To Ruin a Don

Count

_Aria’s POV_

“Shoot him,” Dante ordered and my eyes widened in shock.

He wouldn't really…

They wouldn't..

My mouth opened and closed, words failing to form as one of his men c***s his gun and aims.

“Dante please. Forgive me. It wouldn't happen again, please,” the man immediately fell on Dante’s feet, holding him tightly as he begged for dear life.

He was old enough to be my father.

It was just a simply mistake. It wasn't even his fault, in had escaped on my own.

And yet.

I waited for Dante to stop them from firing. I waited for him to ask the man to never repeat his mistakes.

That was what father did. He always forgave his men when they made simple mistakes.

But Dante merely kicked him away coldly, turning to the man with the gun, a cold stare on his face.

“I see you want to take his place.” he threatened coldly.

I opened my mouth to speak with the bang of the gun rang out, startling me.

The man fell limp, blood seeping from the wound on his head, and pulled around him.

I couldn't believe it.

My heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach and I slowly turned to Dante.

“How could you…” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He had easily killed his own man with no remorse. He wouldn't care about someone like me.

“Let's go,” Dante said plainly, pulling the collar on my neck and tugging me along with him.

He wasn't even acting like he had just killed a member of his mafia.

He was acting like it wasn't just another innocent life he had wasted like that.

All for what? For something that wasn't even his fault?

How could he?

He was evil. Terrible.

I know mafia men killed, but he was the devil’s incarnate.

The scene played over and over in my head, the image of the man’s helpless face and him getting shot etched in my mind.

I couldn't forget that scene even if I closed my eyes.

“Why? What did he do to get killed like livestock?” I whispered, but Danye didn't even glance at me even though I knew he heard me.

“Answer me you monster!” I screamed, stopping in my tracks.

He tried to pull me along but I struggled.

I wouldn't let him do whatever it was he wanted to do with me.

“You are terrible! You pig! Despicable! A monster! Maybe it would have been better if your father had used a condom. The world would certainly be a better place without you in it.”

My words were harsh and filled with venom, my eyes holding so much anger.

Dante stopped in his tracks.

“I hate you. Why don't you do us all a favor and Di-”

Before I could complete my sentence, he closed the distance between us, grabbing my neck and slamming me against a tree.

My eyes rolled to the back of my head as the impact knocked my breath away, my back aching.

When I looked at Dante, he wasn't fuming or angry.

He was irritated.

Very irritated.

“Are you done?” he asked, brow coming up as he tightened his hold on my neck.

I couldn't breathe...

I struggled against his hold, my feet kicking the air as I tried to get myself free.

But it was no use.

“Let me tell you this one thing.” he snarled, breath fanning my face.

“He only died because you tried to escape. It is all your fault.”

I stopped struggling.

“You are a monster!” I forced out, my face turning blue as I struggled to take in air.

“Tell me something I don't know,” he said, tightening his grip.

A deep burn stretched through my chest as my body begged for air, every attempt to breathe useless.

Everywhere was starting to spin.

“Pets are not allowed to question their masters. I have three rules, and I expect you to abide by them,” he said, not even bothering to check if I was alright.

My vision was starting to blur.

“One. Do not speak unless spoken to. Two. Keep your eyes down at all times. Three. You are to address me with master only.” he said slowly, trying to get them to sink into my head.

If I weren't choking I would have asked him if he had hit his head somewhere.

“Repeat the rules,” he ordered, and then let me go.

I fell to the floor, choking as I tried to take in air.

I gasped so hard, my throat started to hurt. My cheat jerked on its own, taking in another greedy breath.

Everything burned.

I cough loudly, rubbing my neck as tears welled up in my eyes.

It hurt to breathe. But it even hurt more when I wasn't.

I thought about running.

My brain didn't receive enough oxygen to the point I was thinking about running in a situation like now.

When I don't answer his question, Dante spins me around, forcing my face into the tree.

The hard bark scraped against my face. Stinging as I let out a pained groan.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he said, pressing my face harder against the tree.

“One. Do not speak unless spoken to. Two. Keep your eyes down at all times. Three. I am to address you with master only.” I repeated, forcing myself to speak.

“And how many of those have you broken?”

He was awfully close to me, close enough that it was hard to ignore him.

“Three.” I quivered.

“And what does that tell you?”

When I don’t respond, Dante grips my hair, yanking my head backwards.

His scent hits my nose, his chest pressed against my back.

I wanted to lean into him, lean into him because he smelled so nice.

I hated how my body reacted to his scent even while I was trembling with fear.

“You were so mouthy earlier, what happened now? Your mouth isn't as full as i’d wait it to be, you can still speak.”

My nerves were all over the place, I wanted to snap a him, maybe even break fun.

But it was pointless, my ankle still hurt and it would be useless to attempt to run.

Walking had been so painful for her a few minutes ago.

“Let me go…” I groaned, struggling against his hold.

I was tired. My body was aching, and I had my fave pressed against a tree.

I wanted the world to end along with me in it. It was so much abd I was so close to tears.

“Please. Let me go. I don’t want to play whatever make-believe story you are playing. Just please.”

I was tired of all this. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to go back to my bed. My friends.

I just wanted to sleep and forget that any of these had happened.

I was so close to bawling my eyes out, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me like that.

“Let me go!” I screamed, pushing against him, I tried to get myself out of his grip, my elbow going towards his ribcage.

But I knew that was a bad idea when he effortlessly caught it, pinning my hand above my head.

Without thinking, I flung my free other, freezing when I heard a ‘thwack’.

What just happened?

Dante’s face had tilted slightly, his cheek turning a light shade of red.

I had hit him.

Suddenly he chuckled, the noise sounding strange to me who had only ever heard him grunt.

“Dante I-“ I started, but his hand shot out, grabbing my jaw with his fingers pressing into my cheeks.

“Your punishment has been doubled.”

My heart sank.

His eyes held a certain type of terror that would make even the strongest man shiver in their shoes.

No… no.

“I am sorry, please forgive me!” I begged.

I never wanted this. I hated all these.

Why me? Why!

Suddenly Dante let me go and I thought he had a change of heart.

But boy, did I think wrong.

I heard the sound of the belt unbuckling and my eyes widened in fear.

“Turn around and put your hand on the tree.” He ordered.

I shook my head before I could stop it. “Please… I didn't mean..”

He cut me off with a sharp inhale, like my voice itself offends him.

“I said,” he repeated, “turn. Around.”

I froze. I couldn’t move my leg even if I wanted to. I was caught between fear and disbelief.

Then his hand clamped on my shoulder.

I gasped as he spun me around, forcing my back to him.

My palm hit the tree as I tried to stabilize myself, my breath shaking.

“Count.” He ordered behind me.

My heart lodges in my throat, “wa—wait.”

The first strike landed before I finished.

A sharp crack snapped through the air and fire exploded across my back.

I jolted forward with a small, broken sound I didn’t mean to make, my fingers digging into the tree.

“Count,” he reminded me, voice flat, unbothered—like he’s correcting a child, not whipping someone.

I squeeze my eyes shut, my lips trembling. “O-one.”

Another strike.

Hot, blinding, tearing through the breath I try to hold.

I choked on a sob, shoulders shaking. “T-two—”

“Louder.”

I flinched at the calmness.

The third one hits, and my knees nearly buckle.

Pain shot through my skin and I pressed my lips tightly, trying to hold back a scream.

“Three,” I gasped, the word cracked and uneven.

He stepped closer and I felt his presence at my back, not touching, but close enough that the air changes.

“This is what happens,” he murmured, “when you forget who you belong to…and what rules keep you alive.”