A Good Deal: The Don's Life for My Hand

The doctor frowned at the ultrasound screen, his brows tightly knit."Ms. Russo, your body's in a very special condition. You haven't gotten pregnant once in the last seven years. If you terminate this one, you might never get pregnant again."I let out a bitter laugh. "I'm already divorced. I don't want my child to be born without a father."The cold anesthetic slid into my veins, and my consciousness slowly blurred.As everything faded out, I thought I saw the Leone I used to know.He pressed his ear against my belly and smiled, saying this child would grow up to be a card shark, so he'd have to teach him poker from the cradle up.He even called the old Don and said he wanted the luckiest name possible for our baby.He wrapped his arms around me and promised that once he found someone to inherit the casino, he'd take the baby and me out of the family so the three of us could travel the world....All of that tenderness had shattered to dust the moment he told Bliss she was t

After I was discharged, Leone used the family business as an excuse and never showed up again.I was leaving the next day, so while he wasn't around, I went back up to the penthouse suite above the Navarro casino.I took my passport and a few important documents out of the safe.When I stepped out of the elevator, my legs suddenly went weak, and I pitched forward.I didn't hit the floor because a pair of slender hands caught me in time."Are you okay?" a soft, timid voice asked, her face full of concern.I looked up and met Bliss's clear eyes.She wore the casino dealer's uniform, but she still looked completely out of place in it.She didn't recognize me and probably thought I was just some regular guest who had lost everything and was wandering around in a daze."I'm fine. Thanks," I said as I steadied myself, ready to get out of there.Instead of letting go, she kept hold of my arm, tugging me toward the staff break room. "You look really pale. Come sit here and rest for a

Leone stayed in the VIP ward until Bliss finally woke up."Leone, I was so scared I'd lose you..." Her voice was thin and trembling, still caught in the fear of almost not making it out alive.Leone pulled her into his arms, his thumb brushing the sweat from her temple. "It was my fault, tesoro. I didn't protect you. I let you get scared."Bliss shook her head, then suddenly stopped, as though she had just remembered something. "What about the woman who was taken with me? Is she okay?"Leone's eyes cooled, and he didn't answer her question. "Bliss, you're too kind. From now on, I'm never letting you out of my sight again!"He kept patting her back in a soothing rhythm until she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.Then, he turned to his consigliere, Antonio Conti, and gave the order. "Clean out the villa from top to bottom. Anything that doesn't belong gets tossed. Bliss will move in as soon as she's discharged."Antonio nodded and handed him a document. "Don Vieri, this is the

"Search every inch of this city! Bring Anna back to me!" Leone growled into the phone. "Even if she's dead, I want to see the body!""Don Vieri, we've searched everywhere in Navarro. We've checked the hospitals, the docks, and even the underground clinics, but we still can't find any sign of Ms. Russo," Antonio said, his voice tight."Then, go find Jason!" Leone slammed his hand down on the desk. "He got hurt last time, didn't he? He has to be laid up in some hospital. Grab him! I don't believe Anna can stay hidden if he's in our hands!"Leone hung up, his chest heaving, the vein in his forehead standing out."Leone?" Bliss stood in the doorway of the study, looking nervous. "Were you... Looking for someone?"Leone turned around, the ferocity in his eyes not yet gone. Bliss flinched and stumbled back half a step.He drew in a slow breath. "It's nothing. You don't need to worry about casino business."Bliss walked in carefully. "I made some hot chocolate for you. Have some. It mi

I yanked my hand out of Leone's grip with every last bit of strength I had."Leone, our home was destroyed a long time ago! We can't go back to what we were!"His face was deathly pale, but he still stubbornly reached toward me. "Anna, come back home with me. Everything will go back to how it was before..."I looked him straight in the eye. "Leone, if I'd confronted Bliss back then, would you have killed Jason right before my eyes, and then killed me as well?"Leone's eyes widened in shock. His lips moved, and he forced out, "I'd never do something like that!"He was just as fake as ever. He lied to me, and he lied to Bliss too.Jason rushed to my side and raised his gun at Leone. "Anna, let me put a bullet in him!"I lifted my hand, took the gun from Jason, and turned it in my grip. I raised the barrel and aimed at Leone's right hand.I pulled the trigger without a second thought.Leone's whole body jolted. He stared in disbelief at his mangled hand, then lifted his head to l