Page 98 of The Don

I turn in my seat to find Ruben’s walking toward us. My hands tremble as my breath catches in the base of my throat. My mouth instantly dries while I wait for Ruben to speak. “It’s done,” he says.

I keep staring at him, unable to comprehend his words. Suddenly, I burst into tears. I bury my face in my hands, embarrassed by the massive relief washing over me.

Ruben’s strong hands tear me out of the seat as he picks me up. I wrap my arms around his neck and nuzzle into him. “It’s done,” I whisper.

“I’ve got you.” Ruben presses a kiss to the side of my head and starts toward the stairs.

“I love you, Eliza,” Rose calls out.

I’m too overwhelmed to be able to respond.

“He’ll never hurt you again.” Ruben carries me upstairs and gently places me on his bed. I hang and cover my head with my hands as I slide off the bed and sink to the floor. “Amorina,” he whispers as he wraps me in his arms and drags me onto his lap. “You’re free from him.”

I nestle into his warm body as I cry.

We’re wrapped together for the longest time.

Adrian Sacco is dead.

And I’m the calmest I’ve been for a long time.

It’s over.

Chapter twenty-one

Ruben

Three weeks later

“How are you feeling?” Ruben’s deep, gravelly voice startles me from the book I’ve been inhaling.

“You scared me,” I say as I place my hand to my chest. He saunters toward me and pushes Storm off the sofa in my library. Storm grumbles but moves to lie in the sun. “I’m okay.”

Ruben lifts his hand to stroke my face, his thumb scraping along my bottom lip. I close my eyes and lean into his gentle touch. “Josiah is coming to see you for a checkup today. He wants to make sure that after the miscarriage everything is okay.”

“The nurse you’ve hired would’ve reached out to Josiah if she felt I needed anything.”

“But she’s not a doctor, and I need to make sure you’re healthy.”

I muster the smallest of smiles. “I’m...” I pause and turn to look out the window toward the blue sky with fluffy white clouds passing over. “I hate how I’ve been feeling,” I openly admit.

“In what ways?”

I turn to face Ruben and chew on the inside of my cheek. “I hate how I don’t feel guilty that Adrian is dead. And I also hate how he managed to take one more thing from me.” I lower my hand and place it to my stomach. “He took so much right up until the end.”

Ruben moves his hand over mine, both of us mourning the loss of a life that could’ve been. “My baby will be in your stomach, Amorina. I have no doubt in my mind.”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking how before Adrian came into the picture, I was studying childcare, and I think I want to continue that.”

“So, no pole dancing?” Ruben asks with sadness. “You can do both.” His eyes light up in hope.

Ruben sure does make me smile. “Maybe.”

“I’ll buy you whatever you need. The hooker heels, the tight little outfits—hell, go naked,” Ruben pauses as his mouth scrunches. “Wait, no.” He waves a finger at me. “You’re not going naked, not while you’re with the instructor. But while you’re with me, naked in only the hooker heels.”

I lift my hand to conceal my giggle. “Maybe,” I say as I shake my head. “But, what do you think about me continuing my studies in childcare?”

“If you want to do it, then I’m all for it. However, you need to be aware, you’ll have security with you at all times.”

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