Chapter 5 - The Night Dominic Put His Life Between Hers and a BulletSalvatore Corsetti had chosen the wrong night.
He had expected fear.
He had expected Sarah to run.
He had expected Dominic to panic.
Instead, Dominic became terrifyingly calm.
“Where's your father?” he asked.
“Upstairs.”
“Is he safe?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Sarah stared at the blood on Dominic's shirt.
“Are you hurt?”
“Not mine.”
The words made her stomach turn.
“What happened?”
“Three men came.”
“Where are they?”
Dominic didn't answer.
She understood.
Her hands trembled.
“You killed them.”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“I told you I didn't want this.”
“I know.”
“And now I'm standing in my father's house surrounded by blood.”
“I know.”
“Why did you come?”
“Because I told you I'd protect you.”
She laughed through tears.
“This isn't protection.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“This is what happens when I fail to keep my world away from yours.”
He walked upstairs.
Arthur was alive.
Unharmed.
Confused.
Dominic stayed until morning.
He didn't leave.
Sarah sat across from him at the kitchen table.
“Who is Salvatore?”
“My uncle.”
“Why does he hate you?”
“He believes my father stole the family.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Power.”
Sarah sighed.
“Men like you always say that word like it explains everything.”
Dominic looked down.
“It usually does.”
“Not to me.”
“No.”
He reached across the table.
She did not move away.
“I can't promise your life will be normal if you're with me.”
“I know.”
“I can promise no one will ever use you without facing me first.”
She looked at him.
“That's not enough.”
“What is?”
“Trust.”
Dominic nodded.
“Then I'll earn it.”
“Slowly.”
“Slowly.”
She finally touched his hand.
He looked startled.
Sarah smiled sadly.
“You look surprised.”
“I thought you hated me.”
“I do.”
He almost smiled.
“For how long?”
“Probably forever.”
She squeezed his fingers.
“But I love you too.”
Dominic's expression broke.
He stood and pulled her into his arms.
Sarah pressed her cheek against his chest.
For the first time, she didn't feel like a woman being protected.
She felt like a woman being held.
Then a gunshot shattered the window.
Dominic moved instantly.
He pushed Sarah to the floor.
The bullet struck the wall.
Security rushed in.
Arthur shouted upstairs.
Sarah crawled toward the living room.
Dominic grabbed her.
“Stay down.”
She looked at him.
“You're bleeding.”
A red line appeared across his shoulder.
“It's nothing.”
“You're shot.”
“Grazed.”
He held her face.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
Then she realized something.
He hadn't shielded her because she belonged to him.
He had done it because, in that split second, protecting her was instinct.
The next day, Dominic made a decision.
He would end the war.
Not for the empire.
Not for revenge.
For Sarah.
He called Salvatore.
“It's over.”
His uncle laughed.
“You're finally admitting defeat?”
“No.”
Dominic's voice was cold.
“I'm giving you one chance to walk away.”
Salvatore laughed harder.
“You think the bakery girl changed you?”
Dominic glanced toward the kitchen.
Sarah was making coffee.
“Yes.”
“That woman is your weakness.”
Dominic smiled faintly.
“No.”
He looked at Sarah.
“She is the reason I finally know what I'm fighting for.”
Salvatore's laughter stopped.
Dominic hung up.
Three days later, Salvatore struck.
But Dominic had already prepared.
He exposed the financial network.
Turned several of Salvatore's closest allies.
Handed evidence to federal authorities.
And dismantled his uncle's empire piece by piece.
It was not clean.
It was not easy.
But it ended.
Salvatore was arrested before dawn.
When Dominic came home, Sarah was waiting.
He expected questions.
She asked only one.
“Is it over?”
“Yes.”
She stepped forward.
“Come here.”
He did.
She wrapped her arms around him.
Dominic buried his face in her hair.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I should have told you.”
“I know.”
“I should have protected you better.”
She pulled back.
“No.”
He looked confused.
“You don't get to make yourself responsible for every terrible thing that happens.”
“I can try.”
“You'll drive yourself insane.”
He smiled.
“You already know me too well.”
She touched his cheek.
“That's the problem.”
Then she kissed him.
May you like
And for the first time, Dominic realized something more frightening than violence.
He had a future.
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