Chapter 5 - My Father Betrayed Me Again
Gianni disappeared.
For three days, no one could find him.
Then Lena received a message.
Come alone if you want the truth about your mother.
She showed Dominic.
He immediately said no.
Lena ignored him.
She went anyway.
Or at least she thought she did.
The moment she entered the restaurant named in the message, the doors locked.
Salerno appeared.
“Your father sends his regards.”
Lena's stomach dropped.
“My father?”
“He wants his debt forgiven.”
“He sold me once.”
Salerno smiled.
“He's willing to do it again.”
She understood too late.
Her father had given them her location.
Salerno wanted the ledger.
And Lena was the leverage.
Hours later, Dominic found her.
The rescue was fast.
Terrifying.
When Lena finally saw him, he looked furious.
Not at her.
At himself.
“You shouldn't have come.”
“I know.”
He took her face between his hands.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then pulled her into his arms.
Lena froze.
Dominic held her like someone who had nearly lost something he couldn't replace.
For a moment, she forgot everything.
The debt.
Her father.
The danger.
She only felt his heartbeat.
When he released her, neither spoke.
Later that night, Lena confronted Gianni by phone.
“You sold me.”
Her father cried.
“I was desperate.”
“You don't get to use that word anymore.”
“I thought they'd kill me.”
“So you gave them me?”
“I thought Dominic would protect you.”
Lena's voice became quiet.
“You were right about one thing.”
“What?”
“Dominic did protect me.”
She ended the call.
Then she went downstairs.
Dominic was in the kitchen.
“You should sleep.”
“I can't.”
He looked at her.
“I need to ask you something.”
“Yes?”
“If my father hadn't done this, would you ever have noticed me?”
Dominic was silent.
“Yes.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you were the only person in this house who didn't care who I was.”
Lena looked away.
“You noticed me because I didn't bow.”
“I noticed you because you made the kitchen feel alive.”
Her heart beat faster.
Dominic stepped closer.
“I won't ask you to marry me.”
She looked at him.
“I wasn't thinking about marriage.”
“I was.”
She laughed nervously.
“Why?”
“Because the families around us are already assuming it.”
“That sounds like their problem.”
“It is.”
He paused.
“But I want you to know something.”
“What?”
“If I ever ask you, it will have nothing to do with your father's debt.”
Lena stared at him.
“And if I say no?”
“I'll accept it.”
May you like
She believed him.
That was the dangerous part.
