Chapter 21
“Who ordered you to kill her?” Don Colen’s voice was calm, dangerously so, as he crouched in front of the bloodied thug tied to the chair in the dimly lit cellar.
The man’s head lolled to the side, a mix of sweat and blood dripping from his face. “I… don’t know,” he rasped, his voice weak from hours of interrogation.
Don Colen’s jaw clenched, his patience. razor–thin. He leaned closer, his tone dropping even lower. “I‘ ll give you one more chance. Tell me who sent you, and I might let you live.”
The thug coughed, spitting blood onto the floor. “You think I’m afraid of you? Kill me if you want. I’m not talking.”
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Don Colen straightened, his cold gaze
never leaving the man. Without a word, he
turned to one of his men and nodded.
“Take care of this.”
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As he walked out of the cellar, the thug‘ s screams echoed behind him, but Don Colen paid no mind. If the man wanted to take secrets to his grave, so be it. He had more pressing concerns.
When Don Colen arrived back at the house, he found Camilla waiting in the living room, pacing nervously. The moment she saw him, she rushed over, her eyes scanning him anxiously.
“Colen, are you okay? Let me see your arm,” she said, grabbing his hand and leading him to the couch.
“I’m fine,” he assured her, though he didn’t resist as she inspected the wound from the graze he’d taken during the fight.
“This doesn‘ t look fine,” she said, her voice tinged with worry. She disappeared for a moment and returned with a first–aid kit, sitting beside him to tend to the injury.
He watched her work, his chest tightening
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at the sight of her gentle care. Camilla, his Camilla, who had been through so much already, deserved peace–something he‘ d failed to give her yesterday.
“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly, his voice
low.
She paused, looking up at him with surprise. “Sorry? For what?”
“For everything,” he said. “For not keeping you safe. For letting our wedding turn into… that.”
Her expression softened, and she placed her hand over his. “Colen, you protected me and my family. That’s all that matters. I’m still here, and so are you.”
He gripped her hand, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “I promise you, Camilla, this will never happen again. Whoever was behind this… they’ll regret even thinking about touching you.”
She nodded, trusting his words despite the storm still brewing inside her.
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The next morning, Camilla woke to the sound of soft knocking on her bedroom door. Rubbing her eyes, she called out,
“Come in.”
Don Colen entered, his usual stoic
demeanor softened by the faint smile on his lips. “Get dressed. I have a surprise for you.”
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Curious but slightly wary, Camilla got ready and followed him outside, where a sleek black car was waiting. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see,” he said, holding the car door open for her.
The drive was short, and when they arrived, Camilla‘ s breath caught in her throat. They were at a secluded villa surrounded by lush gardens, the morning sun casting a golden glow over the scene.
“What is this?” she asked, stepping out of the car and taking in the sight of an elegant
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arch draped with flowers.
“Our wedding,” Don Colen said simply.
She turned to him, her eyes wide. “What? Colen, we already-”
“That wasn’t the wedding you
deserved,” he interrupted. “This is. Just us, your family, and the people I trust with my life.”
Camilla’s family stepped out from the villa, beaming as they walked toward her. Behind them were Don Colen’s most loyal men, standing guard but also smiling softly at the sight of her.
Tears welled in Camilla‘ s eyes. “Colen… I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you‘ Il marry me again,” he said, his voice soft as he took her hands.
She laughed through her tears, nodding.
“Yes. A thousand times, yes.”
The ceremony was intimate and perfect. Camilla’s father walked her down the
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aisle, and this time, there were no interruptions–no thugs, no chaos, just love and the quiet support of their closest family and allies.
Don Colen‘ s vows were short but heartfelt. “Camilla, you are my strength, my peace, and the reason I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Today, I promise you forever.”
Camilla’s voice trembled as she responded, “Colen, you‘ ve shown me what it means to be loved completely, even in the midst of chaos. I promise to stand by your side, no matter what comes our way.”
When they kissed, the world seemed to
fade away, leaving only the two of them.
Under the soft glow of the moonlight streaming through the curtains, Don Colen’s eyes locked on Camilla. His gaze was intense, burning with desire and
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unspoken promises. She felt her cheeks heat under the weight of it, her breath catching.
“You‘ re mine, Camilla,” he said, his voice low and possessive.
“And you‘ re mine,” she whispered back, barely able to get the words out before his lips crashed onto hers.
The kiss was nothing like the gentle ones from earlier. This was raw, hungry, and urgent. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her flush against him as their bodies melded together. Camilla‘ s fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as his mouth trailed from her lips to her neck, planting hot kisses along her skin that sent shivers down her spine.
Don Colen’s hands slid to the back of her
dress, his fingers deftly undoing the zipper. The fabric fell away, pooling at her feet, leaving her exposed under his heated gaze. His hands roamed over her bare skin, firm yet reverent, like he couldn’t believe she
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was his.
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“You‘ re perfect,” he murmured against her collarbone before lifting her
effortlessly into his arms and carrying her to the bed.
Camilla’s heart raced as he laid her down, his lips finding hers again, their kisses growing deeper. His shirt was gone in seconds, and she traced the lines of his chest with her fingers, feeling the strength of him beneath her touch.
“You don’t hold back, do you?” she teased, her voice breathless.
“Not when it comes to you,” he shot back, his smirk wicked as his lips moved lower, trailing fire wherever they touched.