Bound to the Don for a Thousand Nights

Cecilia's POV

"I've made my decision," I said, my voice firm.

Only after my mentor confirmed my name was added to the list did I book my flight and tell Mamma.

She was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Stay safe. If anything happens, contact Enzo Genovese. He happens to be stationed there on a peacekeeping mission."

"I'll contact him," I replied obediently.

After hanging up, I looked up and met Luciano's deep, dark eyes.

"Which Bastardo are you planning to contact?" he asked.

My gaze turned cold as I retorted, "What does it have to do with you?"

As far as he could remember, I'd always been sweet and meek. Even when he exhausted me until daybreak, I would only timidly ask, "Can we continue this tomorrow?"

But now, I was cold and sharp-tongued, like a cat that had had its tail stepped on.

For once, this seemed to amuse Luciano, and he pulled me into his arms.

"Don't be mad. Even if I'm married to Valentina, there's still a place for you by my side."

"What place?" I asked, shoving him away. "The place for an Amante Clandestina?"

Luciano's face darkened at my repeated sharp remarks.

"Don't tell me you actually want me to marry you? Amore, that joke isn't funny. Do you even understand that if I married you, I'd have to—"

His tone was teasing, but it still cut straight into my numb heart.

"You're right. It isn't funny," I interrupted flatly. "After all, we're through."

I promptly turned around to leave, but my phone suddenly slipped and hit the floor. A message from Valentina lit up the screen.

"Last round. Let's make the bet bigger."

Luciano picked up the phone first, his eyes narrowing. "What bet?"

I quickly snatched my phone back, my lowered lashes hiding the panic in my eyes. As calmly as possible, I said, "It's nothing. It's just a joke."

Luciano stared at me, trying to find anything off in my expression. Just then, one of his men called, sounding frantic.

"Sir! Ms. Fiore heard you went to see Cecilia. She got furious and challenged Matteo to a race. She said if she loses, she'll sleep with him!"

Everyone knew how cruel Matteo Barbieri's proclivities were. The women who fell into his hands ended up crippled or even dead.

After hanging up, Luciano grabbed me and shoved me into the car, then sharply drifted into traffic. This was the first time I'd ever seen him panicked. He even ran multiple red lights in a row.

He had always been the type of man whose love was three parts sincerity and seven parts deception.

The irony was that I'd been with him for four years and slept with him a thousand times, yet even those three parts of sincerity had been just an illusion of mine.

But soon, it would all be over.

…

We arrived at the port district soon enough.

Luciano saw Matteo pinning Valentina against a car hood, kissing her. He didn't even bother to park properly before rushing over and punching him.

Then he grabbed Valentina, eyes red with rage, as he demanded, "If I hadn't come today, were you really going to sleep with Matteo, Valentina?"

"What right do you have to ask me that?" Valentina roared back, her eyes just as red. "Weren't you busy with Cecilia?"

"Because I'm your man! The man you're married to!"

Watching them, my heart ached even more. I turned to leave, but Matteo's bodyguards blocked my path.

"Luciano, choose one," Matteo called out.

With a wave of his hand, his bodyguards surrounded us.

Luciano pulled Valentina behind him protectively as he glared at Matteo. "Choose what?"

"Take someone if you want, I've got no problem with that. But rules are rules. Between these two women, you have to leave one of them here. Otherwise…"

The words had just barely left his mouth when a dozen guns were aimed at the three of us.

Luciano's expression was conflicted. Valentina tugged at his sleeve and said, "Luciano, I'm scared…"

He made his decision instantly. "Cecilia stays."

It was an expected answer, but my eyes still stung. The sadness quickly passed, however, as I quickly pressed the emergency speed-dial for the police.

Seeing my reddened eyes, Luciano's heart skipped a beat.

"Amore, I'll come get you tomorrow," he promised softly.

Then he turned to Matteo, his gaze sharp. "You'd better not do anything to her, or I won't hesitate to make your entire family disappear from Carston."

With that, he scooped Valentina up in his arms and left. Leaning against his shoulder, she smiled at me and mouthed, "How pitiful… You lost again."

I scrambled to run, but Matteo kicked me hard in the leg, grabbed me by the hair, and dragged me toward a basement.