go to the Don’s house in something so casual as jeans, but I can do a sundress. “I’ll be ready in an hour,” I say once I’m on my feet. Rose leaves the room, and I take myself into the bathroom to get ready.

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