The Don’s Soulmate

19. Carlotta

Chapter 19

Carlotta

My heart races as I stumble into the shadows on the side of the road, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. What just happened? I lean against a tree for support, trembling from head to toe.

Ettore.

The cold night air bites at my skin as I watch his car disappear into the shadows. I’m shocked, confused, angry. Why would he abandon me like this? The tears filling my eyes blur the world around me and the endless rain doesn’t help.

"Damn you, Ettore..." I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. My hands ball into fists at my sides as I struggle to make sense of his actions. I’m terrified of being stranded here, on an abandoned road in the middle of nowhere, in a dress half-torn from how he fucked me in the car.

Is this why he saved me three times over? To abandon me when I don’t fit the perfect ideal? To leave me stranded somewhere I could be taken advantage of all because I expressed my need to fulfil familial obligations?

If I don't marry Ugo Caputo, the consequences will be dire. I can already imagine the whispers in the dark corners of the city, the tarnished reputation that would follow us all. If I was to run away with Ettore to let him set me up, doesn’t he understand I’d never be free?

My father and brother would hunt me down. Ugo would come seeking revenge.

It’s not a choice.

With shaking hands, I dig my phone from my purse and frantically dial Sofia's number. It rings once, twice, agony gnawing at my insides. What's happening to me?

"Carlotta?" Sofia's worried tone filters through the line. "Are you okay?"

Tears flood my eyes at the sound of her voice. "I...I don't know," I whisper. "Can you come get me?"

"Of course, I'm on my way. Send me the location." The line goes dead, and I sink to the damp ground, remembering to send Sofia the pin. That’s it. One call, and she’d be there. No questions asked.

But Ettore couldn’t do that, could he? He used me, seduced me, and then left me to fend for myself.

What feel like hours pass by and I wait for her arrival, trying to steady my breathing. I think of all that happened and press trembling fingers to my lips, remembering the searing heat of his kiss. The possessive grip of his hands on my waist. The dark promise in his gaze.

And then that same, petrifying moment when he threw me out of his car for making a choice that never was a choice in the first place.

A car horn blares in the distance, snapping me from my thoughts. I scramble to my feet as Sofia's sedan pulls up, headlights blinding in the darkness through the rain.

She steps out, her eyes wide with worry as she takes in my appearance – disheveled hair, tear-stained cheeks, and the remnants of Ettore's passionate touch.

"Carlotta, oh my god, what happened?" she asks, rushing over to envelop me in a comforting embrace. I cling to her, grateful for her unwavering support. “You’re soaking wet!”

"Let's talk in the car," I say, my voice hoarse. "I’m so tired, Sof.”

We slide into the luxurious leather seats, the scent of her expensive perfume filling the air. Sofia starts the engine and turns on the heat before driving off, keeping her eyes on the road as she waits for me to speak. The silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken questions.

"Carlotta, you don't have to tell me everything, but I need to know if you're in danger," she finally says, her voice gentle yet firm.

I take a deep breath, hesitating. How can I explain my encounter with Ettore without revealing the depth of our connection? The forbidden nature of our desire?

"Something happened tonight," I admit, my voice barely a whisper. "I went out with Ugo. We went to an art gallery and there, he saw Ettore Mancini.”

“The man who picked a fight with him to protect you that night in the alley?” Sofia asks.

“The very same,” I nod.

“And then?”

“Ugo got really mad. He said I set up this night to meet Ettore and accused us of an affair. He.. he,” I don’t know how to tell her the way he pulled me by my hair, chocked me by the neck in front of dozens of people.

"Did he threaten you? Did he lay a hand on you?" Sofia's eyes narrow, her protective instincts flaring. "If he did, I swear I'll—"

"No, no, it's not like that," I interrupt, shaking my head. Sofia isn’t from our world. She doesn’t understand how dangerous a man like Ugo can be. With regards to this, I must keep her in the dark. "He got mad and Ettore insisted I come with him. When I said I want to go home, he refused to drop me. He… he said I deserve better. I just...I don't know what to do, Sofia. It's complicated."

"Carlotta," she says softly, reaching over to squeeze my hand. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."

"Thank you," I murmur, tears welling up again. As the car speeds through the night, my thoughts turn back to Ettore – his touch, his scent, the way he made me feel alive.

By the time the car pulls up to my family's estate, I’m trembling with fear and no amount of time spent bracing myself for the confrontation ahead puts me at ease. Knowing Ugo, he would have called ahead.

My heart races as I step out of the car and onto the gravel driveway, clutching my palms together. Sofia gives me a reassuring nod before driving away, leaving me to face my fate alone.

"Carlotta!" My father's voice booms through the open front door, his anger palpable from meters away. I take a deep breath and square my shoulders, steeling myself as I walk into the chaotic scene unfolding in the grand foyer.

"Where have you been?" My brother Angelo, demands, his eyes wide with rage and frustration.

"Look at you," Ugo sneers, eyeing my disheveled appearance with disgust. "What happened to your dress? Did you fuck off from the gallery, leaving me alone with those thugs to go fool around with that Mancini bastard? I’m telling you, Salvatore," Ugo turns to my father. “She took me there to meet her bloody lover!”

"Ugo!" My father admonishes him, but his gaze turns back to me expectantly. “She has no lover!” he reaffirms, giving me a look that says otherwise. It’s a look that warns me that hell will break loose should I ever admit to having one. They all wait for an explanation, their anger and concern mingling in the tense atmosphere.

I swallow hard, knowing I must protect myself, even if it means sacrificing the truth about what Ugo did tonight. I’ve been in this situation before and know by now that no matter what I say, Ugo would be believed over me. "He forced me away with him," I lie, struggling to keep my voice steady.

"Ettore saw Ugo being upset and pulled me away…" I let the sentence trail off, hoping they'll fill in the blanks themselves.

Ugo's eyes flash with fury, while Angelo narrows his gaze suspiciously, clearly not buying my story.

"But why?" my father asks, his voice shaking with rage.

"I-I don't know," I stammer, avoiding their eyes. "It all happened so fast. Ugo was mad when he saw him and Ettore thought he’d hurt me."

"Enough!" Ugo roars, stepping closer to me, his menacing presence making me flinch. "We all know you're lying, Carlotta. I was never mad. This was a ploy all along to get away with him. What really happened between you and Ettore?"

"Nothing!" I cry out, desperation lacing my voice. "I swear! He dropped me off to Sofia’s when I convinced him that Ugo won’t hurt me and Sofia just dropped me home. You saw her, father!" I try to get them to see reason.

"Then why are you soaking wet?" Ugo presses, his eyes boring into mine. “What happened to your dress?” his eyes linger over all the places Ettore touched me, even though there are no marks.

"Sofia had car trouble," I whisper, feeling the weight of their judgment crushing me. “We had to step out to check the wheel. She’s got a puncture but we decided to risk driving out here. She’ll have someone change the tire in the morning.”

"Until we get to the bottom of this, you will be confined to your room," my father declares, his tone final. "And the wedding will proceed as planned."

"Father, please," I plead, tears streaming down my face. "You can't lock me away like a prisoner!"

"Enough!" he shouts, pointing towards the stairs. "Go! Now! You will not leave your room again."

My heart heavy with despair, I trudge up the staircase to my prison. As the door slams shut behind me, I crumble onto the floor, sobbing in defeat. What choice do I have but to accept my fate?