Chapter 13 DOMINIC
DOMINIC
‘‘Report’’
There was a pause. Edward’s shaky breath filled the line.
“They executed the men guarding Athena and Ace,” he whispered. “Hung their bodies at the front gates as a warning.”
A slow, dark laugh escaped my lips. Maddox King was losing his goddamn mind. Finally.
“But you’re smart enough not to get caught, right, Edward?” I said, my tone light but sharp enough to slit skin. Alec walked into my office just then, leaning against the desk, watching me silently. “Or should I check on your son personally?”
“No,” Edward answered quickly, panic laced into his tone.
Just as I thought.
Edward Lord is my most valuable asset inside Maddox King’s territory — embedded, trusted, invisible.
For years, he’s served as one of Maddox’s personal guards, even stood beside him when he went up against his own father, his sister, and Allyn’s old man.
Took a bullet for him, too. That kind of loyalty earns you a seat close to Maddox King.
But what Maddox doesn’t know is that long before he pulled Edward into his fold, Edward had already sold himself to the wrong side. To my family.
He owed my father money — a lot of it. The kind of debt that doesn’t go away quietly.
The idiot dared to borrow from us, thinking he could vanish without consequence.
My father tried to find him, but Edward was slippery.
His son, though — not so much. We found the boy easily, and as a reminder of his father’s stupidity, the kid lost his left hand.
He was supposed to lose his life too, but Edward begged, cried, bled for him.
He offered to repay the debt with money he didn’t have. Not even enough balls to ask Maddox for it. But that was never the point; my father didn’t care about the cash. He wanted something far more valuable: access. And Edward? He became our inside man.
Now, all these years later, he wears Maddox King’s colors while feeding me everything I want to know. Honestly, I couldn’t have planned it better if I tried.
“Then do your job,” I said flatly, draining the last of my bitter coffee. I hung up before he could reply, tossing the phone onto the couch beside me. Alec raised an eyebrow.
“He’s cracking,” I said, relaxing back into the cushions. “Maddox won’t know what hit him.”
“That’s good,” Alec replied, arms crossed over his chest. “As long as his attention stays away, we stay clean.”
I nodded. “He doesn’t even know I exist. Not yet. But he will.”
Alec gave a short nod.
“Linda’s waiting outside. Says she needs to talk to you.”
“Why? Athena is giving her hell?”
The image of Athena flashed in my mind — storming out of the dining room last night with fire in her eyes, flipping me off like she hadn’t been writhing on my lap days ago. I could still hear her voice, sharp and fearless. Stubborn little thing. She’s difficult, and I enjoy that.
“Don’t know man,” Alec said with a shrug. “Want me to send her in?”
“Fine. And schedule a meeting with my father.”
Alec nodded and stepped out. Seconds later, the door creaked open and Linda strode in, her arms crossed tightly under her chest, fake tits nearly spilling out of her too-tight dress. Her eyes were full of fire, but the wrong kind — petty, insecure, and irritating.
“Is it true?” she snapped, not even waiting for me to speak. “Are you really going to marry her?”
I sighed and leaned back. “Rumors travel fast, huh?” I muttered.
“You never said it was part of the plan,” she hissed, voice pitch climbing. “That’s fucked up, Nic.”
There it was. The mistake I made with Linda was that I let her think she mattered. That she was different. She thought that just because I fucked her more than once, she was special, but she wasn’t. None of them were.
“I have to take care of your future wife now?” she sneered, eyes narrowed.
“You have to do whatever the fuck you’re told,” I said, voice sharp. “I thought I made that clear.”
I stood to walk past her, but she blocked me, pressing her chest against mine in a way she thought would work. My eyes dropped to her cleavage, purely instinct, but there was no reaction. Nothing. My body didn’t even flinch.
“I didn’t agree to this,” she said, breath trembling. “I didn’t sign up to watch you marry her.”
“Then leave,” I said calmly. “You know where the door is.”
“But I don’t want to leave!” she cried out.
I turned back, jaw tight. “Then shut the fuck up and do your job.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. I felt…nothing.
“At least tell me you don’t have feelings for her,” she whispered, as if it might save her.
“Of course not,” I replied instantly. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
“Okay.” She nodded like she was making peace with it. Her hands reached for me, sliding down my chest toward my belt. I stopped her.
“Make no mistake, Linda,” I said, pushing her hand away. “I don’t have feelings for Athena, but that doesn’t mean I have feelings for you, either.”
Her face crumpled, lips parted in disbelief. She looked like I’d just shot her in the heart.
“We are nothing, and I’ve made that clear. You’re not my girlfriend. You’re not anyone.”
“But—”
“This conversation is over,” I said coldly, turning away. “Close the door on your way out.”
She didn’t say another word. I heard the slam of the door behind her, and silence settled again. Do I feel guilty? Not even a little.
I don’t need her tears. I need her obedience.
And I need Athena under control.