The Don's Bride

Sonia Carter stood in front of her mirror, debating whether to go to the event at all. The black dress she wore wasn't even hers, she'd borrowed it from a course mate after learning that attendance at the university fundraiser was "strongly encouraged," which really meant mandatory. She hated events like this. Too many wealthy people, too many fake smiles, too much pretending. But law school was expensive, and the people in this room were the ones who funded internships, scholarships, and careers. So she went. The club was the most extravagant place she'd ever seen, crystal chandeliers, soft music, waiters carrying trays of champagne like something out of a movie. Sonia felt completely out of place. Everyone else looked relaxed and at home, while she kept tugging at her dress and worrying her heels might snap. A woman bumped into her without apologizing. Sighing, Sonia drifted toward the balcony doors, where the air felt less stifling. Her phone buzzed, just another reminder from school about overdue tuition. She locked the screen and rubbed at the headache forming behind her eyes. "You look miserable." She turned. A man stood near the balcony entrance, holding a drink, tall, dark-haired, in a black suit, with a calm, slightly amused expression. Older than her, clearly wealthy, definitely not someone she'd normally talk to. "Do I?" she asked. "A little." Something about his tone irritated her. "Maybe I just don't enjoy watching rich people pretend to like each other." That made him smile, small, but genuine. "Fair enough." They stood in a strange, not-quite-awkward silence. "You came alone?" he asked. "Yeah." "That's brave." "It's mandatory." He laughed quietly. Then another man approached, older, sharper, the kind of person who missed nothing. He leaned in and said something too quiet Sonia couldn't hear. The first man's smile vanished instantly, and the mood shifted. "You should probably leave soon," he told her. "Why?" Before he could answer, the second man cut in. "We don't have much time." Sonia looked between them, confused. The first man sighed and set down his glass. "Just don't stay too long." Then they both walked away, leaving her uneasy. Rich people were strange, that had to be it. Still, after another ten minutes, she decided she'd had enough. No one from her school had even noticed she was there, so she grabbed her purse and headed for the exit. That's when she noticed the security, far more than before. Two by the entrance, one near the elevators, another murmuring into an earpiece. The lights flickered. The music cut out, then returned. Her phone buzzed again. *Unknown Number.* **Leave now.** Then: **Don't stop walking.** Her stomach twisted. She glanced around, everyone seemed normal, still drinking and laughing. So why did she feel so on edge? She shoved the phone away and walked faster. Halfway to the exit, someone slammed into her shoulder hard enough to nearly knock her over. "Sorry," the man muttered, vanishing into the crowd. Then, a gunshot. The sound tore through the club, and for one frozen second, nobody moved. Then the screaming started. Chaos erupted , people shoving toward the exits, glasses shattering, someone sobbing near the bar. Another gunshot rang out, closer this time. Sonia's heart pounded as panic took over. *Move.* She pushed through the crowd, fighting to stay upright as people shoved past her. Voices shouted around her, “get down, move, oh my God.* She glanced back and saw a body on the floor, blood spreading across the marble. Standing nearby was the man from the balcony, but he looked completely different now. Not calm, not charming. Cold. The older man stood beside him, holding a gun. Neither looked panicked, which somehow made it worse. The man lifted his head. His eyes met Sonia's across the room, and she felt it instantly. He recognized her. She looked away and pushed harder toward the exit. She almost made it. A hand grabbed her arm, stopping her cold. It was him. Up close, he looked even more unsettling, completely calm while the club fell apart around him. "Let go of me," she said. "You need to come with us." "What?" The older man reappeared. "Luca." *So that was his name.* Luca's eyes didn't leave her. "She saw me." A chill ran down Sonia's spine. "I didn't see anything." "You did." More screaming. Sirens wailed faintly outside. Luca glanced toward the entrance, then back at her. "You can leave alone," he said calmly, "and hope nobody comes after you. Or you come with me." Sonia stared at him, stunned. "Are you threatening me?" "No." The honesty in his voice was the scariest part. "I'm trying to keep you alive."