6. Dominic #2
I open WhatsApp and read: “Helena Veronica Medina, twenty-six, born in Istria. Parents: an English teacher and a nurse. One younger brother, fifteen. Graduate of the University of—”
I glance up. “Wait, I thought Lena studied here in the city…”
“She did,” Damien confirms. “But only for a year. There was some kind of incident on campus. A withdrawn complaint. She allegedly attacked Anton Rinaldi at a party with scissors. The file doesn’t say exactly what happened.”
“Who filed the complaint?”
“Anton. Then he pulled it back. My guess? She got expelled, had to leave, and just finished her studies somewhere else. I didn’t have time to dig deeper. Could be something in her medical records, or maybe worth checking with campus police. The whole thing went down at a University party.”
“I know Rinaldi,” Gabriel says. “Isn’t he the guy always hanging around the Mayor?”
“That’s him,” I reply, still trying to process what I just heard.
So Lena’s not just investigating Anton. This is personal. Deep and ugly.
“There’s a lot to unpack. I’ll give you the short version.”
They both drop their phones, probably halfway through Googling Rinaldi, and stare me down, eyes full of questions.
“The first time I met Lena was at my club, about three months ago. She was trying to secretly film Anton. He caught her, and he lost it. I had to pull him off her. Literally.”
I still remember the way she looked, defiant, even with him in her face.
“These past couple of weeks, things between them got worse. He put his hands on her again. I pulled him off and decked him. And at that charity event at City Hall? He went at her again.”
“Lexi didn’t say anything. And they talk all the time,” Gabriel says, surprised.
“Lena’s secretive. Lexi respects that. Every time I try to bring it up, she shuts it down. Says it’s just a journalistic investigation. But it looks more like all-out war. And sometimes it turns violent, not just on his side.“
The Rinaldis don’t have the cleanest reputation in this town,” Gabriel adds. “Or at least that’s what I’ve heard. Big name in real estate and transport. They’ve got connections to the port. They don’t use our security; they hire their own private army, which raises questions. Something’s off.”
“Anton Rinaldi. Only child. Arrogant, badly brought up, treats everyone else like they’re beneath him.
He throws his family name around like it’s a golden ticket, expecting everyone to fall in line.
I don’t let him into my club anymore. He’s been working with the Mayor for a couple of years now, but people still wonder how he got that job, especially since the Mayor’s known for being a man of integrity. ”
Just talking about Anton gets my blood boiling. He’s not just Lena’s problem anymore. He’s mine now.
“I ran a quick check on him, too,” Damien cuts in. “Hate to say it, Dom, but the guy’s got a few harassment complaints filed, then pulled. I asked around, and the vague answers I got suggest Anton has friends in the police. Someone’s covering for him.”
What the hell has Lena gotten herself into?
“Now you see why I had to have someone watch her? The guy could come at her any time, day or night. I won’t be calm until I figure out what’s behind all this.”
What I don’t tell them is that I’ve been keeping an eye on Lena since the night she stood up to me at the club.
Not overt, just someone watching her building at night, making sure nothing felt off.
When Lexi got caught in that mess, I brought in full-time security.
Nothing loud. I scaled it down after things calmed.
But lately, after Anton started pushing again, I’ve stepped it back up.
She has no idea. She’s going to lose it when she finds out.
And yeah, there’s plenty piling up. More than enough for her to change her mind about us. Fingers crossed she doesn’t.
“She really is in danger with a guy like that,” Damien says. “And Lena’s bold. Sometimes recklessly so. If it’s personal, she’ll go all in. But now she’s doing it as Mrs. Monti.”
He pauses, then raises an eyebrow. “I need to ask. How did you convince her? And what exactly did you tell her was in it for you?”
“After pulling her out of a few bad run-ins with Anton, she seemed open to the offer. Protection, resources, money. But what really got her attention was when I told her I could arrange a private meeting with the mayor. That wasn’t why she agreed, but it mattered.
Before we even hashed out the terms, Anton went public with the engagement.
And well, you’ve seen the media circus since. ”
“Where is she now?” Gabriel asks. “I can send some guys to help find her. Where did your guy lose track?”
“Downtown. He’s waiting at her place now. I’m just hoping she reads my texts and calls me back. Not knowing where she is, or if she’s safe… I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Gabriel pulls out his phone without a word and starts typing fast.
“Sending her photo to every team I’ve got stationed in the city. We’ll scan every camera we can access. I’m also putting eyes on her building. Mine this time.”
I open my mouth to protest, but he lifts a hand without looking up.
“Don’t. Just let me do this.”
I nod, throat tight. “Thanks.”
Of course, he’s already mobilizing a damn task force. That’s Gabriel, silent, efficient, always five steps ahead.
“Okay, but Damien, please don’t send half the police force after her, too.”
Damien snorts. Gabriel finally glances up, his focus all on me now.
“Now pull yourself together and tell us how the hell you convinced her. If we’re in, we need to know everything.”
“I told her I need a wife to keep the gold diggers and tabloids off my back.”
“Wow. So flattering,” Gabriel mutters, voice dripping with sarcasm. “How the hell did she agree to that?”
“Like I said, Lena’s not into me. The offer of support and connections for her career was way more appealing. She’s not delusional. And she doesn’t care who I sleep with. Lena’s pragmatic. So am I.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” Damien throws back, grinning.
“You’re head over heels. Admit it. You’re so desperate for her to like you, you’re dropping everyone else and marrying her without a single real benefit. Come on, man.”
“There’s more,” I tell them, even if I wish I could leave it there.
How do I explain the next part without telling them about Mom?
“My mother asked me to settle down. She wants a wedding and a baby in the family. She said it’s my responsibility to bring a little hope after everything we’ve lost. I couldn’t say no.”
“Does Lena know? About your mom’s request? About Axel?” Gabriel asks.
“No. And I’d like to keep it that way. Especially you, Gabriel, you tend to over-share when your girlfriend’s around.”
“It’s the way she looks at me,” Gabriel shrugs. “Big eyes, nose scrunched, I'm done for.”
“Be done with your own secrets. Not mine.”
I snap, though I get it. I know exactly what a woman can do to a man when she owns his heart.
“Still... why not tell Lena about your mom?” Damien asks.
Gabriel backs him up with a look.
“You don’t get it. Lena loves calling me out for being a playboy. She thrives on that moral high ground; it’s her favorite thing: putting me in my place. I can’t take that away from her. It makes her feel in control.”
I pause for effect, letting the weight of my words settle, then point a finger at them.
“I need to know I can count on you with this. Are we clear?”
Damien makes a face and throws up a lazy whatever gesture.
Gabriel, on the other hand, locks eyes with me.
“If I hadn’t heard you deny it so damn hard, I’d say you care about Lena way more than you’re letting on. Letting her roast you like that?”
“Can you blame me? She’s great.” It slips out before I can stop it.
My phone rings. The Mayor.
“Hello, Dominic. Am I interrupting?” I hear him ask.
“Not at all, Mayor Lang. What can I do for you?”
“First of all, congrats on the engagement. A surprising choice, if I’m honest, but love breaks all the rules, doesn’t it?”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
“I won’t keep you long. Just a small favor, should be an easy one. I hope you won’t turn me down.”
“If it’s within my power, of course.”
“At our usual lunch this Saturday... would your lovely fiancée be able to join us?”
Well, well, look at that. Even the mayor wants a word with Lena.
“Oh, sure. I’ll ask her and let you know.”
“Oh, and Dominic, one more thing. Can we keep the lunch as private as possible? Maybe... in your office?”
Not the usual setup, but fine.
“That can be arranged. See you then, Mayor.”
“What did he want?” Gabriel asks.
“Private meeting. With Lena.”
“What? The Anton story just keeps getting more intriguing. And you have no idea where your famous fiancée is, the one everyone’s suddenly interested in.”
Damien’s not exactly known for his tact, and right now, he’s definitely rubbing salt in the wound. But Gabriel sets his coffee down, quieter now.
“Whatever this turns into, we’ve got your back. Just don’t shut us out again.”
I nod, my jaw tight. “Thanks.”
Damien grunts. “Well, shit. Guess we’re in it now.”
But the look he gives me says the rest — Don’t screw this up. We’re with you.
I step forward and give him a firm clap on the shoulder. “Really. Thank you.” Nothing more.
The phone buzzes again, a message from the guy posted outside Lena’s place: She’s back. Went inside. Want me to move?
I hesitate. I don’t want to freak her out by sending someone in unannounced.
The phone rings. It’s Lena— finally.
“Hey. Where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for three hours. Are you okay?”
“I just got home. The place was broken into. It’s a mess. I don’t think I can make dinner tonight. I called to ask if we can cancel.”
Her voice is calm, but she’s talking fast.
“Did they take anything?”
“My laptop. I have a pretty good idea what they were after, but they didn’t find it.”
“Lena, someone’s on their way to your place. He works for me. Let him in. He’ll stay with you until I get there.”
I’m already texting my guy outside, adrenaline pushing everything into fast-forward.
“Not necessary. They came, they tore through everything, they’re gone now. I can handle cleaning up.”
Of course, she’d say that. Of course, she’d try to stand tall in the middle of a wreck.
“Lena, I’m your future husband. You don’t get to handle this alone anymore. You’re my responsibility now.”
“Wow. That may be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
I smile. Can’t help it. Even now, she’s got bite.
“Right now, your safety matters more than romance, Sassy.”
“Oh, I know. Would be terrible PR if the fiancée got hurt before the big announcement.”
Shit. Here we go. “So… you saw the tabloids? I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to warn you.”
“The tabloids are nothing compared to the flood of messages I’ve been getting. And not all of them are friendly. Exclusive interviews, stories about how I ‘ won you over ’... And five hundred new follow requests. Damn it, Dominic, this is not how I pictured our little arrangement starting.”
Fuck! She’s right. I should’ve shielded her better.
“It’s not an arrangement. It’s a marriage. And yeah, we’re both caught off guard. But you can yell at me over dinner. I’ll come get you. And by the way, you’re moving in. Starting tonight. You’ve got me now, whether you like it or not."
“Dominic—”
“Not up for debate, Lena.”
“God, you’re already being impossible.”
“Come on, don’t act surprised. You knew exactly how impossible I get when I’m trying to protect what’s mine.”
She hangs up, mumbling something I don’t catch.
No idea if it was fine, we’ll do it your way, or fuck you, Dominic.
I may have pushed too hard. The whole ' you’re mine' line probably didn’t land well.
But I’m not taking it back. One way or another, tonight’s going to be a hell of a conversation.
And here I thought getting married would make me boring.
I turn back to the guys. “Didn’t go great. She’s pissed.”
Damien gives me a skeptical look, classic marriage-is-a-trap smirk all over his face.
“Wait! Didn’t you say your mom wants a wedding and a grandkid? Does Lena know she’s expected to have a baby too, or is that surprise still loading?”
I shoot Damien a death glare. “Don’t mention it.”
Gabriel laughs and bumps his shoulder into mine. “Dom… you look like shit, man. She’ll drive you nuts. But I haven’t seen you this alive in years. Welcome back.”
The phone buzzes again. A message from Lena: “ And I hope you have a decent guest room. Just because the press engaged us doesn’t mean you suddenly became irresistible.”
Yeah. This is going to be interesting.