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Seventy Three

Author: Khandasi
last update Last Updated: 2025-02-15 20:00:00

I feel anxious.

I don’t know if it’s in a good or bad way because part of me is happy that I’m going back home. I’ll get to see my friends again after so many months of being away, and I’ll finally just be at home. But at the same time, I’m not sure if I even like the idea of going back. Partly because I feel like Alessandro and I still have unresolved issues. It doesn’t matter that we’ve talked and I said I’d be back—I just feel like if I leave, there’s a chance I may never return. After everything that happened last night and the weird tension that followed, I just need to put some space between us. I have to—for my sanity. For the sake of my heart. And then, there’s the part of me that’s scared of going back to face the reality that it’ll just be Dad and me. Mom won’t be there anymore. I’ve spent almost my entire life with her in it, and it’s going to be hard.

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  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Seventy Four

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  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Seventy Five

    I stare at the phone for a moment, unable to move or even breathe. It’s burnt, probably from the fire Alessandro and his men set at the warehouse where Morales died, but it’s unmistakably the same phone. I don’t know what to make of it.How did they find it?Didn’t Alessandro get rid of it?Do they know something?Do they know Morales is missing—or dead, perhaps?Who am I kidding? They have his phone. They definitely know he’s missing.But Dell told me he handled it. He said he managed to steer their suspicions elsewhere, that he made them believe Morales left town for an assignment.Did he lie to me?No, he wouldn’t. Dell and I have had our differences, but he wouldn’t do something that would jeopardize both of us. If I go down for Morales’s death, it won’t be long before he goes down too.“I can tell from your silence that you know whose phone this is,” Agent Carter says. “And you might be considering our deal.”I look up at him, trying to maintain a poker face, but I don’t know how

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  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Seventy Six

    I can clearly tell from the look in Maria’s eyes when she saw Michael working with the FBI that it triggered something in her—fear, perhaps? Yes, she was shocked, but in a way that made it clear she was scared of what it meant. And if I’m being honest, so am I.Michael folds his arms, not taking his eyes off Maria, a smug and self-satisfied look on his face.“She can’t be released,” he says, his tone cold and final. My heart is still pounding. For a moment, I thought I might get out of here, but now I’m not so sure. “Renée was arrested on legitimate charges,” he adds.Maria raises a brow, her voice razor-sharp. I’m surprised at how quickly she regains her composure after looking so shaken moments ago. “What charges?” she asks.Michael shrugs. “Falsifying flight documents. As her lawyer, I thought you would already know that,” he says simply, as though it’s a s

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  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Seventy Seven

    I can’t explain why, but my heart warms when I see him.He’s standing by the car, his broad shoulders and confident stance unmistakable. He looks effortlessly good in black jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket. Maria strides toward him, her heels clicking sharply against the pavement.“What the hell are you doing here?” she demands, but Alessandro doesn’t even glance her way.His eyes find mine, and in a few swift strides, he’s standing in front of me. “Are you okay?” he asks, his voice low and filled with concern.Before I can answer, he catches me off guard by pulling me into his arms. I hesitate for a moment before wrapping my arms around him.For an instant, everything else disappears. It’s just us—the warmth of his embrace, the strength of his arms around me. It feels like home, like safety. I close my eyes and sink into the feeling. He’s warm, and he smells incredible. Honest

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    When I step out of the shower a moment later, my phone is buzzing nonstop. It’s Bella.Shoot. I was supposed to call her and update her on everything—the arrest, us not leaving the country as planned—but I’ve been so caught up in everything that it completely slipped my mind.I tie a bathrobe around me and pick up the call.“Hey, girl. I’m so sorry. I was supposed to call you,” I quickly say before she can get a word in.“It’s okay. Are you okay?” she asks, and I nod, even though she can’t see me.“Yes, I am.”“Dell told me about the arrest. He was the one who called Alessandro and had Maria come to the station. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay,” she says with concern, and my heart warms at how much they care for me. Even though Dell and I may have had a fallout, he still made sure I got the help I needed.“I am. Thank you for c

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    The jet’s engines hum softly as we land smoothly on the private runway. My body still feels like it’s floating from the ride, the sheer luxury of the experience leaving me a little giddy. This is the most beautiful surprise—exactly what I needed today. I never thought a jet ride could feel this magical, but it does. Alessandro has been quiet during the descent, but his hand never left mine. As he helps me down the stairs, his touch firm and protective, I feel completely fulfilled.I’m expecting a car to be waiting for us, maybe another sleek black vehicle like the ones he always seems to have on hand. Instead, my jaw practically unhinges when I spot a helicopter—a sleek, black beauty with blades shimmering under the faint glow of the runway lights. Its propellers are spinning slowly, as if it’s waiting just for us.“No fucking way,” I say, blinking repeatedly just to convince myself this is real. “Are you serious?&r

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  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Epilogue

    One year laterThe soft click of the camera is the only sound in the room as I lean in closer, adjusting the angle to capture the perfect shot. My client is seated on the velvet chaise, draped in delicate lace. Her confidence radiates through the lens, and she is beautiful. The natural light streaming through the tall windows bathes her in a warm glow, highlighting every curve and detail.“Beautiful,” I murmur in a steady voice as I guide her. “Tilt your chin slightly… yes, just like that. Perfect.”This is my world now. My studio, my work, my passion. It’s been over a year and a half since I found my footing in this country, and my boudoir photography has taken off in ways I never imagined. Had someone told me I would stay here and make it my home after all the tragedies that happened, I would have laughed in their face. But here I am. High-end clients, features in glossy magazines—it’s everything I dreamed of an

  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Ninety Five

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  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Ninety Four

    The restaurant is quiet. Too quiet. I’m seated at the center of it, watching the soft shadows cast across the empty tables around me by the flickering candlelight. The dress delivered earlier fits like a glove, hugging my curves and making me feel beautiful, but I’m slowly starting to feel less and less beautiful as time keeps passing by. Sitting here alone in this massive restaurant feels uncomfortable.I swirl the wine in my glass, the rich red liquid catching the light. I sigh and take a sip. It’s my third—or is it my fourth? I’ve lost count. I don’t normally get drunk on wine, but if I keep taking one glass after another, I’ll be tipsy by the time this date even starts. I glance at my phone for the umpteenth time, the screen lighting up with the same message he sent over forty-five minutes ago:I’ll be late, but I’m on my way. Order something, love.That word love feels hollow now. I check the time again,

  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Ninety Three

    Several months laterThis always feels like the first time. I’m straddling Alessandro in the warm, scented water of our bathtub, riding out the pleasure as water laps against my skin. His hands grip my waist tightly, and his head tips back as he groans my name. It’s moments like this when I forget the chaos around us. Here, it’s just him and me—no one else.I let out a soft moan as I finish, my body trembling as I collapse against him. He catches me, cradling me like I’m the most precious thing in the world, before pressing a kiss to my forehead, then to my lips, his breath warm and tender.“I love you,” he whispers softly, tucking my hair behind my ear.Those three words hit me like a wave every time he says them. I smile, kissing him back gently before leaning against his chest, slowly listening to the rhythm of our breathing. His hand brushes through my hair, untangling it with care.“What are you

  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Ninety Two

    I am shaking as I stare at the pool of blood on the floor next to my father’s leg, which keeps growing larger with every passing second. His face is pale, and he is starting to get weaker. I’m trying to hold back my tears, wishing I could help him, but I can’t move. My body feels like it’s chained to this seat, my fists trembling in place on my lap.“Okay, I’ll ask again,” Emilia’s sharp voice cuts through the air, making my heart race even faster. “Who do you have resentment for in this room, Principessa?” she asks in a mocking voice.My throat is dry, my voice barely above a whisper as I stammer. “Maria.”I hear Maria scoff at the other end of the room. “Bitch,” she mutters under her breath, but it’s loud enough for everyone to hear.I swallow hard, trying not to look in her direction. Emilia leans forward, clearly intrigued. “Oh, now this is getting interest

  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Ninety One

    I open my eyes, and my head is killing me. The first thing I feel is the cold, hard surface beneath me. I try to piece together where I am. Someone is calling my name, the voice faint but familiar, slicing through the fog clouding my mind.“Renée…”I force my eyes open, blinking against the light filtering into the massive room. It takes me a moment to figure out my surroundings, and then I see him—Alessandro. He’s seated on a chair a few feet away, his hands bound, his eyes filled with anger and despair.My heart jumps. He came for me.I try to sit up, and my body aches with every move, but I still manage to sit.“Alessandro,” I whisper, my voice cracking as I struggle to stand.He shakes his head, a silent warning, and that’s when I see it—a gun pressed against his temple. My breath catches in my throat as my heart starts to race.“Hey… hey… are you ok

  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Ninety

    AlessandroAfter that phone call with Emilia, I’ve felt stuck ever since. I don’t know what to do. Before I took over the reign of the East mafiadome—just before I married Emilia—the queen was already on top of the food chain. There were rumors about how ruthless she was, how evil she was. The things she used to do. She was the lowest of the barrel when it came to cruelty. I didn’t think there was anything beyond her in terms of the evil she was capable of. She would kill without mercy, deal the worst drugs, and human and sex trafficking were part of her trade.So when I married Maria, I swore to change all that. I vowed to be ruthless, but not ruthless like her. I wanted to make things right—and I did.By doing so, I threatened her, and she fought back. There is nothing worse than fighting someone you don’t truly know.The thing is, before her, her father ruled. He supposedly only had sons—or so we thought.

  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Eighty Nine

    “Hey! Hey! Let us out of here, you sons of bitches!” Mateo’s scream tears through the heavy silence in the room. He thrashes against the ropes binding him to the chair, his voice hoarse as he shouts.“Let us out of here! Do you hear me? You bastards! You’re going to pay for letting Marco die. I swear to God!” he screams again, his voice bouncing off the walls, but no one comes. The night is quiet except for the sounds of the crickets and my sobbing. I turn to look at my father and brother, and they have that same sad look on their faces.Mateo keeps screaming in rage at no one, yet still, no one seems to hear his cries.I remain seated on the floor, my hands still stained with the now-dried blood that belonged to Marco. Tears stream down my face, and my whole body shakes. He was alive not long ago. But now he is gone. He’s really gone. My chest feels tight, and I can barely breathe. If only Emilia had let me help him&hel

  • The Don's Forbidden Muse   Eighty Eight

    The two women exchange a knowing glance, a silent communication passing between them, before one of them stands up. She is slightly taller and more petite than me, though I suspect that’s due to the harsh conditions here. She deliberately walks toward me, the fear she initially displayed now replaced by feigned confidence. The second woman, much shorter with cropped hair, follows close behind, and my heart races with every step they take closer.“So, you’re the new one,” the first woman says, her voice sharp and biting. Even with the coldness in her tone, there’s a hint of curiosity in her eyes, as though she’s heard of me and wants to know more.I blink, confused by her words. “What do you mean?” I ask, though deep down, a part of me already knows.There can only be one reason we look so similar, and I desperately hope it isn’t true—because if it is, I’ll lose my mind.She tilts her head,

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