ROSE 131

Posted by AdminHHAdmin, ? Views, Released on May 7, 2025

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Chapter 131

1 stepped into Aria’s room just past midnight. The lights were dim, humming softly above us, but her eyes found me instantly.

They were red and wet with tears, filled with raw emotions. Her mouth scrunched up as her shoulder trembled

She sat upright in bed, knees drawn slightly to her chest, hospital gown loose at the collar. The IV was still hooked into her wrist, and her lips trembled like she’d tried to stop crying and failed.

“Don’t cry,” I said, softer than I expected.

She blinked, then quickly wiped at her cheeks with the back of her hand. ‘I’m sorry, she said, voice low. I just… I’m sorry for your loss.”

I paused for half a second.

Then gave the answer that was safest. “It’s fine.”

It wasn’t

But there was no point spilling blood on her grief.

“I brought food,” I added, changing the subject. It was uncomfortable to do this knowing fully well that bastard was alive Crying over him when he lied just wasn’t it.

I nodded toward the doorway.

Two maids entered carrying covered trays and small luxury bags. The smell of grilled chicken, warm soup, soft bread, and roasted vegetables followed them in. Comfort food. It would calm her and make her feel better.

“How… how are you not a mess?”

She wiped her tears and it made me chuckled.

“Seen too many deaths Mia belle.”

Aria’s eyes widened a little as she stared at the food, “I understand, also you didn’t have to-”

“I did,” I said. “You haven’t eaten properly in days.”

Julian trailed in after them, a little too bright for the hour, holding a bouquet of soft purple flowers. “You’re looking better, Aria,” he grinned. “I was starting to think you’d never wake up.”

She smiled, tired but genuine. “You brought flowers?”

Julian shrugged dramatically. “I’m the charming one. Someone has to be.”

Aria chuckled softly as he sat beside her bed and started pointing out each flower like he actually knew what they were. She laughed again when he got half of them wrong.

But me?

I wasn’t laughing.

I sat at the far end of the room, pulling out my phone as the screen lit up with a notification from Luca.

“Check your email. It’s urgent.”

I frowned.

Opened the file.

And felt my jaw lock.

The warehouse near Eastmoor–emptied.

Everything gone.

Four million in cash.

Eight crates of high grade ammunition.

Two containers of Bratva–sourced tech encrypted comms, tracking chips, untraceable weapons.

Cleaned out. Like it had never existed.

The security logs were wiped.

Entry time: 4:03 a.m.

Only a few people knew that location.

Nico was one of them.

My hands curled around the phone.

1/4

Chapter 191

I wasn’t even mad

I was done being mad

I was calculating now

And as Julian kept talking about how flowers represented renewal and new beginnings, I sent a message to Luca

“Send me the last government linked asset file. The one with confirmed death orders.*

Within minutes, I had it

A list of names–corrupt officials, informants, and ghosts the government wanted gone but couldn’t touch without getting their hands dirty

Each one deeply embedded in Mikael’s operations.

His financiers. His shield.

They were how he survived for so long. How he danced between legality and chaos

I ran my thumb over the screen, then pulled up another file I’d kept hidden for months

Locations. Habits. Weaknesses.

A little insurance. Something I was always planning to use later.

Later had come.

I emailed it all back to Luca.

“Release it. Now. With coordinates. Let the government dogs loose. I want every person on that list hunted down. Burn Mikael’s protection to the ground.”

Luca replied with a single word:

“Done.”

I smiled.

Not the kind you wear when you’re happy.

The kind you wear when you are stabbing the people right in the chest.

I looked back up.

Aria was still talking to Julian, smiling faintly as he tried to convince her to dye her hair blue once she was discharged

If only she knew the bastard she was crying for Nico sold us all out.

Sold her out.

But she didn’t.

I leaned back, slid my phone into my coat pocket.

Julian was still entertaining her, his grin easy, the playful banter with her was totally different from to the storm swirling in my head. It was almost surreal, watching the two of them laugh like they existed in another world one that wasn’t drenched in betrayal and blood.

1

God had blessed Julian with the fact that he didn’t have to worry too much about the deaths and worries of the mafia. He could easily switch as if he wasn’t in it.

My eyes moved to aria, whose cheek were flushed from laughing Aria’s eyes softened as she listened to Julian’s exaggerated storytelling, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself pretend that this was our normal. That all we had was each other, laughter, warmth, and flowers Julian couldn’t name.

But reality never stayed far away.

“All right,” I finally said, stepping closer to the bed. “That’s enough stress for Aria. She’s supposed to be resting, Julian.”

Julian rolled his eyes, mock offense written all over his face. “I’m not stressing her out. I’m distracting her with my unmatched charm. Something you clearly lack.”

“Clearly, I echoed dryly, a slight smirk curling at my mouth.

Aria laughed softly, shaking her head. Her eyes were tired, but the sparkle in them was something I’d missed. She had not sparkled like that in a long time, which I believe was my fault.

Julian stood, theatrically bowing to Aria. “Fine, I can tell when my presence is no longer appreciated. I’ll leave you with my deeply brooding older brother.”

“Julian,” Aria called softly, her voice laced with amusement. “Thank you. I needed that.”

He paused at the door, his expression gentle, genuine. “Anytime, Aria. Rest up. Don’t let my brother intimidate you.”

2/4

Chapter 131

I watched him go, feeling the atmosphere shift as silence settled comfortably between us. The moment the door clicked shut, Aria turned her eyes back to me, the quiet in the room suddenly charged with all the unspoken words between us “You didn’t have to chase him off,” she murmured softly, though there was a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Yes, I did,” I said, taking Julian’s empty chair beside her bed. “Otherwise, he’d talk your ears off”

“Maybe I liked it,” she teased, though her eyes searched mine, warmth giving way to concern again. “Dominic

“Don’t,” I interrupted gently, reaching forward to take her delicate hand in mine. Her fingers trembled slightly beneath my touch. “Don’t pull that sad face on me, Aria. I’m fine.”

She pressed her lips together, a soft sigh escaping her as she tightened her grip around my hand. “You always say that.” “And I always mean it.”

Her eyes flickered over my face, searching for cracks in the mask I wore. “It’s okay to hurt, Dominic. You don’t always have to hide it, especially from me.”

Something tight and painful twisted in my chest. She had every reason to hate me, every reason to despise the very air i breathed. But here she was, gentle and understanding, even now, I swallowed hard, trying to bury the storm she always managed to stir in me.

“Aria,” I began slowly, my voice low and careful, “when you’re fully recovered, I want us to talk about moving forward. About what comes next…for us.”

Her eyes widened just slightly, surprise giving way to something softer, more hopeful. She looked vulnerable then, beautifully uncertain.

“Us?” she echoed softly.

“Yes, us,” I said firmly, squeezing her hand. “I know I’ve done things terrible things. Things that should make you run as far from me as possible. But I’m tired of pretending. Tired of fighting against whatever this is between us.”

She stared at me, amber eyes shining, lips parted softly as she took in every word.

“And what is this, Dominic? What exactly do we have?”

I leaned closer, my thumb brushing gently along the inside of her wrist, feeling her pulse quicken at my touch. “Something I never saw coming. Something strong enough to change me, strong enough to make me want to be better. For you.”

Her breath hitched, chest rising and falling in careful breaths, eyes never leaving mine. “I’ve tried to hate you,” she confessed softly, eyes glistening. “I’ve tried so hard…but it’s exhausting. And honestly? I don’t want to anymore.”

Relief surged through me, mingling with something deeper, something tender and raw. I lifted her hand, pressing my lips softly against her knuckles, holding her gaze the entire time.

“Then don’t,” I whispered. “Don’t fight it. Let me make this right.”

Her eyes fluttered closed, a quiet exhale escaping her lips. “Okay,” she whispered softly, her voice fragile. “We can try.”

“That’s all I’m asking.”

She leaned forward, ignoring the slight wince from the pain as she shifted toward me, closing the small space between us. I met her halfway, wrapping my arms carefully around her slender frame, pulling her into the safety of my embrace. She melted into me, soft and warm, her breathing gradually slowing.

I held her close, fingertips tracing gentle circles over her back, feeling her body relax as exhaustion finally caught up with her. Her breathing steadied into soft, rhythmic sighs, her weight fully resting against my chest. I kissed the crown of her head softly, lingering for a moment, savoring the quiet, sacred intimacy we’d somehow found despite everything.

“I’ve got you,” I whispered against her hair, holding her like she was the only thing left in the world worth protecting.

My phone vibrated quietly in my pocket. Carefully, so I didn’t disturb her, I shifted enough to pull it out. An encrypted email notification lit up the screen. My pulse quickened, my jaw tightening as I read the single, coded sentence.

“The snake took the bait.”

Nico had walked right into my trap.

I smiled darkly, glancing down at Aria’s peaceful face once more.

Let him think he was winning.

Let him believe he still held any cards in this twisted game. Because soon, very soon, I would tear down his entire world and watch him beg for mercy.