All Chapters of The Don's Property: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

ELARA POVMy gaze catches a glimpse of Mateo staring intently at a spot on the far wall as if he’s trying to solve a complex math problem rather than witness... whatever that was between me and Nero.I draw in a shaky breath. I couldn’t possibly want that. There is no way in hell. It was just... a reaction to falling. Nothing else.“I’m fine,” I babble, turning back to Mateo. My voice is breathless, my heart still thudding like a trapped bird. “I was just saying... it's fine. But you can help me if you want.”“Go back inside, Mateo,” Nero’s voice commands from behind.“Okay, sir.” Mateo doesn't hesitate, bowing his head again before walking away so fast like he’s running from a fire.I stare at the shed. At the path. At my own dirt-caked fingers. I look anywhere except at the heavy presence beside me.I can’t meet his eyes, terrified he’ll see that stupid, traitorous want from a moment ago, clear as day on my face. I have to get him gone.“I could really use Mateo’s help, though,” I s

ELARA POVDiana brings me my food the next morning, strutting into the room with a tray in her hands and a knowing look on her face. A look that says she can see right through my ribs to the stupid, throbbing ache in my chest.I push myself up, leaning back on the headboard. "Go ahead. Call me stupid. Tell me I’m a fool. I know you're dying to."She scoffs and sets the tray down on the bedside table with a thud. "Why would I do that, when you are already doing it so well to yourself?"True. I already spent most of the night tossing and turning, chastising myself. How stupid and naïve can I be to think, even for a second that there could be anything cordial between Nero and me. I’m nothing more than a pawn to him, and he’s nothing more than my captor.Sitting on the edge of the bed, she watches me with a flash of motherly tenderness that warms my heart. I don’t mention it, knowing exactly how she gets when it comes to emotion. She'd deny it, probably follow up with a curse, and the mome

NERO POVMy thought comes to a halt when Elara rounds the corner.Long midnight hair is twisted into a high bun, the sinful curves of her body is draped in a bell-bottom jean, and an emerald wrap top.A flicker of unwanted heat coils in my chest, followed by a wave of irritation. Damnit. It’s annoying how good she looks. How easily she reduces me to a man ruled by his basic desire.The plan was to play along with Marco’s so-called deal with the Yakuza. Let him walk right into the trap he either set for me or was too stupid to see himself. On any other day, I’d shut down this obvious ruse, but I needed him to be the incompetent fool he is, one last time.La Cosa Nostra is built on famiglia, and that sentimental crap makes getting rid of a liability like Marco... difficult. They wax poetic about the sacred bonds of family, but this enterprise would be better with my step-brother far away from it.The plan was to sever him from the family business for good, no matter how messy the fallou

ELARA POVGunfire erupts. Men drop where they stand. Screams rip through the air.Before I can think, I’m yanked against a hard chest, the swiftness stealing my breath. My nose presses so hard against Nero’s suit that all I can smell is dark spice and mint. My ears are screaming as bullets fly past us, shattering glass and bone.The world has become a haze of smoke and flashes, each gunshot thudding against my temple like a hammer.Everything crumbles into a nightmare and the air is thick and hot with the tang of blood that coats my tongue and makes me want to gag. Through it all, I’m half-dragged, half-carried toward the exit. My feet stumble over something soft, but I don’t dare look down.My mind splits, skipping the fragments of sound and motion. One moment there’s chaos, and the next, the cold night air lashes across my face.My body is trembling, my lungs is on fire, clawing for air that isn’t there as Nero shoves me into the car.I can’t seem to feel my feet on the seat or my s

NERO POVMy hand trembles... searching for a cigarette pack, anything to stop the disturbing tightening spreading across my chest. I feel like I can't breathe, and I hate it. I hate that she has reduced me to this.As if I didn’t warn her. As if I didn’t tell her this isn’t some child's play, that this isn’t a fashion fucking parade she dressed up for.Now, she wants to leave me. She wants me to let her go.A humorless chuckle rumbles in my throat. Like I wouldn’t if I could. I would have let her go a long time ago, abandoned her on the roadside, by the river, in a remote town, anywhere as long as she was out of my presence. I would have done that if I could, for fuck’s sake.She doesn’t even know the kind of power she has over me, that letting her go physically impossible for me.The hurt in her eyes after I said those cruel words flashes in my mind. Something akin to guilt and regret tugs at the center of my chest, but I stomp it down before it spreads.No fucking way.As I round th