Doña Paloma Novels & Stories

“Hurry up. She has to be ready before the Don.” The cook, Martha, peeked in at one point. “Mrs. Mancini,” she said softly, “you look beautiful.” The stylist chimed in, “The Don made a splendid choice in his Donna.” The women chuckled together. I only rolled my eyes. Choice wasn’t the word. By the time everything was done, I could barely recognize the reflection staring back at me. I looked elegant, polished, untouchable. But inside, my chest was tight. “Nora, it’s time to go. The ride is here,” Luca called.

I thugged on Julius's arms and it well got her attention "Oh sorry I don't think we have met My name is Vera Chrysanthos as in Julius's wife" She accepted my handshake with a forced smile on her face that any one could see from miles away and I mirrored her gesture "Julius you didn't tell me you liked red heads I would have died my hair" Was this Barbie being serious I thugged Julius's arm pulling him away with me as I shouted back to her "Sorry we have to go. You too will catch up much later! "

Leandra asks. "You have not done anything have you, baby? Like my name is not done. Her name is not Donna. She is Donna Amelia Romani. She is a Donna in the Italian Mafia. She is the wife of the godfather. They lost their children when she was a baby. Someone kidnapped her and they never saw her again. Donna Amelia never stopped looking for her. That is why I think Rico is here to investigate you. They must have seen you on the Internet and think that you look a lot like Donna Amelia. Am I right, Rico? I thought Don Romani did not want his wife to look for their child anymore. So they said it is upsetting her every time the child does not turn out to be their daughter," Dante says.

It was a conquest, suspended between death and a pleasure so sharp it felt like pain. "You're mine, Nora," he said, biting my neck as he came. Ding. The sound of the shop's bell snapped me back to the present. I looked up. A woman was standing in the doorway. Bianca Torrino. She wore a white Valentino dress, a pearl necklace gleaming under the lights. She wasn't here to buy art. I could see it in her eyes. She was here to mark her territory. "So this is Damon's little painter?" she said, looking me up and down like I was a piece of furniture. "I hear you're good at fixing old things."

And she’s already made something? I shook my head, almost smiling despite everything. Unbelievable. Does she secretly teleport? Does she carry tomatoes and basil in her handbag, just in case of emergencies? “Did you stop somewhere to harvest tomatoes on the way here?” I teased. “Or do you just carry emergency basil in your purse?” Lucia gasped dramatically. “Excuse me? It’s called efficiency.” “Efficiency?” I scoffed. “Your bakery was destroyed, and you’re out here hosting MasterChef: Mafia Edition.”

I never went. Today I changed my mind. I hung up, got dressed, and went. Julie had her arm through Ethan's. They stood at the yacht's railing watching the sea, the crew gathered around them. Someone raised a glass, and Ethan took it from Julie's hand and drank it for her. They looked like newlyweds at their own reception. A good match. You could see it. Even knowing what I'd find, watching it in person was different. I cried. "Donna." Ethan's underboss spotted me across the deck and stopped short. "You're here?"

"We initially bought you as a special present for him as congratulations for becoming the new Don. After all, who wouldn't like such a beautiful bride like you?" The man laughed softly. Then, there was a slight look of regret on his face. "Too bad Don Corleone believes in the ancient rules of Socario. He's fully focused on conducting those boring, legitimate businesses and has no interest in fun, hunting games like this. He left without even revealing himself." He leaned in close to me and licked his lips greedily. "If Don Corleone doesn't appreciate this gift, the rest of us don't mind opening it up for him…"

She responded with a question that made Paloma’s eyes widen in disbelief. “If you are, then you have no choice but to marry the bastard who impregnated you.” Paloma declared and glared at Marcus Madrigal. Marcus didn’t back down from Paloma’s glare but he was surprised to hear Daniella laughing. “Is there something funny?” He inquired. “Paloma is being funny, don’t you agree? Getting married because I’m pregnant? Ha, unbelievable!” She reasoned out with Paloma but the older woman was furious and slapped the table.

"Consigliere, I want a divorce from Cassius. I’m handing back all the businesses under my name. Draft up the papers." The old Consigliere frowned. "Camilla, this marriage keeps the peace between our two families. Can you think this over?" I was the frontwoman for Cassius Marino’s dirty empire for three years. In the shadows, I was this cold-blooded Don's legal wife. A month ago, a Mexican cartel kidnapped me. That night, the cartels blew up my husband's secure line, demanding a thirty-million-dollar ransom. He let it ring. They ended up throwing me into an abandoned meat locker in freezing temperatures. I almost froze to death. Luckily, a butcher stumbled in and dragged me out just in time.

“I’m sorry for what happened. I’m sorry for putting your life in danger. I never meant for any of this to touch you.” My stomach twisted. “Oh my god, you do know her.” He nodded once, it was slow and miserable. “Who is she?” “Her name is Donna Sofia.” He spoke the name like it tasted bitter. “She’s married to one of the old bosses, Don Moretti. Back when Don Antonio adopted me, Don Moretti and Antonio were partners, they were thick as thieves.” He paused, rubbed his thumb across his knuckles like the motion could erase what came next.