Sasha’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood frozen in front of Luca, his eyes locked on hers with a predatory gleam. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as the seconds stretched into what felt like hours. Every instinct told her to run, to escape the dark web that was closing in around her, but she forced herself to stay calm.
This was a dangerous game, one she had been thrust into without a choice. Now, more than ever, she had to be smart. She had to survive. Luca took a step closer, his smile widening into something more sinister. “You seem a little on edge, Sasha. Should I be worried?” Her breath caught in her throat, but she quickly masked her fear. She knew Luca was testing her, watching for any sign of weakness. If he sensed even a hint of hesitation, he’d pounce. She couldn’t let him see her sweat. “I was just surprised to see you here,” Sasha said, her voice steady as she met his gaze. “You seemed to disappear from the ballroom so quickly.” Luca chuckled, the sound low and full of menace. “Business, as always. You know how it is.” He took another step forward, and Sasha resisted the urge to back away. Instead, she straightened her spine and forced a casual smile, pretending that his proximity didn’t make her skin crawl. She had to keep up the façade. “I’m sure Dominic has plenty to keep him occupied tonight,” Luca continued, his tone dripping with innuendo. “But don’t worry. I’m happy to keep an eye on you.” Sasha’s pulse quickened, but she managed to laugh lightly, hoping it didn’t sound as forced as it felt. “I think I can manage,” she said, her words laced with just enough confidence to hold her ground. Luca’s eyes flickered with something dark and dangerous, and for a moment, Sasha wondered if she had pushed too far. But then he smiled again, the tension in his posture loosening slightly. “Feisty. I like that,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate. “No wonder Dominic is so taken with you.” Sasha swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to gauge Luca’s intentions. She had to get out of here, but she couldn’t risk making him suspicious. She needed an excuse, something that would let her slip away without raising any red flags. “I should probably find Dominic,” she said, forcing a polite smile as she took a small step backward. “He’s expecting me.” Luca’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing her words. But after a moment, he nodded, stepping aside to let her pass. “Of course,” he said smoothly, though there was an undercurrent of something darker in his tone. “Don’t keep him waiting.” Sasha moved quickly, her pulse hammering in her ears as she walked down the hallway, her mind racing with everything she had just overheard. Luca was planning something—something big—and whatever it was, Dominic didn’t know about it. If she didn’t warn him in time, everything could unravel. She needed to find him. Now. Sasha quickened her pace, weaving through the maze of hallways that made up the sprawling mansion. Her heels clicked against the marble floors, echoing in the silence as she made her way toward Dominic’s private office. Her heart pounded in her chest, fear and adrenaline coursing through her veins. She could feel the weight of the danger pressing down on her, the knowledge that she was walking a fine line between survival and destruction. When she finally reached the door to Dominic’s office, she didn’t hesitate. She pushed it open and stepped inside, only to find the room empty. “Damn it,” she muttered under her breath, scanning the room for any sign of where he might have gone. But there was nothing—no clues, no indication of his whereabouts. Panic gripped her chest. What if Luca had already moved forward with his plan? What if Dominic was in danger right now? Sasha’s mind raced as she tried to think of where else he could be. She knew that Dominic often held private meetings in the lower levels of the mansion, in the more secure areas where the true business of his empire was conducted. If Luca was planning something, that’s where it would happen. Without wasting another moment, Sasha turned and headed for the stairs that led to the basement levels. The farther she went, the darker the mansion became, the opulence of the upper floors fading into cold, concrete hallways. It was a stark contrast, a reminder of the duality of Dominic’s world—on the surface, all glittering wealth and charm, but beneath it, something far more dangerous and deadly lurked. She reached the heavy steel door that led to the lower levels, her heart racing as she pressed her hand against the scanner. The door clicked open, and Sasha slipped inside, her nerves on edge as she descended deeper into the underbelly of the mansion. The hallways here were dimly lit, and the air was thick with the smell of machinery and cold steel. It was a stark contrast to the elegant world above, and it only heightened Sasha’s sense of unease. She moved quickly, her heels muted on the concrete floors as she followed the faint sounds of voices echoing from further down the corridor. She rounded a corner and stopped dead in her tracks. Ahead of her, at the end of the hallway, was a small room. The door was slightly ajar, and through the crack, Sasha could see Dominic standing inside, his back to her. He was talking to someone—someone whose face she couldn’t see—but the tone of the conversation was tense. Dominic’s shoulders were rigid, his stance defensive. She crept closer, careful to stay out of sight as she strained to hear the conversation. “… can’t let this happen,” Dominic was saying, his voice low and sharp. “If this gets out, we’re all finished.” “I’m not asking,” a voice replied, cold and authoritative. Sasha’s blood froze. Luca. “You don’t have a choice in this, Dominic. Either you fall in line, or you’re out.” Dominic’s fists clenched at his sides, his entire body radiating barely contained fury. “You think you can make decisions like that without consulting me? You forget who built this empire.” There was a pause, and then Luca’s voice came again, softer but no less dangerous. “It’s not about you anymore. You’re losing your grip, and everyone knows it. You’ve gone soft, Dominic. And that makes you a liability.” Sasha’s breath hitched as the words sunk in. Luca was orchestrating a coup—right under Dominic’s nose. And Dominic, despite all his power and control, was on the verge of losing everything. She had to do something. She couldn’t just stand there and watch as the man she had once loved, the man who still stirred something deep within her, was betrayed. But before she could act, something in the room shifted. Dominic turned suddenly, his eyes landing on the door. For a split second, their gazes met, and Sasha’s heart stopped. His expression was a mix of shock and fury, his eyes blazing with the realization that she had overheard everything. Before Sasha could react, a hand clamped down on her shoulder, yanking her backward. She spun around, coming face-to-face with one of Luca’s men. His grip tightened on her arm, and Sasha’s heart lurched as she realized she had been caught. She struggled, but the man’s hold was ironclad, dragging her away from the door as Dominic’s shout echoed down the hallway. “Sasha!” Dominic’s voice boomed, filled with rage and desperation. But it was too late. The man pulled her down the corridor, his grip unrelenting as he dragged her toward the stairwell. Sasha’s mind raced, her body trembling with fear as she fought against him, but her efforts were futile. She was trapped, and there was no one coming to save her. As they reached the stairwell, Sasha’s captor glanced down at her with a cruel smile. “Luca sends his regards,” he sneered before shoving her into the dark. She fell, her scream echoing through the cold, concrete stairwell as she tumbled into the abyss. And then, everything went black.Pain. That was the first thing Sasha registered as she slowly came to. Her body throbbed with it—sharp stabs in her side, a dull ache in her head, and a deep, pulsing bruise on her arm where the man had gripped her. She groaned softly, the sound barely audible in the cold, dark space surrounding her. Every muscle screamed in protest as she tried to shift, the memories of what had happened rushing back like a flood.Luca’s betrayal. Dominic’s fury. The man’s rough hands dragging her away, then the fall.She opened her eyes, blinking against the darkness. Her head spun, disorienting her for a moment as she tried to focus. Where was she? What had happened after she’d fallen?Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain that shot through her ribs. The floor beneath her was hard and cold, and as her vision adjusted to the dim light, she realized she was in some kind of underground room. There were no windows, only the faintest sliver of light seeping
Dominic’s gaze flicked over Sasha, chained and bloodied, his jaw tightening as rage simmered beneath his cold exterior. His dark, calculating eyes were locked onto Luca, whose smug smile wavered ever so slightly. Luca’s men shifted uneasily, glancing at each other, sensing the silent storm gathering in the air.Dominic took a deliberate step forward, his entire frame radiating a quiet, controlled fury. The room was dead silent, except for the muffled sound of Sasha’s labored breathing as she sat restrained in the chair, her wrists bound, her face pale and drawn.“What’s the matter, Dom?” Luca sneered, his bravado returning as he leaned back, folding his arms. “Upset I found your weakness?”Dominic’s mouth twisted into a humorless smile, his eyes never leaving Luca. “You’ve made a grave mistake, Luca,” he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “Touching what’s mine? I won’t forgive that.”Luca scoffed, dismissing the threat with a wave of his hand. “You’ve gone soft, Dominic. Everyone
The city lights glowed through the tinted car windows as Dominic and Sasha sat in tense silence. The adrenaline from their escape had barely faded, and the charged silence between them was thick with unspoken words. Dominic’s hand lingered on Sasha’s knee, firm and steady, grounding her through the swirl of emotions she couldn’t contain. They had barely escaped Luca’s grip, and yet, somehow, she still felt the looming presence of his threat.Dominic’s phone buzzed again, and he clenched his jaw, ignoring it this time as he looked out the window. Sasha watched him, her own pulse quickening as she took in his profile—the controlled fury simmering beneath his calm exterior, his protectiveness hidden under his usual impassive demeanor. The lines in his face told a story of a man who had fought for everything he had, who had been ruthless when he needed to be, yet the way he looked at her told a different story—a gentler, conflicted one that she didn’t fully understand.“Dominic,” she fina
The morning sunlight filtered through the high windows of Dominic’s penthouse, casting long shadows across the floor. Sasha stood in the middle of the vast living room, feeling dwarfed by its emptiness. She had barely slept, haunted by Alistair’s revelation, and the painful reminder that danger was never far from Dominic—or from her. She hadn’t yet shared her thoughts with Dominic, but she could feel a shift between them, a silent weight hanging in the air.Dominic entered the room, his expression shadowed, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he spoke. “We need to prepare,” he said, voice steady but lacking his usual warmth. He glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck. “There are places to go, people to talk to. This… alliance my father’s built with Luca, it’s been under my nose, right where I never thought to look.”Sasha moved closer, her voice soft. “Dom, I can’t imagine how hard it is to hear that he’s alive—and worse, working against you. But you’re not alone in this.
The early morning light cast a pale glow over the city as Sasha lay beside Dominic, her head resting on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. The events of the night before lingered in her mind—the weight of Dominic’s past, the terrible revelation about his father’s betrayal, and Luca’s ominous threats. She had promised Dominic she wouldn’t leave him, but a gnawing doubt had settled deep within her. Would she be strong enough to face the demons from his past, or was she only adding to the risk he already faced?Dominic stirred, his arm instinctively pulling her closer. “You’re up early,” he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.Sasha smiled softly, tracing patterns along his chest. “Couldn’t sleep. Just… thinking.” Her tone was light, but she felt the tension in his body, sensed his hesitancy.He tilted her chin up, his gaze searching her face. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.She hesitated, uncertain how to voice the tangle of emotions chur
Sasha sat in the dimly lit kitchen of Dominic’s penthouse, replaying Luca’s words over and over. “Dominic sacrificed his own brother for power.” It felt impossible to believe, but the way Luca had said it left a gnawing feeling in her stomach that she couldn’t shake. Her hands trembled as she wrapped them around a mug of tea, her mind racing. If there was even a shred of truth in Luca’s words, it meant she’d built her love on a foundation of secrets. Could she trust Dominic?The sound of the elevator doors opening snapped her back to the present. She watched as Dominic strode into the room, his face hard, his eyes unreadable. He stopped when he saw her sitting there, his expression softening.“You’re still up,” he said quietly, setting down his keys.Sasha forced a smile, though she felt her heart pound painfully in her chest. “I couldn’t sleep.”Dominic frowned, sensing her hesitation. He crossed the room and reached for her hand. “Something’s wrong. I can see it in your eyes. Talk t
Sasha arrived at the upscale, dimly lit bar where Dominic had asked her to meet him. She wrapped her arms around herself as she stood by the entrance, her pulse racing with anticipation and dread. Her thoughts were a maze of questions, doubts, and lingering love, each one cutting deeper as she waited. Dominic had asked her to come so he could “explain everything.” But after everything she’d heard, she wasn’t sure what “everything” even entailed anymore.Just as she was about to turn and leave, unsure if she was ready to face him, Dominic stepped out of the shadows. His gaze met hers, intense and unwavering, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe. He was magnetic, his presence a force that pulled her in, despite everything that had happened.“Sasha,” he said softly, his voice laced with a mix of relief and tension.She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she tried to steady herself. “Dominic.”They walked in silence to a private booth, the weight of unspoken words filling the
The hours leading up to her meeting with Luca were the longest of Sasha’s life. She tried to keep herself busy, but nothing could quiet the storm of thoughts and emotions swirling in her mind. She missed Dominic, his touch, his warmth, the way he could make her feel secure even when her world was in chaos. But now, with Luca’s words echoing in her head, every memory of Dominic was tinged with doubt and betrayal.By nightfall, Sasha had changed three times, unable to decide what felt right. She finally settled on a black trench coat over dark jeans and a sweater, hoping the nondescript outfit would blend into the shadows of the city. Luca had chosen a secluded spot, a rundown warehouse by the docks, and as she stepped out of her car, she felt an eerie chill in the air. The silence of the deserted area, the faint sound of water lapping against the dock—it all felt like the setting for a scene she wasn’t sure she wanted to play.“Sasha.” Luca’s voice cut through the darkness as he emerge