Chapter 32
~Dominic~
The bastards had the audacity to attack my home. The usual twenty-minute drive from the docks had taken me half that time. I was worried that I would be too late. Once I had pulled up to the mansion to see the devastation, it unleashed in me a rage of epic proportions.
There was no obstacle that could have kept me away from my wife.
From protecting what was mine. Thankfully, Jimmy was able to get the women to safety.
For that, I would always be grateful. I owe him a debt.
He put his life on the line to protect the person that means the most to me.
I took great pleasure in ending the scum who shot Jimmy.
My only regret was that it was too quick, and I didn’t have the time to make him suffer.
But, at the time my main concern was to make sure that Elle was safe.
My woman is amazing. When I thought that I would find her cowering inside of the safe room, she proved me wrong. She didn’t fall apart like she almost did months ago, when she was assaulted in that alley.
After the attack on our home, Elle surprised me with her strength. Putting aside her trauma. Taking charge of the situation. Saving Jimmy’s life. Her bossiness and the way she orders us, all hardened mobsters around is quite amusing.
Watching her work, saving lives with steady hands, I see it clearly—this is her calling. And if I’m honest, guilt gnaws at me. I’ve taken that from her.
But I can’t let her go. Not now. Not ever.
Maybe, when this war is over, I’ll find a way to give her both—the freedom to heal and the bond that keeps her mine. Until then, I’ll hold on. Because losing her is not an option.
While Elle fought to save Jimmy’s life, I walked the wreckage of the mansion. The front gate was nothing but twisted steel and rubble—blown apart by a car bomb. They parked the vehicle, loaded with explosives, and fled. Our guard gave chase, but the blast caught him before he could stop the coward.
Three more men fell in the assault. Their blood stains the stone, their absence weighs on me. Their families will be compensated. More than that—I will meet them myself. It is my duty to tell them their sacrifice was not in vain.
Luckily, the soldiers I left at the mansion were able to hold off the intruders, long enough for us to arrive with reinforcement.
Since placing Jimmy as Elle’s bodyguard, I made sure he knew about the safe room.
It was a contingency plan, in case I wasn’t physically present to protect her.
Only two other people who are privy to the existence of the room, Dante and Dario.
During any assault on the mansion, the household staff are ordered to remain in the servants’ quarters to minimize casualties. The responsibility for protecting everyone inside falls to my men and me.
When the turmoil subsided, the staff emerged from their refuge, prepared to restore the mansion to its former state.
Anna quickly assumed command of the servants.
Fortunately, the interior suffered little damage—only a handful of intruders managed to break in, intent on abducting my wife.
The cleanup crew has since erased every trace of the incident.
The distance from our nearest neighbor made it easier to conceal what had unfolded in the night.
By daybreak, Dante already had men working on the gate, their tools clattering in the cold morning air.
Everyone moved with a sharpened vigilance, the weight of unease pressing on each glance and gesture.
Unfortunately, none of the intruders were left alive to interrogate. While my wife was busy in the infirmary, I was debriefed. Before my office could be cleared of the dead body, we made use of the library.
“How the hell did this happen? We were supposed to eliminate the threat to my wife last night.” My voice is a low growl, frustration burning through every word.
I knew the Albanians would strike, but I misread their play—it was only a diversion.
Underestimating them was my mistake, and the thought that it nearly cost me her life makes my blood boil.
“Dom, didn’t you say that you had a source who confirmed the attack on the shipment?
” Dante asks calmly. He is seated like the other men in the room, while I pace.
Too agitated to sit still. “Do you think that he was lying?” He adds.
“No, I don’t think that’s possible. My source was one of Pavlov’s men, who had infiltrated the Albanian organization.
Pavlov has no reason to feed us false information as it wouldn’t be in his best interest to do so. ”
“Do you think that his source could have?” Nico questions. I know that out of all the men in this room, he is the only one who could possibly understand my panic when my wife was in danger. His wife being present in my home, also placed his woman at risk.
“Maybe Alban realized there was a traitor among his men. Do you think he suspected, or was his cover blown?” The thought twists in my gut.
“Shit—I need to warn Pavlov.” He picks up on the first ring, his voice cutting through the silence.
I switch to speaker, and Dario, Dante, and Nico lean in, every ear tuned in to what he has to say. .
“Vitelli, I was just about to call you. I was unable to get in contact with my man. He has gone silent.” He says worry in his voice.
“Do you think that he could have been compromised? My fucking home was attacked, while I was occupied with amateurs.” My anger returns as I think about how we were tricked.
“They must have intentionally fed him details about the shipment attack,” Pavlov said. “It’s possible they kept the strike on your mansion hidden on purpose. Sergio going silent is out of character. If he’d known of any plan against your home, he would have warned us.”
“Do you think he managed to evade capture?” I asked, the thought gnawing at me that Sergio had been discovered. “Or that he’s still alive?” “I don’t know,” Pavlov replied. His voice carried little hope, as if he already believed his man hadn’t survived.