The days passed, but the mark Dominic had left on my neck refused to fade. I had taken to wearing high collars and scarves, but Dominic’s mark stayed, as if unwilling to let go of its claim on me. Life with my husband, Harold had continued as well, though it had become even more strained. There was an unspoken tension between us, an almost mocking civility, as if he was daring me to say something, to admit I knew the truth of his neglect and his contempt.Then, one morning, a summons arrived. Harold wanted to see me in his study. I knew what awaited me—after everything that had happened, after years of silence and resentment, there could only be one reason he’d called me there. For the Divorce.The thought of it should have brought relief, maybe even a sense of freedom. But as I walked down the long hallway toward his study, I could feel something else stirring inside me, a nervous anticipation that I hadn’t felt in a long time.I opened the door to Harold’s study, expecting to see
A few days passed after the confrontation with Harold in his study, and I found myself constantly on edge. Every time I passed a mirror, I could see the faint but undeniable mark on my neck—the mark that Dominic had left.It was a reminder of our forbidden connection and a danger I couldn’t afford, not with Harold so close to uncovering the truth. I tried everything to conceal it, even resorting to layers of makeup, scarves, and high collars, but I knew the day was coming when it would be impossible to hide.One morning, while I was applying concealer in front of my vanity, there was a sudden knock on my door. Panic flared as I dabbed the makeup sponge over my neck, the door swinging open before I had a chance to answer.“Elisse.” Harold’s voice was cold, and I froze, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck rise. He was already halfway into my room, his gaze narrowing as he caught sight of me. His eyes drifted to the makeup sponge in my hand and then to the side of my neck, where I h
The tension between Harold and me only grew sharper over the next few days, thickening like a storm cloud with each encounter. He hadn’t mentioned the divorce papers since that night, but his glances were more probing, and his conversations colder. I felt the invisible clock ticking down, each second adding to his suspicions as he tried to piece together what he sensed lurking beneath the surface.One evening, just after sunset, he summoned me to his study. This time, the edge in his voice was unmistakable, dripping with barely-contained fury. As I approached the heavy oak door, dread twisted in my stomach, a familiar sensation by now, but one I’d never grown used to. I braced myself, preparing for whatever accusations or demands he might hurl my way.Inside, he stood by the window, his back turned, a dark silhouette against the forest’s fading light. His posture was tense, hands clasped behind him, a man barely holding himself together. He didn’t look at me when he spoke.“It’s been
The weight of Harold’s resentment had hung over the house since the last conversation with him earlier before the hunt. His gaze towards me grew colder, and even his demands became persistent that it was becoming too hard for me to continue enduring to resist him from his relentless desire to have me signed the divorce papers.With each passing day, his words began to sting more like carefully placed weapons than accusations. It’s like a venom that was creeping through me everytime we both talk and it was becoming too hard to counter. Although most of the time, I would often just listen to him and refuse to start an argument. Later that evening after their hunt, the night abruptly was thick with an ominous calm as I rested in bed. I didn’t even bother waiting for them. Usually, Harold wouldn’t even mind if I waited for them or not so might as well spend the rest of the evening resting so that I wouldn’t even have to waist my energy on people who doesn’t even care whether I make an e
The next two days in Dominic's penthouse were a experience unlike anything I had ever known. The silence wrapped around me like a soft blanket, soothing the frayed edges of my mind. The freedom was intoxicating; for the first time, I felt the weight of fear lift off my shoulders, replaced by a profound sense of liberation that was almost surreal. The penthouse, perched high above the city, offered breathtaking views that seemed to stretch into infinity. Vast windows framed the skyline, the twinkling lights below resembling scattered stars, reminding me that I was untethered, floating high above the chaos of my past.In this sanctuary, I could breathe again. I realized that no one would find us here, and with that thought came an overwhelming sense of safety that felt foreign yet deeply welcome.When Dominic returned from his outing, I was taken aback by the sight of him lugging in bags of groceries and supplies. I hadn’t expected such a thoughtful gesture; it was a surprise that set
But every wonderful moment seemed to have an ending. As much as I don’t want to go home yet, Dominic was the one who told me he should send me back a day ahead before Harold comes home.I understand that it would become rather suspicious if I were nowhere to be found when Harold returns. Not that he would care in a sense of jealousy, but I believe it would be because he would rather much want to find out further flaws to use up against me so that he could force me to sign the divorce papers.The drive back to the pack house was filled with a tense silence that hung in the air between Dominic and me. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur into a green haze as we sped down the winding road. I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that crept in, a reminder of all that was at stake. “You need to head early,” Dominic said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but I could sense the underlying tension. “We can’t be seen together, Elisse. It’s too risky.”I nodded, my heart h
The tension in the room was suffocating. Harold stood across from me, his face twisted with a mix of anger and something else—was it desperation? My heart pounded in my chest as he shoved the divorce papers toward me, his voice low and threatening. “You will sign these, Elisse. Today. Right now.”“Harold, please,” I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t just sign away my life like this.”His eyes narrowed, and the cruel smile on his lips sent a chill down my spine. “You think you have a choice? You’re in no position to negotiate.”Just as I prepared to argue further, the door burst open, and in strode Dominic, flanked by the elders from the Alliance Pack. Their presence filled the room with an undeniable authority, and I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me. “What’s going on here?” one of the elders, an imposing figure with silver hair, demanded, his gaze shifting between Harold and me. “We were told there was an incident.”Harold’s demeanor shifted in an instant, tra
Days following that incident, Dominic guided me through the bustling streets of the city as he insisted to take me out for a quick breahter. The neon lights flickered like stars in the night sky, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of exhilaration. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was outside the oppressive walls of the pack house, and I could breathe freely.“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to contain my excitement.“I have a little surprise for you,” Dominic replied, a playful smile dancing on his lips. “I noticed you’ve been wearing the same clothes for a while. I thought it was time you treated yourself to something new.”My heart fluttered at the thought. It was sweet of him, but a nagging voice in the back of my mind reminded me of my limited funds and Harold’s tight grip on my finances. “You really don’t have to—”“I want to,” he interrupted, his tone firm yet gentle. “You deserve to feel good about yourself, Elisse. Plus, we can’t have you running around in
The moment the door closed behind Dominic and Dante, silence filled the safe house. It wasn’t comforting silence; it was heavy, suffocating, and full of unspoken fears. I paced the small living room, trying to distract myself from the growing sense of dread clawing at my chest.The events of the last twenty-four hours replayed in my mind like a broken record. Dominic’s cold, calculating demeanor. Dante’s smug confidence. The chaos at the docks. The idea that Creed had already retaliated left a bitter taste in my mouth.I glanced at the duffel bag Dominic had left on the table earlier. Curiosity gnawed at me. Maybe there was something in there that could make me feel more prepared—more useful. I hesitated for a moment before unzipping it.Inside was an assortment of items: spare clothes, ammunition, a couple of burner phones, and a sleek black handgun. My hand hovered over the weapon, unsure whether I should even touch it.“You’re not going to learn by staring at it.”I jumped at the v
The next few hours were a blur of activity. Dominic, Dante, and I worked in sync, piecing together a plan that felt both daring and borderline suicidal. The docks were Creed’s stronghold, a sprawling maze of warehouses and shipping containers guarded by his most loyal enforcers. If we were going to take him down, we had to be precise.Dominic laid out a crude map on the desk, his finger tracing potential entry points and vulnerabilities. “Creed will have men posted here, here, and here,” he said, pointing to the main gates and key vantage points. “But the real action will be in Warehouse 12. That’s where they’ll load the shipment.”“And that’s where we’ll hit him?” I asked, leaning over the map.Dominic shook his head. “Not directly. We’ll divide their attention. Dante and I will draw their focus here”—he pointed to a side entrance near the east gate—“while you create a diversion near the south docks.”I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. “You want me to create a diversion? H
Dominic moved like a force of nature, his body a blur of precise, lethal motion. Creed barely had time to react before Dominic was on him, knocking the gun from his hand with a sharp twist of his wrist. The weapon skittered across the floor, disappearing into the shadows.Creed staggered backward, his smug composure finally breaking. “You think this changes anything?” he spat, his voice tinged with panic. “You can’t outrun me, Dominic! I own this city!”Dominic didn’t respond. He grabbed Creed by the collar, slamming him against the wall with enough force to rattle the shelves lining the room. Creed let out a strangled grunt, his bravado melting into fear.I wanted to move, to help, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins left me frozen, my pulse pounding in my ears. One of Creed’s men was still conscious, clutching his injured shoulder as he reached for a gun.I acted on instinct. Grabbing a nearby bottle from a cluttered table, I hurled it with all my strength. It shattered aga
(ELISE)The room seemed to vibrate with tension as Creed’s cruel smile twisted into a smirk of amusement. Dominic was slumped in the chair, his face pale but his eyes sharp, tracking every movement in the room. I could feel the weight of his stare on me, but I didn’t dare meet his gaze. Not yet.Creed stepped closer, the gun in his hand casually dangling as though he wasn’t holding my entire world in his palm. The two men blocking the exit were armed, their broad shoulders and menacing glares making them appear like immovable statues.“You know,” Creed said, his voice almost conversational, “I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to show up this quickly. Dominic always said you were resourceful, but I assumed you’d at least hesitate. Shows how little I know.”I forced myself to hold his gaze, hiding the fear simmering beneath my surface. “If you wanted me here so badly, you’ve got me. Now let him go.”Creed chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Oh, Elise. It’s not that simple. Dominic her
I stood frozen, the phone still clutched in my hand, its cold surface pressing against my damp palm. The man's chilling voice echoed in my mind, and my heartbeat thundered in my ears. Dominic was in danger, and every instinct in my body screamed at me to do something.I paced the apartment, the walls closing in around me. The security guards stationed at the door would never let me leave alone, not after the recent threats. But waiting wasn’t an option. I had to act, and I had to act now.Taking a deep breath, I glanced at the package the deliveryman had brought earlier—the ominous note lying discarded on the coffee table. Its words felt like a taunt, a reminder that I was being watched.I couldn’t involve anyone else. Whoever this man was, he wanted me alone, and any deviation from that would only put Dominic in greater danger.I grabbed my coat and slipped on a pair of boots, trying to steady my trembling hands. Quietly, I opened the closet and retrieved the pepper spray Dominic had
(ELISE)The drive back to the apartment felt suffocating. The silence between us was almost oppressive, pressing down on my chest with each passing mile. Dominic sat next to me, his face pale and drawn, his jaw locked tight. I could feel the weight of Victor’s accusations, the sting of the chilling message on my phone—each one a reminder of the danger creeping closer. Neither of us spoke, but the unspoken tension between us was palpable, filling the car and making the air thick with unease.I couldn’t stand it anymore.“Who would send that message?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper, but loud enough to break the silence that had swallowed us whole.Dominic’s eyes were fixed on the road, but his fingers gripped the armrest, his knuckles white. “It could be anyone connected to my father’s past, or one of the people Victor mentioned,” he replied, his voice taut with something I couldn’t quite place. “I don’t know.”“No.” I turned to him, catching his glance for just a moment.
The night was cold and silent as I approached the old pier, its wooden planks creaking under my hesitant footsteps. The waves lapped softly against the posts, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within me.The letter’s cryptic words had replayed in my mind on the drive here. Every scenario I could imagine ended badly, yet I couldn’t ignore the pull of curiosity—or the need for answers.I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Dominic’s car in the distance. But I hadn’t told him. This was something I needed to face alone.A figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the pier. My heart raced, my fingers gripping the small canister of pepper spray tucked into my pocket.“Hello, Elise,” a familiar voice called out.I stopped short. It wasn’t Linda or Julian.It was Victor, Dominic’s estranged cousin.Victor’s history with Dominic was complicated. He had been a promising figure in the family business until his reckless decisions led to a scandal that nearly destroyed thei
The confrontation with Julian Kane should have been the climax of our struggles, but as it turned out, it was only the prelude.Julian was apprehended quickly after the police arrived, his threats dissolving into pathetic excuses as they hauled him away. I thought the worst was over, that Dominic and I could finally breathe freely again. But life has a way of twisting the knife when you least expect it.It started with an innocent phone call.“Mrs. Blackwood?”I froze at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. “Yes, this is Elise Blackwood. Who’s calling?”“This is Detective Harris with the Financial Crimes Division. I need to speak with you and your husband regarding an ongoing investigation. Would you be available to meet at our office?”I frowned, glancing at Dominic, who was standing across the room. He caught my expression and walked over, his brow furrowing.“Can you tell me what this is about?” I asked cautiously.“It’s sensitive,” the detective replied. “But it concerns irregularit
The message hung over us like a storm cloud, an unwelcome reminder of the chaos Dominic and I had fought so hard to escape. I had no idea who could have sent it or what it meant, but Dominic’s reaction told me everything I needed to know—this wasn’t the first threat he’d received.After dinner, he paced the living room, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. I watched him, my chest tightening with each heavy step. Finally, I couldn’t take the silence any longer.“Dominic, talk to me,” I said, standing and crossing the room to him. “Who sent that message? What are we dealing with?”He stopped, his jaw working as he debated how much to tell me. His hesitation only fueled my anxiety.“I don’t know for sure,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “But I have my suspicions.”I crossed my arms. “And those suspicions are…?”He sighed, his shoulders sagging. “It could be someone connected to the board—or a competitor who’s not thrilled about the merger we finalized last year. There w