When The Don's Pride Crumbled At My Feet Novels & Stories

“Don Colleo spoils Sophia silly. He rented out the penthouse for the night and hired a jazz band.” “Tsk. When I went to deliver the drinks, Sophia was sitting on the Don Colleo’s lap, serving fruit up to his mouth. Imagine that.” “Seriously, how many times has this happened now? The last time she sulked, Don Colleo gave her a beachfront mansion straight away.” Without stopping, I shifted my gaze to the shadowed area of the club. The emergency exit was left ajar. “Does your chest still hurt, Vincent? You can only have eyes for me. Stop thinking about Evelyn.” Sophia pouted.

I swallow the words like broken glass. "I'm here because you summoned me. Like a dog." His eyes narrow. "Watch your mouth." "Or what?" I step closer. "You'll ground me? Take away my allowance?" I laugh, and it comes out bitter and cold. "I am the Don now, Father. I give the orders. I make the decisions. Not you." "This family—" "This family is mine. You retired. You handed me the reins. You don't get to grab them back every time you disagree with my choices."

"Oh, right. Don Rossi said he's taking me to tonight's negotiation. Since nobody is waiting for you at home anyway, once you get back to the estate, wash the carpets by hand. "The red wine you splashed during your last tantrum is still there. Don Rossi said it annoys him every time he sees it." Unlike before, I didn't glare at her coldly and simply nodded. "Okay." She was clearly satisfied with my obedient response and let out a disdainful snort. "So you've finally learned. And don't forget, even though you used to be the Costa family's principessa, you're still a long way from becoming our don's donna."

She held her swollen cheek, her eyes full of unyielding arrogance. "Lorenzo, you said that as long as I was willing to come back to you, you would support me in whatever I did." Sofia smiled somewhat disappointedly. "It seems I placed too much hope in you." She strode away after she finished speaking, with Lorenzo immediately following to explain. Just then, Sofia stumbled and accidentally bumped into the half-demolished sculpture. With a loud crash, accompanied by Lorenzo's strangled cry, the sculpture fell on top of them. Blood stained the serene face of my mother that was carved into the sculpture.

“It would have made things easier.” “Easier?” “For you.” Ethan stared. Don exhaled carefully, wincing slightly at the pain it caused. “Everything that touches my world is stained with blood.” His voice was low. Measured. But Ethan could hear the exhaustion beneath it. “The safest thing for you would be to despise me enough to walk away if I ever gave you that chance.” The confession struck deeper than Ethan expected. Because for the first time, Don sounded uncertain. Vulnerable. “I thought if you hated me…” Don continued, “then when this was over, leaving would be simple.”

“It’s not what you think!” But Vincenzo didn’t listen. His gaze remained locked on me as I slowly pushed myself up from the ground, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. The Don stepped closer, towering over me with pure rage. “You have one minute to explain yourself, Black,” he said, voice dangerously low. “After that… I start breaking bones.” I quickly got to my feet, blood dripping from my split lip.

Scarpa shut his eyes and clutched his chest in agony. The truth was a sharp blade that sliced apart five years of pride and illusion. He thought he was the judge. The savior. But in the end, he was just a clown. I turned toward the elevator, unwilling to watch him crumble. "Viviana!" he called out in a hoarse voice. "I'm sorry." I didn't stop. "Don Falcone, sorry is the most useless word in the world. It won't give me back five years. It can't erase the stain on my name. My debt is paid. Now watch closely as I grind you beneath my heel."

"Domenico, even the audio in that video is synthesized. Can't you hear it? Someone's framing me! You can't do this to me!" "Framing you?" Domenico laughed like he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He shook his hand and flung me away without hesitation. The back of my head slammed hard into the steps of the auction stage. Blood ran down from my forehead and blurred my vision. Before I could catch my breath, a leather shoe stomped down hard on the hand I was trying to use to push myself up. The sound of bones shattering was unmistakable. My whole body convulsed from the pain. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

So you're going to start acting like it. Something inside me snaps and I start laughing loud like a maniac. ‘This is insane,’ I say, wiping at my face from the tears that are stinging behind my eyes. ‘You’re insane. This whole thing is insane.’ Dante watches me and instantly, he is in front of me, grabbing my neck. ‘Get used to insane, doll. It’s your new life.’

"So she's the traitor from back then. I didn't even recognize her in that getup." "The Don treated her so well, gave her endless riches, and she went and sold out the family anyway. She walked him right into the enemy's trap. He nearly died." "If the Donna hadn't caught the leak in time, the Castellanos might have been wiped out." "Tsk, she had it coming. A woman like that, forget paying, I wouldn't take her even for free." I listened to their grating words, my chest heaving. Because I'd come today only to do the job my boss assigned me, not to stand there being priced and judged.