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Chapter 3.15
Last Updated:
2024-11-03 13:00:15
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Claim by the Don Chapter 3.16
Melanie’s POV “Whoa there! You look like you’re about to commit murder,” Hayley commented when she saw me approaching the nurses’ station. “Sorry, it’s just Lydia,” I said and Hayley frowned at the mention of her name. “She’s really such a pain in the ass, huh?” “You have no idea,” I murmured. “Ignore her, she just derives pleasure in being a bitch,” Hayley said. I wished I could, but fate was so freaking cruel sometimes. “I just need to concentrate on work,” I said. “Speaking of work, I don’t think my patient is going to make it,” Hayley said. I knew the patient she was referring to but I still said, “The trauma patient who’s in a coma?” She nodded. She was a woman in her early thirties who was brought in as a result of a car accident. What’s worse was that the driver, who had a heart attack while b
Last Updated : 2024-11-04Claim by the Don Chapter 3.17
Melanie’s POV I’ve never been the most sociable person. I was somewhat of a shy person. Case in point, I had one close friend throughout high school. Her name was Hannah. We did almost everything together and I even considered her my best friend. But she got into UCLA and although we made a promise to keep in touch, Hannah suddenly stopped picking my calls and responding to my texts. I wasn’t so dumb that I couldn’t read the message she was trying to pass along. She had moved on and probably made cooler friends in Los Angeles so she no longer had need for me. Since then, I’ve been very careful not to get too close to people. We might be friendly but I always maintained healthy boundaries in order to avoid sending mixed signals. Sure, it wasn't the best way to live and I sometimes felt lonely but it was better than subjecting myself to the possibility of another rejection. The few dates I
Last Updated : 2024-11-05Claim by the Don Chapter 3.18
Melanie’s POV I just shot myself in the foot but I didn't care. It was obvious Nurse Betty just wanted to spew her venom at me and I was no longer having any of it. Without saying another word, I turned and left her stunned in the break room. The moment I opened the door, I saw other staff scampering away and trying so hard to look like they weren’t paying attention tto what had just gone down. “What did she want?” Hayley asked when I got back. “You should know by now,” I answered. She frowned. “That bitch, Lydia has spread her lies to our CNO,” she said. I nodded in response not having enough strength to banter with her. "I've heard stories of how Nurse Betty was unfair but I never paid much mind to it because I didn't work closely with her, now I believe it wholeheartedly." “It’s no big deal,” I said and her eyes bulged ou
Last Updated : 2024-11-06Claim by the Don Chapter 3.19
Adriano’s POV “How’s our new physician doing?” Nik asked. I swear sometimes he forgets I’m his boss and not just his friend. “She’s fine,” I answered blankly. “Now why did you barge into my office?” “I just came to see my friend,” was Nik’s jovial response but I knew that wasn’t all there was to it. “This is working hours so tell me exactly why you’re here,” I said. “It’s about, Marcus,” he said. “I found out he wasn’t working alone after all.” I nodded. We had already suspected that so it was no longer news. “Is that all? You don’t have any more news of his associates?" "I haven't been able to identify who it is but word on the street is they're Russian," Nik answered. Adriano didn’t like the sound of that. A number of Russians have tried to take over their territory over the years but none have been successful.
Last Updated : 2024-11-07Claim by the Don Chapter 3.20
Melanie’s POV I should have known that Alice wasn’t the type to hover. When she knocked on my door a few minutes prior, I told her I wanted to be left alone so the fact that she was knocking louder on my bedroom door after only a few minutes frustrated me. But imagine my shock when I found Adriano standing on the other side of my bedroom door. Well, technically all the rooms in the house belonged to him but who cares, he couldn’t live in all of them. He raised an amused brow at me. “Are you going to answer my question or keep staring at me?” he asked. I recovered from my shock and glared at him. “What do you want?” I asked. “I want to know what the hell happened to make you want to starve yourself in my house,” he answered. I scoffed. How dare he? “I’m afraid you don’t have any right to tell me when I can eat,” I said.
Last Updated : 2024-11-08Claim by the Don Chapter 3.21
Adriano’s POVI remained in my study late into the night.I was still too agitated to go to sleep. I shouldn’t have fucking asked her what she wanted me to do with them. I should have known better.Melanie was too fucking innocent to hurt even a bug, even if that bug stings her one too many times. I, on the other hand, would have quashed the bug before they even had a chance to sting me.This just made me realize just how different we were. She was light while I was my soul was encased in so much darkness.If I had a conscience, I would have let her go after she momentarily lost her temper. But I’ve killed way too many people to worry about my conscience.She just needed a little time to come around and even if she never came around, it doesn’t matter.A knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts and Alice walked it carrying a tray.“I’m busy, Alice,” I said, knowing exactly why she came into my study.“You need to eat, sir,” she said, setting the tray on my desk.“I’ll eat late
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Claim by the Don Chapter 3.22
Melanie’s POVThe hairs on my neck tingled and I turned to see the elevator doors closing.For some reason, I felt like I was being watched but I quickly shook off the thought.There was no way Adriano could have reneged on our agreement not to have me watched.Or could he?“Are you okay?” Hayley asked.I turned back to her.“Oh, yeah I’m fine. I just thought I saw someone,” I said.“Expecting anyone in particular?”I shook my head. "No, I guess it's just my mind playing tricks on me. By the way, what were you saying earlier?"“I said you look like you’ve got enough sleep last night. I don’t see the worry lines that were on your face yesterday,” she said.And she wasn’t wrong. Considering the fact that I was plagued with thoughts of Adriano last night, I surprisingly had a good night’s sleep.Plus, I apologized to Alice for my behavior last night and she showed me she had forgiven me by making me the most delicious breakfast.Even Ralph didn't look at me with as much concern as he did
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Claim by the Don Chapter 3.23
Melanie’s POVMy shift went by surprisingly smoothly. I still got a few weird looks but it was easy to ignore them.It was amazing what not caring can do to one’s mental health. I felt so much lighter now that I didn’t have to worry about people’s opinions of me.Yes, they already had a skewed assumption but I didn’t really care. I had a job to do and that’s what I focused on.By the time Ralph drove me home after my shift, I wasn’t even as tired as I normally would’ve been.“Someone had a good day,” Alice said once she opened the door.“Well, you’re right about that. Today was a good day, save for a few hiccups during the day,” I said.“That’s good to know. I’m glad you had a good day,” she replied smiling warmly at me.I paused at the stairs.“Alice?"“Yes, dear.”“How come I never see anybody else in the house? I remember seeing another maid after my first night here but I hav
Last Updated : 2024-11-26
Latest chapter
Claim by the Don Chapter 147
Adriano’s POVSix months later…“Now that we’re done with the ceremony, can we go on a proper tour of New York like I was promised?” Danny asked.Roselyn hit him upside the head and said, “Don’t be insensitive. Today is your sister’s day.”“Ouch, Mom! That hurt,” he complained.“And you deserve it,” Melanie’s voice cut into the conversation.“There’s my favorite nurse!” Sam yelled.“Dad, tone it down,” she said.“Nonsense. I would shout it at the top of my lungs if I had to so you can know how proud I am of you,” he replied.She smiled at her father and went to hug him then she did the same with her mom and brother who all congratulated her before she stopped in front of me.“I always knew you were something else, little nurse,” I told her. “From the first day I set my eyes on you, I knew you were better than the rest of us.”“Stop it you’re going to make me cry,” she said.I opened my arms and she stepped into me for a hug.My girl was finally a registered nurse and today was her gra
Claim by the Don Chapter 146
Melanie’s POVThe ride back to the house was very quiet.Throughout the ride home, I couldn’t help but think that none of this would have happened if I just had a conversation with Adriano.He was the man I fell in love with and even though I left him, he didn’t hesitate before coming for me.I know he was very relieved in the heat of the moment but I couldn’t help but wonder what was going to happen once the adrenaline wore off and he could think a bit more clearly.One thing I knew was that I was going to spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to him.Adriano was more honorable than people knew. I never thought I would be one of those women who would be pleased because her man killed people for her but as it turned out, I was one of those women.He pulled up to the house, which seemed to have more security guards on duty than normal and I knew it was all because of me.A few hours away, we were celebrating Christmas in bliss but I just had to go and ruin everything for every
Claim by the Don Chapter 145
Adriano’s POVThe warehouse was a hive of chaos, but I didn’t hear the shouting or the echoing footsteps behind me. All I saw was Melanie. She sat bound to a chair, her face pale, and her lip split, a streak of blood trailing down her chin. Alex Pushkin had a gun pressed to her temple. My blood ran cold. I raised my weapon, keeping my voice steady. “Let her go.” Behind me, my men spread out, weapons aimed and ready. They waited for my signal, but I couldn’t give it—not yet. One wrong move, one miscalculation, and Melanie could die. Pushkin laughed, a guttural sound that grated on my nerves. “You think you scare me? I’ve killed better men than you.” His hand twitched, and I saw the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. Good. He was scared, even if he didn’t want to admit it. Fear made people sloppy. I needed to buy time, distract him long enough for my men to position themselves. “Erica,” I said, shifting my focus to the woman who stood off to the side, smug and self-satisfie
Claim by the Don Chapter 144
Melanie’s POVI woke up to the biting chill of a dark, unfamiliar room, my head pounding as if it had been split in two. My wrists ached from the tight ropes binding them, and my ankles felt just as constricted."You’re awake," Erica drawled, her tone laced with mock concern. She folded her arms and leaned against the rusted frame of the door, watching me like a predator eyeing its prey. "How are you feeling, darling?" I didn't respond. My throat was dry, and my words caught somewhere between anger and fear. God, how could I have been foolish enough to let, Erica manipulate me? I should have known that she was up to no good when Alice told me that Adriano left her at the altar.I guess now I was paying the price for my foolishness."Cat, got your tongue?" she asked, smirking. "Or maybe it’s the shock of realizing you’ve been so incredibly stupid." Her words stung more than I cared to admit. I should have known better. Adriano had always been honest with me in his own way, even w
Claim by the Don Chapter 143
Adriano’s POVSomething was off.I didn’t know what but the moment I ended the call with Nik and sat down to work, something in my head kept nagging at me.At first, I thought it was the unusual silence in the house but I figured that was because everyone was probably asleep.I had expected Melanie to come find and chastize me for taking too long but since she didn’t, that meant that the day finally got to her and she succumbed to sleep.My girl was a rockstar tonight, and like I expected, she had my entire family eating from the palm of her hands throughout the dinner. I was sure they saw exactly what I did from the moment I set my eyes on her.By now Nik should be mobilizing the guys to infiltrate the last warehouse. He got intel that Pushkin finally moved all the girls to one place and he just got the location. I trusted Nik could handle this without me, after all, he had just singlehandedly negotiated a new deal with the Irish.Tonight I was going to end it sleeping next to the wo
Claim by the Don Chapter 142
Melanie’s POVThe cool night air felt like needles against my skin as I hurried down the street, my duffel bag slung over my shoulder. My legs felt like lead, but I pushed forward, every step putting more distance between me and the house that was once my prison but later became my home. The streets were quiet, the kind of silence that normally would have scared me, but tonight I welcomed it. I avoided the well-lit areas, sticking to the shadows, hoping none of Adriano's guards would see me. My pulse raced with every second, and my breath was uneven.I had no idea where I was going, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was getting away and I was lucky enough to have been able to avoid the guards. I guess the weeks of walking the grounds and studying their routine paid off.Luckily, a cab finally came into view at the corner of the street, its headlights a beacon of hope. I flagged it down, my arm trembling as I waved. The driver, an older man with kind eyes, rolled down the window.
Claim by the Don Chapter 141
Melanie’s POVThe first image made my heart stop.It was of a young girl who was barely a teenager. She was sitting on a dingy mattress in what looked like a warehouse, her eyes hollow, her body too thin. Behind her, a shadowy figure loomed a man I didn't recognize but I could bet my life on it that it was her oppressor.My throat tightened as I flipped to the next photograph and the next. Each one was worse than the last. Girls, so young they could barely be called women, trapped in squalor, their faces etched with fear.I couldn't breathe.At first, I thought, no, and hoped that this was evidence Adriano had gathered to shut down a trafficking ring. It had to be. He couldn't possibly be involved in this. He could kill a man but there was no way he was responsible for harming innocent girls.But then I saw it, rather I saw him. And there was no mistaking the fact that he was the one because I recognized Nik beside him.They were both holding onto girls and leading them to God knows w
Claim by the Don Chapter 140
Melanie’s POVWe rode home in comfortable silence. I was too full and happy from the good food and great company to say anything further.Plus, I couldn’t take my hands off the bracelet. It was just too beautiful. I’ve never owned anything as expensive as this and I was so scared to ask him how much it cost.We already exchanged gifts in the morning so I wasn’t expecting anything more from him.In a not-so-surprising turn of events, Alice was still awake by the time we got home.“For a moment I thought you both were going to spend the night there,” Alice said when we got into the living room."It's really late, Alice, and I'm sure you've had a long day. You should be sleeping," Adriano said.“I couldn’t sleep when I knew how important today was to Melanie. I was too anxious to know how it went,” she replied.“Well, you can rest easy now because it went very well,” I told her.Her face lit up with a smile and she gave me a quick hug, making me laugh.“I told you, you had nothing to wor
Claim by the Don Chapter 139
Melanie’s POVThe soft glow of candlelight and the twinkle of garlands wrapped around the staircase banister made the dining room feel almost magical. The air was thick with the aromas of roasted meats, spiced wine, and fresh-baked rolls, making my stomach grumble in anticipation. Platters of steaming food filled every inch of space. Roast beef surrounded by caramelized vegetables, golden potatoes dusted with rosemary, bowls of vibrant salads, and an assortment of bread rolls that looked fresh out of the oven. When we heard no movement on the steps, Zoey gave a sharp clap of her hands and called out to the men, her voice cutting through the hum of conversation. “Dinner is ready! Boys, come join us!” she said.I heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs as Adriano and the rest of the men made their way over. Adriano entered first, his presence commanding as always, but his warm smile was reserved for me alone. My heart gave a tiny flutter, and I smoothed my dress nervously. As
