บททั้งหมดของ The Don's Lethal Desire: บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

Chapter 11: Bitter Cherries and gunsGwen"You need to learn to shoot."I looked up from my breakfast to find Armando standing in the doorway, already dressed for the day. "Excuse me?""A gun. You need to know how to use one." He walked to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. "After last night, it's clear my family isn't going to play nice. Lorenzo will make a move eventually, and when he does, I need to know you can protect yourself.""I stabbed you with a kitchen knife. I think I can handle myself."His lips twitched. "That's exactly why you need proper training. You have the instinct. Now you need the skill."Two hours later, I found myself in a private shooting range beneath the mansion. Armando handed me a sleek black pistol, and I felt the weight of it in my palm."This is a Glock 19," he explained, moving behind me. "Nine millimeter. Easy to handle, reliable." His hands covered mine, adjusting my grip. "Firm but not tense. Both hands. Like this."I could feel the heat of hi

Chapter 13: Apple and inheritanceGwenThe wedding was scheduled for two weeks from now. I'd agreed to it, but the reality felt surreal. Rosa brought me designer catalogs filled with dresses that cost more than my yearly salary. Florists called with bouquet options. A wedding planner appeared at the mansion to discuss venues, as if I had any say in this production."The ceremony will be small," Armando explained over dinner three days after the disastrous meeting with Nico. "Close family and key members of the organization. Too public would be dangerous. Too private would insult people who expect to witness it.""How romantic," I muttered, pushing food around my plate.He set down his fork. "You've barely spoken to me since the coffee shop.""Nico was right about some things. You have been controlling my life. Watching me. Making decisions for me." I met his eyes. "You say this marriage is to protect me, but it feels like another cage. A prettier one, but still a cage.""What would yo

Chapter 15: Rotten to the CoreGwenI woke to sunlight streaming through the windows and Armando's arm draped possessively across my waist. For a moment, I just lay there, processing what had happened. I'd slept with him. Really slept with him this time, fully conscious and willing. And it had been..."I can hear you thinking," he murmured, his lips brushing my shoulder."I'm not thinking. I'm processing.""Process out loud. I want to know what's going through that brilliant mind of yours."I rolled over to face him. In the morning light, he looked younger, softer. Almost vulnerable. "I'm thinking that I should probably regret last night. That I should feel conflicted or guilty or scared.""But you don't.""No. I don't." I traced the line of his jaw. "Does that make me crazy?""It makes you honest." He captured my hand and kissed my palm. "We can pretend last night didn't happen. We can go back to separate rooms and careful distance. Or we can acknowledge that whatever this is between

Chapter 17: Peach Pit and Mrs DenaroGwenThe day before the wedding, Nico called. I almost didn't answer. But when I saw his name on my screen, I couldn't ignore him."Hi," I said softly."Don't marry him." No greeting. Just those three words, raw and desperate."Nico—""Please, Gwen. I'm begging you. Walk away. I'll help you disappear. I have money saved. We can go somewhere he'll never find us.""I can't. You know I can't.""You mean you won't." His voice cracked. "You've fallen for him. Haven't you? Despite everything he's done, despite the danger, you've actually fallen in love with him."I closed my eyes. "Yes."The silence stretched between us. When he spoke again, he sounded defeated. "Then I can't save you. I can't compete with that.""I don't need saving, Nico. I need my best friend to trust that I know what I'm doing.""How can I trust this when you're marrying a man who kidnapped you? When you're living in a world where people get murdered in alleys?" He took a shaky breat

Chapter 19: Bitter Almonds and betrayalGwenThe honeymoon lasted exactly three days before reality crashed back in. I was in the kitchen teaching Rosa how to make my grandmother's almond biscotti recipe, the one I'd learned from a cookbook I'd found at a thrift store when I was sixteen and desperate to learn anything about cooking. The almonds needed to be toasted just right, releasing their oils and that distinctive bitter-sweet scent that filled the kitchen. I was grinding them in the food processor when Marco burst through the door, his face pale and blood staining his shirt."Mrs. Denaro, where's the boss?" His voice was tight with urgency, and I noticed the way his hand hovered near his gun.I still wasn't used to being called that. "His office. What's wrong? Are you hurt?""Not my blood." He grabbed my arm. "Lorenzo made his move. He's taken control of three more operations and he's claiming Camila's support. He's saying she's the rightful head of the family, that Armando was n