Dangerous Games

Sasha’s heart pounded as she watched Dominic disappear into a side room with Luca and the others. She had never seen him look like this before—tense, on edge, his usual mask of control cracking around the edges. It unnerved her more than she cared to admit. Whatever conversation was happening behind those closed doors wasn’t just business, it was personal. And dangerous.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. This was her chance. She could either stand here, waiting like an obedient trophy wife, or she could seize this moment to learn more about the world she had been thrust into.

Her eyes scanned the ballroom. The guests continued to mingle, sipping champagne and exchanging polite pleasantries, but she knew better than to be fooled by the surface-level elegance. Underneath the glitz and glamor, there were power plays happening all around her. She could feel it in the air—danger lurking beneath every whispered conversation, every knowing glance.

Sasha straightened her posture and began to weave through the crowd, keeping her movements subtle and unassuming. She was careful to avoid drawing attention to herself as she navigated the labyrinth of high society elites. The weight of Dominic’s diamond necklace around her throat felt heavier with every step, a reminder of the precarious position she was in.

As she passed a group of women dressed in couture gowns, their laughter filled the air—sharp and calculated, like everything else in this world. They didn’t acknowledge her, not even a glance in her direction, as if she were invisible. And maybe that was a good thing. Being invisible gave her a kind of power, one she hadn’t fully realized until now.

Her path led her toward a quieter part of the mansion, a hallway lined with priceless art and sculptures, away from the noise of the ballroom. Her pulse quickened with each step, a mix of fear and determination pushing her forward. She didn’t know exactly what she was looking for, but her instincts told her she needed to find something—anything—that could help her understand Dominic’s true intentions.

She was halfway down the corridor when she heard voices—low, hushed, coming from a nearby room. She slowed her steps, moving closer until she could make out the conversation. It was two men, their tones filled with a tension that sent a chill down her spine.

“You’re sure it’s all in place?” one of them asked. His voice was rough, commanding, with an edge of impatience.

“Everything’s been arranged,” the other man replied, his words smooth and deliberate. “But there’s more heat on us than expected. We can’t afford any mistakes tonight.”

Sasha’s breath caught in her throat. Whoever they were, this wasn’t just idle chatter. Something was happening tonight, something dangerous. And Dominic was in the middle of it.

She pressed herself against the wall, straining to hear more, but the conversation was cut short by the sound of footsteps approaching from the other end of the hallway. Panic shot through her, and she quickly ducked into a nearby alcove, her heart racing as the footsteps grew louder.

Two men appeared at the end of the corridor, walking in her direction. They were dressed in expensive suits, their expressions grim and focused. One of them was the man with the rough voice she had overheard, and he glanced around the hallway as if he sensed something was off.

Sasha held her breath, her pulse thundering in her ears. She willed herself to remain still, hidden in the shadows, as the men passed by. For a moment, she was sure they had noticed her, but they continued down the hall without a second glance, disappearing into the next room.

When she was certain they were gone, Sasha exhaled slowly, her body shaking from the close call. She couldn’t stay here. It was too dangerous. But as she turned to leave, another figure appeared at the far end of the hallway—tall, broad-shouldered, and unmistakable.

Dominic.

Her stomach twisted in knots as their eyes met across the distance. He strode toward her with purpose, his expression unreadable, but she could sense the storm brewing beneath the surface.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low and controlled, but there was a dangerous edge to it. His eyes bore into hers, sharp and unyielding.

“I was just—” she began, but the words caught in her throat. She couldn’t lie, not to him, not when he was looking at her like that. Like he already knew the answer.

“You were eavesdropping.” It wasn’t a question. His tone was ice-cold, and the tension between them crackled like electricity.

Sasha swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had crossed a line, but she wasn’t going to back down. Not this time.

“I overheard something,” she admitted, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. “Something about tonight. About a plan.”

Dominic’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, she saw something flicker in his eyes—something dark and dangerous. He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming as he loomed over her.

“You have no idea what you’re involved in,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but it sent a chill down her spine. “This isn’t a game, Sasha. People like you don’t survive in this world.”

Her chest tightened, but she refused to let him intimidate her. She wasn’t just a pawn in his game, and she wasn’t going to let him keep her in the dark any longer.

“Then tell me,” she demanded, meeting his gaze head-on. “Tell me what’s really going on. I deserve to know.”

For a moment, Dominic’s expression softened, and she thought he might actually tell her the truth. But then, just as quickly, the mask was back in place. His eyes hardened, and he shook his head.

“You don’t need to know,” he said, his voice cold. “All you need to do is stay by my side and follow my lead. That’s the only way you’ll survive.”

Sasha’s breath caught in her throat. The way he said it, as if her survival depended entirely on him, sent a shiver of fear through her. But beneath that fear, something else stirred—anger. Anger at being kept in the dark, at being controlled and manipulated.

She wasn’t just going to follow his lead blindly. Not anymore.

Before she could say anything more, Dominic grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not painful. He began leading her back toward the ballroom, his stride purposeful and unrelenting.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice sharp.

“To the gala,” he replied without looking at her. “And you’re going to smile and play your part, just like I told you.”

Sasha’s heart raced as they entered the ballroom once again, the grand space filled with laughter and music. The tension between her and Dominic was palpable, and she could feel the eyes of the guests on them, whispering and speculating about the new Mrs. Roman.

But her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about what she had overheard, about the danger that lurked just beneath the surface of this world. Dominic had warned her to stay out of it, but she couldn’t. Not now.

As they moved through the crowd, Dominic’s grip on her arm loosened, and he released her to speak with a group of men standing near the bar. Sasha took the opportunity to slip away, her mind racing as she tried to piece together what little she had learned.

She needed answers, and she wasn’t going to find them by standing on the sidelines. Her gaze swept across the room until she spotted a familiar figure—Luca Moretti, standing by the entrance with a glass of champagne in hand, his cold eyes scanning the crowd.

Sasha’s pulse quickened. Luca was dangerous—she knew that much from the way Dominic had reacted to him. But he might also hold the key to the secrets she was searching for.

Summoning her courage, Sasha made her way toward him, her steps deliberate, her heart hammering in her chest. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, but she couldn’t turn back now.

As she approached, Luca’s gaze landed on her, a slow smile curling on his lips.

“Ah, Mrs. Roman,” he greeted her smoothly, his voice dripping with false charm. “What a pleasant surprise.”

Sasha forced a smile, her stomach churning with unease. “I was hoping we could talk,” she said, keeping her tone light and casual, even as her nerves screamed at her to run.

Luca’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with something dark. “Of course, my dear. I’m always happy to talk.”

He extended his arm, gesturing toward a more private corner of the room. Sasha hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, her mind made up. She was going to find out the truth, no matter how dangerous it might be.

As she walked with Luca toward the shadows, a sense of dread settled over her, but she pushed it aside. She had to stay strong, had to stay focused.

Because in Dominic’s world, weakness was a death sentence.