THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
The Don’s Forbidden Marriage – Chapter 4
©Joy Cindy
The Enemy Inside
The alarm continued to echo through the mansion.
Elena stood frozen in the hallway.
Alessandro had disappeared into the darkness.
Leo was beside her.
And somewhere outside, armed men were trying to enter the estate.
“Elena.”
Leo’s voice brought her back.
“What?”
“We have to go.”
She shook her head.
“I’m not leaving Alessandro.”
Leo stared at her.
“You barely know him.”
“I know he protected you.”
“That doesn’t mean you can trust him.”
Elena looked toward the corridor where Alessandro had disappeared.
“Do you trust him?”
Leo didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
A loud crash echoed through the house.
Elena flinched.
Leo grabbed her hand.
“Come on.”
They ran through the corridor.
Behind them, the sound of shouting grew louder.
A guard opened a hidden door in the wall.
“Inside.”
Elena stopped.
“Where does it lead?”
“Safe room.”
She looked back.
“Alessandro is still outside.”
“He’s the Don,” Leo said. “He knows how to survive.”
Elena stared at him.
“Does he?”
Leo’s expression darkened.
Before he could answer, another crash shook the mansion.
The guard pushed them inside.
The hidden door closed.
The room was small but heavily protected.
Steel walls.
Security cameras.
A long table covered with maps and monitors.
Elena looked around.
“How long have you known about this place?”
Leo didn’t answer.
She turned toward him.
“Leo.”
“Since I came here.”
“You’ve been living here?”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
He looked at the monitors.
“Alessandro found me eight years ago.”
Elena froze.
“You said you escaped.”
“I did.”
“But you said someone helped you.”
Leo looked away.
“Alessandro helped me.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was trying to keep you alive.”
She stared at him.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Leo looked at her.
“Because it’s true.”
The room fell silent.
Then one of the monitors flickered.
A security camera showed the main hallway.
Alessandro appeared on the screen.
He was walking through the mansion with several men behind him.
Elena moved closer to the monitor.
“He’s alone.”
Leo shook his head.
“No. His men are with him.”
A sudden movement appeared on another camera.
Someone was inside the house.
Elena’s heart stopped.
“Wait.”
She pointed at the screen.
“Who is that?”
A figure moved silently through the corridor.
The guards hadn’t noticed.
Leo stepped closer.
His expression changed.
“I know him.”
“Who is he?”
Leo’s voice became low.
“One of Alessandro’s men.”
Elena stared at the screen.
“What?”
The man moved toward the security room.
Leo looked at the guard.
“Lock the door.”
The guard immediately pressed a button.
The steel door locked.
A second later, the lights in the safe room went out.
Elena gasped.
The monitors flickered.
Then went black.
“What’s happening?”
Leo looked at the guard.
“Someone has disabled the system.”
A sound came from the other side of the door.
A slow knock.
Elena’s blood ran cold.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The guard reached for his weapon.
Leo stepped in front of Elena.
“Stay behind me.”
The knocking stopped.
A voice came through the door.
“Leo.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
She knew that voice.
It was one of Alessandro’s guards.
The same man she had seen on the camera.
Leo’s expression became cold.
“How did you get here?”
A quiet laugh came from the other side.
“Your friend let me in.”
Leo looked toward the guard.
The guard’s face went pale.
“That’s impossible.”
The door suddenly shook.
Elena stepped backward.
Leo grabbed her arm.
“Stay close.”
The door shook again.
Then the guard inside the room suddenly collapsed.
Elena gasped.
Leo caught him before he hit the floor.
“He’s unconscious.”
The door began to open.
Leo pulled Elena behind him.
The figure stepped inside.
He was dressed in black.
Calm.
Smiling.
Elena recognized him.
He had been standing beside Alessandro earlier.
“What are you doing?”
The man looked at her.
“Your brother has been hiding for a long time.”
Leo’s face hardened.
“Who sent you?”
The man smiled.
“Your father.”
Elena froze.
“My father?”
The man nodded.
“Your father wants you to come home.”
“Why?”
“Because he needs you.”
Leo stepped forward.
“You were the one who attacked the house.”
“Not exactly.”
“Then who?”
The man smiled.
“Ask the Don.”
A sudden sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
The man’s smile disappeared.
Alessandro.
He appeared in the doorway.
His eyes immediately found Elena.
Then Leo.
Then the traitor.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Alessandro’s voice was dangerously calm.
“Step away from them.”
The traitor raised his hands.
“Don Romano.”
Alessandro took one step forward.
“You betrayed me.”
The man smiled.
“No.”
He glanced at Elena.
“I betrayed you years ago.”
Alessandro’s expression changed.
Elena felt a chill run through her.
“What does that mean?”
The traitor looked at her.
“Ask Alessandro why your brother was really kept alive.”
Alessandro’s eyes darkened.
“Enough.”
The traitor reached into his jacket.
Everything happened at once.
Alessandro moved.
Leo pulled Elena down.
A loud sound echoed through the room.
The traitor fell.
Silence followed.
Elena remained on the floor, her heart racing.
Alessandro stood between her and the danger.
He turned toward her.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
He extended his hand.
Elena stared at it.
Then took it.
He pulled her to her feet.
For a moment, they stood close.
Too close.
She could feel the tension between them.
Then Elena looked into his eyes.
“Why did he say you kept my brother alive?”
Alessandro’s expression hardened.
“Because I did.”
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
“Alessandro.”
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
His gaze held hers.
“After the wedding.”
Elena stared at him.
“You still expect me to marry you after all this?”
Alessandro stepped closer.
“No.”
Her heart stopped.
He lowered his voice.
“I expect you to understand that the truth is worse than the contract.”
Elena’s blood ran cold.
“What truth?”
Alessandro looked toward Leo.
Then back at her.
“Your brother wasn’t the only person who disappeared eight years ago.”
Elena frowned.
“Who else?”
Alessandro’s face became unreadable.
“Your mother.”
Elena froze.
Her mother had been dead for eight years.
Or so she had believed.
Alessandro’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Your mother is alive.”
The room fell silent.
Elena stared at him.
And for the second time in one night, the entire life she knew turned into a lie.
