Dom's Pov:
My car engine purred smoothly as I was driven down the road, the familiar sound a comforting background to my thoughts. After leaving Ivy behind, I had a business that demanded my attention. Staying back at my safehouse and coaxing her into compliance was something Viktor might attempt, but not me. Ugh…, I didn't have the time or the patience to entertain her stubbornness. My focus was set elsewhere.
I raised my phone, dialing Viktor's number. The moment he picked up, he greeted me with a low "Boss."
"Meet me at my place. Twenty minutes," Dom ordered sharply, no room for argument. Without waiting for a response, he ended the call, his expression hardening. Tch... Business came before pleasure, and distractions would only make him weak.
Yet, just as he was about to put down the phone, a new notification flashed across the screen. Dom's jaw tightened as he recognized the name. Nathan. The man his family had practically thrown at him, wrapped in wealth and social power, as if he could be bought with assets and promises of alliances. Hmph... If only they knew.
He couldn't deny that having Nathan as an ally could secure more power—a hand reaching across Chicago and beyond. The governor's son, groomed to inherit millions, easily carried the weight of high society. But even Nathan's flawless lineage couldn't make Dom care. It wasn't strength; it was a carefully packaged weakness that reeked of pretense.
Dom let out a low chuckle—ha ha ha... The thought of Nathan trying to stand by his side as an equal was almost laughable. He might carry titles and assets, but he lacked the fire, the relentless strength Dom admired. That fire...it only burned in Ivy.
We needed to build real trust among those who would dare call themselves allies. Our circle was shrinking. Even Luka, my most reliable tech expert and a man who had given up almost everything for loyalty, hadn't settled down after his loss a few years back. I never pried into his thoughts; Hmph... It was irrelevant unless it weakened our standing. I valued strength and silence over the luxury of emotion.
Zoomm... The car sped up, cutting through the city until it pulled up in front of my estate. The towering roof of my place loomed overhead as the greens of carefully manicured trees and bushes created a silent guard around the property. Ivy would have scoffed at the over-the-top display. Hmm... The lush and grand garden had never interested me, but the water fountain in the walkway did. It moved with calm determination—constant, deliberate. Unlike the chaos I had to manage, it was the one thing that brought Aah...
Viktor was already there, leaning against the stone base of the fountain, a lit cigar hanging lazily from his lips. The glow highlighted the rigid lines of his expression. "Boss," he acknowledged with a slight tilt of his head.
I nodded, well, and made my way to the door. It creaked open, Creakk..., as we stepped inside. Without needing any more direction, Luka followed, shadows dancing behind us as the door closed.
"Sergey mentioned what happened with Lorenzo. He didn't know anything about Allegra?" Viktor asked, his gaze sharp as he shifted his stance. I tightened my hold on the glass, the faint clink barely audible as I filled it with amber liquid. The day had spiraled into a chain of disappointments. Lorenzo was meant to be our bridge to Allegra and her secrets, but instead, we were left in the dark. Argh... Frustration bubbled up.
"I pressed him for Allegra's whereabouts and threatened to expose his network. Until his last breath, he swore he knew nothing," I said, my voice cold. I watched Luka's expression shift slightly as I raised the glass to my lips, the scent of the liquor stinging with each inhale. The heat coursed through my veins; its burn was a welcome distraction.
"And you believed him?"
"My men had his right-hand man under our grip with a knife at his throat. Yes, I believed him," I replied, the edge in my voice unmistakable.
"Damn it." Viktor exhaled sharply, dropping into the chair by the window. His fists clenched at his sides, the air between us crackling with tension. "So, we're back to square one."
I thought back to her—Zero, my queen of hackers. She was unmatched, surpassing even Luka's cunning, her mind sharper than the rest. If we had any chance of cornering Allegra, Ivy had to be involved. The clock was ticking, and each second pressed on my chest like a vice. It won't be easy, I knew. She was unpredictable, her rebellious—a wild card. But without her, this fight would be lost before it began.
"No," I said, my voice cutting through the silence. Viktor's brow creased, his head tilting as he waited for more.
"Who do we have?" I teased, smirking as I let the suspense hang. Viktor's eyes narrowed, curiosity battling with the frustration written on his face. He leaned forward, elbows pressing against his knees as he clasped his hands, the flicker of realization starting to spark.
"Someone who can track Allegra?" His voice was low, cautious hope weaving through the tension.
"Zero."
He blinked, the surprise settling quickly before a knowing grin touched his lips. "The same woman who cracked into your files? The one who has enough on you to tear your entire life apart?" Viktor's smile twisted, admiration shadowed with disbelief. "You're bringing her into this? I thought you wanted her… gone," Viktor's voice held that sound dangerous, one I'd known for 20 years.
My jaw tightened, the weight of that idea hitting my gut. I poured myself another drink, and the clink of ice and liquor was my only answer. I savored the sting this time, welcoming the heat to quiet the storm raging inside me.
"I was. But everything changed when I discovered Zero wasn't a man at all. She's not some faceless hacker lurking behind a screen. She's a girl. A quiet, fierce thing hidden behind a mask, but one who doesn't run from the dark. She's someone that can't be molded into anything less than a queen," I said, my eyes narrowing as the memory of Ivy's rebellion played back in my mind. The liquid in my glass reflected the dim light as I tilted it, my smirk barely concealed as I felt Viktor's stare deepen.
Before I could relish the silence, a heavy knock interrupted. I set the drink down, gesturing toward the door. The guard reacted, pulling it open to reveal Viktor stepping in, his features tight with urgency.
"Dom, sir," Luka said, taking a step forward. The slight widening of his eyes met my cold stare.
I pressed my lips together, irritation simmering beneath the surface. "Aren't you supposed to be overseeing the team? What is it now?" My words cut through the room with the precision of a blade.
"It's about her—Zero. She's stirred up trouble again, saying she won't cooperate until we release her," he said quickly. I let a slow, taut smile spread as I picked up my glass again, feeling the edge of anger prick at my composure.
"Is that so?" I slammed the glass onto the table, its sound slicing the silence. Luka took an instinctive step back as I rose from my seat.
"If you can't handle a single task, Luka, why are you here?" My voice dropped into a dangerous calm, letting him know that failure was not an option.
"Viktor, I need you to go to Nathan and discuss what we planned," I instructed, my gaze sharpening as I shifted to Luka, the tension between us unmistakable. "Luka, leave."
"Yes, Dom," Luka muttered, a flash of discomfort crossing his face before he reached for the polished table and set down Ivy's glasses, the metallic sound breaking the silence. Without hesitation, he turned and exited, his steps sound down in the hall.
As soon as Luka was gone, Viktor's steady posture changed as he waited for my command. "What do you need me to tell him?"
"Make sure he knows I'm still considering his proposal about the upcoming investment," I said coldly. Viktor's eyes flickered with understanding, and a sharp nod was his only response.
Picking up Ivy's glasses, I traced their delicate frame, feeling an unexpected weight in my chest. The responsibility of keeping her close, ensuring her safety, and controlling the chaos she brought into my life was relentless. Pressing my palm against my temple, I stepped into the corridor, sensing that this wasn't going to be a simple game. No, Ivy was proving to be both my greatest challenge and the only distraction capable of breaching the cold wall around my heart.
I walked down the halls; my steps felt loud through the silence until I reached her room. Typing the code into the keypad, I pushed the door open. The chaos before me was almost laughable. Luka hadn't been exaggerating—she had demolished the space. The mattress was upturned, the dresser emptied with drawers strewn across the floor, and furniture toppled as if a storm had swept through.
I caught sight of her, eyes locked on the view outside, her expression distant and unreadable.
"Impressive," I said, letting the word carry a mocking weight as it hung in the air.
Ivy's head turned sharply toward me, her eyes wide with an emotion that skittered between shock and fear. The reaction brought a smirk to my lips. Closing the door behind me, I took deliberate, measured steps toward her, noting the way she instinctively backed away, her movements betraying her racing mind.
"You know," I continued, the cold amusement in my voice unmistakable, "I give you a place far better than any cell, food fit for a queen, yet this is how you repay me?" The smirk on my face turned sharper, but it didn't reach my eyes.
She glanced at the destruction, as if realizing for the first time just how much damage she'd wrought. When she tried to move further away, I reached out, my hand grasping her arm gently but firmly, guiding her to stand before me.
"Are you afraid, my angel?" I asked, my voice a mixture of curiosity and something deeper. The way she turned her face to avoid my gaze, her rebellion, and the weakness mixed in her posture sparked something within me. I wanted her to understand that running from me was not an option, yet her spirit intrigued me all the same.
Ivy's trembling form stood before me, her eyes locked onto mine with a little rebel, despite the fear I could see dancing behind them. She looked different without her glasses—unfiltered, weak. The glasses she wore often amplified her quiet disguise, but now I could see the raw sharpness in those almond-shaped eyes framed by dark lashes that brushed her cheekbones.
"Please, leave me alone," her voice cracked, soft yet pleading.
A flicker of something unrecognizable sparked within me. I placed my hand on her waist, gently pulling her closer, my breath warm against her ear as I whispered, "Sweetheart, that's not an option."
My fingers trailed down her arm, a deliberate motion that left her visibly bristling under my touch. The soft feel of her skin sent a shiver of satisfaction through me. I tilted her chin up with a firm but cautious hand, meeting her gaze head-on. She was stunningly fierce, a storm beneath the quiet surface.
"W-Why not?" she managed, her voice barely above a whisper, holding a note of confusion mixed with disbelief.
I leaned in just enough for her to hear, the words dripping with an intensity I didn't try to mask. "Because I need something from you."
Ivy's shoulders stiffened. I watched as the realization settled in, a trace of dread crossing her features, her body tensing like a coiled spring ready to break. The sight stirred something deep within me, a mix of protectiveness and an unrelenting need to bind her closer.
Her eyes narrowed as she hesitated, searching for some truth in my expression. "Are you going to... hurt me?" she asked, barely audible, her words quivering.
The question struck harder than I expected. My jaw clenched, and an instant wave of disdain for the implication surged through me. I moved swiftly, catching her neck in my grasp—not to harm her but to submit her to me, to make her feel the control she stirred within me. Her pulse raced under my fingers, and she craned her head back to meet my gaze as if challenging the unspoken tension.
"No," I said, each word slow, deliberate. "Never."
"Angel," Dom's voice dripped with a dangerous softness, his eyes gleaming with an edge that sent shivers down Ivy's spine. "Don't mistake me for a monster. Any woman who wants me… begs for it."
Ivy's breath hitched as she took in his intense gaze, trying to process his words while fighting the trembling in her body. "Are you going to… do that to me?" The question left her lips so quietly she almost thought he hadn't heard it.
A smirk pulled at the corner of his mouth as he tilted his head, the light catching the sharp angles of his jaw. His other hand settled on her waist, a touch that was possessive yet soft. Beneath her thin shirt, his fingertips pressed just enough to make her heartbeat race uncontrollably.
"Careful now, Ivy," he whispered, voice low enough that only she could hear. "You're tempting me in ways you don't understand."
The silence that followed was deafening. Dom released his hold, stepping back, though his eyes stayed fixed on her as if daring her to move. She remained where she was, her mind racing, her body refusing to obey the silent urge to run.
"Then what do you want from me?" she finally managed, each word tinged with a mix of fear and defiance.
"Your mind," he answered simply, his tone dark and commanding.
Confusion flickered across Ivy's face, her brows knitting together as she met his unwavering gaze. "For what?"
Dom's expression shifted, softening into something more unreadable, but the intensity never left his eyes. "That will come later. For now, you need to learn what it means to stay in line. If I come back and find that this space isn't exactly as I left it, every comfort you know will be gone. You'll sleep on bare floors, Ivy. Am I clear?" He arched an eyebrow, waiting for her response.
Ivy swallowed hard, the tension in the room pressing down like a weight on her chest. She nodded once, refusing to let her voice betray the tumult of emotions that's plays within her.
She averted her gaze, but the slight tremble in her shoulders spoke louder than words. Still, she managed to nod.
Dom's eyes softened, a flicker of pride evident as he murmured, "Good girl, angel."
He took a few deliberate steps toward the door, pausing only as a sudden thought crossed his mind. His voice, calm yet laced with a command, cut through the silence, "Oh, and your glasses will be returned once you eat."
Without waiting for her response, he stepped out, leaving her alone in the room. The door clicked shut behind him, the sound resonating through the still air. Ivy stood in place, chest rising and falling as she tried to steady the chaos that roared inside her.
Barely had he taken a few steps down the hallway when a subtle vibration from his pocket caught his attention. Pulling out his phone, his expression shifted to one of cold calculation as he read the message from Viktor. The words burned into his mind—Lorenzo Ricci is planning something big. A trace of anger tightened his jaw.
"Luka!" Dom's voice echoed as he called out, eyes narrowing with an unyielding glint. The sound of heavy boots approached, and Luka, ever the loyal shadow, stood before him, his face unreadable.
"Gather the men. We're tightening security. And bring Mikhail to me—I need him to trace a few things," Dom ordered, his expression hardening as he tucked his phone away. The tension in the air was palpable.
"Yes, boss," Luka said, his eyes sharp with understanding before he turned on his heels to execute the command.
Dom's gaze lingered on the closed door to Ivy's room. The need to protect her, to shield her from the storm he knew was coming, weighed heavily on him. But she have to trust him—whether she liked it or not.