Blood Ties And Forbidden Love

Chapter 10: The Desperate Gamble

River POV:

I was sitting with my father in a dimly lit room, the air thick with tension, while Preston, handled his family situation. My father, was about to light up his cigar, but I swiftly put my hand on his arm, my eyes fixed on his.

"Hey, can you not," I said firmly, rubbing my pregnant stomach.

My father, a man who commanded respect with a single glance, nodded silently, tucking the cigar away. Instead, he poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid reflecting the dim light. "So, you thought any names yet?" he inquired, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Not yet," I replied, a small smile playing on my lips. "Waiting to see if it's a boy or a girl."

My father's face softened, and he seemed genuinely pleased. We were interrupted by the sudden entrance of Victor, holding a bag tightly in his hand. His face was serious, and there was an urgency in his voice as he spoke.

"Don, we've gotta talk," Victor said, placing the bag down on the table. But before any further words could be exchanged, the shrill ring of the vintage telephone echoed through the room, demanding my attention.

I swiftly moved to answer the call, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Hello," I answered the phone, my voice steady and composed. On the other end of the line was Carlos, his words sent a chill down my spine.

"Whoever answered the phone, be warned that Victor is coming to kill the Don," Carlos warned, his breath sounding raspy and filled with urgency. Without hesitation, I swiftly turned to face my father, the gravity of the situation etched on my face.

But before I could utter a word, Victor, made his move. The room erupted in chaos as he withdrew a gun, the sound of the gunshot reverberating through the air. Time seemed to slow down as the bullet found its mark, piercing my father's chest.

"Father!" I cried out, my voice laced with anguish. I rushed to his side, placing my trembling hand on his chest, as if trying to will the life back into him. Tears streamed down my face as I watched him cough up blood, his strength fading before my eyes.

My father turned his head, his gaze meeting mine, and in that fleeting moment, I saw his regret and love. "I'm sorry... I was... hard... you... I... Love..." were his final words, spoken with a rasping breath, before his head hung low, forever silenced.

I turned my gaze towards Victor, my eyes filled with a mix of grief and fury. His smile, twisted and malevolent, sent shivers down my spine. "Don't worry, River," he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "I'll be your new husband."

Preston POV:

My skull throbbed mercilessly as I pried open my eyes, only to be greeted by the sight of an unfamiliar room. With a low grunt, I struggled to sit up, wincing at the tight embrace of bandages encircling my head. Determined, I rose to my feet, casting wary glances in every direction as I prepared to navigate my way out.

But just as I was about to slip away into the shadows, a voice, dripping with familiarity, sliced through the air. "Leaving so soon?" it drawled, the words laced with amusement and mischief. It was Don Salvatore himself, his presence looming large in the kitchen, a notorious smirk stretching across his face. "You gonna stand there all day, or what?"

Unable to resist the magnetic pull of his charisma, I cautiously made my way toward the kitchen, my senses on high alert. There, seated at the table, sat Carlos, his face etched with pain, his arm cradled in a sling. I couldn't help but feel a surge of concern at the sight of his injuries. "What the hell happened to you?" I demanded, my voice laced with a mixture of worry and curiosity.