Lahat ng Kabanata ng Bound To The Mafia Don: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

FLORAThe sound of gunfire filled the air as Dante threw himself over me, shielding me with his body. His warmth pressed against me, and his heartbeat thundered against my back as bullets ricocheted around us."Stay down!" he ordered. His breath felt hot against my ear.A black SUV screeched to a halt beside us, and Dante's security team poured out, guns drawn as they returned fire into the darkness."Go, go!" Dante shouted, moving urgently and half-dragging me toward the vehicle.We were almost there when one of his men cried out, immediately falling to the ground in pain. Blood spread across his white shirt like spilled wine."Mario!" Dante yelled. His voice cracked with genuine emotion for the first time since I had known him.Together we hauled the wounded man into the SUV. I pressed my hands against his wound as Dante slammed the door."Drive!" he ordered. "Get us out of here!"The driver hurriedly pulled away from the curb, the tires screeching against the pavement. I expected h

FLORA The drive to Mount Sinai Medical Center was a blur. Dante broke every traffic law in existence as his Maserati wove through cars like a missile. I sat frozen in the passenger seat while my mind kept racing with worst-case scenarios. "She'll be okay," Dante said. His voice was unusually gentle. "I've already called ahead. The best specialists are waiting." I couldn't even respond. My throat was too tight as fear enveloped me. This was exactly what I had been dreading. It was the nightmare that kept me working two jobs and made me sacrifice everything I could. When we arrived, Dante didn't bother with parking. He left the car in the ambulance bay, and tossed the keys to a security guard with a handful of bills and instructions to "keep it close." No one objected. Even here, his authority was absolute. When the Assistant Head Specialist in charge of the Nephrology Department, Dr. Adams met us at the elevator, his face was grim. "Her kidneys have completely failed," he explained

FLORAThe plane descended through clouds that hung like cotton over the Sicilian countryside. I pressed my face against the window, taking in the patchwork of vineyards, olive groves, and small villages nestled in the hills. Dante sat across from me in his private jet, watching my reaction with something like anticipation in his eyes."It's beautiful," I said. My voice was still raspy from the attack."Wait until you see the estate," he replied. There was pride in his voice. "It's been in my family for generations."We landed at a small private airstrip where two black SUVs awaited us. The men who greeted Dante spoke rapid Italian, and their manners were respectful but familiar. These weren't employees; they were family.An hour's drive through winding roads brought us to massive iron gates emblazoned with an ornate "R." They swung open as we approached, revealing a long driveway lined with cypress trees.At the end stood what could only be described as a fortress disguised as a vill

FLORA"I'm going back. Now." My voice echoed through Giovanni's study where he had gathered his advisors to discuss Dante's situation. They hadn’t agreed to let me leave Sicily as had been planned earlier, and I had resisted vehemently, so the conversation was escalating quickly.All eyes turned to me, their expressions ranging from surprise to annoyance."Now that I think about it deeply, leaving is out of the question, Flora," Giovanni said firmly. "We don't know who orchestrated this attack. Until we do, you have to remain here where it's safe."I stepped forward, my fear for Dante overwhelming any caution I should have felt. "I'm not asking for permission. I'm telling you I'm leaving for America immediately."A muscle twitched in Giovanni's jaw. It was the same way Dante's did when he was angry. The family resemblance sent an uncomfortable shiver through me."You don't give the orders here, girl," one of the older men said."Enough, Paolo." Giovanni silenced him with a look before

FLORAMy head throbbed terribly as consciousness returned. The harsh smell of rust and decay filled my nostrils as I tried to move, only to discover that my wrists had been bound tightly behind me. Panic immediately surged through my body as my eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering in through the broken windows high above.When I looked around I could see that I was in some kind of abandoned factory. Water dripped steadily from pipes overhead, creating small puddles on the concrete floor. Rusty machinery was scattered about in the shadows."She's awake," a voice called out.Footsteps echoed across the empty space as Vincent Ricci stepped into view. His expensive suit looked out of place in these dilapidated surroundings. His son Anthony lingered a few steps behind him, and he made it a point to avoid my gaze."Ms. Miller," Vincent said. His voice was surprisingly calm. "I apologize for the accommodations.""What do you want?" I croaked. My throat was dry from lack of hydration.Vin