My nails dig into my palm from how tightly I clench them. He was responsible for the attack on Bella, his own daughter. That’s when I know if there is a monster, it is definitely him, not me.
He sucks his teeth and works his jaw as he smiles wryly. “I was successful with every little hit on your mafia, Dominic. Wasn’t I? I knew that the Saudis would go ballistic, so I stole your gun shipments to plant one at the crime scene specifically for their eyes. I anticipated each of their moves and deliberately stayed one step ahead, planting pieces that would lead to you.”
When the Saudis sent the evidence, there was a gun in it. That must have been the one he planted…so they could trace the serial number back to my mafia.
He laughs again and gently swivels his head from side to side as if mentally unstable. “But of course I couldn’t be so niche. You see, if I had taken only things relevant to the plan, you would have figured me out. I had to hit more random things so you wouldn’t easily trace it back to me.”
“All of those words the fake mole said, the fake voice command, the fire incident were all orchestrated by me. I had to even come up with that AI sex scandal to throw you off.”
Bella inhales sharply and moves forward, but I hold her in place.
“I only wanted to kill that fucking politician who was digging into my illegal firearm business. He was present when I went to broker the arms deal, but one fucking mistake and it all went south. I knew I needed an escape, or the Saudis would crumple everything I spent my whole life building if they traced the assassination back to me. So I kept baiting them with every piece of evidence I took from you.”
“It was costly pulling all those tricks on you, but that was the lesser evil. You could take on the Saudis, Dominic. You’d win…or at least it’d be a tie. But me…my mafia could never.” His voice grows thick and angry as he turns to Bella. “And that’s why you should never have interrupted the plan! Everyone would have been happy! But that’s all you’ve always been. A sabotaging little wretch just like your stupid mother!”
He tugs the chain harshly, the contempt in his eyes dripping into his voice. “You know why my manipulation worked on you? Because you’re weak. You’ll always be the outcast begging to be loved, but no one would ever love you.”
Bella shakes her head, her voice coming out steady. “You don’t get to decide who I am anymore. Say hi to the devil for me.”
Before I know it, she snatches the gun from Matteo’s hand and fires a shot at Dean. The bullet misses by an inch, thudding into the wall behind him. Matteo quickly snatches it from her hand before she fires another.
“We can’t kill him,” I breathe, holding her hand and pulling her into my chest. “But you can watch him suffer.”
Now that all this is over, I turn to Matteo. “Kill James and Marcus.”
Chapter thirty-one
Dominic
Two Weeks Later
We enter the grand restaurant, and I immediately feel my chest tighten at the eyes that turn to us. Tonight is supposed to be perfect. I want it to be perfect.
Placing my hand on the small of her back, I gently guide her through the ground floor. Her heels click against the marble floor, and I know the heads that turn are the ones of men who would risk it all just because of her curves. She might not know or believe the effect she has on men, especially when she’s dressed so sexy and has more confidence, but I know it damn well.
The burn in my chest grows stronger. “They’re staring.”
“I-it’s fine, Dominic.”
Of course. It’s what she says every time men leer at the curves I’d die to protect.
“It’s not.”
When she came out of the room in her short, red gown that curves her body perfectly and reveals more cleavage than I want, I knew it would cost a great deal to put my temper in check.
I wave over the manager, who scurries toward me like a rat in a suit. He’s aware something big is going down tonight, and fuck did I want it to be just us. But Matteo had said our appearance in public would do good in mitigating the narrative that stemmed from the AI video.
“Clear the entire building in five minutes. Everyone, except the chef and violinist.” The manager nods quickly, then bolts.
The stunned look Bella gives me only makes me pull her closer to me.
“Dom—” she starts to whisper harshly, but I press a kiss to her temple.
“I don’t share, Princess. Tonight it’s only us.”
Relief floods my chest when she doesn’t push it. The last thing I want is to sour her mood before…
I resume my walk, my chest much lighter as I see the people file out, some with groans of protest.
