The Don Who Chose Wrong Chapter 02
Dante rose slowly. He surveyed the room like a king addressing his subjects.
“Listen up,” he announced, his voice cutting through the laughter. “Anyone who helps Ava tonight becomes my enemy. You help her, you declare war on the Russo family.”
The room went dead silent. Everyone knew what that meant.
Dante had spent five years building his empire. From street enforcer to one of the most feared men on the East Coast. He controlled casinos, smuggling routes, protection rackets. Cross him, and you ended up in a sack at the bottom of the Hudson.
In the crowd, I spotted familiar faces. Men who’d climbed up using my connections. My family’s influence. But the second Dante threatened them, they looked away. Fast.
“Shit. Russo’s serious this time.”
“I’ve never seen him go this hard on his own wife.”
“Guess the new bitch’s got him wrapped around her finger now.”
My hands shook with fury.
Five years.
Five goddamn years I’d stood behind him. Used every resource my family had to clear his path. Took out his enemies. Fixed his legal problems. And this was my thanks?
A carefully planned humiliation. A boot to my throat.
I lunged forward and grabbed his arm. My voice shook with barely contained rage. “Dante, you’re really going to humiliate me for this slut?”
He backhanded me across the face.
The crack echoed through the room. My cheek burned. I tasted blood.
“Yeah,” he said coldly. “I am. What are you going to do about it?”
I stared at him in disbelief. Five years of marriage. I’d thought we were partners building an empire together. Turned out, it was all a lie.
When I’d first come to New York, he’d pursued me relentlessly. Swore he’d be loyal. Swore he’d always protect me. All bullshit.
“You knew I cared about Irina. So why did you go after her? You brought this on yourself.”
He leaned in close to my ear. His voice dripped with mockery. “Ava, if you can’t pay up, I’ll have the manager strip you naked. Make you crawl out of here on your knees.”
The room exploded.
“Oh my God, Russo’s actually going to do it!”
“He’s going to make his own wife strip? For some side piece?”
“This I gotta see. I’m not missing this.”
A few heavyset old mafias pushed closer. Their eyes were hungry and lecherous. That gaze felt like sticky insects crawling over my skin. They were already picturing it.
Shame burned my face crimson.
Dante had taken all my cards. My phone was dead. I had nothing. He’d planned this perfectly.
Irina lit a cigarette and blew smoke in my face. “Time’s running out, Ava. Either you pay, or you strip and crawl. Your choice.”
I looked around desperately. The faces staring back held schadenfreude, lust, and contempt.
No one was going to help me.
Dante had arranged everything. Every person here was here to watch me fall.
“Come on, baby,” Dante leaned back in his chair. That smirk never left his face. The mockery was dialed up to eleven. “Casino’s closing soon. Don’t waste everyone’s time. Make your decision.”
I needed to buy time. I bit out the words. “Give me a phone. I’ll have a friend bring cash. They’ll be here any minute.”
Irina laughed so hard she nearly fell over. Like I’d told the funniest joke in the world. “Friends? Ava, have you lost your mind? Everyone in this city knows Dante is king. Nobody’s coming to save you. Dream on.”
“Give her the phone,” Dante sneered. His eyes glittered with amusement. “Let’s see how our Miss Ava begs for mercy.”
A guest laughed and handed me a phone. My fingers trembled as I took it. I dialed the number burned into my memory.
The call connected fast. I kept my voice low and steady. “It’s me. Bring cash to the Sapphire Casino. Now. Immediately.”
A calm, powerful voice answered. “On my way.”
I hung up and handed the phone back.
“She says someone’s bringing money?” a guest scoffed. “I’ll bet twenty bucks nobody shows.”
“I’m in,” another added. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“Either way, we’re getting a show.”
