THE DON

  PIPER STONE

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Afterword

  Books of the Kings of Corruption Series

  Books of the Sinners and Saints Series

  Books of the Benedetti Empire Series

  Books of the Merciless Kings Series

  Books of the Mafia Masters Series

  Books of the Edge of Darkness Series

  Books of the Dark Overture Series

  Books of the Club Darkness Series

  More Mafia and Billionaire Romances by Piper Stone

  Books of the Missoula Bad Boys Series

  Books of the Montana Bad Boys Series

  Books of the Eagle Force Series

  Books of the Dangerous Business Series

  Books of the Alpha Dynasty Series

  Books of the Alpha Beasts Series

  More Stormy Night Books by Piper Stone

  About Piper Stone

  Copyright © 2023 by Stormy Night Publications and Author First Name Author Last Name

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Stormy Night Publications and Design, LLC.

  www.StormyNightPublications.com

  Stone, Piper

  The Don

  Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults.

  CHAPTER 1

  New York City

  Raleigh

  “Look at her. She’s an ugly beast.”

  “Disgusting. She can’t dance. How did she get the role in the first place?”

  “I heard she slept with the choreographer.”

  “Then he wore a bag.”

  Malice dripped off every word, the cackling sounds what I heard every day in the halls when I passed. The ugliness burned into my mind, festering like a swarm of maggots. I was fearful they’d drill into my brain, sucking out what was left of my soul.

  Even now, their hateful whispers threatened to shut down my performance.

  Stay focused.

  One more pirouette.

  Grand jete.

  That’s it.

  I floated across the stage, lifted high into the air by my partner. As he allowed me to soar above the crowd, I had a sense of real freedom, my excitement returning. Then my understudy’s voice echoed in my head, her snide comments said in front of everyone in the corps de ballet. And they’d laughed with her.

  “Careful what you say, or her daddy will stick a knife into your gut.” The last comment had hurt me more than any of the others.

  My smile remained but I was gutted inside, trembling enough I thought for certain Evan was going to drop me, but his fingers were firm, his muscles well toned. When he slowly brought me to the floor, I could see genuineness in his eyes. He crossed the stage, making his exit and allowing the floor to be solely mine for the remainder of the performance.

  I leapt through the air in perfect position, swimming in happiness from the way the director clapped, thrilled with my execution. Viktor Balakin was a man of few compliments, almost always screaming at what one or another of the students had done wrong.

  As I dropped into my closing stance, I shuddered, more exhilarated than I’d ever felt before. There was utter silence, which allowed my fears to claw into my throat. What if no one had liked the performance? What if the girls were right?

  My breathing echoed in my ears. Then I heard the start of thunderous applause, cheers coming from everywhere inside the posh auditorium. A single tear of happiness trickled down my cheek, rolling in an effortless slide, dropping ever so slowly to the floor. When I rose from my position, I immediately curtsied then took my appropriate bows alongside my male partner. When Evan backed away dramatically, I motioned toward the audience, then toward the corps de ballet, pressing my hands together in a silent thank you.

  Within seconds, everyone in the audience was on their feet, shouts of ‘bravo’ and ‘well done’ creating another swirl of emotions. I could barely contain the tears. It had taken me years of brutal training to get to this point. I was now a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, and I’d never been happier in my life.

  As I stepped into the shadows, giving my understudy her moment of accolade, I grasped onto a few seconds of glee from giving her a look of scorn as I offered a saccharine smile. Nadia was tightlipped, acting as if she owned the concert hall. She didn’t, but her father owned many, convincing the executives at the ballet to continue using the facility when others had attempted to lure the company away. But Nadia couldn’t ruin my moment.

  No one could.

  I’d earned it fair and square.

  At least now, I could be proud of myself for two accomplishments, including pissing her off. Then I noticed my father out of the corner of my eye standing in the wings. In his arms he carried two dozen long-stem white roses. They were my mother’s favorite. If only she could be here to see me on this spectacular day.

  The moment Nadia backed away, my father approached, and I’d never felt more like a princess than at this moment. Especially seeing the tears in my father’s eyes. The powerful leader of the New York Cosa Nostra was crying because of my performance. My heart soared with happiness.

  The incredible ovation continued and as my father approached, I pressed my hands over my heart. He’d been there through everything. My protector. My friend. He’d been right by my side during the heartache and pain, encouraging me to follow in my mother’s footsteps, her legacy always present in the corridors of the ballet company.

  As he stretched out his arms, I read his lips. I love you. As I walked toward him, his expression changed dramatically, his gaze shifting offstage. Suddenly, a strange chill coursed down my spine, a flash catching my attention at the same time it caught my father’s.

  But it was too late.

  He lunged in my direction just as shots rang out, knocking me to the floor. Screams erupted from everywhere, the loud popping sounds somehow amplified. Everything shifted into slow motion, two sets of strong arms grabbing mine, hauling me away.

  “Get her out of here!” Gio bellowed, my father’s righthand man never far away.

  “Fuck. Who the hell are they?” Luis snarled, the solider gruff and brutal, but a softie around me.

  Chaos erupted, lights flashing.

  People running.

  Screams exploding from every direction.

  I watched in slow motion as Nadia slumped down like a broken doll, her white tutu covered in blood.

  “No! No!” My wails were unheeded, both Gio and Luis shielding my body with theirs, firing off shots, one coming right after the other. Just before I was yanked behind the curtains, I caught a glimpse of the stage.

  Blood was everywhere, bodies strewn across the polished wooden floor as if strings of crimson had rained down on the performance.

  “Let me go. My father. My father!” I heard my strangled bellow, the echo in my ears creating a wave of disillusionment. “What happened? I need my father.”

  “Shush, little one.”

  “No. I need my father.” I fought with everything I had, pummeling my fists against the protective force.

  “It’s okay, Raleigh. You’re safe. You’re going to be just fine.” Gio’s voice was in a vacuum, but his hold was firm, his fingers digging into my arms.

  I continued fighting with him, managing to jerk into a sitting position. And as I peered down at my snow-white tutu, now stained with a vivid shade of crimson, I knew what was left of my protected world had just been shattered.

  “Get her out of here!” Gio commanded. He had his hand wrapped around his weapon, waving it from one side to the other.

  “I’ve got her.” As Luis grabbed my arm, yanking me to my feet, I moved into a state of shock.

  Then I managed to jerk away, running back toward the stage. “No. I’m not leaving without my father.”

  I’d seen carnage before, my father unable to protect me from the viciousness that I’d always known as my life, but at that moment, nothing had prepared me for the horror presented. Dead bodies littered the stage, blood pooled in strange artistic formations, shimmering in the glare of the onstage lighting.

  Gio wrapped his massive arms around me, pulling me into the shadows. Then he turned me to face him, his dark brows pinched. In fury. “You can’t save him. You can’t save any of them. They’re dead. Do you understand me?”

  As the realization sank in, tears slowly began to fall.

  CHAPTER 2

  Los Angeles

  Maxwell

  “Did you see her face when she was carried out of the room kicking and screaming?” Daniel Briggs burst into laughter, his entire fac
e lighting up. “That girl deserved a hard spanking if you ask me.”

  He was the man I considered my closest friend, but his callous attitude often caused heartburn.

  Tonight was one of those nights.

  His moniker of Viper suited him, his caustic tongue always in motion.

  “She did threaten Ethan’s life,” Stephen Watson snorted as he leaned back in his chair. We were in the middle of a typical debriefing and not a single member of my team had expressed more than a casual interest in the prima donna actress we’d been hired to protect.

  Ethan Porter grinned like a Cheshire cat. “I would have loved to see her try. The woman has balls, but she doesn’t know what it’s like to come up against a brutal, carnal man.” He grabbed his crotch, grunting as if in the throes of passion.

  “Oh, please. You’re a pushover when it comes to women,” I told him, darting my gaze in his direction before returning my eyes to the computer file on the assignment we’d endured over three weeks. Three fucking weeks of pretending to be the woman’s lackeys. I’d finally put a stop to her egregious behavior, and she’d tried to fire me.

  Yeah, she did need one hell of a hard spanking.

  “I beg your pardon,” he retorted, fisting his hands and acting as if he planned on punching me. “The last two women I was with called me a stud.”

  “You mean like an animal or a two by four?” Daniel asked, barking like a dog several times as he backed away, laughing his ass off.

  Now I had to grin.

  “Briana was difficult,” I admitted, which was being generous. She was like a bull in a china shop, constantly pushing every boundary.

  “But you wanted to do the right thing.” Daniel huffed as if annoyed. I knew better. He thrived on attention, which we’d gotten entirely too much of for my tastes.

  I preferred working in privacy and silence. However, solitude had become a forbidden luxury as of late given the firm’s popularity. I’d spent maybe thirty days in the last year at my house given the assignments I’d taken. I’d only accepted the latest gig because it had allowed me to indulge in spending quality time at home. Alone.

  Even that hadn’t been enough of a perk to counteract Briana’s attitude.

  “Plus, he thrives in chaos. Hence his code name in the Marines.” Ethan enjoyed teasing me as often as possible.

  The others laughed.

  I glared at him, refusing to relive those days in any capacity.

  “We need more alcohol,” Stephen chortled as he pushed back in his chair. “Maybe two bottles in order to handle this bullshit.”

  The fact an assassin had attempted to destroy her movie premiere hadn’t fazed her. She’d almost clawed my eyes out in retribution for ruining her ‘fabulous’ evening. Powers Security wasn’t in the habit of babysitting wealthy, bratty socialites, but I’d owed a friend of a mine a favor.

  And I always paid my debts.

  However, if he asked me another favor like this one, I’d likely punch him in the mouth.

  The three-week stint had proven to be a pain in the ass for all of us. The three men I counted on the most tasked to crawl out of their comfort zone, wearing tuxedos on ten of the nights we’d provided security. They’d been like fish out of water, the formal events trying their last nerves. At least the asshole who’d been stalking the princess for weeks had been caught. Job complete.

  As I typed the words, I switched to Quickbooks to create a final invoice. Briana’s father had paid a premium price for our service, the man an old commanding officer. And I planned on taking every single penny of what was due.

  “What’s next?” Daniel asked when I finally wrapped my hand around the long overdue scotch.

  “There’s some diplomat coming in from the Netherlands. He’s visiting family then heading to DC. This might be a solo act. I’ve heard to declassify the information.” While I’d started the security firm to keep innocent people from becoming targets from vicious assassins, lately I’d found we were protecting our fair share of mobsters and white-collar criminals. That always left a bad taste in my mouth.

  “And the Spanish tycooness?” Viper asked, his wicked grin a signature representation of his personality.

  After giving him a hard look, I shook my head. “First, there’s no such word. And second…”

  “She only has eyes for lover boy here,” Ethan chortled.

  He was the next recipient of my notorious glare. The guys laughed. I wanted nothing to do with sailing the South Pacific or the Greek Islands.

  “What about the situation in Kandahar?” Stephen asked.

  I took another swig of my drink before answering. “I haven’t decided yet.” Returning to Afghanistan was the last thing on my agenda. I’d seen and experienced enough bloodshed to last a lifetime. I’d been asked for the team to provide military expertise on a secret project, the details unknown at this point. At this moment, I had no interest in sharing aspects of my former life.

  The quick rap of knuckles on my office door dragged me out of the ugly memories. As Amelia popped her head in, I sensed whatever she had to tell me was important.

  “What is it?” I asked, swirling the glass back and forth. I’d always followed my instincts, no matter the situation. My gut was telling me shit was about to hit the fan.

  Or already had.

  “A man by the name of Carmine Sciascia is on the line for you. He’s some attorney out of New York. It’s his third call. He’s rather insistent that he talk to you. I tried to tell him you were in a meeting, but he seemed… frantic.” Amelia opened her eyes wide, for some reason more nervous than usual. Why did I have a feeling Mr. Sciascia had been rude to her?

  Not acceptable.

  “I’ll take it.” And I would. However, I intended on making him wait. Let that be lesson number one.

  She nodded then closed the door quickly. The poor girl usually had nerves of steel given most of my clients believed their shit didn’t stink.

  I knew otherwise.

  In fact, I knew more dirty little secrets than the National Enquirer ever had. That’s why I was paid huge sums of money.

  “I think that’s our cue to leave, boys,” Daniel said, already getting to his feet.

  “Gladly. I hear a bar calling me,” Stephen said, laughing as he polished off his beer, tossing it in the trash.

  “You need anything else, boss?” Ethan asked.

  “Keep your phones close,” I told him, drumming my fingers on my desk. “Daniel. Why don’t you stay?” He knew it wasn’t a request.

  He sat back down, eyeing me carefully as the others walked out the door. “What’s up?”

  “I don’t know, but when an attorney from New York calls, it’s usually bad news.” I studied the office phone, shaking my head as I continued to decide whether to shove his call into voicemail. Whatever the reason for the call, I knew damn good and well I wasn’t going to like it.

  “Sure, boss man,” Viper teased, knowing how much I hated the expression.

  I waited for a full three minutes, enjoying my beverage before answering.

  “Maxwell Powers.”

  “Mr. Powers. My name is Carmine Sciascia.” His voice was strained.

  “I already know who you are, Mr. Sciascia. What I need to know is why you’re calling me.”

  He hesitated, likely unused to anyone so brusque. “Do you know a man by the name of Tony Arturo?”

  I sat back, glancing at Daniel who’d already lifted his eyebrows. The man I’d known years before I’d considered a friend. Now I wasn’t entirely certain I’d recognize what he’d become. The infamous leader of the Cosa Nostra out of New York, he’d gone from risking his life in order to preserve freedom to a cold-blooded killer. Granted, we had that in common but for entirely different reasons.