THE DON’S BRAND

Marked By Him

Leonardo nodded obviously not in the mood for dramas. Eyes still searching Every corners. Cameras. Entrances even if El Diablo is here. The spy hasn’t been caught yet.

Wouldn’t you need anything else… maybe a massage.” She was b***h so definitely her act gave her in.

He used his hands to wave her off and she understood. Turned and walked out embarrassed but that doesn’t mean she would give up anytime sooner.

Leonardo took the drink from the table. He didn’t drink it. Not yet. Just watched it ripple from bass.

*CLONE POV*

Clone had just escaped the maniac w***e after getting the information he needed.

He had been smiling. Nodding. And playing dumb through out their conversations.

“… El Diablo’s buying tonight…” one said so sure.

“ … some Italian underboss’s here too…”

Disgusting. All of it but he had been sent by his father, an underboss from Leonardo’s Angle.

He’d had enough.

He slipped away when they went to the dressing room.

That’s when he saw her.

EMILIA.

White dress. Back bare.

Hair down, moving tot he riddim like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Laughing with Vicky and Nora. Pizza in one hand.

Clone lost his breath.

He didn’t even know she could be in a place like this.

Hart House Emilia. Straight—A Emilia.

“ I have a 9pm curfew.” Emilia.

And here she was. Dancing. Free.

Glowing.

It took every ounce of power in him not to cross the floor.

Not to grab her hand and pull her out.

So he settled.

Leaned against a pillar. Arms crossed.

Watching from afar. Like a ghost.

“ well, well. If it isn’t Romeo.” Lucas appeared besides him, drink in one hand, smirking.

“ Shut up!” Clone still didn’t moved his eyes from her as he said.

“ you’ve been staring for 4 minutes straight. Your Jaw’s on the floor, bro.” Lucas teased.

“ I’m working.” He half-lied.

“ yeah? Working on breaking your heart?” Lucas nudges him. “ we all know you had a thing for her since freshman year. Since she tutored you I’m calculus and didn’t charge you.”

Clone’s jaw ticked.

On the dance floor, Emilia threw her head back and laughed.

Carefree. Loud.

Then the light shifted.

The crowd parted.

Two men in black suits walked in.

“ oh s**t. That’s—“ Lucas choked on his drink.

“ I know.” Clone muttered.

* DON LEONARDO MORETTI POV *

The upper balcony of Salvatore’s was glass and steel. Private. Soundproof.

From here, Leonardo could see the whole club like a chessboard.

He wasn’t here for music. His eyes were scanning. Cold. Calculating.

He lifted the whiskey. Took a slow sip.

His jaw ticked. The Moretti ring caught the light.

And then—

Movement.

Something white

His eyes dropped.

And landed on her.

The club went silent. Not really. The music was still screaming. But in his head? Silences.

Emilia Hart.

She was dancing, But not like the others.

She wasn’t performing. She was surviving the music.

Her curve moved under the light like silk over water. That short white gown rode up. Revealing legs that should’ve been illegal.

Her back was bare. Flawless. An open invitation to touch.

But it was her face that got him.

Smiling. Laughing with her friends.

And yet her eye— God, her eyes were furious. Hurt. Faraway.

Like she was dancing to forget something.

Possessive, that was the word that hit him first.

Not pretty. Not hot.

SIE MIA.

MINE.

He leaned forward, forearms on the glass railing.

No one touched her. No one spoke to her. But every man In a 10-foot radius was looking.

Not anymore.

He could already see it. The claim. The brand.

That back was made for his hands. Those legs for his grip. That mouth for his name.

Just then the traitor walked in.

“ Boss?” Xander’s voice cut through.

He was on a Black hoodie, Jeans, sneakers. Trying to look casual. Trying too hard.

Music was loud but the speakers crackled.

Xanders head snapped up.

“ Boss. That’s Rel.” Voice below a whisper.

“ Who?” Leonardo’s eyes narrow.

“ newly converted made man. Used to be a lowly dealer on 47th. We flipped him 3 months ago.”

Rel walked straight through the crowd.

No fear. Or stupid enough to have any.

He went straight to where El Diablo was.

White silk. Gold chain. Two girls on his lap, hands caressing his chest.

That one thing about El Diablo- he loved women. A lot and he loved money more.”

Rel scanned the room. Fast. Paranoid. When he felt safe, he reached into his hoodie.

Pulled out a parchment. Dropped it on the table.

El Diablo’s eyes left the girls.

El Diablo snorts, picks it up. “This better be worth my time, pendejo.”

He brought it to his nose. Perceived it.

Dramatically.

His eyes lit up.

“ This is money… How much do you have?” He said.

“ I’ve got much more in the van. I’ve been keeping them for a while and seems boss is out.” Rel grins spread as he spoke.

El Diablo laughed. Slapped the table.

“ Okay… Good price because you earn it.” El Diablo said.

He snapped his fingers

One of his boy in a corporate suit came over with a black box.

Dropped it on the table.

Rel opened it.

Stacks of cash. New weapons. Glocks, still in oil.

His lips spread out in a grin

El Diablo opened the parchment again. Sniffed a little cocaine.

Nodded. Confirming the originality.

“ Let’s walk to the park. Get the rest.” El Diablo said.

They stood and went to the underground parking. That’s when it happened.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Leonardo’s men.

From the balcony. From the bar, from the exits.

The music out.

Screams

People hit the floor.

Emilia was down before she knew it. Pizza on the ground. Hands over her head.

Vicky and Nora were on either side of her,breathing hard.

Oh my God. Oh my God. Was that__” Vicky whispered.

“ Gunshots. Goddamn yeah.” Nora said.

“ I think it coming from the Garage and I suspect those guys from earlier are behind this..” Emilia said looking up but she couldn’t see their trace.

“ Sshhh, Em.” S memo w might hear and that definitely means trouble.” Victoria said in panic.

More shot came.

Glass shattering. Girls screamed.

Clone was already moving.

Shoving past bodies.

Eyes scanning.

Where is she? Where is she?

“ Bro! The back exit! Let Get out of here!” Lucas yelled behind him.

“ Nah… I’m not leaving without here!”

He checked the bathroom. The bar. Nothing.

El Diablo was still on a run and Leonardo men are not stopping either.

He hit the floor, then scrambled behind a booth.

“ GET MY BOX! GET MY BOX OF MONEY! HE’S A FRAUD! HE SET US UP!”

His men dragged him toward the back exit.

Two of them went down.

Blood on the white carpet.

Xander was already moving. Gun out.

He chased the car as it peeled out of the underground parking.

But it was too fast. Gone.

“ El Diablo’s out. We got 2 out of his me ,” Xander said with earpiece, obviously pissed.

Upstairs, it was over in 12 Seconds.

Rel didn’t run.

He froze.

Because Draco had him.

Trusted Capo who had worked with Leonardo for 6 years.

Hand around Rel’s throat, slammed him to the table.

“ You stupid little rat.” Draco yelled.

Rel started apologizing. Fast. Crying. “ Capo, I didn’t know_ I thought__”

Then the VIP went quiet.

Leonardo walked in.

Rel saw him and his ability to beg just… died.

He knew what came after the storm.

And he had woken it in him.

Leonardo eyes went to the open box. The money. The gums. Then to Rel.

“ You stole my turfs. To my enemy. Wearing my colors.” Leonardo said quietly.

He picked up one of the bills. Sniffed it. And you thought I would t noticed anything strange.” Leonardo said.

Xander came back in, breathing hard.

“ He got away, Boss.” Xander said.

Leonardo didn’t look at him. His eyes were still in Rel.

“ Take him tot he torture room. We’ll discuss loyalty.” Leonardo said and turned to the exit.

Draco dragged Rel out. Still shaking.