23. Mia

Chapter 23

Mia

The cool evening air brushes against my skin as I step onto the balcony, seeking some semblance of peace after confronting Carlito. The glow of the Las Vegas skyline stretches out before me, but its beauty feels hollow, a sharp contrast to the storm inside me.

Bianca’s departure cuts deeper than I expected. She’s always been strong, a fiery force who could face anything head-on. But now she’s gone, driven away by grief and the weight of this world. My chest tightens at the thought. She didn’t even say goodbye to me.

I lean against the railing, gripping the cold metal as if it can anchor me. Was she right to leave? Could I ever walk away from Carlito and this tangled life?

A faint sound—like the scuff of a shoe—breaks through my thoughts. I stiffen, my grip tightening. Turning my head slowly, I search the shadows, my pulse quickening.

“Lost in thought?”

The voice is low and smooth, sending a jolt of alarm through me. My breath catches as I whirl around, my eyes darting to the edge of the balcony.

A man steps forward, his features partially obscured by the dim light. He’s tall and lean, his stance casual but deliberate. Something about him feels familiar, a nagging sense of recognition I can’t place.

“Who are you?” I demand, my voice sharper than I intend.

He raises his hands slightly, a mockery of surrender. “Relax. I’m not here to hurt you.”

My heart pounds, but I hold my ground. “You didn’t answer my question.”

He chuckles softly, the sound devoid of humor. “You don’t recognize me, do you?” He tilts his head, stepping into the light just enough for me to catch the sharp angles of his face.

The familiarity clicks like a puzzle piece snapping into place. My mind flashes back to the rooftop at the gala—the man who stared at me, the one Carlito’s guards were looking for.

“Dominic,” I breathe, taking a step back.

His smirk deepens, though there’s no warmth in it. “That’s more like it.”

“What are you doing here?” I demand, my voice steady despite the rising panic in my chest.

He leans casually against the railing, as if we’re old friends having a chat. “I slipped in when the gates opened. Someone was leaving. A woman in a hurry—looked angry. Your sister, maybe?”

Bianca. The thought of him watching her—even briefly—makes my stomach churn.

“Why are you here?” I press, my tone sharper now.

His smirk fades, replaced by something colder. “To tell you the truth. Or at least as much as you can handle.”

My hands clench into fists at my sides. “And why should I trust you?”

His dark eyes meet mine, unflinching. “Because I’m the only one willing to tell you what Carlito won’t. Starting with your inheritance.”

I don’t flinch, but my chest tightens. “What could you possibly tell me that I don’t already know?”

Dominic’s smirk falters, replaced by a colder, more calculating expression. “You think you know everything, little sister? That Carlito’s been honest with you about what you’re tangled in?”

His words hit a nerve, and I can’t hide my frustration. “Carlito told me the truth—about my inheritance, about Matteo’s interest in it. And he told me about you.”

Something flickers in Dominic’s gaze—surprise? Amusement?—before he takes a slow step closer. “Did he tell you why Matteo really wants the property? Or did he just feed you enough to keep you complacent?”

I hesitate, my mind racing. Carlito said the property was leverage, a piece of my father’s legacy Matteo wanted to exploit. But the way Dominic phrases it feels... heavier.

“You’re stalling,” I say, folding my arms. “If you know something I don’t, just say it.”

Dominic exhales, his jaw tightening. “It’s not just about the property, Mia. It’s what’s in it. Matteo believes your father left something hidden—something powerful enough to tip the balance of power in this war. And he’s willing to tear apart anyone standing in his way to get it.”

Something hidden? The phrase echoes in my mind. “What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know exactly what it is,” Dominic admits, his tone sharp with frustration. “But whatever it is, it’s more than some sentimental inheritance. And it’s the key to bringing down Matteo’s empire.”

The weight of his words presses against me, suffocating and surreal. My voice is quiet when I ask, “And what about you, Dominic? What do you want from me?”

His face hardens. “I want you to survive. Whatever this thing is, Matteo won’t stop until he gets it. He’ll destroy Carlito. And if you don’t tread carefully, he’ll destroy you too.”

“Why do you even care?” The question slips out before I can stop it, the rawness in my voice betraying my turmoil.

Dominic’s dark eyes flicker, and for a moment, I see something softer beneath his hardened exterior. “Because you’re my sister,” he says, the words quiet but firm. “And no matter how messed up this world is, you deserve to know the truth.”

The sincerity in his tone shakes me, but I can’t let myself trust it completely. “You killed Dario,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “You chose Matteo.”

Dominic’s jaw tightens, regret flashing across his face. “I didn’t have a choice,” he says, his voice low and hoarse. “Matteo holds the strings, Mia. And unless we find a way to cut them, he’ll keep pulling until there’s nothing left of any of us.”

His words hang in the cool night air, each one a sharp blade carving into the fragile world I thought I knew. I study his face, searching for anything—lies, remorse, truth. But all I see is a man trapped by his own choices, caught between regret and survival.

“You expect me to believe you?” My voice wavers, but my stare doesn’t falter. “After everything you’ve done, you think I’d take your word over Carlito’s?”

“I don’t expect anything from you, Mia,” Dominic counters, his tone flat yet heavy with meaning. “I don’t need you to trust me. I need you to listen. ”

I shake my head, anger rising like a tide. “Listen to what? That Carlito’s a liar? That I’m a target because of some inheritance I didn’t even know about? You don’t care about me, Dominic. You’re here because you’re scared of Matteo.”

He flinches at Matteo’s name, his jaw tightening. “You think I’m scared for myself?” He steps closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I’m scared for you. For what Matteo will do when he gets what he wants—or worse, when he doesn’t.”

“And what does he want, exactly?” I ask, the question more bitter than genuine. “This property? The inheritance? Why am I so important all of a sudden?”

Dominic lets out a harsh, humorless laugh. “It’s not the inheritance itself, Mia. It’s what it represents. That property—it’s leverage. A piece of the power your father built, and Matteo wants every last shred of it. But you...” His gaze darkens, a mix of pity and urgency in his eyes. “You have your father’s blood. Our father’s blood. A bloodline that Matteo will stop at nothing to destroy. He wants revenge for whatever hidden item our father left in that inheritance property.”

The name Caruso feels distant now, a phantom of a life I never fully understood. But it still clings to me, tethered by Dominic’s words and the weight of the past.

“If you cared so much, why didn’t you come for me sooner?” I demand, my voice sharp. “Why wait until now, when everything’s already falling apart?”

“I didn’t know about you,” Dominic admits, his voice softening. “Not until Matteo did. By then, it was too late—I was already part of his plans. But I’m here now, Mia, because I need you to survive this.”

His words strike a chord I don’t want to acknowledge. I fold my arms tightly across my chest, as if that could shield me from the storm brewing in my mind. “And Carlito? What’s his role in all this?”

Dominic’s eyes narrow. “He’s playing his part, just like I am. But don’t think for a second he’s told you everything. Matteo isn’t the only threat you need to worry about, Mia.”

A sound from inside the penthouse breaks the tension—a soft knock, followed by approaching footsteps. Dominic’s head snaps toward the glass door, his body stiffening.

“I’ll find you again,” he says quickly, his voice low. “Until then, don’t trust anyone—not completely.”

Before I can respond, Dominic swings himself over the balcony railing and disappears into the evening air.

The sliding door opens behind me, and I turn to find Carlito standing there, his dark eyes immediately locking onto mine.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his tone clipped with suspicion.

I force a smile, but my heart pounds against my ribs. “Nothing. Just needed some air.”

As I brush past him to step inside, his gaze lingers, heavy with doubt.

Carlito’s voice stops me before I reach the hallway. “You’re lying, Mia. What are you hiding from me?”