บททั้งหมดของ Tempted By The Don : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

The drive back to Reggio Calabria was the kind of silence that tasted like smoke, thick, heavy, clinging to the lungs even though the danger had passed hours ago. Hours after the crawl out of Vibo, blood still dried dark under Talana’s nails and the locket sat cold against her collarbone like a second pulse. The coastline blurred past the car windows, moonlight slicing through the glass in thin silver lines that crossed her lap and vanished into the dark. Salt air leaked in through the vents. Somewhere far below the road, waves kept hitting rock like they had all the time in the world. Talana sat stiffly beside Massimo, arms folded, gaze locked on the darkness beyond her own reflection. They had survived and escaped Vibo Valentia, but survival didn’t feel like victory, it felt more like a warning with its teeth still in her skin. Every so often Massimo’s hand tightened around the steering wheel until the leather creaked. His jaw was clenched so hard she wondered if he could feel the

Drake's men, defeated yet again by Massimo’s men, headed for the hospital, blood oozing from the chest wond of the second man who was shot by Gianna. “We can’t... we can’t go to a hospital,” he gasped, his knees buckling. “The boss needs to know. Morelli’s not going to stop here."."Shut up and keep moving. We need to get you patched up before you bleed out. I know someone who owes Drake a favour. If we make it there...” Enzo growled. The injured henceman's body went limp, and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed as he slid to the ground. Enzo grabbed him, shaking him violently. “No, no! You don’t get to die on me!” But it was too late. His head rolled to the side. His face pale and his chest no longer rising.“Damn it!” Enzo's voice cracked, his fists clenched.Just then, in the silence of the night, Enzo's phone buzzed. A message from de Marco himself. Report Now! the message left no room for argument. "Fuck! how do I tell the boss he lost another man," he pondered. Flipping op

Talana sat in the on-call room, her fingers gripping the edge of the desk as her heart continued pounding. Half an hour later, Gianna and Lorenzo walked in. "Talana," Gianna walked over and hugged her best friend. "Massimo will be here by 2. He instructed me to bodyguard you," Lorenzo affirmed. It was then Talana realised that Gianna was different. "And now?" she asked, smiling at her friend."And what?" she answered back nonchalantly. Gianna couldn't contain her feelings, and neither could Lorenzo. Bending his head, he kissed her on the forehead and put an arm around her. "Ahhh, my friend has found her match," Talana smiled in agreement with the arrangement. "I'm so happy for you, G. Lorenzo is a good guy." There were a few interim emergencies to see to between the time that Lorenzo arrived and the time that Massimo was arriving. It was just before 2 when her phone buzzed. Massimo's name lit up on her screen. Massimo: I’m here. I'm on my way to you now.Relief crashed ove

The banquet day had finally arrived. Massimo and Talana had left early that morning to the Sanchiano Estate in Catanzaro. On arriving, they were received by Don Sanchiano and Mariano, her uncle. "Welcome home, my child," her grandfather greeted with a kiss on either cheek."Grandfather, it's still early. Would you mind if I rested a little longer?" she asked, batting her eyelashes with that puppy dog look on her face. "Carlo," he called the butler, "show my granddaughter and Don Morelli to their room"Room?" she whispered to Massimo, just audible enough for him to hear. Massimo grinned, "Guess the old man figured it out already."Later that morning, while taking a walk around the luxurious estate, Talana began to feel a little on edge. She knew her grandfather would probably be announcing that his granddaughter was back and that she was the heir to the Sanchiano family as well she would be the new Dona. Talana wasn't ready for them to know who she was, not just yet, not when ther

Setting her down on the edge of the bed, his hands cradling her face. "Look at me, angel," he commanded, his voice low, firm.Talana’s lashes fluttered, her breath still heavy, her body still warm. But clarity started creeping back in, threading through the haze of forced desire. Her eyes stayed locked onto his, and for the first time in what felt like hours, she felt grounded."I’m here," she whispered, exhaling shakily. "I'll be okay."Massimo exhaled sharply, his forehead resting against hers. "You scared me." His gripped her tighter.She let out a weak chuckle, her fingers tracing the hard planes of his jaw. "It’s going to take more than Valentina’s pathetic little schemes to break me."Massimo pulled back slightly as his eyes searched hers, reading every flicker of emotion. “The second you took both doses, angel, you nearly lost control.”Talana smirked, but it was softer now, less sharp. “I knew I could count on you to save me."Massimo shook his head, his thumb brushing over he