The Don Who Chose Wrong Chapter 03
Thirty minutes. That was all I needed.
Irina circled me like a predator around wounded prey. Her stilettos clicked against the marble floor.
Every few minutes, she’d glance at her diamond-encrusted watch. Then let out a mocking laugh.
“Twenty-eight minutes, Ava. Where’s your cavalry? Hiding in some corner too scared to come out?”
Dante lounged in his chair. His arm draped over Irina’s empty seat. Completely relaxed. He was enjoying this. The bastard was actually enjoying watching me squirm.
“You know,” he said casually, “when I first met you, I thought you were special. Smart. Classy. Turns out? Just another broke fraud pretending to be something she’s not.”
The crowd laughed. Someone ordered another round of drinks. For them, my humiliation was better than any game. Better than any show.
I stared at the door. Counting seconds.
My contact would come. She had to.
“Ten minutes left!” Irina announced gleefully. She grabbed another bottle of champagne and smashed it at my feet. Glass and alcohol splattered my legs.
“Oops. There’s another thousand on your tab. Better call your friend and ask for more cash!”
More laughter. Someone whistled.
A fat man in a tight suit waddled closer. His eyes crawled over my body. “Russo, when she can’t pay, are you really gonna let us… you know?”
Dante shrugged. “She’s nothing to me now. Do whatever you want.”
My blood turned to ice. He wasn’t joking. He was actually going to let these animals touch me.
“Dante,” I said, my voice terrifyingly calm despite the rage. “You’re going to regret this.”
“Regret? Regret teaching my gold-digging wife a lesson?” He shot up and grabbed my jaw roughly. “You think you’re special? Without me, you’re nothing! Your apartment, your car, your good life. I gave you all of it. Now I’m taking it all back.”
I jerked free and laughed coldly. “You really think you built this empire alone?”
“Who else?” he mocked.
“Then you’re even dumber than I thought.”
Anger flashed in his eyes. But before he could respond, Irina cut in.
“Five minutes!” She turned to the casino security. “Get ready to hold her down when time’s up. I want to see that holier-than-thou face when nobody saves her!”
The guards closed in. Formed a semicircle around me. One cracked his knuckles. Another licked his lips with a lecherous grin. Their intentions were clear.
My heart hammered. But I kept my face locked down. They wouldn’t see my fear. Not unless I was dead.
“You know what I don’t get?” Dante circled me like a shark. “You could have married me and lived the life you wanted. All you had to do was stay in your lane. But you had to be jealous of Irina. Now look where you are. You did this to yourself.”
“My place?” I repeated softly. My eyes were ice. “Dante, you have no idea what my real place is.”
He snorted. “Oh, I know. On your knees, begging me for mercy.”
“Two minutes!” Irina’s voice rose with excitement.
The crowd pressed closer. Formed a suffocating circle around me. I could smell their cigarette smoke. Cheap cologne. And the naked anticipation in their eyes. They were waiting for me to break. To crumble.
“Last chance to strip voluntarily,” the casino manager said with a fake smile. “Might save you some trouble.”
I checked the door again. Still empty.
One minute.
Irina was practically bouncing. “Better than I imagined! High and mighty Ava, about to crawl like a dog! Get your phones out. I want this recorded!”
Thirty seconds.
Dante lit a cigar. Bored impatience on his face. “Pity. I was hoping someone would show. That would have been more entertaining.”
Fifteen seconds.
The guards stepped forward. Reached for me.
Ten.
Nine.
Eight.
Irina raised her hand dramatically. “I’m counting to—”
Boom!
The casino doors burst open.
