Chapter 11 - Dominic Offered Me a New Life After the War—But I Was Afraid the Man I Loved Would Always Belong to DarknessThe house became quiet.
Too quiet.
For the first time, nobody was hunting us.
For months, I didn't know how to live without danger.
Dominic noticed.
"You don't have to stay here."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"If you want to leave, I'll protect you from a distance."
"Why?"
"Because you deserve to choose."
That word mattered.
Choose.
No one had given me that in years.
I looked toward Caleb.
He was playing with Ivy and another little boy from the security staff.
"They love you."
Dominic smiled.
"I love them."
"You never wanted children?"
"Not before Caleb."
I smiled.
"He's changed you."
"He changed both of us."
Then Dominic asked:
"Did you ever love me before the shooting?"
I laughed softly.
"That's a ridiculous question."
"I need the answer."
I looked at him.
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were my employer."
"Fair."
"And I was hiding."
"Also fair."
He stepped closer.
"I don't want to be your employer anymore."
My heart beat faster.
"Then what?"
"My partner."
I stared at him.
"You understand what you're asking?"
"Yes."
"You have a dangerous past."
"So do you."
"You have enemies."
"So do you."
"You have a child."
"He has two more people now."
My throat tightened.
Dominic took my hand.
"You saved my son."
"I'd do it again."
"I know."
He looked toward Caleb.
"And that's why I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of losing you."
For the first time, Dominic Mercer looked vulnerable.
Not a billionaire.
Not a crime boss.
Just a man.
May you like
I squeezed his hand.
"Then don't."
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