DOMINIC'S POV My legs shook with anxiety as my mind tried to process everything that was going on. Time was ticking and I was still yet to find any information on what Dino's plans were. I knew that it was something involving my new shipments, especially since that was what he and his father wanted. I just wasn't sure if he had something else up his sleeves. My phone vibrated with a text message from Victor. “I checked Williams out. He's clean on the surface, but when I dug deeper, I found out that he is receiving large sums of money from an offshore account. The account is a shell account, but I traced it back to someone that we know very well—Carlos Mendez.” I cursed under my breath after reading the last part of the message. Carlos Mendez was a powerful drug lord. He owned one of the biggest cartels in the whole of Mexico. He was a dangerous man and nobody wanted to ever cross him. In fact, at some point, he had been one of our suppliers until our deal ran out and we found
SOFIA'S POVAfter our walk in the garden, Emily seemed to be spending less time with me. She only came in for two hours a week. It was more of her asking me a bunch of questions, probably trying to see what sort of information she could get from me. But I was careful about what I told her. I also wanted to find out things from her—like when Dominic planned to let me go, what his plan was for Dino and I was hoping the closer we got, the more she would begin to see me as a friend and I could get her to allow me to use her phone. I knew it was unlikely, but it was worth a try. I had so many things to do. I needed to get back to my life on the outside. I was not used to lounging around and doing nothing. I had something to do, and being in this place was driving me crazy. I knew what they wanted from me, but I could not give it to them. If Dominic knew what Dino planned to do, my entire world would crumble. Dominic would never let it slide and my brother would definitely be killed. And
DOMINIC'S POVI saw genuine fear in Emily’s eyes at the thought of me going to war with the Mendez Cartel. I willed myself to calm down so I would not frighten her even more. It was not that she didn't trust me to win the war, it was that she genuinely thought that they were capable of doing just about anything to win. She thought they would kill me. I took her hand in mine gently. I could feel her shaking, and I felt bad for lashing out at her. “I know you're worried, but this isn't my first time dealing with dangerous men like him. I know how to handle this.” I told her softly. She shook her head at me, the fear in her eyes increasing and filling up with tears. “When we worked on their case, we were advised by top officials—people higher than Williams to let the case go, because of how dangerous they were. That was one reason why they were able to get away with so much. Even the FBI is scared of them.” She explained to me, her voice shaking. “I know.” “No, I don't think you do.
DOMINIC'S POV“The only way to fight these people is through an alliance,” I explained to Victor over the phone. “I need as many people to fight with me. I am sure the Mendez Cartel have more than just you as an enemy.” “They most certainly do. I know a lot of people who are out for revenge, but they've never had the balls to do it because they are scared of what these people would do to them. I am sure I can get them to come together.” He sounded confident as he spoke. “Okay, I'll also look for people on my end too.” “How about you use Sofia as leverage and get Dino to join in the alliance. Tell him after the war, he can have his sister back.” He suggested. The very thought of working with Dino made my blood boil, but it looked like I didn't have a choice, but I did not trust him. “I don't trust him. What if he turns on me?” “Then we'll kill him and his sister.” He said casually. “Moreover, his sister is staying with you. He has to do what you want if he doesn't want to put her
EMILY’S POV Ever since Dominic told me about the war with the Cartel, I've been feeling very anxious. I've been unable to eat or even sleep properly or even concentrate on anything else. I walked into his office to find him deep in thought and staring at a file intently. When he looked up at me, for the first time ever, I saw a flash of fear in his eyes which he quickly masked. “What's wrong?” I asked him as I sat on the seat opposite him. “Nothing. I was just looking at some documents.” He said with a straight face. If he was talking to anybody else, they would have believed him, but I could not be fooled. “You're lying. Something is wrong and you don't want to tell me.” “It is nothing, okay? At least nothing for you to worry about.” “You promised not to keep me in the dark about anything. I want to know what is in that file right now.” I demanded. “I already told you, it does not concern you.” He said through gritted teeth. I stared at him for a long time, and he matched my
DOMINIC'S POVAfter Emily left, Ezra walked in with the news that I had been waiting for the entire day. “The blackbloods have a very terrible history with the Mendez Cartel. It turns out that there was a deal gone wrong some time ago and Carlos had many of Luca's men at the time killed, including his brother. Luca died trying to seek vengeance. To be honest, if you hadn't killed him, Carlos would have done it with the way things were going.” Ezra explained. “I know for a fact that the Black Bloods still want revenge.” “Thank you, Ezra. That will be all.” I said, dismissing him. I dialled Dino immediately. “Hope you are ready to have a serious conversation? Remember, the clock is ticking, and your sister is at risk.” I told him. “I'm listening to you.” He said through gritted teeth. “I'm at war with the Mendez Cartel, and I'm getting as many people to make an alliance with me so we can take them down once and for all.” “The Mendez Cartel? My father tried for years to take them
SOFIA'S POV I didn't breathe easy until Dominic had left. It was always easier to put a brave face on around Emily because I didn't see her as harmful, but Dominic was dangerous and unpredictable. He could do whatever he wanted and have no real consequence for it. I remember the stories my father told about Dominic and how he was a dangerous man that nobody wanted to cross. I was surprised when I heard that my father had gone to war with the Moreno Organization. He was right, Dominic was not to be fucked with because he killed him. I spent the time after he left wondering what type of deal Dominic had with my brother and what Dino would have to do to save me. I hoped that it wasn't something that was crazy, but if it was I trusted Dino to find a way around it. Maybe I should just sit back and let Dino do his work. That was my safest bet right now. The more I thought about escaping, the more I knew I was just kidding myself. I did not have the strength or the expertise to even pull
DOMINIC'S POVEmily looked at me like I was the devil and that scared me, but I needed her to see who I really was. Would she still love me or would she walk away? The question had been plaguing my mind for the whole time since she told me that she loved me. Maybe she only loved the parts of me that I let her see, not who I really was. “A heart? I am a killer, Emily. I have no heart.” “But you claim to love. How can you love me when you don't have a heart?” “What is it that you don't understand? I have a heart when it comes to you and my daughter, but nobody else. You're trying to make me into a man I am not, so maybe it is you who doesn't really love me because you refuse to accept me.” I told her harshly. She stumbled back as though I'd slapped her across the face. “I accepted you.” She whispered brokenly. “You don't accept me. You look at me like I am a monster when you know this is the life I live, the only life that I've known. But you judge me for it, make me feel like I am
DOMINIC'S POV“They've launched an attack.” Barry and Ezra came to my office with the bad news the next morning, ruining my good mood and high spirits. “What did they do?” I asked through gritted teeth. “They intercepted one of our shipment drops and killed three of our men,” Ezra said. “Fuck, they've already begun to strike,” I said, feeling anxious because I did not have a plan yet. Just as I was trying to think about what to do, my phone rang with a call from Victor. I answered immediately. “I just heard what happened.” He said. “You need to come down to Italy right away. I've got thirty allies and we need to come up with a plan.” My jaw clenched and my mind was racing. Going to Italy meant leaving my family behind and who was going to be checking on things while I was gone? But I had to go, I needed everything Victor had to offer to help me fight this. I could not do this on my own. I needed the strategy and most importantly, the allies. “I'll be there tonight,” I assured h
EMILY’S POVLaying the warmth and comfort of Dominic's embrace was the only thing that was keeping me sane. I felt very anxious because I knew the worst was yet to come. Dominic tried to reassure me, but in his eyes, I could see his worry. He might not want to admit it, but this fight was bigger than anything that he'd ever faced. He was carrying the weight of a war that could cost him everything. I buried my face in his chest, grateful to be hearing the steady beat of his heart. It was comforting. It reassured me that he was here—for now. The Mendez Cartel was very brutal. It would not take much for them to take his life and that was the biggest thing that frightened me. The fear of losing him to the cold hands of death. I had just admitted that I loved him and I meant it, which meant the thought of something happening to him scared me. I pressed closer to him, inhaling his intoxicating scent. I didn't want him to know how scared I was, I didn't want him to worry. “What's wrong?”
DOMINIC'S POVEmily looked at me like I was the devil and that scared me, but I needed her to see who I really was. Would she still love me or would she walk away? The question had been plaguing my mind for the whole time since she told me that she loved me. Maybe she only loved the parts of me that I let her see, not who I really was. “A heart? I am a killer, Emily. I have no heart.” “But you claim to love. How can you love me when you don't have a heart?” “What is it that you don't understand? I have a heart when it comes to you and my daughter, but nobody else. You're trying to make me into a man I am not, so maybe it is you who doesn't really love me because you refuse to accept me.” I told her harshly. She stumbled back as though I'd slapped her across the face. “I accepted you.” She whispered brokenly. “You don't accept me. You look at me like I am a monster when you know this is the life I live, the only life that I've known. But you judge me for it, make me feel like I am
SOFIA'S POV I didn't breathe easy until Dominic had left. It was always easier to put a brave face on around Emily because I didn't see her as harmful, but Dominic was dangerous and unpredictable. He could do whatever he wanted and have no real consequence for it. I remember the stories my father told about Dominic and how he was a dangerous man that nobody wanted to cross. I was surprised when I heard that my father had gone to war with the Moreno Organization. He was right, Dominic was not to be fucked with because he killed him. I spent the time after he left wondering what type of deal Dominic had with my brother and what Dino would have to do to save me. I hoped that it wasn't something that was crazy, but if it was I trusted Dino to find a way around it. Maybe I should just sit back and let Dino do his work. That was my safest bet right now. The more I thought about escaping, the more I knew I was just kidding myself. I did not have the strength or the expertise to even pull
DOMINIC'S POVAfter Emily left, Ezra walked in with the news that I had been waiting for the entire day. “The blackbloods have a very terrible history with the Mendez Cartel. It turns out that there was a deal gone wrong some time ago and Carlos had many of Luca's men at the time killed, including his brother. Luca died trying to seek vengeance. To be honest, if you hadn't killed him, Carlos would have done it with the way things were going.” Ezra explained. “I know for a fact that the Black Bloods still want revenge.” “Thank you, Ezra. That will be all.” I said, dismissing him. I dialled Dino immediately. “Hope you are ready to have a serious conversation? Remember, the clock is ticking, and your sister is at risk.” I told him. “I'm listening to you.” He said through gritted teeth. “I'm at war with the Mendez Cartel, and I'm getting as many people to make an alliance with me so we can take them down once and for all.” “The Mendez Cartel? My father tried for years to take them
EMILY’S POV Ever since Dominic told me about the war with the Cartel, I've been feeling very anxious. I've been unable to eat or even sleep properly or even concentrate on anything else. I walked into his office to find him deep in thought and staring at a file intently. When he looked up at me, for the first time ever, I saw a flash of fear in his eyes which he quickly masked. “What's wrong?” I asked him as I sat on the seat opposite him. “Nothing. I was just looking at some documents.” He said with a straight face. If he was talking to anybody else, they would have believed him, but I could not be fooled. “You're lying. Something is wrong and you don't want to tell me.” “It is nothing, okay? At least nothing for you to worry about.” “You promised not to keep me in the dark about anything. I want to know what is in that file right now.” I demanded. “I already told you, it does not concern you.” He said through gritted teeth. I stared at him for a long time, and he matched my
DOMINIC'S POV“The only way to fight these people is through an alliance,” I explained to Victor over the phone. “I need as many people to fight with me. I am sure the Mendez Cartel have more than just you as an enemy.” “They most certainly do. I know a lot of people who are out for revenge, but they've never had the balls to do it because they are scared of what these people would do to them. I am sure I can get them to come together.” He sounded confident as he spoke. “Okay, I'll also look for people on my end too.” “How about you use Sofia as leverage and get Dino to join in the alliance. Tell him after the war, he can have his sister back.” He suggested. The very thought of working with Dino made my blood boil, but it looked like I didn't have a choice, but I did not trust him. “I don't trust him. What if he turns on me?” “Then we'll kill him and his sister.” He said casually. “Moreover, his sister is staying with you. He has to do what you want if he doesn't want to put her
DOMINIC'S POVI saw genuine fear in Emily’s eyes at the thought of me going to war with the Mendez Cartel. I willed myself to calm down so I would not frighten her even more. It was not that she didn't trust me to win the war, it was that she genuinely thought that they were capable of doing just about anything to win. She thought they would kill me. I took her hand in mine gently. I could feel her shaking, and I felt bad for lashing out at her. “I know you're worried, but this isn't my first time dealing with dangerous men like him. I know how to handle this.” I told her softly. She shook her head at me, the fear in her eyes increasing and filling up with tears. “When we worked on their case, we were advised by top officials—people higher than Williams to let the case go, because of how dangerous they were. That was one reason why they were able to get away with so much. Even the FBI is scared of them.” She explained to me, her voice shaking. “I know.” “No, I don't think you do.
SOFIA'S POVAfter our walk in the garden, Emily seemed to be spending less time with me. She only came in for two hours a week. It was more of her asking me a bunch of questions, probably trying to see what sort of information she could get from me. But I was careful about what I told her. I also wanted to find out things from her—like when Dominic planned to let me go, what his plan was for Dino and I was hoping the closer we got, the more she would begin to see me as a friend and I could get her to allow me to use her phone. I knew it was unlikely, but it was worth a try. I had so many things to do. I needed to get back to my life on the outside. I was not used to lounging around and doing nothing. I had something to do, and being in this place was driving me crazy. I knew what they wanted from me, but I could not give it to them. If Dominic knew what Dino planned to do, my entire world would crumble. Dominic would never let it slide and my brother would definitely be killed. And