Aria’s POV
don’t
“If I die, you’ll belong to no one. You belong to me and no one else. So don’t think you will be with Nico. It will never happen.”
I could see the anger in his eyes as my heart
Dominic’s words echoed in my ears, heavy with a promise that felt like both a threat and salvation. His fingers still lingered on my skin, the rough pads brushing gently against my cheek. His touch was so tender, so unlike the violence simmering beneath the surface.
I looked into his eyes, searching for something–anything–to anchor me. But instead, I found a storm. Dark raging storm, and dangerous.
I gulped in fear.
“You don’t have to do this,” I whispered, heart pounding. “I promise you I will belong to you. I don’t even have any reason to leave Dominic. If you die. I die too. Just…calm down. You are upset and I understand.”
His jaw tightened, eyes darkening further. “Don’t tell me what I have to do.”
I flinched at the sudden edge in his voice.
He noticed. His thumb moved along my jawline, gentle yet possessive. “Aria, you think I don’t see it? How everyone looks at you? You’re mine–mine alone.”
My breath quickened. “Dominic-”
“No,” he growled, leaning closer, his voice dropping low and rough. “I won’t have another man touch you. Not Nico. Not anyone. Do you understand me?”
His eyes burned into mine, intense and demanding. I could feel his anger vibrating through his fingertips, the tension radiating off him in waves.
“I didn’t choose him,” I pleaded softly, tears pricking my eyes again. “He-”
“I know,” Dominic snapped, frustration hardening every line of his face. “But you’re still here, Aria. Still caught in the fucking middle. And I can’t-” His voice cracked slightly, betraying him. “I can’t lose you.”
His hand moved, cupping my cheek, thumb pressing gently but firmly against my lips, silencing me. His gaze was fierce, possessive. For a heartbeat, he just stared–anger warring with something softer, something desperate.
“I need you to understand how far I’ll go to protect you,” he whispered, voice barely audible, a raw edge creeping into his tone. “I need you to know I’m not playing games.”
My body trembled under his touch. His control was slipping, raw and dangerous, yet I couldn’t look away. He was breaking, unraveling right in front of me, and all I could do was watch.
“Dominic-”
His grip tightened abruptly, fingers pressing into my cheeks hard enough to sting. A sharp, sudden pain jolted through me, panic flickering briefly in my chest.
“Dominic, stop,” I gasped, hands instinctively reaching up to grasp His wrist. “Please-”
His expression faltered, eyes wide for just a second, realizing what he’d done but the darkness quickly swallowed the regret. “This is what happens,” he growled, voice thick with anger and desperation. “Every time I try to keep you safe, someone tries to rip you away from me.”
My heart pounded in my throat. I was breathing fast, frantic. “You’re hurting me,” I whispered, tears blurring my vision.
Dominic’s eyes flickered, and his grip loosened slightly, but the tension remained. His jaw tightened, breath heavy as he struggled against whatever demons haunted him. I saw conflict tearing through him–the man who wanted to protect me fighting the monster raised in violence.
“Dominic,” I begged softly, “please, let go.”
His eyes searched mine, frantic and wild. “I can’t lose you,” he repeated, voice breaking again. “Not to Nico. Not to Mikael. Not to fucking anyone.”
His touch softened slightly, almost apologetic, yet still firm. “Tell me you understand.”
My lips trembled, heart shattering at the raw ago Successfully unlocked!ninic, you’re scaring me.”
Something in him snapped.
“You think I want this?” he roared suddenly, leaning closer, his face inches from mine. “I never wanted this! You were never supposed to be this important–this essential. You’re the weakness everyone warned me about, Aria. And now I can’t fucking breathe without you.”
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Chapter 81
His voice cracked at the end, his fury and pain raw, almost tangible.
I stared up at him, heart hammering violently against my ribs. “I never asked for this either,” I whispered. “But hurting me won’t change anything.”
His grip released suddenly, leaving my cheek throbbing and tender. He stumbled back, eyes wide, realizing fully what he’d done. His chest rose and fell rapidly, breathing uneven, haunted.”
“1” He looked away, dragging his hands through his hair, visibly shaking. “Fuck.”
But before he could finish, a sudden movement caught my eye. Nico, bloodied and Bruised from Dominic’s punch, lunged forward, gripping Dominic’s shoulder hard enough to jerk him backward.
“Leave her!” Nico snarled, fury radiating from every inch of him.
Dominic whirled around, his expression murderous.
Nico stood his ground, jaw set, eyes blazing. “I won’t let you hurt her, Dominic. You’re losing control.”
Dominic’s voice dropped dangerously low, icy and lethal. “Take your hand off me or I’ll remove it myself.”
Nico didn’t flinch. “You’re acting exactly how they want you to–unhinged, reckless. You’re hurting the one person you claim you’d die to protect.”
Dominic’s fists clenched, the muscles in his jaw ticking violently. “You have no right…”
“No right?” Nico spat bitterly. “I stood by your side when no one else would. But you don’t deserve her.”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Careful, Nico. You’re already a dead man.”
Nico stepped closer, fearless despite the blood drying on his lip. “You think killing me changes anything? She’s not safe. She’ll never be safe–not as long as she’s with you.”
Dominic’s rage surged visibly, every muscle in his body coiled tight. I saw the exact second he decided to attack, his eyes flashing dangerously.
“Nico,” I warned desperately, fear spiking again. “Stop!”
But it was too late. Dominic moved like lightning, driving his fist brutally into Nico’s stomach, doubling him over with a strangled grunt. Nico staggered but didn’t fall, stubbornly grabbing Dominic’s arm.
“You’re out of control,” Nico gasped, blood staining his teeth. “You’re no better than Mikael.”
Dominic froze, his expression going completely blank.
Then, with frightening calm, he straightened, pulling his arm free and stepping back, eyes cold and distant. “You betrayed me,” Dominic said, voice eerily quiet. “Both of you.”
He turned toward me, his gaze cutting right through my heart. “You don’t trust me.”
“I didn’t-”
He raised a hand sharply, silencing me. The quietness of his voice was far scarier than any scream. “I’ve risked everything
for
you. But you don’t trust me enough to let me protect you.”
I reached for him desperately. “Dominic, please-”
1
He stepped back, eyes dark and unreadable. “Maybe Nico’s right. Maybe you’ll never be safe with me.”
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Chapter 82
