The Don's Replacement Bride

Valentina's POV

“Hurry up!” The harsh voice bellowed in my ears. I quickened my steps even as the weight of the bag in my hands slowed me down.

“Once I get to the car, I'm leaving,” dad's voice came sharply. He was ahead of me, a hand in his pocket as he strutted.

“Come on dad, please,” I paused as I had to drop the bags. The groceries were heavy and he knew it. We were supposed to take two trips to put it in the car but he decided I should take everything— and still catch up with his long steps.

I quickly reached for some of the bags and rushed to the car. “Please dad,” I begged as I took the second trip to get the remaining groceries, “please do not leave yet.”

Just as I reached the bags, a car sped by, the tires screaming against the asphalt, a raw metallic shriek that ripped through the air.

I gasped as I watched the car skid to a halt, right by dad's side before the engine died. What… why were they by dad's side?

All my words vanished when the front door of the car opened and a leg stretched forward wrapped in heavy combat boots and tailored trousers.

The figure followed, a lady in a fitted leather jacket. She twisted her neck before she reached for the back door, and pulled.

Then the figure stepped out. And that— that was probably the tallest man I've ever seen in Miami.

He stood tall, like a structure looming ahead. His dark coat, structured and heavy, hung open just to reveal his black shirt underneath. He raised his hand and with how far I was, I saw them glisten in the air.

Rings… were lining his fingers.

Yards away, I watched as the man shut the door and the lady bowed to him before my gaze flicked to dad who was suddenly glued in place.

Something was wrong… dad never had to cower.

The lady tilted her head, reached for her tailored dark pants and pulled out a weapon. With the way it glistened afar, I knew it was a knife.

She flicked it in the air and I froze with how perfect she caught it. Then she stepped closer to dad and I gasped.

“No!” I screamed as I took to my heels immediately.

The lady threw the knife to the man and it rolled in the air before he caught it, and at once, dad drove to his knees, hands clasped, causing me to stop in my tracks.

Dad was begging. That means… these people… they weren't ordinary.

Whatever the words were, I couldn't hear but they both turned to me.

I froze and my limbs went numb as I held a stare with the man. His facial structure was defined even from afar. And his jaw was locked. The lady then pointed at me, before turning to dad.

A final statement left their mouth before the lady reached for the car and pulled it open for the man to get in, and before I knew it, the engine roared to life, speeding past me.

I sprinted towards dad instantly. “Who were those people!” I screamed as I reached for his hands, helping him up, “why did you kneel? Who are they?”

“Get to the car,” dad's voice shook before he pulled away from my help, “get to the car, Valentina!”

“Then tell me who those people are! Why did you have to kneel!”

“I said get in the car!” Dad barked, eyes red. I flinched before I blinked, and turned to the bag of groceries laying ahead.

“The groce…”

“Leave it!” Dad bellowed as he headed to the car. I followed immediately, tension thick as he drove while I wondered what was going on.

As I opened my mouth to speak, dad beat me to it, “no words from you, Valentina.”

I gulped, my chest tightening. It was bad. For dad to be that tense, trouble loomed ahead.

Soon, dad pulled into the driveway. He got out, dashing to the entrance and I followed. As soon as he got in, he called my sister… or better, my step sister.

“Camila!”

Camila stepped out from the kitchen, a mug in her hands, “do not call my name like that,” she was about to whine before she stopped, catching dad's look, “what's it, Papa?”

“He wants his money!’ Dad dropped the bombshell and my eyes widened.

With the situation, I knew what it could be. “The… mafia Don… the one you mentioned then?”

“Yes.”

“What?” I screamed. “I told you not to take the loan. I told you to stay away from such danger! I told you, dad.” I ruffled my hair frustrated, “see, he made you kneel. What do you think he would do next?”

“Just stop, okay?” Camila scoffed, “It's just a loan.”

“Well, you better pay it back for him, Camila” I gritted and took a step. I barely took two steps when dad's cracked voice resounded in the room, “he wants it tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” I turned, eyes widening but the next words that left dad's mouth made my eyes almost pop out of the socket.

“We pay back tomorrow or… he takes one of you.”