Chapter 29
Arias POV
Aria’s POV
“You wanted to see me?” Lasked Dominic
He sat behind his desk, fingers folded, his expression unreadable as he thused me thin orbuttoned just enoug
the ink along his collarbone, dark eyes unwavering as they locked onto mine
There was always something predatory about the way he looked at me, like he
react before I even did
And I hated that he was usually right.
Dominic exhaled, leaning back in his chair. “There’s another gathering tonight I need you to perform” Iframe
My stomach twisted, my fingers curling into my palms,
My mind flashed back to the first night
The first time I had been made to dance for him, his private audience, those me
saw me as something to be owned, something less
I had shivered then, too
I was shivering now.
1 swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I thought you said I wasn’t dancing for anyone else”
Dominic’s lips curled into something unreadable. “Not just anyone. My trusted circle”
My body stiffened.
Of course.
His trusted circle.
The ones who handled his business, his money, his empire.
I exhaled through my nose, clenching my fists. “Why?”
Dominic stood, walking around the desk, slow, deliberate. “Because I told you to.”
I lifted my chin, refusing to back down. “That’s not an answer.”
He smirked, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s the only one that matters”
My skin burned where he touched me, but I didn’t move away.
He studied me for a long moment, then sighed. “This is necessary, gattina”
I swallowed. “For what?”
His smirk faded. “For you.”
I frowned.
He exhaled, stepping closer, lowering his voice. “They need to see you, Aria. Need to know that you’re mine. That you’re untouchable”
My heart pounded. “And making me dance for them accomplishes that how?”
Dominic’s gaze was unwavering. “Because they’ll want you.” He tilted his head slightly. “And they’ll know they can’t have you.”
A chill ran through me.
I understood now.
This wasn’t about entertainment.
This was his sick way of getting off. Does his dick harden when he sees other men watch me?
Is that why he always came to the club to watch but never to touch?
About dominance.
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. “Do you enjoy it?”
He smirked. “Yes darling. It’s like a game. Everything is a game to me, gattina. And watching you dance, move your body in those unimaginable positions, I know perfectly well that all I can think about is fucking you
I hated that I wasn’t surprised.
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Chapter 29
I glared at him, arms crossed. “And if I say no?”
Dominic chuckled. “Then I remind you of the deal you made “–
I clenched my jaw
The deal
The reason I was still here.
The reason my father was still alive.
I let out a slow breath. “You always get what you want, don’t you?”
Dominic leaned down, his lips barely brushing my ear. “Always”
Warm water slid down my skin, the scent of jasmine filled the air as the maids worhed around me, washing every inco my body with the kind of precision that made me feel less like a person and more like an object.
They were quiet. Too quiet
Like they knew better than to speak unless spoken to..
Or maybe they were just trained
Except for her
A voice cut through the silence, sharp yet soft. “The rest of you, leave.”
The other women hesitated. Then, with quick bows of their heads, they obeyed, shuffling out of the room, leaving just the two of us.
The woman–older than me, with deep brown skin and warm, wise eyes–picked up the coms and began working through my wet hair.
I flinched.
She paused. “It’s pulling, isn’t it?”
I hesitated. “No.”
She hummed, unimpressed. “Lying doesn’t suit you, bella.”
I swallowed hard.
Then she sighed, fingers slowing as they smoothed through my strands. 1 know”
My throat tightened. “Know what?”
She kept combing, her touch gentle.
1know
what’s happening to wo
I stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about
She let out a soft chuckle. 1 do. Because I’ve been there.”
I blinked.
She nodded, her expression unreadable. “I survived cancer.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut.
For a second, I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe.
Then, without warning, the tears came.
Hot, uncontrollable.
My shoulders shook, my hands gripping the edge of the marble tub as I let out a choked sob
The woman didn’t shush me. Didn’t tell me to be strong
She just let me cry.
After a long moment, I wiped my face with the back of my hand, my voice breaking as I whispered, “Mine in terminal”
She exhaled slowly, setting the comb aside before meeting my gaze in the reflection of the mirror
“And?”
I frowned. “What do you mean, and?”
She crossed her arms. “If that’s the case, then what the hell are you doing?”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
She arched a brow. “You’re still alive, aren’t you?”
Iclenched my jaw. “For now”
Chapter 20
She smirked. “Then take advantage of it.”
I scoffed. “You think I haven’t? I’ve been fighting for so long. I don’t even know what it’s like to live anymore”
Her smirk didn’t fade. Then start now.”
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “With what?”
She leaned in slightly. “With him.”
Itensed. “Dominic?”
She hummed, “You’re in the best position of your life, bella. Use him”
I swallowed, “Use him how?”
She smirked. “How do all women use men? Money. Power Influence”
I exhaled sharply. “He would kill me”
She shrugged. “Not if you make him your dummy first.”
I scoffed. “Dominic isn’t stupid.”
“No, he isn’t” she agreed. “But men like him? They all fall the same way.”
I frowned. “And how’s that?”
Her smirk widened. “They fall when they love you,”
I swallowed hard.
My heart pounded.
“Make him obsessed with you,” she murmured. “Make him crave you more than air itself. And then, when the time comes make sure you have everything you want before you disappear”
I stared at her.
And for the first time in years-
I felt something close to hope
She patted my shoulder, rising to her feet.
“You are lucky, bella,” she said simply. “You have time to decide who you want to be before it’s too late.”
I watched as she turned toward the door.
And before she left, she glanced back, her eyes dark with meaning.
“Don’t waste it.”
הד
