Shadows of the past

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 finally whispered, breaking the silence. “What’s going to happen now?”

His gaze snapped to hers, the intensity of it nearly stealing her breath. “Now?” he echoed, his voice a low growl. “Now, I make sure Luca can never come near you again. He broke his last chance.”

Sasha shivered, a mixture of fear and excitement stirring within her at his possessive tone. But there was more to her question—questions he seemed to read in her eyes.

“You’re safe with me,” he said softly, his hand moving to brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “No matter what it takes.”

She nodded, her throat tightening. “But Dominic, Luca… he said things. About you. Things I didn’t understand.” She paused, hesitating, then took a breath. “He said that I was a distraction. That you’d become… weak because of me.”

Dominic’s expression hardened, a flicker of something unreadable flashing across his eyes before he quickly masked it. “Luca has always been a snake. He’ll say anything to try and plant doubt.”

But Sasha couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more beneath his words, something he wasn’t telling her. She leaned closer, her hand resting lightly on his arm. “Dom, if there’s something you’re hiding—”

A sudden explosion rocked the night, the blast so close it rattled the car. Dominic’s arm shot out protectively, pulling her against him as his driver slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a jerking stop. The night outside was filled with shouts and the glare of headlights as Dominic’s men scrambled out of their vehicles, forming a protective perimeter.

“Stay down,” Dominic ordered, his tone sharp, but Sasha’s instincts kicked in. She ducked behind him, peering out the window to see what had happened. A sleek black SUV was parked diagonally across the street, blocking their path. Its headlights were blinding, but she could make out the figures emerging from it—men dressed in black, heavily armed and clearly intent on one thing: Dominic.

Dominic’s hand closed around hers as he pulled her out of the car, swiftly guiding her into the shadows beside a nearby alleyway. “Go back to the car,” he hissed, pushing her gently back, but Sasha gripped his hand, refusing to leave his side.

“I’m not running,” she whispered fiercely, her eyes locking with his, her resolve clear.

Dominic hesitated for a split second, but then he nodded, a flicker of pride flashing in his gaze. “Stay close to me, then. Don’t let go of my hand.”

They moved silently, weaving through the shadows as Dominic’s men engaged in a standoff with the intruders. They kept low, slipping through a narrow side street that led away from the chaos, and Sasha’s heart pounded as the sounds of gunfire echoed behind them.

As they reached the end of the alley, a black car pulled up beside them, and a man with dark eyes and a rugged face stepped out, glancing between Dominic and Sasha with a curious glint. “I heard you might need an exit plan,” the man said with a smirk, opening the back door.

“Alistair,” Dominic muttered, a mixture of surprise and relief crossing his face. “I didn’t expect you’d come.”

“Let’s just say old debts need settling,” Alistair replied, his tone cryptic as he gestured for them to get in.

Sasha slid into the backseat, and Dominic followed, his gaze flickering between Alistair and the chaos behind them. As they sped away, Sasha glanced at Dominic, her curiosity piqued by the interaction. “Who is he?” she asked quietly.

Dominic sighed, running a hand over his face. “Alistair was… an ally. An old one. We haven’t seen each other in years.” He hesitated, as if weighing his next words carefully. “He used to be part of the family business until things took a… different turn.”

“A different turn?” Sasha pressed, sensing there was more to the story.

Dominic’s jaw tightened, his expression darkening. “Luca wasn’t always my enemy,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “Once, we were… close. Closer than brothers. Until he betrayed me.”

Sasha’s heart ached as she saw the pain flicker across his face, his guard lowered for just a moment. “What happened?”

He looked away, his gaze distant. “Luca wanted power. He wanted control, and when I refused to share it with him, he turned against me. Alistair… he took my side, helped me cut ties with Luca before things spiraled out of control.”

Sasha’s mind spun as she tried to piece together the fragments of his past. “So you and Luca… you weren’t always enemies?”

Dominic nodded, his expression guarded. “We were once like family. But he’s changed, Sasha. He’s ruthless, obsessed with tearing everything I’ve built apart. And now, with you in the picture… he’ll do anything to destroy me.”

Her chest tightened as she absorbed his words, the weight of Dominic’s past bearing down on her. She could see it now—the pain, the betrayal that had shaped him into the man he was today. But beneath that hardened exterior, she saw glimpses of something more. Something vulnerable, something deeply scarred.

And for the first time, she realized just how deeply she was connected to this man, how inextricably tied her fate was to his.

The silence between them stretched, charged with unspoken words, until Alistair broke it, glancing back at them in the rearview mirror. “You’re not safe yet. Luca’s reach is far. He won’t stop until he’s either dead or… you are.”

Dominic’s gaze sharpened. “He can try.”

Alistair’s smirk faded, his voice turning serious. “There’s more, Dom. Luca’s not alone. He’s made alliances with others, people who want to see you fall. I’ve heard whispers of a deal—a powerful backer who wants control over your empire.”

Dominic’s fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. “Who?”

Alistair hesitated, his gaze dark. “Your father.”

The words landed like a blow, and Sasha felt the air shift as Dominic froze beside her, his face hardening into an unreadable mask. For a moment, she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. Dominic’s father? The man who had been gone from his life for years, presumed dead or lost?

“That’s impossible,” Dominic whispered, his voice rough with disbelief. “He’s gone. He left everything… he wouldn’t…”

Alistair’s gaze was sympathetic yet unyielding. “He’s alive, Dom. And he’s been building a network—a shadow empire hidden from the public eye. Luca was just the beginning. Your father is the real enemy, the one orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.”

The weight of the revelation settled over them, thick and suffocating. Sasha reached for Dominic’s hand, squeezing it in silent support as he processed the shock of betrayal. His father—alive, conspiring with his enemies, working to dismantle everything Dominic had built.

It was a betrayal so deep it cut to the very core of who Dominic was, the wounds of his past reopened with a brutal clarity. She could see it in his eyes, the storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface—the hurt, the anger, the confusion. But there was something else, too, something darker and more dangerous.

A resolve.

He lifted his gaze, meeting Alistair’s eyes with a steely determination. “If he wants to come for me, then let him. But I won’t stand by and let him destroy everything.”

Alistair nodded, his expression respectful. “I knew you wouldn’t. That’s why I’m here. I’ll stand by you, Dom, whatever it takes.”

Dominic’s grip tightened around Sasha’s hand, his jaw set as he looked at her with a fierce protectiveness that left her breathless. “We’re not going to hide, Sasha. We’re going to face this head-on. Whatever it takes, I’ll protect you. I’ll protect us.”

Her heart pounded as she took in his words, the weight of his promise settling over her. She knew the path ahead would be treacherous, filled with dangers she could barely comprehend, but with Dominic by her side, she felt a strength she hadn’t known she possessed.

“I’m with you,” she whispered, her voice steady, her resolve mirroring his.

He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers as he took a deep breath. “Then let’s finish this.”