BOUND TO THE DON

CHAPTER 2: (ELENA)

“I hate Mondays," I muttered under my breath as I tied my apron behind my back and braced myself for another chaotic shift, as I tucked a loose strand of my brown hair behind my ear, balancing plates in one hand and coffee cups in the other, weaving between tables. Orders from the hungry crowd still pile up in my mind, but I forced myself to focus.

The restaurant smelled like coffee and burnt toast. Voices could be heard everywhere.

“Table six needs water."

"Table four needs their bill."

"Elena, faster!” my manager snapped.

I rolled my eyes when he wasn't looking as I made my way out to serve orders.

The bell above the restaurant door chimed, and I glanced up.

I saw a man dressed in a black coat walk in. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and his movements were slow and deliberate, as if he had mastered every step. I couldn't quite explain it, but at that moment, the atmosphere in the restaurant shifted. The once loud voices softened. Laughter became mid-sentence, and now only murmurs could be heard.

Jane, my best friend, leaned closer. “Do you know who that is?” she whispered.

“No idea."

“Well, he looks finneeeeeeeee.”

I laughed. Typical Jane, she had always had a thing for men in black. “Well, you are off the market, girl, remember that… There's just something off about him, though. Did you notice how the restaurant got quiet the moment he walked in?”

"Yeah, he must be someone important,” Jane whispered back.

Before I could answer, my boss's voice came, “Elena!”

I turned and met his gaze. “Go serve table 1. The table by the window.”

“Me! Why me?”

“Because I said so, now go.”

I walked over, forcing a polite smile. “May I get your order?" I asked.

Up close, he looked intimidating and unreadable.

He looked up at me without saying anything…. He simply just... stared, which made me uneasy.

“Sir, what would you like to have?” I asked again, trying to get his attention, and this time he replied.

“Coffee. Black. Extra hot. And a croissant,” he said, his voice calm yet deadly.

I nodded, writing down his orders as I made my way back to the service counter. I prepared his coffee, grabbed the croissant and made my way to his table.

As I set the tray down, my hands slipped, and the coffee spilled all over the table, some landing on the sleeve of his coat.

“Oh, my God! I’m so so—”

Before I could finish, my boss walked in on the commotion. “What have you done!?” He snapped.

“Do you have any idea who he is, child? What have you done!?” He barked, stepping forward. His face was a mixture of anger and fear.

“I am so sorry,” I tried apologizing.

“Apologies don't fix this child."

“Yes, I know I made a mistake and am truly sorry I didn't mean to—" I tried again.

.

“You think apologies would make this go away?” My boss asked.

I didn't understand what the whole fuss was about. Yes, I made a mistake, but it wasn't intentional. Why then were they acting like he was God?

“Let me get napkins to clean the mess, and I will serve you another coffee—”

“That's it. You have always been a thorn in my flesh, and today you want to bury me alive. This is the last straw…. You're fired," he said to me.

“Pack your things and leave. I don't ever want to see you here again—— “

“There would be no need for that,” the strange man finally spoke, and then he dropped a huge bill on the table. "Here's my bill. Have a nice day,” and just like that, he walked out of the restaurant.

My eyes widened with surprise at the amount on the table. It was ten times the price. My boss hurriedly picked up the bundles. “You’re lucky today. He saved you.” "Get a napkin and clean this mess,” my boss said, his face a mix of agitation, anger, and relief. He disappeared into his office, leaving me frozen, lost in thought.

“What just happened?” I wondered, but no answer came.

After my shift ended, I stepped outside into the cool evening air. My entire body ached from the numerous serves I had done today. Luckily for me, Jane had completed her shift too, and we had planned a girls' sleepover tonight since neither of us had work the next day, and a little night fun wouldn't hurt.

Jane's boyfriend had come to pick her up, and I would have joined them since we were having the sleepover at Jane’s place, but I needed to rush home first and prepare something for my dad. As I strolled toward my bus stop, I noticed a black SUV with tinted windows parked across the street from the restaurant. I didn't think much of it and continued, my thoughts already on dinner.

****

Alessandro’s POV

I studied her as she strolled down to her bus stop from a tinted SUV. I looked down at the file in my hand.

Age: 24

Occupation: waitress

Family: father (Victor Miller)

Education: average

Criminal record: none

On paper, she was nothing special, so why did Father include her in his will? Why did he have to find her? What connection could a simple waitress have to the mafia world?

She was ordinary… too ordinary, I said to myself as my mind drifted to the incident at the restaurant. "A clumsy one at that,” I murmured.

Just then, my phone rang.

.

“Enzo,”

“I found something,” came the voice on the other end

Then a pause—

“We ran her name through Bellini’s archives and old financial records.”

“…And?"

“I just sent something to you.”

I ended the call and opened the file. This information changes everything.

"So that’s why.”

I leaned back in my seat, staring out the window at nothing in particular, and in that instance, I realized.

She wasn't ordinary, not even close.

“Take me to the casino."