All Chapters of Claimed By The Don: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

**DANTE**"You're sure it's them?"Marco's voice cut through the smoke in his office. I stared at the photographs spread across his desk. Vittorio Santoro. Nico Santoro. And a younger one I didn't recognize."The Santoros requested the meeting themselves. Sofia's casino, two hours." I kept my voice steady even though my hands wanted to shake. Five years I'd waited for this. Five years of learning, planning, becoming someone my family wouldn't recognize."And you're going to sit there and talk peace with the men who killed your family?" Marco lit a cigar, watching me carefully. He'd found me half-dead from grief and stupidity five years ago, turned me into something useful. I owed him everything, but that didn't mean he owned my choices."I'm going to gather information. See what they want.""Information." He said it like he didn't believe me. "Dante, I took you in because you were smart. Don't make me regret that by doing something stupid tonight."I met his eyes. "My father was worki

**DANTE**Marco was waiting in my apartment when I got back from Sofia's casino. He sat in my chair, drinking my whiskey, looking like he was deciding whether to kill me or just break a few bones."You put your hands on a Santoro at a peace talk." He said it quietly. That's how I knew he was furious. Marco only got quiet when he was ready to do violence."I saw the ring.""I don't care if you saw God himself. You don't sabotage years of planning because you can't control yourself." He stood up. "I should cut you loose right now.""Then do it.""Don't test me, Dante."We stared at each other. Finally, Marco sat back down. "Sofia called with a proposal. A marriage alliance between you and Alessandro Santoro."I laughed. "That's insane.""It's brilliant. A legal marriage means shared assets, shared interests. Neither family can move against the other without destroying themselves.""I'm not marrying a Santoro.""Yes, you are. Because I'm ordering you to. And because it's the perfect posi

**DANTE**Lucia's bakery opened at six AM. I made sure Alessandro was awake at five. Dark circles under his eyes, hands shaking as he tied his shoes."Coffee?" he asked quietly."No time. We're late already.""You said six.""I changed my mind. Move faster." I headed for the door. "And Alessandro? Lucia doesn't know about the marriage yet. I'm telling her today. With you there."His face went pale but he followed me out.The drive took twenty minutes. Making him walk yesterday had been excessive, but he'd questioned me in front of Tommy. I couldn't have that."Lucia knew my whole family. Watched my sisters grow up." I pulled up outside the bakery. "And you've been sending her money for years. Did you think I wouldn't find out?"His jaw tightened. "I was trying to help.""You were trying to ease your guilt. There's a difference."The bakery smelled like bread and cinnamon. Lucia looked up when we entered and froze."Dante." Her voice was careful."This is Alessandro Santoro. I think yo

**DANTE**The funeral was a circus. Every major family in the region showed up to pay respects and assess the power vacuum. I stood beside Alessandro in the front row, a visible claim that the alliance held even in death.Nico watched us from across the casket, murder in his eyes."He's going to kill me the first chance he gets," Alessandro whispered."He'll have to go through me first.""That's what I'm afraid of."The service dragged on. When it was Alessandro's turn to speak, his hands shook so badly I thought he might drop the paper. But his voice came out steady."My father was a complicated man. He built an empire on blood and strategy. He demanded loyalty above everything else." Alessandro paused. "He also tried to save lives when he could. Not many knew that about him. I hope that counts for something."Short and honest. More than Vittorio deserved, probably.After, Nico cornered us near the cars."You're really going through with this marriage.""We don't have a choice," I sa

**DANTE** Two weeks after Alessandro gave up his name, Marco summoned us both to a meeting. The entire Moretti crew was there, studying Alessandro like he might explode. "We have a problem," Marco said. "Nico's been hitting our supply routes. Three shipments intercepted in the last week. He's bleeding us dry." "He's testing the alliance," Tommy added. "Seeing if we'll actually protect Alessandro or throw him back." "We protect him," I said immediately. Marco raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Three weeks ago you wanted him to suffer. Now you're ready to go to war for him?" "The alliance…." "Don't insult my intelligence. This isn't about the alliance anymore." Marco lit a cigarette. "Alessandro, what do you know about Nico's operations?" "Enough to hurt him. If you want me to." The room went quiet. "You'd turn on your brother?" one of the soldiers asked. "He stopped being my brother when he disowned me. And he's been hurting people for years. I'm done protecting him.