20. Dominico
20
DOMINICO
I pace back and forth in my room, my mind racing with thoughts of Sofia and the disastrous turn our morning took. I can’t stop replaying the hurt and anger in her eyes, the way she flinched away from my touch like I was poison.
I know I fucked up. I know I should have handled the situation better, should have found a way to reassure her and ease her fears. But the truth is, I don’t know how. I’ve never had to figure this out before, never had to navigate the treacherous waters of a real relationship.
Usually, women just fall into my arms. And usually, I’m more than happy to oblige, to give them what they want for a night or two before moving on to the next conquest.
But Sofia… she’s different. She’s not just another notch in my bedpost, another pretty face to add to my collection.
She’s my wife, the woman I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with.
And I’m failing her. I’m failing her in every way that matters, and I don’t know how to fix it.
I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping the details of my past lovers to myself. I mean, what good would it have done to tell her how many women I’ve been with? It’s not like it would have magically erased all the pain and betrayal between us.
If anything, it would have just made things worse. It would have just given Sofia more ammunition, more reasons to hate me and resent me for all the ways I've let her down.
But keeping quiet didn’t do me any favors, either. It just made her think I had something to hide, that I was still the same selfish, dishonest bastard who broke her heart all those years ago.
I’m at a loss. I don’t know what to do, don't know how to navigate this minefield of a marriage we’ve found ourselves in.
I keep trying to reach out to her, to show her that I’m not the man I used to be. That I’ve changed, that I’m ready to be the husband—the man—she deserves.
But every time I take a step forward, Sofia takes two steps back. Every time I try to open up to her, to let her see the real me… she slams the door in my face, retreating behind her walls of anger and resentment.
It’s like she’s determined to bring up the past, to hold on to the grudges and the bitterness that have been festering inside her for so long. Like she’s refusing to give me a chance, to even consider the possibility that we could have a future together.
And I’m starting to wonder if there’s anything I can do to change her mind, if there’s any way to fix what’s broken between us, to heal the wounds that I’ve inflicted on her heart.
As I stand at the window, lost in my thoughts and trying to come up with a plan to win Sofia back, a flash of movement catches my eye. I look down, and there she is, walking down the drive like a vision in the morning light.
My heart skips a beat as I take in the sight of her, all long legs and graceful curves. Even from this distance, I can see the way the sun glints off her dark hair, the way her skin seems to glow with an inner radiance.
God, she’s beautiful. So beautiful it takes my breath away, makes me wonder how I ever got lucky enough to call her mine.
But then, my eyes narrow as I spot a familiar figure at the end of the drive. A figure I know all too well, one who sets my teeth on edge and makes my blood boil with barely contained rage.
Luca.
I watch as he approaches Sofia, his body language casual and relaxed, like he has every right to be there, every right to speak to my wife as if they’re old friends.
I’m out the door before I even realize what I’m doing, my feet pounding against the pavement as I race down the drive toward them. But by the time I reach the end of the drive, Sofia is already gone, disappearing into the distance like a mirage.
Leaving me alone with Luca, who’s looking at me with a smug, self-satisfied grin that makes me want to punch him in the face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I growl, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “I thought I made it clear that you're not welcome on Sicura property.”
Luca just shrugs, his eyes glinting with a malicious humor that sets my teeth on edge. “I was just having a friendly chat with your lovely wife,” he says, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “No need to get your panties in a twist, Dominico.”
I take a step closer, my jaw clenched so tightly I can feel the muscles twitching. “Stay away from Sofia,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “I mean it, Luca. If I catch you sniffing around her again, I’ll make you regret it.”
He laughs, the sound harsh and mocking in the morning air. “Oh, I'm shaking in my boots,” he says, his lips curling into a sneer. “The great Dominico Sicura, threatening me over a little conversation with his wife. What's the matter, Dom? Afraid she might find someone better?”
I feel a surge of rage wash over me, hot and fierce and all-consuming. I want to lash out, to wipe that smug grin off his face with my fists.
But I force myself to take a deep breath, to push down the anger and the jealousy that are threatening to consume me. Because I know that’s exactly what Luca wants, exactly what he’s trying to provoke.
“I'm not afraid of anything,” I say, my voice cold and flat. “Least of all, a pathetic little fuck like you.”
Luca’s eyes narrow, his grin fading into a hard, calculating look. “We'll see about that,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “You may think you have everything under control, Dominico, but trust me, your perfect little world is about to come crashing down around you.”
A chill runs down my spine at his words. I can’t help but think back to a time when things were different between us, when Luca was more than just a thorn in my side, more than just a bitter rival hell-bent on destroying everything I hold dear.
There was a time when we were almost friends, when I thought I could potentially trust him. We were always rivals, but friendly. There was always good-natured ribbing between us, a foundation built on the fact that we were born into the Mafia world, a world that most people will never experience.
But that was before. Before his father died, before the weight of that loss turned Luca into a cruel, twisted version of himself.
I’ve watched it happen, watched the pain and the anger eat away at him until there’s nothing left but a shell of the man he used to be. A man who takes his hurt out on the world, who lashes out at anyone and everyone who crosses his path.
And for some reason, I seem to be his favorite target, the one he reserves his most vicious attacks for, the one he’s determined to destroy at any cost.
I don’t know why. I don’t know what I did to earn his hatred, to make him see me as the enemy. But I do know that I’m not going to stand here and engage with him. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose my cool, of knowing that he’s gotten under my skin.
“Leave, Luca,” I say, my voice cold and hard, “before I have the guards come out and force you to do so.”
He sneers at me, his eyes glinting with malicious humor that sets my teeth on edge. “Running away so soon, Dominico?” he taunts. “And here I thought you were looking forward to our little chat.”
I clench my jaw, my hands curling into fists at my sides. It takes every ounce of willpower I have not to lash out, not to give in to the urge to wipe that smug grin off his face with my fists.
But I won’t give him the satisfaction, won’t let him goad me into a fight, into making a scene that will only cause more problems down the line.
So I turn and start to walk away, my back straight and my head held high. I won’t let Luca see how much he’s gotten to me, won’t let him know the depths of my anger and my pain.
But as I take my first step, I hear his voice, low and menacing, drifting across the space between us.
“You'd better watch your back, Dominico,” he says, his words dripping with venom. “Because I’m coming for you. And when I’m done, there won't be anything left of you or your precious little empire."
I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest as his words sink in. I want to turn around, to confront him and demand to know what the hell he’s talking about.
But I know that’s exactly what he wants. He's just trying to get a rise out of me, to make me lose my cool and do something I’ll regret.
So I keep walking, my steps measured and steady even as my mind races with a thousand different questions.
What is Luca planning? What does he have up his sleeve that makes him so confident, so sure that he can take me down?
I don't know. And if I’m being honest, a part of me is afraid to find out.
Because I’ve seen the darkness in Luca's eyes, the hatred and the rage that consume him. And I know that he’s capable of anything, of going to any lengths to get what he wants.
But I also know that I won’t go down without a fight. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s mine, to keep Sofia and my family safe from the storm that's brewing on the horizon.
Because that’s who I am. That’s the man I've had to become in order to survive in this world of power and betrayal.
And if Luca wants a war… then that’s exactly what he’ll get.