EMILY’S POV We turned to look at Daniella who was smiling at us sheepishly. I felt the embarrassment creep up my spine. “Daniella, do you need something?” I asked her strongly. “Oh, I was making lunch. I just wanted to come and see if you wanted some.” Daniella asked. “Yes. I will be there to help you in a minute.” I told her and looked at her dismissively. She nodded and quickly rushed back into the house. “Well, that was interesting. Where did you get the girl from?” Dominic asked. He didn't look quite as flush as I did and I envied that. “At a bar. Some men were harassing her and so I helped her out.” I said simply. “And you trust her?” He asked sceptically. I shrugged in response. “She's harmless.” “You shouldn't be this naive. Never assume everybody is harmless just because they make you think they are not. You should have conducted a proper investigation on her to make sure that she doesn't work with anybody that is against us.” Dominic said. I knew h
EMILY’S POV “Look, we don't have time anymore. We have to leave for Italy. Someone keeps sabotaging my shipments and I know Adam is involved.” Dominic said. I shook my head. “Then you can go without me.” “Why do you always have to be so stubborn? You are not safe here and the only way to clear your name is by taking Adam's down!” Dominic barked out. “And what about Barry? And Anita? They both hate me. I don't want to be where I am not wanted because everyone thinks that I did something that I didn't do.” I said. His features softened. “I'll tell them what happened. Anita will believe me. Barry is not a problem, just ignore him. Look, stop looking for excuses. We have to leave right away and I am not leaving you here. It is not safe.” I knew he was not going to let it go and it seemed logical to go with him anyway. I could not hide out forever and to be honest, I didn't even have a plan. There was also a part of me that didn't want to be away from Dominic and that was what scared
DOMINIC'S POV “I was told you wanted to see me,” Barry said when he walked into my office. I glared at him. “What have you been telling my daughter about Emily?” I asked. Barry's jaw clenched and I could see his hands ball into a fist. “I've not told her anything that isn't true. That woman is dangerous and she is the reason for everything that we have been through. She should not even be here.” “How many times have I told you that I do not want my daughter hearing about anything that has to do with the business. Besides, what happened with Emily was a misunderstanding and I don't want you saying anything bad about Emily to my daughter anymore. She is going to be here for a long time and I don't want Anita acting out because of it.” I ordered. “I don't understand how you can trust that woman so much. Can't you see she is playing you? Your head is out of the game!” He yelled. I got up from my chair. “I think you have forgotten who you are talking to. How dare you raise your fucki
DOMINIC'S POV “I thought we had a deal, Martelli. All my goods are allowed to come in.” I said to the middle-aged man sitting opposite me in his office. Martelli was almost sixty, but he didn't look a day over forty-five. He had worked with customs for a long time and he and I have been good friends for over seven years. “We do. I tried to allow the goods in as usual, but there was a problem with the people on top. The people were alerted about the drop and they intercepted it. I got short notice and I could not do anything about it.” He explained, confirming the fact that I knew Adam had a hand in this. “Fuck!” I cursed. “Look, for now, I think you should lay low. No more drop-offs. My guy at the investigations unit said they have their eyes on you, and I don't know what sort of beef you have going on with the United States FBI, but they have it out for you.” “I know this. Look, just keep me updated on everything that is happening. I can't stop selling. I'll lose money each day
EMILY’S POVI knew it was a bad idea. I should not go to see Dominic, it would not end well for us, but a stronger part of me wanted to go. Would it be so bad to just give myself this one night? I looked at the time. I had just ten minutes to get ready. I got dressed in a simple pair of shorts and a cropped top. I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard. I knew that this was something that I would definitely regret, but I didn't want to have to wonder what would happen if I had gone. I walked the short distance to Dominic's room and I took a deep breath before knocking on the door. The door opened immediately, it was almost as though he had been waiting for me. “I thought you had changed your mind,” Dominic said softly. He was dressed in just a pair of grey sweatpants and he was shirtless. His perfectly sculpted body was in front of me, and I spent too much time looking at it before I finally looked up to find him staring at me intensely. “I uhm… was trying to finish up so
EMILY’S POVI leaned against the door when I got into my room, trying to catch my breath. When Dominic started to undress me, it became real to me that if I let things get too far, there would be no coming back from it. I was a coward; I knew Dominic possessed the ability to break me, and I was not ready for that. After I was able to calm my racing heart, I changed out of my clothes and got into bed. I just wanted to sleep and forget about the whole thing. ***Early the next morning, I remained in my bed. I was scared that if I left my room, I would have to face Dominic and Anita too. I couldn't face him after what happened last night, and I could not face Anita because she obviously hated me. I wished there was a way to make her see that I was not a bad person. It was almost noon when someone knocked on my door. For fear of it being Dominic, I kept quiet so he would think I was asleep and then leave, but whoever it was just kept knocking. I grudgingly got out of my bed and went to
DOMINIC'S POV I stared at Emily intensely. She had her hands crossed on her chest and she had a serious expression on her face. “And what mistake would that be?” I asked her. “You cannot threaten Adam. You will only make him angrier and make him all the more determined to come after you. You have to lay low. Make him think that you won't come after him and then hit him where it hurts the most.” She explained. “And where would that be?” “If you have known Adam for as long as you claim you have then you would know what his weaknesses are. Find it and hit him there. I would love to help, but you have made it clear that you don't want me involved in this.” She said. “You're right. I actually do not want you involved in this and I will figure it out on my own. I've already told you, I can protect you.” “You just don't get it. It is not about protection. Adam ruined my life and destroyed my career. I want my revenge.” For some reason, the dark edge in her voice sent a rush of heat a
BARRY'S POV I smiled as I watched Anita walk out of Emily’s room. My plan had worked very well. When I saw Emily walking into the boss’ office, I knew I had to do something about it. I told Anita that her Dad was looking for her. I was confident that she would witness them in a compromising situation. Anita was the only ally I had, and I had to keep fueling her hate towards Emily so she could help me get rid of her. “What are you smiling about?” That Daniella girl that came along with Emily said. I had never really been bothered by her presence here even though she came with Emily. She kept to herself most of the time anyway. I learnt that Emily had picked her up from a bar. I am sure she only did it to make herself look good. I turned to look at the young girl in front of me. She looked to be almost the same age as Anita. She was really pretty, I'd have to admit. But she was too young. I've done many terrible things in my life; paedophilia is not one of them, even if the girl con
EMILY’S POVI was hurt and angry all at the same time. I did not know how to explain to Dominic that it wasn't right for him to keep things from me. He just didn't understand the implications of his actions. “I was only trying to protect you.” He told me, following me into our own bedroom. “That's not what it feels like. When you keep things from me it makes me feel like you aren't letting me into your life completely. A brother… you have a brother, Dominic and you were never going to tell me.” “Half-brother, but it doesn't even matter because we aren't siblings. I don't know where he came from. Just my father's bastard child from one of his affairs before I was born.” He explained through gritted teeth. “And what does he want with you now?” “He feels entitled to all of this. He thinks because he's older my father should have left the organization to him.” “So now he's out to get us?” “Just me, he won't do anything to you. I promise.” He said. I scoffed. “You cannot control ev
DOMINIC'S POVI woke up the next morning feeling on top of the world, but that didn't last long when I got a text from Victor telling me that three of my warehouses had been burnt to the ground. Carlos and Williams were dead, which meant that this was obviously Damien's attack. He was attacking everything I'd built with my hands from scratch. When my father died, he left everything in shambles, and when I took over, I had to rebuild all over again, and now Damien thought he could ruin everything I've worked so hard to get because he is bitter. I'll make sure I end him before he ends me. Just as I got to my study, my phone began to buzz in my pocket. I answered it without looking at the caller ID, expecting it to either be Victor or Barry. An unfamiliar voice came through the phone, but I knew who it was immediately. “Hello, baby brother.” He said coyly. “I am not your brother.” I spat out. “I am going to get you. When I get my hands on you, you'll wish you'd never fucked with me.”
EMILY’S POV I felt strong arms around my waist and my eyes fluttered open. I had fallen asleep while reading a book and it was already dark outside. I turned around to face Dominic and Buried my face in his chest, inhaling his intoxicating scent. “You fell asleep and you missed dinner.” He told me, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I'm not hungry,” I told him, my eyes still heavy with sleep, but my body was fully aware of his presence. I pulled his head down to mine and kissed him, my body humming with desire for him. He groaned into my mouth and deepened the kiss, pulling me closer to him. I could feel his erection through his trousers and I could not help but use my hands to feel it. Dominic inhaled a sharp breath and broke the kiss. He untied the robe that I had been wearing, revealing the fact that I was wearing nothing but matching dark, blue lace panties and bra. He placed a kiss on my shoulder and looked up at me with a knowing smile on his face. “Were you waiting for me t
DAMIEN'S POVRage filled me as the news of Williams and Carlos's death hung heavily in the air. They had been two of my biggest Allies; I contacted them immediately, and I found out that they hated Dominic Moreno just as much as I did. We had spent so much time building the perfect plan. I was upset when the bomb did not kill Dominic, but I wasn't going to give up. Now he had been one step ahead of me and he killed them… burnt everything to the ground. My fist clenched, and my blood boiled with fury. He was always one step ahead… every time I thought that I had finally had him cornered, he showed up with something new. A bomb? How had he gotten access to such a high explosive? I should have known better than to trust anyone to carry out my revenge plans, I knew nobody would be able to execute as accurately as me. Williams and Carlos had hated Dominic, but mine ran deeper than that. He'd stripped me of everything that I deserved and I wanted it back. He was going to pay for the sins
DAMIEN'S POVPower was not given to men like me, so we had to find a way to take it, by any means necessary. This was my time to take back everything that was supposed to be mine but was ripped away from me the moment Dominic Moreno had been born. My stupid brother, my father's most precious son, the one he wanted. I stood on the rooftop of the abandoned warehouse, overlooking the dock where my men were offloading thousands of weapons that had just been shipped in from Russia. They moved them into armoured trucks. I was planning on launching an attack that would knock my half-brother off his feet. I lit a cigarette, the smoke curling around my face. My father had cast me aside, buried me like I was a dirty secret and practically wiped me from existence, but he forgot something: secrets always had a way of coming back up to the surface. Dominic was everything that I should have been—the heir to the Moreno Crime Organization, the legitimate son, the one who was in charge of everythi
EMILY’S POVDominic had not said a word in over twenty minutes. He just sat there, his head resting on my shoulder, his strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist as if he were afraid that if he let go, I would disappear. I also held him just as tightly, fully aware that he needed to be held. We both didn't say anything. I knew something was very wrong, I just wasn't sure what it was yet. I just knew that Dominic was hurting and whatever had happened had cracked something inside of him. “I should have picked up her calls…” He said, finally. His voice was soft and hoarse, I could hear the intense emotions in his voice. “I didn't and now I regret it.” Mt's heart broke for him. “Who are you talking about, Dominic?” “My mother… Her house was burnt down yesterday and she was in it. She didn't make it out alive.” He told me and a gasp escaped my mouth. “I am so sorry, Dominic.” That was the only thing I could think of to say. I knew there was nothing I could say that would dull the pa
EMILY’S POV I paced in front of Dominic's door to his study. It was the sixth time today that I had come to check on him, but he didn't answer or let anybody in. This only heightened my worries because I worried that something may have happened to him in there. Lorenzo said that he requested to be alone and I wondered why. He had been fine in the morning when I had seen him… what could have gone wrong? “Dominic?” I said, knocking on the door again, but I got the same response—none. “He still isn't coming out?” Sofia asked, walking up to stand next to me. “No. He's not responding. What if something happened to him? What if he's dead? Oh, I'm so worried about him, I have the mind to break down the door.” I told her, I could hear my voice shaking with fear. “Try to calm down. Lorenzo said he wants to be alone so maybe you should just give him the space that he wants. He will come down when he is ready.” She said, But it became dark, and Dominic still wasn't out of his study. I show
DOMINIC'S POV Hours had passed since my phone call with Barry, and I was thinking about what to do about the situation. I went through the digital files to learn more about the man who was supposed to be my brother. There wasn't much information about him other than the fact that he had worked with my father for a short time, but I never met him. I could not understand how that was even possible. Emily eventually woke up from sleep and she found me in my study. She looked like she had just rolled out of bed and it warmed my heart that she came to look for me first. I shut off my laptop in a way that she didn't get suspicious. I didn't want her to even have a little bit of an idea that something was wrong. “You're up early.” She said as she walked into the office. I got up and walked the short distance over to her and pulled her into my arms. “Yeah. I didn't want to wake you up.” “Is everything okay?” She asked with an uncertain look on her face. I smiled at her, trying to
DOMINIC'S POV The next morning, I woke up to the sun shining brightly into my eyes. Emily was sound asleep, her body curled into mine. For the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to listen to her breathe softly. But that peaceful feeling didn't last long. The buzzing from my phone forced me to peel my eyes open. The vibration was low, but it was persistent. I reached for the phone, careful not to wake Emily up. It was a message from Barry. “We found something. You really need to see this. Check your encrypted line.” Instead of responding to the message, I carefully left the bed. I didn't want to wake Emily up even by mistake because I knew that she really needed her sleep. I headed to the study and shut the door behind me before switching my laptop on. The screen came alive and I connected to the secure channel. Barry and Ezra's faces popped up instantly. “What is it?” I demanded. “We did scans on the footage from the attack in the estate in Ireland. Facial recognition w