The Don's Deadliest Obsession novel · Chapter 15 of 24
Chapter 15: The Open Door
My father said alone, and brought twelve captains to sit in the pews.
I walked up the aisle of my mother's church on Sunday morning with my heels loud on the stone.
Candles burned at the side altars.
The old priest sat in the front row with his hands folded and his eyes on the floor.
Behind me the great doors closed, and Tadeo stayed on the other side of them.
I had made him promise.
He had promised the way a man promises to hold his breath.
"Serafina," my father said.
He stood at the foot of the altar steps, the same steps, in a charcoal suit and a black tie.
He opened his arms.
I didn't walk into them.
"Papa."
"You came."
"You asked the priest to ask me. He doesn't lie."
My father smiled sadly and let his arms fall.
"Sit with me."
"I'll stand."
"As you like."
He turned and spoke to the pews without raising his voice.
"Gentlemen, you've all heard what was said at my table. A tape. A mad old priest. A cousin with a broken wrist, saying whatever he's told to say to save his skin."
Nobody answered.
"Some of you have been poisoned against me by a boy with a grudge." He looked at me. "And by my own daughter, who I love, and who has been used."
"Used," I said.
"Yes. Come home, Sera."
The old pet name from his mouth went through me.
"Come home," he said. "Leave the Quintero. I'll have the marriage annulled by a bishop I know, and I'll put you where you belong. At my right hand."
He let that sit.
Keep reading free with an account. Start The Don's Deadliest Obsession from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 14 · All chapters · Chapter 16 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend