DOMINIC’S POV I stood on the balcony with the cigarette balanced between my fingers. The faint glow of the city lights stretched out beneath me, but I barely noticed. My thoughts were elsewhere. The cool night air bit at my skin, but I welcomed it. It was better than being inside, facing the woman I’d just left behind.The door to the bedroom was slightly ajar, and through it, I could see Ruby lying in bed. She wasn’t asleep yet—I could tell by the way she shifted under the covers, as if trying to get comfortable. I’d left her abruptly, and she hadn’t said a word. But I could feel her confusion from where I stood.I inhaled deeply, the smoke burning my lungs before I exhaled slowly, watching the thin wisps disappear into the night. What was I supposed to say to her? "Sorry, Ruby, I can’t handle this because it reminds me of a life I’ll never get back"?Pathetic.The truth was, I had felt something back there. Something I hadn’t felt in five years.The last time I’d held someone so cl
RUBY'S POVThe sunlight filtered through the thin curtains, waking me slowly. I turned over in bed, stretching my arms lazily before realizing that I was alone. Dominic was gone.A part of me wasn’t surprised. He didn’t strike me as the kind of man who hung around after sex. But another part of me… well, I couldn’t lie. I felt a twinge of disappointment.My phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling me from my thoughts. I grabbed it and gasped at the sight of 23 missed calls. Thirteen from Ariana, ten from Lilac. Groaning, I unlocked my phone and opened our group chat.Ariana: Where are you, Ruby?!Lilac: If you don’t answer, we’re calling the cops.Ariana: Seriously, you better be okay.Lilac: Or we’re breaking down the door to your suite.I scrolled through 76 unread messages, all ranging from concerned to borderline threatening.“Great,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.I hit the FaceTime button and waited for the call to connect. Within seconds, both Ariana and Lilac appeared on the s
RUBY'S POV“Yes, Ambrose, I can hear you,” I yelled, juggling the phone between my shoulder and ear as I waved one of the workers over. “Be careful with that table—it’s antique!” I mouthed at the two men struggling with my new dining table. One of them nodded, while the other just grunted under the weight.Ambrose sighed dramatically on the other end of the line. “Ruby, I was only trying to help. You’re in my care. I thought you’d appreciate it if someone tried to mediate between you and Gabriel.”I rolled my eyes so hard I was sure they could have fallen out of my head. “Mediation? Is that what we’re calling betrayal these days?”“You’re being unfair,” he insisted. “Gabriel was devastated when you left. I thought—”“You thought what? That I’d forget everything he’s done and just go running back to him like some obedient little wife?” I snapped, turning my back on the workers to focus on the call. “Ambrose, I left him for good reasons. Don’t make this harder for me.”There was a pause
RUBY'S POVDominic turned and immediately locked eyes with me, and I gasped. I couldn’t look away, even though every part of me screamed to retreat into my condo and pretend I hadn’t seen him. Horror, fear, and, to my dismay, a flicker of delight rooted me to the spot. Why the fuck was I delighted to see him again?!He looked different—dressed casually, which was so unlike the silent businessman I had come to know. A white country club tee hugged his broad chest, paired with khaki pants and spotless white sneakers. His hair, usually framing his face like a curtain of dark mystery, was pulled back into a sleek bun, and a faint stubble graced his jawline like he hadn't shaved in days. And then there was that gold mask on the left side of his face.He looked so dark and handsome.I swallowed hard. He was so good looking, mesmerizing even, in a way that made my knees weak. It wasn’t fair how this man could look so devastatingly good even when he was doing absolutely nothing.Dominic was
RUBY'S POVI woke up feeling unusually content and well-rested. Stretching under the covers, I smiled to myself, remembering what I had done to my own body last night. It wasn't the first time I'd be masturbating—I used to do it a lot, after Gabriel would leave me unsatisfied in bed—but this time felt different and better. Was it because it was Dominic I was thinking about this time?No wonder I felt this way. For once, it seemed like the world had aligned perfectly.Throwing the covers aside, I padded barefoot into the living room, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. But as soon as I glanced around, my smile faded, replaced by a groan.“What on earth?” I muttered, surveying the chaos.The room was a complete mess. A large shelf was awkwardly blocking most of the sunlight from the window, making the room feel dark and cramped. A stack of books was precariously leaning against the coffee table, and the throw pillows I’d proudly arranged yesterday now looked lazily put together.“Is this th
Dominic's POVDamien and I sat in the backseat of my car as it cruised smoothly away from the estate. My driver focused on the road ahead, while Damien scrolled through his tablet, pulling up figures and architectural designs.“I have to hand it to you, Dominic,” Damien noted, gesturing to the screen. “That estate is a goldmine waiting to happen. Prime location, high-end appeal—it’s perfect for luxury buyers. You’re sitting on a jackpot.”I nodded, barely glancing at him. My mind was elsewhere. “It’s promising, but it’ll need significant renovations before it’s ready for the market. Some people have started to move in already.”“True,” Damien agreed, tapping at his screen. “But nothing too drastic. Aesthetic upgrades, smart home integrations, maybe a few more amenities to justify the high price point. I’m tempted to invest in this project myself.”I arched an eyebrow, turning my gaze to him. “You’ve got enough on your plate, Damien. Stick to your portfolio.”“Oh, come on.” He grinned.
DOMINIC'S POV“Sir?” Clyvedon’s voice was hesitant. “Is there a problem?”I didn’t answer him. My eyes stayed fixed on the note. Was Ruby okay? I had to find out. I had to make sure.I closed the file that he'd give me with a loud snap. Without another glance at Clyvedon, I stood and strode to the door. His stammering protests reached my ears; mostly excuses about hard work, promises to improve, but I didn’t bother acknowledging them.Weak men like him disgust me.The office felt stifling as I stepped out, and the forced smiles and hesitant greetings from the staff in the lobby did nothing to improve my mood. I walked past them without a word. The glass doors opened automatically, and I stepped into the waiting car.My driver glanced back from the front seat. “Where to, sir?”“One moment,” I raised a finger, then pulled out my phone from my pocket.I scrolled through my contacts and pressed the call button for my secretary. It rang twice before she picked up.“Good morning, Mr. Ruther
RUBY'S POVIf I was being honest with myself, seeing Dominic standing in my living room felt surreal, like I was stuck in some fever dream. What was he doing here? Why was he always turning up where I least expected? Deep down, a warmth bloomed—was it happiness? No, I fought against it. This man was chaos in human form, and I didn’t have time for that.But I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering over him. He wasn’t in one of his usual tailored suits. Instead, he was wearing a pair of jeans and a brown country club tee, with matching brown sneakers. His long black hair was tied back into a sleek braid that ran down his back. Casual Dominic was new to me. He looked more approachable, less imposing. And that made him even more dangerous.He caught me staring and cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to his face—or rather, the gold mask that covered half of it.“I heard about the booby trap,” he started. His deep voice was steady as usual, yet somehow softer than I’d expected.My
Dominic’s POVI let go of her long enough to lead her to the bed. The first order of business was to pull down the bedding. Then I turned back to beautiful Ruby, glad she’d been too busy looking at me to start undressing. I wanted to undress her myself.She was already gathering her dress in her hands, ready to lift. I was at her side in a second. “No, no, no. That’s my job. Have I mentioned how much I like this dress?” She shook her head.“Well, I do.” My fingertips went to her shoulders. So close to bare, and yet those two delicate straps were all that stood between me and seeing those pert little breasts. Tasting them and making those nipples bud for me.I slipped one finger under each strap. “It must have been so hard for the men in your flight to concentrate." I murmured. "One look at you in your sundress and they would have been done for. I can barely even look at you with control. Waiting for the hem to climb up those gorgeous thighs. Picturing what lay beneath.” Ruby's breat
Dominic's POVRuby sat on the bed, legs crossed, wearing that yellow dress that had no business looking as good as it did on her. It stuck to her body in all the right places, and the color made her red hair even more striking.She was a perfect distraction.She smiled at me with a playful glint in her eyes. "I’m going to do my best to take your mind off the obvious problem."I let out a dry chuckle and leaned back against the couch. "I’d love to see how you plan on distracting me from the fact that my daughter is in danger."She groaned and rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, Dominic. Just play along."I shook my head, but I was already smiling. "Fine. What do you have in mind?"She adjusted herself, resting her chin on her palm. "Tell me about the women in your life these past five years. Since I was gone, I assume you kept yourself busy?"I huffed and laid sideways on the couch. "You really want to hear about that?"She shrugged. "We need something to do while waiting for Damien’s update.
Ambrose’s POVI walked out of the store room and typed out the message. Short. Precise. The kind of thing that would drive a blade straight into Dominic’s chest.“I wonder how it feels to know your daughter is slipping through your fingers as we speak. Tick tock, tick tock. Time is running out. If you ever want to see your daughter again, you will do exactly as I say. Instructions will be relayed to you very soon. I don't want any cops or dumb tricks. You know what to do.”I read it over once, then sent it. A moment later, the screen blinked. The message had been delivered.I stared at Ariel's name glowing at the top of the message. The irony of it almost made me laugh. There was something delicious about making a father’s worst nightmare come true.I slid the phone back into my pocket and sighed, walking to the rusty elevator and taking It back up. When I got up, I walked past the smoking men and stepped out into the cool night air. Chicago was quieter than usual, even though I knew
Ambrose's POVThe building smelled of dead animals. It was an old hotel, now reduced to nothing but dust and silence. I stepped over a broken floorboard, my polished shoe grinding against the dirt under me. The place was barely standing. The ceiling sagged in places and the corners darkened with mold, but it would serve me for now, at least.Some of my old and loyal men were sitting on a wooden slab in the middle of the room, smoking and drinking. When they saw me, they gave me deferent bows. A few of them waved, and I waved back. I had called them together at such short notice, but they still came. It was good to know that they were still loyal to me. I would pay them handsomely once this was over.I walked toward the rusted iron elevator, its metal cage rattling as I stepped inside. The doors groaned as they slid shut and with a shudder, the elevator descended. Dominic Rutherford had taken everything I worked for away from me. Rachael was meant to be mine, but he stole her. And wh
Dominic’s POV“Oh, my God!” Ruby screamed.She sprang to her feet and started pacing her hotel room. Her hands tangled in her hair, her pants legs flapping against each other as she walked about. I'd told her about everything, from the news of the prison break that I got during the meeting, to Ariel being kidnapped at home, to her boyfriend who was in the house when it happened.“You’re telling me some random guy just waltzed into your house and claimed to be Ariel’s boyfriend?" She roared. "And you let him go? What If he was behind it all?”I squeezed my eyes shut. “He said he was in a long-distance relationship with her. That they met when she was in Switzerland.”Ruby spun on her heel, eyes burning into me. “And you believed him? Dominic, I thought you were smarter than this.”I scoffed. “Hell yes, I am. But he didn’t seem like a threat. If he was dangerous, I’d have known. Trust me, Ruby, I have been around a lot of dangerous people, and that Brandon boy is not one of them."Her a
Ruby's POVJust like that, five years disappeared between us.Five long years, and now I was standing here, face to face with the man I had once given my entire heart to.There was a whole myriad of emotions within me. But more than anything, I felt love. Because despite everything that had happened, despite the distance and the silence and the longing, despite every reason I had given myself to move on… I never really moved on from him.I let my eyes roam over him, drinking in every change that time had carved into him. Five years had really done him good.He was broader now, his body was solid with muscle like he had spent every day training, pushing himself harder. His hair which used to be in a ponytail was now styled into neat, sharp cornrows that framed his face perfectly. A well-trimmed beard lined his jaw, making him look even more powerful and more manly.And God help me, he looked so... fucking.... good!I felt my heart stutter, and for the first time in a long time I was br
Dominic's POVThe Basement was filled with voices but none were louder than mine."Spread out!" I roared, slamming a fist against the table. "I don’t want excuses! I want results! Do you hear me?"The metal rattled under my hand, but I didn’t care. My men scrambled around, some on their phones, others poring over maps and documents. None of them moved fast enough for me. Ariel was missing, and the more time we wasted, the more danger she was in.I knew it was Ambrose. There was no doubt in my mind. That bastard had taken her, and I had let it happen.I balled my fists so tight that they hurt. I kept running last night over in my head, every single mistake, every moment I should have done something differently.I should have never told the men that guarded my house to go home. The house had been unprotected because I thought for one damn second that we could let our guard down. I should have gone home after that call with Ariel, not go to the bar with Damien. I should have..."Sir."I
Ruby's POV"I understand what you’re saying, Martin, but we are not doing another take of that scene."I held my phone between my shoulder and ear, flipping through a thick script with one hand while signing a document with the other. My assistant stood beside me, watching with nervous eyes as I scrawled my signature across the last page."I don't care if the lighting was slightly off," I continued, shifting the phone back into my hand as I turned to grab a bottle of water. "The emotion was perfect. The moment was perfect. If you ask me to reshoot it again, I swear I’ll throw something at you."Martin the director laughed on the other end of the line. "Fine, fine. You win, DanCliffe. You always do.""Exactly."The assistant took the signed document from me and scurried off. Another person approached with a clipboard, but I raised a hand. "Not now. Give me a second to breathe."She hesitated before nodding and stepping back. I squeezed my eyes shut, rubbing my temples. My head was poun
Dominic's POVThe Chief’s words played over and over in my head. Eight inmates had escaped, and not a single one had been found. It didn’t make sense. How could a group that large vanish without a trace? Someone had helped them. Someone with power and enough resources.I gripped my whiskey glass and set it down hard. The sound made Damien glance at me. He could see the frustration in my face."Dominic," he murmured in warning.I shook my head. "He’s the Chief of Police. How does he not have a single lead? Not even one?"Damien leaned back, stretching his arm across the booth. "Agitating yourself isn’t going to change anything.""So what do you suggest?"He looked at me for a long moment. "We need to get some sleep. We regroup in the morning and think about our next step then."I opened my mouth to argue, but he raised a hand. "No arguments. You know I’m right."I ran a hand over my face. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."We finished our drinks in silence. Damien paid the bill, and we walked out