THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
The Don’s Forbidden Marriage – Chapter 3
©Joy Cindy
The Brother in the Shadows
Elena couldn’t breathe.
The words echoed in her mind.
Your brother is alive.
For eight years, she had mourned him.
Eight years of memories.
Eight years of unanswered questions.
Eight years of believing she would never see him again.
And now Alessandro stood in front of her, telling her that everything she believed was a lie.
“Where is he?”
Her voice was barely audible.
Alessandro didn’t answer immediately.
“Where is my brother?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Take me to him.”
His expression hardened.
“Not yet.”
Elena stared at him.
“Not yet?”
“Your brother is being watched.”
“By whom?”
“People who want to use him against your family.”
She shook her head.
“You keep saying that. Everyone is watching someone. Everyone has secrets. I want answers.”
“You will get them.”
“Now.”
Alessandro stepped closer.
“You are not in a position to give orders.”
Elena’s eyes flashed with anger.
“And you are not in a position to control my life!”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Alessandro said quietly:
“You’re right.”
The unexpected admission silenced her.
He continued.
“I have controlled too many things for too long. But your brother’s safety is not something I will gamble with.”
Elena’s anger faltered.
“You really know where he is?”
“Yes.”
“Is he hurt?”
Alessandro’s gaze darkened.
“He’s alive.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
A long silence followed.
Then Alessandro answered.
“He has been through a lot.”
Elena’s chest tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you should prepare yourself before you see him.”
She looked away.
“Why did my family tell me he was dead?”
Alessandro’s expression became unreadable.
“Ask your father.”
“My father won’t tell me.”
“Then ask him again.”
Elena turned toward the staircase.
“I will.”
“Elena.”
She stopped.
Alessandro’s voice was low.
“Don’t leave this house.”
She turned back.
“Are you giving me another order?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
“A warning.”
She stared at him.
“What’s the difference?”
His eyes held hers.
“An order means you have no choice.”
He paused.
“A warning means you still do.”
For the first time, Elena didn’t know what to say.
Alessandro turned away.
“Your room is upstairs.”
She watched him walk away.
Then she looked down at the folder in her hands.
A marriage contract.
A living brother.
A family secret.
And a Mafia Don who seemed to know far more about her life than she did.
That night, Elena didn’t sleep.
She sat by the window in the room Alessandro had given her, watching the guards move around the estate.
Every few minutes, headlights appeared beyond the gates.
Cars arriving.
Cars leaving.
This wasn’t a home.
It was a fortress.
Around midnight, Elena heard a sound.
A soft click.
She turned toward the door.
It was open.
She was certain she had closed it.
Elena slowly stood.
“Hello?”
No answer.
She stepped into the hallway.
The lights were dim.
The entire house was silent.
Then she heard footsteps.
Someone was walking downstairs.
Elena followed the sound.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and saw a figure standing near the entrance.
A man.
Tall.
His back was turned toward her.
“Who are you?”
The figure froze.
Slowly, he turned around.
Elena stopped.
The man’s face was older than the face she remembered.
His hair was darker.
There was a scar near his eyebrow.
But she knew those eyes.
Her heart shattered.
“Leo?”
The man stared at her.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
Then he whispered:
“Elena.”
She ran toward him.
Leo caught her as she threw her arms around him.
He held her tightly.
And for the first time in eight years, Elena heard her brother’s voice against her hair.
“I’m sorry.”
She pulled away.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You’re alive.”
Leo looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Why did they tell me you were dead?”
His expression changed.
“Who told you?”
“Our family.”
Leo looked toward the hallway.
His eyes narrowed.
“Alessandro.”
Elena turned.
Alessandro stood several meters away.
He had been watching them.
“Tell her,” Leo said.
Alessandro’s expression remained calm.
“Tell me what?”
Leo’s jaw tightened.
“The truth.”
Alessandro walked closer.
Elena looked between them.
“What truth?”
Leo took a breath.
“Eight years ago, I discovered something about our father.”
Elena frowned.
“What?”
“Your father wasn’t protecting our family.”
She stared at him.
“What are you talking about?”
Leo looked at Alessandro.
“Your father was selling information.”
Elena’s blood ran cold.
“To whom?”
Leo’s voice lowered.
“To the people who wanted the Romano family destroyed.”
Silence filled the hall.
Elena slowly turned toward Alessandro.
“Is that true?”
Alessandro said nothing.
Her heart began to pound.
“Alessandro.”
His eyes met hers.
“Yes.”
Elena took a step back.
Her entire world was collapsing again.
“My father betrayed your family?”
“Yes.”
“And my brother found out?”
“Yes.”
“Then what happened?”
Leo looked at her.
“I was captured.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“By whom?”
Leo’s face became hard.
“Your father’s enemies.”
She turned toward Alessandro.
“Then how did you save him?”
Alessandro’s expression darkened.
“I didn’t.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Leo looked away.
Alessandro continued.
“Your brother escaped.”
Elena stared at Leo.
“How?”
Leo said nothing.
The silence became unbearable.
“How did you escape?”
Leo finally looked at her.
“Someone helped me.”
“Who?”
Before he could answer, the lights suddenly went out.
Elena gasped.
A loud alarm sounded throughout the house.
The guards began shouting.
Alessandro immediately moved toward Elena.
“Stay behind me.”
“What is happening?”
He didn’t answer.
A gunshot echoed somewhere outside the house.
Elena froze.
Alessandro grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the windows.
Leo moved toward the entrance.
“Don’t!” Alessandro ordered.
Leo stopped.
More sounds echoed outside.
Then a guard rushed into the hall.
“Don Romano!”
Alessandro turned.
“What?”
The guard was breathing heavily.
“The east gate has been breached.”
Alessandro’s expression became terrifyingly calm.
“How many?”
“At least six.”
Alessandro looked toward Elena.
Then toward Leo.
His voice became cold.
“Get her to the safe room.”
Elena pulled her hand away.
“No.”
Alessandro looked at her.
“No?”
“I’m not leaving my brother.”
Leo stepped forward.
“Elena—”
“No!”
She looked at Alessandro.
“I’ve spent eight years thinking he was dead. I’m not leaving him now.”
Alessandro stared at her.
For a moment, something unreadable passed through his eyes.
Then he stepped close.
“You’re going to the safe room.”
“Make me.”
The entire hallway went silent.
Alessandro looked at her for a long moment.
Then he leaned closer.
“Don’t challenge me tonight.”
His voice was quiet.
But there was fear beneath the anger.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for her.
Elena noticed.
And that frightened her even more.
Another sound echoed outside.
Closer this time.
Alessandro turned toward the guards.
“Take them.”
Elena grabbed his arm.
“Where are you going?”
He looked down at her hand.
“To end this.”
“Alessandro—”
He gently removed her hand from his arm.
“Go.”
She stared at him.
He walked away.
But before he disappeared into the darkness of the corridor, he looked back at her.
And Elena realized something.
The Don had been hiding the truth from her.
Her family had lied to her.
Her brother had disappeared.
But Alessandro Romano had been protecting a secret for eight years.
And now someone was willing to kill to make sure Elena never discovered it.
