_Dominic_The cool breeze from the crashing waves left gentle shivers on my skin as we stood at the docks, looking out into the clear blue distance.I knew it was too soon to be out in the open after what had happened. But I couldn't let whoever was responsible think that I was going to sit back and cower.Plus, this in itself was a message to the other families not to even try me.I was with Yuri and Vini. Vini was one of my trusted men. The only downside about him was that Vini had itchy fingers. He was quick to reach for his gun. If left to his own devices, he could create a bloody mess just because someone looked at him the wrong way.But in times like these, when Joseph was unable to come, he made for a good substitute. Besides, with the man I was meeting today, Vini's hothead was a perfect fit.I may have downplayed the whole shooting incident, but I knew that every step I took was crucial. Someone had it out for me. Hence, Joseph needed to keep an eye on Isabella.The fact that
Isabella. The door to my bedroom opened and closed with a bang.My heart sank. I already knew who it was, Dominic. Here to scream his unhappiness in my face. I washed my hands slower than I would normally have done, suddenly feeling drained by the confrontation I knew was coming. When I looked at my reflection in the mirror, even I knew I had taken the space cookies' situation too far. What if someone died? I sighed and closed the tap. In my defense. I so badly needed to go out. I needed to make money and fast. Maybe I should have tested the space cookies on Dominic first. Given how enormous the situation was, any excuse I came up with seemed childish. I walked into the bedroom, feeling sheepish and probably looked the part. As I braced myself for a lash-out at any minute. But nothing came. I looked up at Dominic, who was still standing by the door, holding his sho
_Dominic_The loud music greeted us at the entrance of the club.I asked Isabella if she liked it, but from her body language, I could tell that she did not hear what I said. We stopped and looked at the scene in front of us and I loved what I saw, sweaty bodies swaying to the beat of the music and on the other side of the club, people were perched on barstools enjoying drinks and watching the action on the dance floor.It was not every day that I came to this particular club. But once in a while, I had to come and see that everything was still in order. And from where I stood, it looked as though things were in order. But only the books would confirm that things were indeed running smoothly. I leaned against Isabella’s ear and asked her,“Do you wanna dance?” Out if habit, she backed away. The action pierced me somewhere deep but I quickly recovered from it and made a humming sound.She mouthed, “Hell no.” and managed to look shocked. That somehow took away the sting of her rejec
_Isabella_I stretched my legs, but my body felt stiff as if I had done strenuous workouts the previous day.When I opened my eyes, I groaned in pain.“You're awake,” a voice said curtly above me.Gently, I peeled myself off the couch. Dominic was standing above me, looking impatient.“When did I fall asleep?” I yawned and quickly regretted the action when my breath hit my nose.I couldn't remember much after the cocktails I had downed, but I did recall telling Dominic that I had a secret.Gosh, I was an idiot.“After you showed what a party animal you can be,” he chuckled as he walked over to his desk.I didn't ask. What if I had embarrassed myself last night? Although it didn't seem likely.Dominic had made it clear why he was there. He had come to work, and I was only allowed to follow since he couldn't trust me alone with his men at home.“Judging by the sour look on your face, it seems like you didn't do much partying,” I retorted.I knew I looked terrible because I felt it.“If
_Dominic_This shit was getting out of control and fast. But I had a sneaky suspicion that Ludo was behind this last shootout. The guys in that car had not intended to injure or kill us but rather to send a message. I had been at this game long enough to know what a message looked like. And this one was written in very bold letters to miss. Whoever it was, needed me alive and if it was Ludo, he needed me for the docks deal. This meant that in the next few days, I would be receiving a message for a meet-up or some kind of shit like that. But the biggest problem of all was how to keep Isabella from all of this.She had seen too much in a very short period. Last night had started beautifully but ended in a terrible disaster. I looked at her next to me and her eyes were closed. She had finally given up the fight with sleep. She had been so frightened after the shootout, but being clingy was the last thing I had expected from her. But it was not like I was complaining. If it meant that
_Dominic_From the moment I opened that email back at the warehouse, I had not been able to get the image of the man out of my head. Blondie. That was how my brain had categorized him for easy access.I was in my room, sitting on the edge of a chair facing the window, the curtains were fully opened reflecting the beauty of the moon outside. The last time I had watched the full moon was in Isabella's room at the cottage.Simpler times. I sighed out loud.A knock sounded from my door. "Come in," I said, I already knew who it was. And when the door opened, I watched as Isabella walked in, probably trying to adjust her eyes to the dark room."Dominic?" She called out."Right here." I knew I should have gotten up and switched on the lamp, but a few more minutes watching the moon glow was all I needed."My bed has been stripped and I can't find my stuff," she said. Calmer than I had expected but still with a little feel to it. "That's because your clothes are here and that room won't be
_Dominic_Finding the blonde man was proving a tougher challenge than I thought. I had a name to go with, but the name was useless without any organization or family to tie him to. The bastard was as good as a ghost. That was what I thought until…until I stumbled upon Isabella a week later in my office, on a phone call. I was about to knock and alert her of my presence when I heard her say:“No wait, Jason. You don't have to do that, I said I will find a way to come up with the money, give me a few more days, will you?” I stood frozen on the spot in the doorway. No no no. I shook my head to clear it. It couldn't be the same Jason. But again, it was too much of a coincidence. So I cleared my throat and she almost jumped at the sound.“I got to go, call you later," she spoke quickly and hung up.When she turned and faced me, she was as pale as a ghost and her eyes moist. “Didn't your mother teach you that it a rude to listen in on people?” She said and tried to walk past me, but
_Dominic_"What the fuck?" I opened the car door and jumped out."Wait!" I heard Joseph's voice from a distance, but I was already halfway there, and Isabella had turned to look at the commotion behind them.When she saw me, her face paled."Dominic, what are you doing here?" She walked towards me, but I didn't pay her any attention. Instead, I brushed past her and went straight for the blonde man.When he realized I was coming for him, I had already landed a fist on his jaw.He fell backward on the pavement and groaned in pain."What the hell, man?" he yelled while clasping onto his bleeding mouth."Have you gone crazy?" Isabella shouted from behind me. I stopped and turned to her, an inch from her face."You want to see crazy?" I asked, and she cowered away like the little rat she was."Are you screwing him?" I shouted at her, and she shook her head violently."No, it's not like that.""Leave her alone, man. It's not what you think," Blondie said, but Isabella cut in between us."Sh