The Don Let My Son Fall to Save His Mistress

Chapter 5

Gianna's words hit Lorenzo like rounds going in.

His face went dark. "Enough! My marriage is none of your business!"

He gathered up Sofia, whose head was bleeding where Gianna had gotten to her, and walked out.

The moment Lorenzo was gone, Carlotta rounded up the servants and marched them upstairs.

"Elena. Lorenzo's not here now. Nobody's protecting you." Carlotta's voice was pure venom. "You killed Marcello. I'm going to make the rest of your life a living hell."

She gave a nod. The servants took hold of me and tied me up.

They hauled me down to the wine cellar and threw me into a vat of wine. Carlotta forced my head under.

"Marcello went off those cliffs. You think that didn't hurt? Let me show you exactly what it felt like."

Wine went into my lungs. I couldn't breathe. Everything in me screamed.

Was this how it had been for Marcello? Did he cry out for his mother?

Carlotta hauled me up by the hair. One breath. Then back under.

"Elena, you're a trained fighter. Why didn't you jump in after him? Don't play innocent with me. I know you did it to get back at Lorenzo. You were furious about Sofia, so you killed his only son."

Under the wine, I laughed.

Everyone alive could see that Lorenzo loved Sofia. Everyone but Lorenzo himself.

Carlotta wanted me to suffer. Up for a breath. Back under. Up. Under. Again and again.

In the end, the wine went red.

"She's bleeding inside!" somebody shouted. "Her lungs are going. She needs a clinic or she won't make it!"

Carlotta stopped.

I was already unconscious.

When I woke, I was in the clinic.

Lorenzo was sitting by the bed. His eyes were sunken, his hair a wreck. The proud Don looked half-dead himself.

"Elena. You're awake." His voice broke with relief. He grabbed my hand. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you. I've punished the servants. My mother won't touch you again."

I felt nothing.

I had nearly died. And all Lorenzo had done was warn his mother. No truth. No justice.

When it came to letting me down, Lorenzo was an artist.

"Okay." I closed my eyes. There was nothing left in me to say.

My indifference landed on him like a blow.

Gianna's words came back to him. "She's given up on you. She's done with you."

Lorenzo went desperate. He caught my arm. "Elena. I haven't eaten all night. My stomach's killing me. Could you make me some soup?"

I was in a cast. My whole body was one bruise. There was an IV in my arm.

Lorenzo heard himself and scrambled to take it back. "You don't have to cook. Just tell me how. I'll take care of you from now on. I'll do everything. I swear it."

I turned my back on him. "You've got the recipe. Make it yourself."