Chapter 3 - The Night a Stranger Put a Gun on the Bakery CounterThree weeks later, Sarah found a black envelope beneath the bakery door.
No name.
No address.
Inside was a photograph.
Dominic and Sarah at the engagement party.
His hand at her waist.
Her face turned toward him.
On the back, six words had been written.
Stay away from Dominic Corsetti.
Sarah stared at the photograph.
Her pulse accelerated.
She called Dominic.
He answered on the second ring.
“What happened?”
She told him.
There was a silence.
Then his voice changed.
“Lock the door.”
“I already did.”
“Don't leave.”
“Dominic—”
“I’m coming.”
He arrived in less than ten minutes.
He entered the bakery with four men.
Sarah hated how frightened that made her.
Dominic crossed the kitchen.
“Where is it?”
She handed him the envelope.
His eyes hardened.
“Who gave this to you?”
“I don't know.”
He turned toward his security chief.
“Check the cameras.”
The man nodded.
Dominic looked at Sarah.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Did anyone touch you?”
“No.”
He exhaled.
Then his anger became visible.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Just cold.
Sarah had never seen anything more frightening.
“Tell me the truth,” she said.
He looked at her.
“What?”
“Am I in danger because of you?”
He didn't answer immediately.
That silence told her enough.
“Yes.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“That's what I was afraid of.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“You're not going to be hurt.”
“You can't guarantee that.”
“I can guarantee I'll protect you.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
He looked wounded.
She continued.
“I never asked to be part of this.”
“I know.”
“I never asked to be photographed.”
“I know.”
“I never asked you to bring your world into mine.”
“You're right.”
Sarah turned away.
“I have my father.”
“My business.”
“My bakery.”
“I can't have all of that disappear because a dangerous man decided he liked me.”
Dominic was silent.
Then he said something that surprised her.
“You're right.”
She turned.
“What?”
“You should never have to pay for loving me.”
She almost laughed.
“Loving you?”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Dominic stepped closer.
“You said it.”
Sarah looked terrified.
“I didn't mean—”
“I did.”
He reached for her hand.
She let him.
“I love you.”
The bakery seemed to stop breathing.
Sarah stared at him.
Then she whispered:
“You don't even know me.”
“I know enough.”
“You know how I bake.”
“I know how you treat frightened children who come in short on money.”
She blinked.
“How do you know that?”
“I've seen you.”
He continued.
“I know you pretend not to cry when your father is sick.”
Her throat tightened.
“I know you give away bread at the end of every shift because you can't stand wasting food.”
“You know too much.”
“I know you call your mother when you're tired.”
Sarah's face crumpled.
“I call her old voicemail.”
Dominic's expression softened.
“I know.”
Sarah cried.
Not because she was frightened.
Because nobody had noticed her like that before.
Dominic didn't pull her into his arms until she reached for him.
Then he held her.
Very carefully.
As if she were something precious rather than fragile.
The next morning, he offered to buy the bakery.
Sarah refused.
He offered to renovate it.
She refused.
He offered to pay her father's medical expenses.
She became angry.
“I don't need you to rescue me.”
“I know.”
“Then stop trying.”
“I will.”
He walked away.
And that was the first time Sarah realized Dominic's love wasn't controlling.
He would protect her.
But he would not own her.
At least, that's what she believed.
Until a week later.
Sarah arrived at the bakery to find the front window shattered.
She stopped breathing.
Inside, every table had been overturned.
Flour covered the floor.
The oven door hung open.
And on the center table sat another black envelope.
Sarah picked it up with trembling hands.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
He can't protect you all the time.
Dominic arrived before she called him.
He took one look at the bakery.
Then at Sarah.
“You're coming with me.”
“No.”
“Sarah.”
“No.”
He stared at her.
“I’m not moving into your house.”
“You're not.”
“Then where?”
“My estate.”
“Dominic—”
“It's secure.”
“I don't want security.”
“You need it.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
His voice cracked.
“They're escalating.”
“Who?”
“My enemies.”
“What do they want?”
“You.”
Sarah's stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“Because hurting you hurts me.”
She stepped back.
“There it is.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“The reason I was afraid.”
She pointed at him.
“I don't want to become leverage.”
“You won't.”
“How can you promise that?”
“I'll make sure—”
“No!”
Her voice echoed through the bakery.
“I don't want to be the woman you lock away because you're afraid of losing me.”
Dominic went still.
Sarah wiped her tears.
“I want to be chosen.”
She pointed toward the broken window.
“But this isn't choosing me.”
“This is controlling me.”
Dominic looked at her for a long time.
Then he did something she never expected.
He nodded.
“You're right.”
He turned toward the door.
“I'm going to fix the window.”
She stared.
“And after that?”
“I'll leave.”
She felt a strange ache.
“Dominic.”
He stopped.
“I'll protect the bakery.”
He looked over his shoulder.
“But you decide where you live.”
Then he walked out.
Sarah watched him through the broken glass.
That night, she realized something terrifying.
May you like
She trusted him.
And because she trusted him, walking away from him might hurt more than staying.
Related Stories
