Don's Pov Cowen walked into my domain - just a side of the diner that I had gotten extra comfortable in. He wore a serious look on his face. "Don. I've got something," Cowen said, handing over the bag. The small bag containing the camera tapes. I raised an eyebrow."Tapes from the cafe and mall. I think you'll find them interesting."My eyes widened. He had done the job real quick, just like I wanted it. I quickly inserted the first tape into the player. The coarse footage showed Luke entering the cafe with my wife, but the most interesting was his face was visible.Just like I predicted. This was all I needed."Is this...?" Cowen's voice trailed off.I nodded. "Luke, aka Salvatore. His face is on our database. It's a match." I turned over the laptop to Cowenas he checked Salvatore's file. I had requested that Romano send them to me this morning.My expression turned fierce. "I knew it. He's been trying to play us all along."However, there was more. The second tape showed Luke meeti
Don's POV I adjusted myself in my seat, crossing my right leg over my left as I scanned the packed hall. Today was Claire's diploma verification award day, and I couldn't miss it for the world. My girl was finally graduating and would soon be able to pursue her career as a luxury event planner. The auditorium buzzed with excitement, filled with graduates, families, and friends. Claire's university had transformed the space into a celebration hub, with balloons and streamers adorning the walls.The uniform clapping of persons present in the hall distracted me from the COD game I was playing, making me raise my head. In a bid to show some iota of respect to the gray-haired man who had just finished talking, I joined in the clapping which soon came to a stop. My eyes darted to where the graduates sat and after moving over the heads and profiles of different men and women, I finally spotted Claire. She sat aglow in her graduation gown and her hair was styled perfectly. Her make-up arti
Claire’s POVMy head swam. “Luke is Salvatore” Don’s words reverberated in my head. How was that even possible? Luke and Salvatore were clear opposites. So, how could Salvatore be Luke? “Don, that’s impossible. Luke can’t be Salvatore. Salvatore is a Mafia Boss, Luke on the other hand can’t even hurt a fly”“Wait until he hurts you. I guess that’s when you’ll believe me” Don replied, eyes on the road. Although it was dark, and aside from the car’s headlights, the ceramic tints of the car made us see perfectly well as if it were morning. “I need proof, Don. I just can’t swallow what you said hook, line, and sinker”He tapped his breast pocket repeatedly before sliding down to feel the pockets of his tailored pants. “Are you looking for something?”“Yes, my phone. The proof that you so badly need is in there”“You tossed it in the backseat when we got into the car, remember?”“How come I‘m having memory lapses? I mean, I’m not even forty yet”“Boy, you getting old” I spanked the bac
Claire's PovI coughed, my eyes hurting from the thick smoke filling the air. The sound of baby Nolan's cries rang through the confusionI wrapped Nolan around me as I tried crawling out of the mess, The ceilings were breaking and the smoke increased. Elyse gripped my arm, her eyes wide with fear."What happened?" Don shouted, his voice gruff from the smoke. He reached out to where Elyse and I were and carried us on both sides and proceeded to put us beside the door, going back to check the rest of the people inside.I opened the door immediately putting baby Nolan outside to the cool breeze, the baby coughed and I feared he was going to choke. "Please, please Nolan" I cried."Claire…" Elyse coughed very hard as she held onto the door, she had a slight cut on her forehead and the glass was still stuck in it. "You're hurt…" she pointed to my legs.I saw glass also stuck to my legs and I was bleeding, but I didn't care, I paced further and further to get baby Nolan to breathe properly a
Don’s POV I tapped my fingers gently on the steering wheel, my eyes locked forward as I waited in the traffic cue. The traffic light had shown red, signaling everyone to stop. Elyse was in the passenger seat playing a game. We were returning from the hospital where we went to see Claire, Madam Desideria, and Romano. The explosion had left a very ugly aftermath. Claire bled while Madam Desideria and Romano were injured in their arm and legs respectively. It was a good thing the doctor had arrested the bleeding the moment she was rushed to the hospital. He had called it spotting and said that it wasn't critical, so both mother and child were safe. But he mentioned that her pregnancy was delicate, hence she needed a lot of bed rest when she got back home, to avoid further complications. I couldn't stand losing either Claire or our unborn child so I was going to see to that meticulously. Madam Desideria and Romano, on the other hand, had severe injuries and needed a lot of medical att
Don's POV:---I called for a cook to clear the table, my mind still on the explosion. I didn't finish my food because my appetite was poor. Once the table was empty, I returned to the quarters provided to me by Romano, pulled out the carton from my drawer, and examined the bomb's fragments.I turned on my laptop, continuing from where I had begun in my research, trying to understand what device was used. What type of bomb was it and how it was attached to the baby carrier without anyone taking notice? "What kind of bomb is this?" I muttered, scrolling through pages of explosive devices.Hours passed and finally, my extensive research came to an end when I stumbled upon a match and realized that it was a computer-controlled bomb, capable of indefinite delay. Detonation could occur at any moment, triggered remotely.But I needed confirmation.I dialed Cowen's number. "Send a bomb technician over. I need expert analysis."The technician arrived later and we sat in my study, surrounded
Don’s POV It's been a week and a few days since Romano and Madam Desideria were admitted to the hospital. Claire had been discharged already and on the day I picked her up, I checked on both Romano and Madam Desideria and so far, both had gotten proper medical care and were recuperating. They were returning today and Cowen had gone to pick them up. Claire, Elyse, and the cooks had prepared and decorated the house in anticipation of their return. As much as all that mattered, I was the least concerned about that. My utmost priority lay in finding out how the bomb got into my safehouse and who the fuck had planted it there. Most importantly, Madam Desideria had a lot of explaining to do. I had found the remnants of the bomb at the spot where the baby carrier was and she was the one who had brought the strange baby into my home. Left to me, I wouldn't have let it stay but Claire's pleas made me. Something about her weakened my willpower, hence I couldn't resist and tell her no. See w
Claire's Pov"Salvatore?” I widened my eyes at her. From the corner of my eye, I saw Elsye raise her palm to her mouth as she gasped in shock. “Yes, Salvatore” She replied, more tears streaming down her face “He was the one behind the explosion because he gave me the baby and no, I'm not working for or with him. The baby is mine. He's my grandson” She dropped the bombshell “You have a son? You never mentioned to us that you have a family” I chipped in softly. Don's blazing eye was more than enough to cause Madam Desi to pee on herself. I knew this was a shocker but, he still needed to listen softly."I'm sorry Don, I am.""This is not about the apology!" Don growled. "You worked for Salvatore. Why the fuck did you do this?""Don…" I placed my hand on his palm but instead, he stood up refusing my comfort. "Please let her complete her explanation.""Whatever story she is about to cook up. The bottom line is, she betrayed us!" He snapped in annoyance."Please go on, Madam Desi" I urged