Chapter 17 

Dominic’s POV 

I didn’t care as I walked upstars, blood draping from my shou scurried aroundke chickens, eyes wide 

dared to speak. They kne 

My suit jacket hung in tatters, my white dress shirt ruined by deep crimson stars I shrugged offes stepped into my room, heading straight for the bathroom 

The minor reflected the mess I had become–blood smeared down my arm a fresh out along my any rud raw, split open from where they had collided with someone’s face 

I grabbed the bottle of alcohol from the shelf, twisting the cap off with my teeth before souring it over my wound 

A sharp sting shot through my arm, but I gritted my te 

I had barely begun to wrap the wound whe 

the pain grounding me 

“Jesus Christ, Dom,” Julian 

striding in like her 

I didn’t glance at him, focusing instead on the deep gesh across my shoulder ve had worse? 

Julian let out a low whistle as he walked closer, arms crossed over his chest. “What the hell happen 

I grabbed a fresh cloth, pressing it against the wound as I exhaled through my nose “Petrov happened” Julian’s expression darkened. “1/ae?” 

I nodded. “His men jumped me after the meeting. Not a full attack, just a warning, just because I said I wanted to ster redirecting the ammunition sent to him. Fucking idiot” 

Julian’s lips curled into a sneer. “Bastards. You kill any of them?” 

“Two.” I said flatly. “The rest ran.” 

Julian let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “You never change” 

I grunted, tossing the bloodied cloth into the sink. “And Petrov doesn’t leam. He’s getting boider 

“He’s getting desperate, Julian corrected, leaning against the counter. “He knows he can’t touch you outright, so he’s playing games.” 

“I don’t like games,” I muttered, reaching for the bandages 

Julian watched me for a moment before his expression shifted slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Speaking of games… 

I sighed, already knowing where this was going. “What?” 

“I heard about Aria.” 

I tensed, my fingers pausing in their movements. “What about her?” 

Julian smirked. “Word around the house is she had a little chat with Nico last night. And this moming at breakfast? She actually smiled at him. Smiled, Dom.” 

I clenched my jaw. “She can talk to whoever she wants.” 

“Really?” Julian raised an eyebrow. “Because from what I remember, you don’t like sharing.” 

I stayed silent, tying off the bandage around my arm. 

Julian chuckled, shaking his head. “Come on, Dom. You can lie to yourself all you want, but I know you. You don’t bring women here unless they mean something. And you sure as hell don’t let them get close to Nico unless you’re testing something” 

I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. She belongs to me. What she thinks doesn’t change that.” 

Julian studied me for a long moment before speaking. “You’re an idiot.” 

I shot him a glare. “Excuse me?” 

He shrugged. “You think you can own someone like her? Aria isn’t the type to just roll over and obey. She’s fire. And you? You like playing with fire, but eventually it burns.” 

I smirked, leaning against the counter. “Maybe I like the burn.” 

Julian rolled his eyes. “Of course you do. That’s why you’re bleeding in your damn bathroom instead of making rational decisions 

“Petrov and Aria are two different things,” I said, my voice low 

“Are they?” Julian challenged. “Because I think they both get under your skin in a way you can’t control.” 

Chapter 17 

I tightened my grip on the counter, my irritation growing. “I control everything.” 

Julian let out a laugh, pushing off the counter. “Sure you do, brother. That’s why you’re gripping that sink like you want to break it. Jesus. Narcissism is going to be the death of you one day” 

I forced myself to relax, releasing the marble from my grasp. 

Julian shook his head, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “You’ve got a problem, Dom.” 

I arched an eyebrow. “Enlighten me” 

“You actually like her.” 

I scoffed, turning back to the mirror, “I like control.” 

“And yet, she keeps slipping through your fingers and one day she is just going to act like Victoria and see where that get her. A top position.” 

I didn’t respond, my eyes locking onto my reflection. 

Julian sighed, clapping a hand on my good shoulder. “Look, do what you want. But don’t pretend you don’t care. I’ve known you too long for that shit” 

I exhaled slowly, my fingers flexing. “She’ll learn.” 

Julian’s smirk returned. “Oh, I have no doubt about that. The question is… will you?” 

He didn’t wait for an answer, turning on his heel and strolling out of the room, whistling as he went. 

I stared at the doorway long after he was gone, my jaw tight 

Damn him. 

Because deep down, I knew he was right. 

I ran a hand through my damp hair, exhaling sharply before grabbing the pack of cigarettes from my dresser. The room smelled like blood and sex, and my muscles still ached from both. The taste of her was still on my tongue, the way she had defied me, it was as if it runs within her blood and leak through every part, the hate and I loved it. 

The way she had taken me into her mouth like she wanted to ruin me. 

And maybe she had. 

I stepped onto the balcony, the cool night air hitting my skin, sharp against the lingering heat of my shower. The city stretched beneath me–bright lights, dark streets, the world I ruled with bloodstained hands. But I wasn’t looking at the city. 

I was looking at her, 

Aria stood in the garden below, barefoot in the grass, the moonlight making her skin glow. She was wearing one of the silk robes the maids had brought her, loose around her shoulders, the pale fabric clinging to the curves I had spent all night marking. Her dark hair spilled down her back, slightly damp from her own shower, strands catching in the breeze. 

She looked untouched, despite what I had done to her. Despite how I had used her. 

She tilted her head back, exposing the long line of her throat, eyes closed like she was drinking in the night, like she belonged to the darkness more than she ever would to me. 

My fingers tightened around my cigarette. 

She was fucking beautiful. 

Something tugged at my chest, sharp and unfamiliar, and before I realized it, I was smiling. 

What the fuck? 

I scowled, dragging a hand down my face. That wasn’t supposed to happen. I didn’t smile. Not at women, not at anythin that wasn’t pain or power or control 

But there she was, standing in my garden like some kind of untouchable dream, and I was up here grinning like a goddamn 

fool. 

I took a long drag from my cigarette, letting the smoke burn away whatever the hell that was 

She didn’t see me watching her. Or maybe she did and just didn’t care. 

That would be like her. Aria never did what was expected. 

That’s what made her so damn dangerous. 

52