The Mafia Dons Pet (Masha and Luciano) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Spoiled By Choice.

*Masha*

I could feel my lips begin to tilt downward in a frown as my eyes darted over the list of expenses on the document.

There were a lot of figures that I didn’t quite understand, but then, my eyes zoned in on one particular word, “Allowance. I stared at the figure in shock, wondering if it was a mistake. The figure was staggering, far more than I’d ever seen. Instructions followed, dictating precisely how each penny should be spent… I couldn’t stand reading it any longer.

“This… this is a hundred times more than what I’m used to,” I murmured, still staring at the paper in my hands. “It’s absurd, and I don’t need this. This amount would totally drain my mother’s savings in a year.

“I’m paying for it, Masha,” he grunted out.

“But…”

“Sit… Down and act like a fucking mafia princess.” He glared at me, sounding angrier than I thought he had the right fo. “You keep forgetting that you are now a member of the Vincenzoni family.

I could feel myself getting angry at the mention of that word, ‘family. I didn’t know what it meant to Luciano, but it certainly didn’t mean the same thing to me. “Soon, you’ll be attending events at my side. It’s time you got accustomed.”

That was it. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

“I don’t want your money,” I snapped, clutching the document like it might burn a hole through my hands.

Luciano stepped forward, closing the space between us in a heartbeat. I barely had a moment to react before his hand tightened around the back of my neck, forcing me to look directly in place. His expression was unreadable as he held me in placé.

I struggled to get free, but his hold on me was so firm, but I couldn’t move an inch.

I stared back at him, venom in my gaze. It seemed like the kind side of Luciano had vanished, and the devil in him had returned. It was strange, but I found this thrilling, almost exciting.

“This is non–negotiable,” he said, his tone final. “Take the money and play your part well.

I could feel the anger radiating off him, I was slowly becoming hesitant in my approach. I took a steadying breath, lifting my

chin to mask the flicker of nerves. “Let. Go. Of. Me,” I gritted out. His eyes flashed, hardening with impatience as he noticed the faint trace of submission I’d tried to bury.

His grip tightened briefly, and I felt the control slip through my fingers.

But then, without a word, he released me, his hand dropping back to his side.

He straightened his jacket, eyeing me slightly, “Friday at seven,” he announced, voice now cool and businesslike. “My assistant will send the details. Don’t be late.

And then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him. I stood in the spot where he’d left me, still in complete shock, feeling reluctant about the ‘event‘ on Friday.

It was a usual feeling around Luciano, he always managed to surprise him.

I lowered my gaze back to the document in my hands, the number dancing in front of me, Fifty thousand dollars. I couldn‘ t understand why he thought that amount was necessary. Why was he doing this? What did he expect in return?

This re–enforced the fact that I needed to find a job, some way to feel in control, and I needed to do so quickly. But it wasn’t so simple.

My schedule was overloaded with classes and assignments, there was almost no time for anything else. Instinctively, I scrolled through my phone, briefly considering calling my mom, hoping for advice or maybe just a distraction.

But when the latest photos of her honeymoon flashed across the screen, her smiling face next to my new stepdad, I hesitated. She looked so happy, so unaware of all the turmoil I was facing. Disturbing that seemed selfish. I realized that no matter how much I needed her reassurance, I couldn’t keep running to her for shelter. I couldn’t place her between Luciano and I.

I had to face him alone.

If I had to attend this event, I’d need clothes that fit the part, so a portion of this allowance would go to that. The rest, I could save it, maybe even set some aside for Mom, or donate some to a nonprofit.

Yes, that’s what I would do, Giving some of it away would help me feel more in control, as if I could reclaim part of myself.

Sitting down, I pulled up a few nonprofit organizations on my laptop, skimming through their missions. It was like I’d found a loophole in Luciano’s plan, a small way to turn his money into something of my own.

After doing my research, I logged into my bank account, my fingers hovering for a moment as I took in the balance.

Sixty thousand dollars stared back at me, a number I’d never seen before in my life. It still felt unreal, but I knew what I had to do.

I transferred ten thousand each to four nonprofits I’d researched that seemed trustworthy, and genuine. Then, I set aside fifteen thousand for my mom, knowing she’d never accept it if she knew where it came from, but I’d find a way to make sure it reached her. Five thousand would cover clothes for Luciano’s event and maybe a few essentials for my classes, and the remaining five thousand would go into my savings. A part of me cringed as I completed the transactions, uneasy about using his money. But there was something oddly freeing in repurposing it, making it serve a cause that felt more mine than his.

As the last transaction confirmed, I muttered a reluctant “thank you” to Luciano, remembering how he’d been so protective of me today.

It was almost… nice, but he was just… too much, Still, it was strange to think he wasn’t all about cruelty and control, that there might be something softer underneath that impossibly hard exterior.

My gaze drifted to my bag, and I reached inside, pulling out my broken camera. Carefully, I slid out the memory card, relieved to see it still intact. I tested the lens, turning it slowly, and a smile tugged at my lips… The lens was fine.

I slid the memory card into my laptop and scrolled through the shots I’d taken that day, and it took all of ten minutes for me to realize I’d been staring at the photos I’d taken of Luciano.

Frame by frame, he moved through the shots with that calm, commanding stride, his gaze sharp and fixed on nothing else but where I’d been standing.

I shut the laptop abruptly, my heart drumming louder than it should. Tucking the broken camera back into my bag, I reached for the new one, tracing its sleek edges.

I would take the old one in for repair tomorrow, but tonight, this new device deserved my full attention.

I turned it over in my hands, getting a feel for its weight, then began to test the settings, scrolling through options and adjusting the dials. It was only when my stomach growled, hours later, that I realized how late it had become.

Setting the camera aside, I moved into the kitchen and took out a few basics, slices of turkey, bread, and some lettuce. I put together a sandwich and poured myself a glass of milk as I leaned against the counter.

My gaze drifted back to the camera, sitting happily on the table. At least one good thing had come from today, I thought, allowing myself a faint smile as I took a bite.

Chapter 11: Friday Night.