Chapter 6 - Dominic Moretti Kissed Me in the Middle of a War—and Then Admitted He Had Been Falling in Love With MeThe safe house became our fortress.
Dominic's people guarded every entrance.
My father recovered slowly.
Ashley agreed to testify.
And I began learning the truth about the man who had saved me.
Dominic Moretti wasn't simply a criminal kingpin, as newspapers occasionally implied.
He had built legitimate companies across three states.
The darker rumors came from his past.
His family had been involved in organized crime.
Dominic had spent the last decade dismantling the worst parts of that organization.
He hated what his father had built.
He hated Vincent even more for continuing it.
One night, I found Dominic on the balcony.
He was smoking.
“You smoke?”
“Sometimes.”
“Does that make you less terrifying?”
“No.”
I laughed.
He looked at me.
“You shouldn't be awake.”
“I can't sleep.”
“Nightmares?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Me too.”
That surprised me.
“You dream?”
“About my brother.”
“What does he say?”
“Nothing.”
“That's worse.”
Dominic smiled.
He looked tired.
Real.
Human.
I stepped closer.
“Why did you tell my father not to trust love?”
He looked away.
“Because I don't.”
“Why?”
“My mother loved my father.”
“She stayed with him through everything.”
“He destroyed her.”
Dominic crushed the cigarette.
“I learned early that love gives people something to lose.”
I looked at him.
“And now?”
He stared at me.
“Now I have you.”
Neither of us moved.
He touched my cheek.
Very gently.
Then he kissed me.
There was nothing violent about it.
Nothing like the men in the stories.
It was careful.
Almost hesitant.
When he pulled away, his forehead rested against mine.
“I shouldn't have done that.”
I smiled.
“Probably not.”
He looked at me.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because I was hoping you would.”
He kissed me again.
Then the alarm sounded.
Our moment disappeared.
An armed team had breached the outer fence.
We moved.
Dominic gave orders.
I took my father to the safe room.
The attack lasted fifteen minutes.
When the last attacker fell, Dominic found a message.
The Chairman knows about the baby.
My blood froze.
The baby.
Our daughter.
She was no longer simply leverage.
She was the final target.
We moved her to a secure hospital.
The next morning, doctors performed another examination.
She was strong.
Too strong, according to one nurse.
“She's a fighter.”
I smiled.
“She gets that from her father.”
Dominic looked at me.
“Which one?”
I raised an eyebrow.
He laughed.
Then his expression changed.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“I used to believe I would die alone.”
I took his hand.
“You're dramatic.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because now I can't imagine leaving this world without knowing what your daughter looks like.”
My heart broke open.
“Dominic.”
He squeezed my fingers.
“I love you.”
I stared.
Three words.
Three words I had never expected to hear again.
Especially not from someone whose reputation was built on fear.
“I love you too.”
He smiled.
Then a nurse ran toward us.
“Mr. Moretti.”
Dominic stood.
“What?”
“The baby is in distress.”
Everything inside me stopped.
They rushed me into the room.
The monitor changed.
Doctors moved quickly.
I screamed.
Dominic was forced outside.
He stood behind the glass.
I saw fear on his face.
Real fear.
Not for his empire.
For us.
The doctors stabilized the baby.
The danger passed.
Our daughter survived.
Later, I opened my eyes.
Dominic was sitting beside the bed.
He had not moved.
“She is okay?”
He nodded.
“She is perfect.”
I touched his face.
“Then we're okay.”
He kissed my forehead.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“We are going to be more than okay.”
Outside the hospital, someone was waiting.
A man in a dark suit.
He carried a silver envelope.
He handed it to Dominic.
Inside was one message.
The Chairman wants to meet the mother of the heir.
Dominic read it.
May you like
Then looked at me.
The final war had begun.
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