Donned in Black: A Dark Mafia, Enemies to Lovers Romance by Vice Sara

Author:Vice, Sara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Ellie

The next few days are tense. Donny’s full crew gathered to handle the news of his father’s passing. Now that his inner circle agreed on a path forward, it’s time to spread the word.

There’s no more beating around the bush with me either. I’m part of every meeting, and no one dares challenge Donny on it.

I mostly hold my tongue, because there is a respect I owe to Sal and Scar. They’ve protected me in conversations, and never treat me like a second-class citizen – which is worlds away from my upbringing.

I feel like I belong here. And the demons that keep whispering, trying to shake my resolve – that this life isn’t normal, and I’m only kidding myself – I keep them locked in the darkest parts of my mind. I can live with this, can’t I? I’m not the one out there getting my hands dirty…

Besides, the Russian job looms over my head like a grim reaper’s countdown. I don’t have time for any other thoughts. Four days until I’m part of the largest heist of my life. Endless kilos of snow, and me, the faux bird. One thing goes wrong and we’re all dead. There’s too much money at stake.

Terrible thoughts enter my head. Impossible ones. Like… did Don Gio die too soon? There was an element of protection he provided for this job. Even if he was to have no more contact with Vlad, he could’ve made phone calls if need be.

What would be the cost of him being alive, though?

Me.

Something that would’ve broken me had Donny not intervened. Guilt dances with every interaction. That this job got three-times more dangerous because of his protective actions.

Imagine… feeling guilty for my warden.

But that’s not the case anymore, is it? It’s in the past. I’m closer with him than I ever have been with anybody.

My dad is a close second after Mom passed. Except I was always at arm’s length in that relationship. Here? I’m wrapped in them.

Donny tries to the break the tension on a drive into the city. A hospitality director owes him a favor, apparently. It makes me think maybe the mob isn’t dying a slow technologically-driven death. It’s just pivoting into different shadows.

Growing up Rigiano certainly made me feel the opposite. All traditional havens sluggishly dried up like a polluted swamp in the desert. Small-business bullying, restaurant shake-downs, bank heists – they were all things of the past.

The Valentinos, however, are proving adaptable. They were forced this way. And I’m shocked to see how many people he’s got on the inside of corporate America.

I walk into a modern all-glass hotel in downtown Manhattan called The Hedgar and can’t help but notice the giant piece of metal art swirling from the high-ceiling, and the azure-colored walkway of fine marble leading to a sleek black desk.

“Mister Valentino.” A man in a black suit and a name-tag that reads ‘Arthur’ greets us. He walks slowly with his hands behind his back and smiles wide when he meets eyes with Donny.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.