Doña Paloma Novels & Stories

I was about to tell Julio to turn and pick her up but got interrupted by a phone call. "What!" I hissed after picking up "tell him I'll be there in a few" I groaned hanging up. "Drive me to the casino." I told Julio and he nodded. I looked back to where Charlotte was standing but she wasn't there anymore. "Julio have Kaleb follow Charlotte and report every stop she makes to me." "Yes boss." he nodded driving away. ☻ "Don, this is the man she was with." Kaleb showed me a picture of Charlotte standing next to some idiot.

“Good morning, amore mio.” “You were the one thing I wasn’t supposed to want.” La Donna Lena.

“You know someone.” She hesitated, then nodded. “His wife.” Everyone went quiet. “He was married?” Penelope asked. “Yes,” his mother said. “A long time ago. She was sweet. Soft. He ruined her. But she survived. I helped her escape. She lives in Rome now. Under a fake name.” James stood. “Then I’ll go to her.” “I’ll take you,” his mother said. “She trusts me.” Rose stood too. “Then I’m coming with you.”

I told her and she laughed. “Well that's not true because if that man is treating you well then there has been love in that marriage.” “She isn't in the house. After dinner she left with her fiance. She recently bought a house but she hasn't been using it.” Nana laughed. “Typical Andra. She can't live alone for now.” “She may be back any time from now.” “I'm back Nana!!” Alejandra screamed just after Maria finished talking and I laughed at the accuracy.

Every line carved another wound into the Galante family's reputation. My mind felt eerily clear. This kind of noise alone would never bring down a Don. I opened the chat window to send Enzo a divorce message. A notification appeared first. Monica had posted an update. The photo showed her in a VIP hospital room. Enzo sat beside her, carefully feeding her medicine. His movements looked gentle, and his focus never wavered. The caption was brief: [Don Galante has been with me the whole time. Please don't worry. Some women will do anything to compete for favor. She even tried to use an unborn child to control the Don. Thankfully, the Don saw through her tricks.]

Back then, I thought that she was concerned as my friend. She offered to look after Lucio while I was out risking my life, so no one else could take advantage of his weakness. Now I knew what her care meant: Warming my husband's bed. In the third month, for the sake of a deal, Lucio sent me alone to meet Massimo Della Vera: The most unpredictable Don. He sat at the head of the gambling table, toying with a balisong. His smile was laced with danger. "Where's Lucio? Is he dead?"

I thought I would be calm. But when the truth finally came out, my body trembled all the same, and I couldn't stop it. "Heads of the families, I know you all want Louis dead right now, but before he's judged, there's a personal debt I mean to settle with him." I took a deep breath. "I wonder if any of you remember the former Donna of the Vitale family. My mother, Selena Pavano." "Twenty years ago, my brother was barely a month old when Louis's wife Jessica threw him from an upper floor to his death. And my father, Louis, never bothered to learn the truth. He took Jessica at her word and had my mother beaten to death..."

The roses kept coming. Monday: White roses, two dozen, perfect and elegant. Wednesday: Red roses, symbolism so obvious it made Julia blush. Friday: Pink roses with a card this time. Just two words in bold, masculine handwriting: **Soon, dolcezza.** Julia stared at the card, her heart racing. Dolcezza. The same endearment Massimo had used on the dance floor. So the flowers were from him. Of course they were. Who else would send dozens of expensive roses to a broke college student? "This is insane," Kate said, examining the latest bouquet with a mixture of awe and concern. "Jules, these probably cost more than our monthly food budget. Combined."

Grace chipped in. "I've always know you're a coward Grace, who doesn't know you are the only one with the love flu here. You are in love with Armanni." Paloma mocked. I knew a fight was brewing up, if I don't stop it. We might never be able to make plans to escape. "Paloma enough!" I scolded. Paloma got up all of a sudden, crossing her arm around her chest. "Are you with us Grace?" She asked. "What do you mean? Yes, I'm with you." Grace replied.