hapter 64 

I didn’t want to push his buttons. 

But I was pissed. And tired. And angry. 

So I pushed hard against his chest. 

“I hate you.” 

Dominic didn’t move an inch. 

His jaw ticked, his gaze dark and calculating as he stared down at me. I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves. A warning. 

But I didn’t care. 

I shoved him again. “You’re a psychopath.” 

His fingers twitched at his sides. 

“Aria.” His voice was low. Controlled. 

Too controlled. 

But I was too far gone to stop. 

“You dragged me here like I’m your property,” I snapped, my hands shaking as I glared up at him. “You think you can just own people?” 

His eyes narrowed. 

My breath caught. 

Then- 

His hand snapped out, grabbing my chin in a firm, unyielding grip. 

I gasped, my pulse jumping as he tilted my face up, forcing me to meet his eyes. 

“You don’t get to talk about ownership,” he murmured, his fingers tightening just enough to make my heart pound. “Not when you belong to me.” 

I struggled, trying to wrench my face away. “I don’t belong to you.” 

He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “You’re still fighting me.” 

I pushed at his chest again, but he didn’t let go. 

“Let. Me. Go.” 

His lips twitched–not in amusement, but in something colder. 

“You want to be difficult?” His voice dipped lower. Darker. “Fine.” 

Before I could react, he spun me around. 

My stomach flipped. 

His hand pressed between my shoulder blades, forcing me down slightly against the bed. 

I froze. 

Every nerve in my body went on high alert. 

“Dominic,” I started, my voice unsteady. 

“You want to test me, Gattina?” His voice was too calm. 

I swallowed hard, my heart slamming against my ribs. 

Then- 

The sting came. 

A sharp, sudden smack against my backside. 

I gasped, jerking forward. 

He didn’t let me go. 

The second slap was harder. 

Successfully unlocked! 

My throat clenched. I bit down on my lip, refusing to make a sound. 

“You think I don’t see what you’re doing?” His voice was low, dangerous.. 

Another sharp slap. 

1/4 

Chapter 64 

I clenched my fists. 

“You talk to Nico like he can save you.” Another slap. My breath hitched. “Like he can give you something I won’t.” 

I bit the inside of my cheek, burning from head to toe. 

He leaned down, his breath ghosting over my skin. “You belong to me.” 

I snapped. 

“I hate you,” I spat, twisting in his grip. “I hate every fucking thing about you.” 

Something shifted in his eyes. 

Something dangerous. 

His hold on me loosened, just slightly. 

And in that moment, the fight in me broke. 

I turned my face away, blinking hard as my vision blurred. 

I hated this. 

I hated that he had this much control over me. That no matter how much I fought, no matter how much I tried to resist, he always won. 

I hated that my body betrayed me. 

I hated that deep down, in the part of me I refused to acknowledge- 

I was afraid. 

I squeezed my eyes shut, swallowing against the lump in my throat. 

And then- 

I felt it. 

His fingers. 

Brushing against my face. 

I flinched, expecting more punishment. 

But the touch was gentle. 

Almost… careful. 

I didn’t look at him. 

Didn’t want to see whatever was in his eyes. 

And then, his voice came. 

Low. Steady. 

“You’ll learn to trust me.” 

I froze. 

His fingers trailed down, brushing over the corner of my lips before he pulled away completely. 

“Even if I have to break you to do it.” 

Then- 

He turned and walked out of the room. 

Leaving me alone. 

With nothing but the shattered pieces of myself. 

I stood there for a moment, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps. My whole body felt hot, my skin prickling from the aftermath of his touch, of his words. 

And then- 

I collapsed. 

My knees hit the floor, my fingers digging into the carpet as a choked sob ripped out of me. 

I hated this. 

I hated him. 

I hated the way he made me feel so small. So helpless. 

Tears burned my eyes, sliding down my cheeks faster than I could wipe them away. I pressed my hand against my mouth, muffling the sound, but it didn’t stop the ache crawling up my throat. 

2/4 

Chapter 64 

I wasn’t crying because I was sad. 

I was crying because I was furious. 

Because no matter how hard I tried to fight him- 

He always won. Over me. Over my emotions. 

I hated him for that. 

I wiped my face roughly, shaking my head. “Fuck.” My voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. “Fuck you.” 

I didn’t even know if I was talking to him or to myself. 

I sniffed, forcing myself to my feet. My legs felt weak, but I refused to sit there and wallow. 

No. 

Not this time. 

I turned toward the door, my hands curling into fists. 

I was so pissed I barely felt my own body move as I shoved it open, stepping into the hallway with sharp, angry strides. 

I wasn’t going to let him walk away from this. 

Not this time. 

I stormed down the hall, my vision blurring with fury, my body burning with frustration. My breath came in quick, shallow bursts, my heart pounding against my ribs like it was trying to escape. 

And then- 

I stopped. 

Right in the middle of the mansion. 

The grand open space where his men walked in and out, where business was conducted, where Dominic ruled with an iron fist. 

The chandelier above cast a soft, golden glow, illuminating the polished marble floor beneath my feet. 

I inhaled sharply. 

And then- 

I stripped. 

My fingers yanked my dress over my head, tossing it to the side like it was nothing. 

Because it was nothing. 

Clothes? Modesty? Shame? 

I had none. 

I stood there, in nothing but my bra and underwear, my skin flushed, my body thrumming with anger. 

And then- 

I danced. 

My hips swayed, slow and deliberate, every movement dripping with the confidence I had spent years mastering. My arms moved fluidly, my body twisting and bending with practiced ease. 

I was a dancer. A stripper. 

This was my job. 

I did it. I loved it. 

And right now- 

I danced for me. 

Not for him. 

Not for Dominic fucking De Luca. 

Let him come. 

Let him hurt me. 

But he would never own me. 

I owned myself. 

The way my body moved, the way I controlled every curve, every roll of my hips, every flick of my wrist- That was mine. 

3/4 

Chapter 64 

Not his. 

Never his. 

The men around me stopped. 

I could feel their eyes. Wide. Shocked. 

Some of them muttered under their breath, shifting uncomfortably, unsure if they should look or turn away. 

I didn’t care. 

I kept moving, my hands trailing down my own body, my hair whipping behind me as I twirled, the air brushing against my bare skin, sending a thrill through me. 

My heartbeat was wild. 

Not with fear. 

With rage. 

With defiance. 

I let my fingers trail up my neck, down my chest, my body singing with every motion, my anger turning into something almost… intoxicating. 

Because this? 

This was mine. 

Not his. 

Never his. 

I can’t believe I ever thought he was different. 

I can’t believe my heart had ever skipped a beat for him. 

He wanted to break me? 

He couldn’t. 

I was already ruined. 

And ruined girls had nothing to lose. 

So let him come. 

Let him see. 

Let him burn with it. 

4/4