Chapter 187
I felt his muscular arm wrap around me, pulling me close against his chest until I felt his heartbeat matched with my own. I brought my an around his waist as I took in deep breaths.
“I know you are worried, but please Dom…”
Shh.. just…just enjoy the moment right now Mia cara.”
I nodded, biting my lips in nervousness.
I wish to say I wasn’t nervous but I was thinking of the outcome of my decision.
We sat silently for a long moment, wrapped in the silence of our own self. Hearing our breaths matched made me feel a sudden calm.
It felt like the calm before a storm
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured finally, his lips brushing my temple. “Do you understand me?”
I pulled back just enough to meet his eyes again, lifting my chin, I hope he could see that I wasn’t scared of this decision by looking into my eyes. I forced a small smile and said. “I know.”
His thumb traced along my cheekbone, his eyes flickering with an emotion too raw to fully conceal. “You are my headache, Mia cara.”
“But you still adore me,” I teased softly, hoping to ease the heaviness hanging between us.
A low chuckle slipped from his lips, a reluctant smile breaking through his stern expression. “More than you should ever know. That’s why you are my most loved and favorite headache.”
My heart skipped a beat. Most…loved, does this mean?
I dispel the thought. No, keep calm and worry about the main thing, not the fact that I can feel his hard dick pressing against my pussy in my trousers or the fact that I am thinking he is confessing that he loves me.
He sighed again,, interrupting my thoughts. “If we’re doing this, we need a plan. A damn good one.”
“Then let’s make one,” I said firmly, shifting my position slightly, never moving from his lap, unwilling to let him slip back behind his walls again. “We have the advantage–Victoria and Nico underestimate me. They’ll assume you’d never risk me openly. That’s exactly how we trap them.”
He watched me carefully, pride and caution shimmering in his dark gaze. “When did you become this ruthless?”
“The moment someone threatened the people I love,” I answered truthfully.
He fell silent again, his fingers lightly tracing patterns along the bare skin of my thigh, thoughtful and careful. His touch soothed and anchored me, even as it sent shivers rippling through my body.
“Do you really trust me that much?” he finally asked, voice unusually vulnerable, almost hesitant.
I leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss against his lips, lingering just long enough to feel him relax beneath my touch. “With my life.”
He groaned softly, gripping me tighter, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. “Don’t say that unless you truly mean it.”
“I’ve never meant anything more,” I murmured, letting my lips linger close enough to brush his when I spoke again. “Dominic, I want this. I choose this. Trust that I know exactly what I’m getting into”
His eyes blazed with renewed intensity, fierce and unyielding. “If anything goes wrlong-”
“It won’t, come on, focus on the positive,” I interrupted gently. “We’re ready for them. And this time, we’ll make sure they regret ever crossing us.
Chapter 187
Felt his muscular arm wrap around me, pulling me close against his chest until I felt his heartbeat matched with my own. I brought my arms wrapping around his waist as I took in deep breaths.
I know you are worried, but please Dom…”
“Shh.. just…just enjoy the moment right now Mia cara.”
I nodded, biting my lips in nervousness.
I wish to say I wasn’t nervous but I was thinking of the outcome of my decision.
We sat silently for a long moment, wrapped in the silence of our own self. Hearing our breaths matched made me feel a sudden calm.
It felt like the calm before a storm
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured finally, his lips brushing my temple. “Do you understand me?”
I pulled back just enough to meet his eyes again, lifting my chin, I hope he could see that I wasn’t scared of this decision by looking into my eyes. I forced a small smile and said. “I know.”
His thumb traced along my cheekbone, his eyes flickering with an emotion too raw to fully conceal. “You are my headache, Mia cara.”
“But you still adore me,” I teased softly, hoping to ease the heaviness hanging between us.
A low chuckle slipped from his lips, a reluctant smile breaking through his stern expression. “More than you should ever know. That’s why you are my
most loved and favorite headache.”
My heart skipped a beat. Most…loved, does this mean?
I dispel the thought. No, keep calm and worry about the main thing, not the fact that I can feel his hard dick pressing against my pussy in my trousers or the fact that I am thinking he is confessing that he loves me.
He sighed again,, interrupting my thoughts. “If we’re doing this, we need a plan. A damn good one.”
“Then let’s make one,” I said firmly, shifting my position slightly, never moving from his lap, unwilling to let him slip back behind his walls again. “We have the advantage–Victoria and Nico underestimate me. They’ll assume you’d never risk me openly. That’s exactly how we trap them.”
He watched me carefully, pride and caution shimmering in his dark gaze. “When did you become this ruthless?”
“The moment someone threatened the people I love,” I answered truthfully.
He fell silent again, his fingers lightly tracing patterns along the bare skin of my thigh, thoughtful and careful. His touch soothed and anchored me, even as it sent shivers rippling through my body.
“Do you really trust me that much?” he finally asked, voice unusually vulnerable, almost hesitant.
I leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss against his lips, lingering just long enough to feel him relax beneath my
touch. “With my
life.”
He groaned softly, gripping me tighter, his voice dropping to a rough whisper. “Don’t say that unless you truly mean it.”
“I’ve never meant anything more,” I murmured, letting my lips linger close enough to brush his when I spoke again. “Dominic, I want this. I choose this. Trust that I know exactly what I’m getting into”
His eyes blazed with renewed intensity, fierce and unyielding. “If anything goes wrlong-”
“It won’t, come on, focus on the positive,” I interrupted gently. “We’re ready for them. And this time, we’ll make sure they regret ever crossing us.
12
Chapter 187
He stared into my eyes, searching again, tocking deeper than he ever had before. After a moment, hii expression linally para ater
– His arms tightened around me once more, holding me like I was something precious, something breakable
you to the bravest person I’ve ever met, he whispered hoarsely, his voice roughened by unspoken fears.
have good motivation, Iteplied softly, smiling warmly. “I have you.”
He didn’t respond, but his grip spoke louder than words ever could. It was protective and possessive, as if he could physically shield me from every danger simply by keeping me within the circle of his arms.
Finally, after a long silence, he spoke, his tone heavy but resolute. “Alright. But we do it my way. No reckless heroics.”
“Understood,” I agreed, pressing another gentle kiss to his jaw.
He sighed deeply, eyes closing briefly, as if gathering strength for what lay ahead. When he opened them again, he looked stronger somehow, determined. “I’m serious, Aria. One sign of trouble and I’m pulling you out.”
“This is my choice,” I whispered, holding his gaze fiercely, hoping he could see the depth of my decision.“Don’t ruin it.”
Dominic had arranged the meeting meticulously, down to every last detail.
He’d made sure it looked believable like I was slipping away from him, scared, desperate for an ally to protect me from the chaos Dominic brought into my life.
That was what Nico want, to be some weird knight in charming armor.
I bit my lips in nervousness a si looked around to see if he was coming.
I sat at a private booth in the corner of a luxurious restaurant Nico favored, nursing a glass of untouched wine.
My pulse thundered in my ears, but outwardly, I looked calm and collected, every inch the woman who needs to portray want and need.
Nico arrived precisely on time, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, his dark hair carefully styled.
Confidence radiated from him as he slid gracefully into the booth across from me. His calculating eyes swept over me, assessing every detail.
ད །
“Aria,” he said, smiling gently as if he were greeting an old friend. “I must admit, I was surprised when you reached out. Dominic tends to keep a tight leash.”
“I found my way off,” I replied coolly, meeting his gaze steadily. “I’m tired of being someone’s pet.”
His smile widened slightly, intrigued. He leaned back in his seat, studying me closely. “And why come to me?”
“You’re the only one strong enough to challenge him,” I said carefully, playing into his ego. “Victoria talks a lot, but you’re the one making things happen. That’s the man I want on my side. Besides, are you going against the promise you made to me..”
His eyes flashed, pride unmistakable.
Nico was dangerous precisely because he believed himself underestimated, always chasing validation, desperate to prove he was the stronger man.
My compliment fed perfectly into his vanity.
Oh Nico, how you have changed.
“Interesting,” he mused softly, fingertips brushing along the edge of his glass. “But tell me, how do I know this isn’t a setup? Dominic isn’t a man easily betrayed.”
MOTIVAS
Chapter 187
I let out a bitter laugh, leaning closer over the table. “Dominic betrayed me first. He’s lied to me about everything, my family, my past, my inheritance, I owe him nothing. He treats me like dirt. Lying here and there?
Nico’s gaze sharpened at that, something flickering behind his eyes. “Inheritance?”
I wanted to snarl. As if he doesn’t know.
Instead I nodded slowly, knowing I had him hooked. “Dominic has known from the start who my biological parents were. He kept me close because of what they left behind. He thinks it’s his to control.”
Interest brightened Nico’s expression, greed and ambition mixing openly in his stare. “And you’re willing to offer this information to me?”
Je te ciles oves there to the right ally,” I whispered convincingly, letting my
just enough to sound sincere. “I have nowhere else to
FOR
go.”
For a long moment, Nico stayed silent, his calculating eyes flicking visibly dropping as he leaned forward, voice softer, more conspiratorial.
over my face,
any hint of deceit. Finally, he nodded slowly, his guard
“You’ve made the right choice, Aria. Dominic always saw you as his weakness. But
see
potential. Together, we could be unstoppable.”
The smug arrogance in his voice almost made me sick, but t held firm, offering a small, hesitant smile. “What’s the plan?”
He chuckled softly, leaning closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “Dominic thinks I’m simply trying to seize his empire, territory by territory. But that’s just a distraction. He’s predictable, consumed by pride. While he scrambles to protect his kingdom, I’ll strike where he least expects it–right at the heart.”
My breath caught. Dominic had been right; Nico’s ambition went beyond control. He wanted complete annihilation.
“How?” I asked carefully, feigning wide–eyed curiosity.
He glanced around briefly before leaning in even closer, his eyes glittering with dangerous excitement. “Dominic has secret accounts, backups in case he ever lost his grip. Hidden assets across Europe and Asia. I’ve tracked them all, and soon, they’ll belong to me. But the key isn’t money, Aria…it’s fear. I want him to know he’s powerless, unable to protect anything…or anyone he cares about.”
I shivered involuntarily at the dark edge to his voice, realizing just how deep Nico’s hatred ran. Dominic wasn’t just a rival; he was Nico’s obsession.
“You really think you can do it?” I asked quietly, keeping my expression carefully neutral. “Dominic isn’t someone who loses control easily.”
Nico smiled slowly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He reached across the table, brushing his fingers lightly against mine. His touch felt cold, predatory.
“I already have, Aria. He just doesn’t know it yet. But soon, he’ll watch everything he loves burn.” He paused, his gaze suddenly softer, more intimate as he leaned even closer. “But you…you don’t have to burn with him. You’re too beautiful to waste on Dominic.”
