Page 9 of Forgive Me, Father (Don #1)

NINE

THE LITTLE RUNAWAY

Nico entered the room later that afternoon. He put the consummation robe on the chair. I hadn’t seen my abuser yet, and for some reason, my body didn’t want him like that anymore. I was still teary and looked away so that Nico didn’t see.

“You know how this world is, Camilla. Your mother has taught you well.”

“He didn’t have to do it that way,” I managed to say.

“How else are you going to learn?”

“By simply telling me not to do it again, Nico. As easy as that.”

“Well, the way he grew up, the women in his life didn’t always listen when someone told them nicely.

His way, you won’t do that again. Get ready, take a bath, do what you need to do.

They are coming tonight, and you will consummate this wedding, bind your contract.

The doctor will be here around three to check if you are still intact. ”

I shook my head as he left.

His patience was gone, as well as his compassion. There was nothing behind his blue eyes anymore. After all, he was working for Alfonso. He was his right hand, or bodyguard, or go fetch buddy, whatever Nico was.

I stood and ran my fingers over the robe, its softness a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. Tears threatened again as the urge to run surged through me, but deep down, I knew it would be pointless. Alfonso would find me. He always would.

I took a long bath and sipped on the champagne that was brought up earlier. It tasted like shit again. I knew it was Golden Rouge.

When I stepped out, I froze. My mother and sister were lounging in my room, sipping champagne and giggling like schoolgirls.

“Camilla,” my mother beamed, her voice dripping with false sweetness, “why didn’t you tell me you married a Pontisello? How on earth did you manage that?”

I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes for a moment. “Leave.”

Her smile faltered. “What?”

I opened my eyes and met her gaze with ice. “I said leave. I don’t want you here.”

“Sis?” Em started.

“Don’t, Em. Just don’t. Take Mom and get out. I mean it.”

“Honey, if I was hard on you, there was a reason.”

“I said get the fuck out of my room!” I yelled, and my mother froze. Tears blurred my vision, and I silently wished I could will them back. They had never listened to me, not once. Never had they cared enough to give me anything I truly wanted.

Now that I was married to a Pontisello, now they cared.

I still had no idea where he fit within the family, probably from some distant branch, maybe even the runt. It was the only explanation for why I couldn’t find a single trace of him online. They were keeping him hidden.

My mother set down her champagne flute, her eyes now filled with simmering anger.

“No, please, take that with you. It tastes like shit. But I’m sure you will enjoy it.”

My mother stared at me, picked up her glass, and left with my sister in tow.

I broke down and cried my heart out. I didn’t want to do this today, but I knew if I didn’t do this willingly, he would force me, and it would be twenty times worse. So, I had no fucking choice on the matter.

I would have to carry on with this consummation ritual, but he could bet his sweet narcissistic ass that he was going to wait good and long for his bundle of joy.

THE WHITE RABBIT

I felt a pang of guilt as I signed the merger contract with Noah and Fernando Solomon.

Both brothers had worked tirelessly to build S.A.N.T.

Distributions to the level it was at, and I could see the weight of it hit Noah when I finally revealed the truth about the DaCostas.

It was clearly a hard pill for him to swallow.

I’d also promised that if he trusted my family, they would be looked after with this merger. The man literally had tears in his eyes, and then he said it. I needed to promise him that I would look after his Camilla. She had been raised to please another, not a Pontisello.

I nodded. I hated that I’d promised to give this man what he’d asked for because I didn’t know if I was going to be able to keep my word.

“Who will be at the ritual tonight?”

“It will only be me,” her father replied. “Is your father coming?”

“No, but there will be a member of my family.”

Noah nodded with a grin. He was the kind of man who didn’t need to raise his voice to command a room, easily pushing sixty, a lot like my father, salt streaks in his hair, suit sharp as a blade, and eyes that told you exactly how you’d die if you crossed him.

The old man was eager to sign his daughter over to me. It was such a fucked ritual to be honest, one that fathers usually did when their children were still young and not between a father and the husband.

I shouldn’t have manhandled her the way I had this morning, but I did not do well with sneaking around, not knowing where my fucking wife was. I’d always had that problem. What was mine, was mine, and mine alone, I did not share.

The man scribbled his signature on the dotted line when the door opened. The doctor emerged just in time and nodded. She was still intact.

I held my hand out, and Noah shook on our agreement. “We have a deal; welcome to the family.”

“The honor is ours,” her father stated. He was so eager to please, and maybe that was what my grandfather had meant about new blood. They were passionate about the Dons and intent on a solid arrangement.

“Someone will come see you soon about distribution prospects. Now, if you would excuse me. I still have a lot to do before tonight, and there are refreshments in the foyer. You will be called when it’s time,” I said, and he nodded, stood up, and walked out with his brother and bodyguard.

I could tell none of them had ever dreamed of this day. I wanted to go to Camilla, to see if she was okay, but Nico had already motioned earlier when he’d made a round that she wasn’t.

I was her head. She had to listen to me; what I wanted was all that mattered. It was how it was, and I wasn’t going to grow soft on her. Even if she were everything I’d ever ached for. If she submitted to me, she would have everything her heart desires.

I met her mother earlier. She’d literally fucked me with her eyes, in front of her husband. But I could see where Camilla had gotten her beauty from. It definitely wasn’t her father.

Her sister looked like their father.

I’d let Camilla deal with what she was going through. She would pull herself together. I knew what was expected of me tonight, and I was going to deliver. I was going to seal this deal tonight.