Truths and lies

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 emerged from the shadows, a smug grin on his face. “Right on time.”

She steeled herself, crossing her arms tightly. “Enough games, Luca. You said you had something to show me. Get to the point.”

He chuckled, clearly amused by her hostility. “Always so impatient. Fine, follow me.”

He led her deeper into the warehouse, his footsteps echoing against the concrete floors. They passed rows of rusted machinery and abandoned crates, the remnants of a forgotten past. The place reeked of secrets, of lives touched and discarded without thought. Sasha’s nerves prickled with each step, but she forced herself to focus on the reason she was here.

Finally, Luca stopped in front of an old office door. He pulled out a set of keys, unlocked it, and gestured for her to enter. Sasha stepped inside cautiously, her heart pounding as she took in the dimly lit room. On a large desk at the center sat a manila envelope and a sleek black laptop, both positioned as though waiting for her arrival.

“Everything you need to know is in that envelope,” Luca said, his voice low. “But this”—he motioned to the laptop—“is the part I think you’ll find the most interesting.”

She looked at him, a mix of curiosity and dread swirling in her chest. “What’s on it?”

“Evidence,” he replied simply, his smirk widening. “The truth Dominic has kept hidden from you. Go ahead, Sasha. Open it.”

With a shaky hand, she reached for the laptop, flipping it open. The screen flickered to life, revealing a series of video files, each labeled with a date and location. Sasha’s stomach churned as she clicked on the first one, and the footage began to play.

The video was grainy, taken from a security camera in what appeared to be an underground parking garage. She watched as Dominic’s figure appeared on the screen, flanked by two men she didn’t recognize. They were talking to another man—a face she vaguely recognized from the news, a known figure in the criminal underworld. Their conversation was muted, but it was clear from their body language that this was not a friendly meeting.

As the video progressed, she saw Dominic hand over a briefcase, his expression cold and calculating. The man accepted it, nodding before disappearing into the shadows.

Sasha’s hands shook as she hit pause. She turned to Luca, her voice barely above a whisper. “What is this?”

“Dominic’s dealings,” Luca said smoothly. “Your boyfriend isn’t just a ruthless businessman, Sasha. He’s been working with some of the most dangerous people in the city. That man in the video? He’s responsible for trafficking, extortion, and a dozen other crimes. And Dominic has been funding him.”

Her heart hammered in her chest as she struggled to process the information. “Why? Why would Dominic be involved with people like this?”

Luca shrugged, feigning innocence. “Power, influence, control. He’ll do whatever it takes to stay on top, even if it means aligning himself with the worst of society.”

She clenched her fists, anger rising within her. “This… this doesn’t make sense. He’s always said he wanted to protect his family, to keep his empire safe. Why would he risk everything to work with these people?”

“Maybe that’s a question you should ask him,” Luca replied, his tone dripping with satisfaction. “But I think you already know the answer, don’t you? Dominic will always choose power over people. Even over you.”

Sasha swallowed hard, her mind racing with memories of the man she thought she knew. She wanted to deny it, to believe that there was some other explanation, but the evidence was right there in front of her. And deep down, she knew that Dominic was capable of things she’d never imagined.

“I think we’re done here,” she said, her voice tight. She gathered the envelope, her fingers trembling as she held it close. “I don’t need any more of your so-called help, Luca.”

He chuckled, leaning back against the desk. “Suit yourself. But remember, Sasha, Dominic is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The more you learn, the darker it’ll get. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

With a final, steely glare, she turned and left the warehouse, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anger. She’d come seeking answers, but now she felt as if she’d stumbled into a nightmare. The Dominic she loved had hidden so much from her, and she was no longer certain she could trust anything he said.

Back at her apartment, Sasha sat at her dining table, the envelope Luca had given her lying open before her. The documents inside painted a grim picture—financial records linking Dominic to shell companies, payments made to notorious criminals, even wire transfers to offshore accounts. She felt numb as she read through each piece of evidence, her mind struggling to reconcile the man she loved with the monster these documents depicted.

Just as she was about to shut the folder, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, her heart racing when she saw Dominic’s name.

She hesitated, unsure if she could even face him after everything she’d discovered. But part of her needed answers, needed to hear his side of the story. With a deep breath, she answered the call.

“Sasha,” Dominic’s voice was tense, filled with a desperation she’d never heard before. “We need to talk. Please, just hear me out.”

Her voice was cold, her emotions tightly controlled. “You want to talk? Fine. But this time, Dominic, no more lies.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before he spoke. “Meet me at the penthouse. I’ll explain everything.”

Against her better judgment, she agreed, ending the call and grabbing her coat. She knew that walking into his world again meant facing the darkness head-on, but if there was even a chance of finding the truth, she had to take it.

When she arrived at the penthouse, Dominic was waiting for her, his expression unreadable. He looked tired, worn, as if the weight of his secrets had finally caught up to him.

“Sasha,” he said, his voice soft as he closed the distance between them. “Thank you for coming.”

She held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Don’t thank me. Just tell me the truth. All of it.”

He took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he began. “Yes, I’ve made deals with dangerous people. Yes, I’ve done things I’m not proud of. But every decision I made was to protect what I built, to secure a future for us.”

She shook her head, tears stinging her eyes. “You keep saying that, but you were hiding these things from me, Dominic. Do you have any idea what it feels like to find out that the person you love is a stranger?”

Dominic’s face fell, a flash of regret crossing his eyes. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to be part of that world. I thought… if I could shield you from it, you’d be safe.”

Sasha’s voice wavered, her heart breaking as she spoke. “But I’m not safe, Dominic. Not from the lies, not from the darkness. You brought it all to me the moment you let me into your life.”

He reached out, his hand brushing her cheek as he searched her eyes. “Sasha, I love you. I’ll do anything to prove that, to make this right. Just tell me what you need.”

She took a shaky breath, feeling torn between her love for him and the fear he’d instilled in her. “I need the truth, Dominic. And I need to know if you’re willing to walk away from this life.”

His expression hardened, a flicker of pain in his eyes. “You’re asking me to give up everything I’ve worked for.”

“I’m asking you to choose, Dominic. Between the power, the darkness—and me.”

A silence settled between them, thick with tension as he weighed her words. For a brief, agonizing moment, she saw the conflict in his gaze, the war between the man he wanted to be and the man he’d become. Finally, he nodded, his voice barely a whisper.

“If it means keeping you… I’ll walk away.”

Sasha’s heart clenched as she took his hand, searching his eyes for any hint of deception. “You have to mean it, Dominic. No more secrets. No more lies.”

He nodded, a flicker of determination crossing his face. “I mean it, Sasha. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you by my side.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to hope. But as they embraced, a nagging fear lingered in the back of her mind. She knew that escaping the shadows of Dominic’s world wouldn’t be easy, and that the secrets they’d unearthed might come back to haunt them both.

And somewhere, watching from afar, Luca waited, a knowing smile on his face.