Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Dominic

G lass crunched under the heel of my Italian leather shoe.

"Clean this up." My voice sliced through the turmoil, each syllable a command that brooked no argument. My men, loyal shadows attuned to my every wish, sprang into action. They moved with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine, erasing traces of the violence that had stained the velvet and chrome.

Not a tremor in my hand, I slid my phone from the tailored jacket, the fabric whispering against my skin. With practiced ease, I dialed the number etched into my memory from countless similar calls. "Front of the club. Now." The order was succinct, the underlying threat palpable even through the digital connection. There was no room for delay in my world; my driver would arrive swiftly or face the consequences.

I left for ten minutes, that's all. What the fuck? No one else could have their hands on her like that. The men didn't know she was mine, but as soon as I walked in the room, jealousy overtook me. Now, Alexa would be stuck with me. I took away her choice. The two men I killed… their families would come after me or her for retribution. She wasn't safe anywhere.

My gaze lingered on the exit, my thoughts already hurtling toward the next move. Each step I took toward the door resonated with authority, the night's events yet another trial to be managed, another risk to be mitigated. Behind me, the remnants of disorder were silently vanquished, a testament to the power I wielded without lifting a finger.

When my father heard about this predicament, I'd be getting an earful. He had taught me everything about loyalty, but seeing another man's hands on her, it fueled a fire deep inside. One that he never felt for my mother. He wouldn't be able to understand. So, I had to make it territorial. Everyone in the game that came to my club knew how to treat my girls, and it wasn't fucking like that. They had to know they had it coming. Why else would they wait for me to leave the room to treat her like a fucking doll?

The warm night air clung to Alexa's skin as my hand pressed firmly against her back, the urgency in my touch an insistent reminder that danger still lingered close behind. Ahead, the black SUV idled like a beast awaiting its master, the driver's silhouette rigid and expectant against the dimly lit interior.

"Get in," I commanded, voice low, a rumble of controlled power that resonated in the space between us. Alexa obeyed without protest but her trembling legs wouldn't stop. The door slammed shut, separating the maelstrom we left behind from the cocoon of safety.

"You are safe now. I'll let Willow know you left with me."

I took out my phone and shot a text to her so she wouldn't worry. Mother hen could get grouchy sometimes. Although Alexa being with me would probably raise even more suspicions in her head.

"Why did you kill them? You could have…"

"Have what? Kicked them out? That's not how things are settled in my world."

Her eyes locked on mine. "And what world is that, Dominic?"

Right now wasn't the right time to talk about this. She needed to get to my place, shower, and put some clothes on that weren't stained with another man's blood. The fact I was looking at her, her face covered in fear, made my heart clench. "We'll talk about this later, okay."

Alexa dared a glance at me, her protector—or captor—her gaze drawn to the tension in my jaw, the set of my shoulders. We sped through the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas, the city's garish glow blurring outside the windows, a dizzying contrast to the darkened interior.

Without a word spoken, the journey stretched out, each mile compounding the gravity of the unspoken pact. The opulence of my home loomed suddenly before us, the wrought-iron gates parting as if by magic to admit the vehicle into the sanctum of the mafia prince.

"We will have people outside and inside. You're safe. I promise."

My promises didn't mean fuck to her. Hell, my job was to keep her safe in that room and look what happened. How would she ever be able to trust me after that?

I exited first, the SUV door closing with a muted thud, and rounded the car with predatory grace. She followed suit, her steps hesitant, unsteady, as if waking from a nightmare.

Wordlessly, I led her through the corridors, the silence between us dense with unasked questions. No other woman had ever stepped foot in my house besides housekeepers.

We arrived at the bathroom. My hands moved with a purpose, twisting the polished steel knobs until steam rose in a ghostly dance from the showerhead. Droplets pelted against the marble, the sound crisp and staccato against the silence of the room. I paused, my gaze meeting Alexa's through the mirror.

"Get cleaned up," I insisted.

Alexa nodded, her fingers trembling as she unclasped the necklace, placing it carefully on the counter. She was scared, but not of me.

"I've got some business to attend to. I'll be back when you are done. I'll leave you something to wear on the bed."