Chapter 109

Aurora POV

I know it’s a bad idea the second I the words coming tumbling out of my mouth, but by the time I think to suck them back in, they’re already reaching Dominic’s ears.

“I need to see her. Face to face. She still isn’t answering my calls. I just want to make sure she’s alright. Can I—?”

I don’t even finish the question before Dominic’s eyes narrow. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not,” I say, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I want to see Gianna.”

We’re in his walk-in closet, if you can call a cavernous room lined with sleek black cabinetry a closet. He’s buttoning a crisp white shirt, every movement precise, the gold cufflinks at his wrists glint like warning signs under the warm lighting each time they flash at me.

Danger. Danger.

“I know she’s back with her father but her silence is really worrying me…” I trail off, twisting my hands together. “She may be mad but I have to try. Face to face may stop her from ignoring me.”

“You really think showing up uninvited at your family’s estate is going to fix anything?”

I frown. “I don’t know… But I can’t just sit here doing nothing. It’s driving me insane.”

His fingers pause mid-button. “She doesn’t want to see you, Aurora. That much has been made clear.”

“But—”

“No. Let it go. You don’t need her anyway.”

“Please?”

Silence stretches between us. He turns his head, his sharp profile illuminated in the full length mirror mounted on the wall near him. He turns slowly, the hard planes of his upper chest visible in the soft lighting.

His gaze pins me where I stand. “And if she refuses to talk to you? Then what?”

“Then at least I’ll know I tried.” My voice wavers, but I hold his stare.

He exhales, running a hand down his face. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m determined.” I correct.

A faint smirk tugs at his mouth.

“Coincidentally,” he says after a beat. “I’m being called there today too. A meeting between syndicates.”

Relief floods me. “So I can come?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Dominic—”

He steps closer, crowding my space, his hand tilting my chin up gently. “You’ll stay only as long as I’m there. Not a second later. Understand?”

“Yes.” I say it too quickly, too eagerly, but I really don’t care.

His thumb brushes my jaw. “If she hurts you again…”

“She won’t.”

He doesn’t look convinced but sighs anyway and lets me go. “Alright. Get ready and we’ll head out.”

The Caruso estate looms like a memory I’d rather forget.

I’m silent as Dominic pulls up the long drive. Behind us, Dominic’s men flank our car and park behind us once we reach the front steps. He steps out and walks over to my side, holding the door open for me and helping me out of the car.

Romero and Marco head over to us, giving us both a silent nod. Dominic leads us to the front doors, barely pausing when the doors are parted and we’re allowed inside. A few of my father’s staff are standing in the foyer, ready to greet us and take our things.

Dominic parts from me with a soft goodbye, leaving me alone while he, Romero and Marco disappear down one of the long hallways that lead to my father’s meeting room.

My feet move on their own, carrying me up the stairs to the second floor I once called home.

I don’t even recognize myself anymore when I pass one of the decorative mirrors mounted in the hallway.

Standing here in the Caruso estate, the place that once felt like a second home to me, my hands are clammy and my stomach is a tangle of knots. I run my hand along the wallpapered walls as I walk, like it’ll keep me steady.

I don’t know why I thought this was a good idea, coming here. But I couldn’t stay away. Not when Gianna still won’t answer my calls. Not when every unanswered text feels like a nail in the coffin of our friendship.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

I hear the sharp click of heels on marble before I see her.

Camilla.

Fuck. Of course it’s Camilla.

Her expression is pure venom when I turn to face her, her heels clicking sharply as she stalks toward me from down the hallway.

She grabs my arm the second I’m within reach, her nails biting into my skin.

Her hair is perfect as usual, cascading over her shoulders like a glossy magazine spread. Her red dress clings to her figure like it was sewn onto her body. And her expression—God, I’d know that sneer anywhere.

“Look what the cat dragged back. You’ve got some nerve showing your face around here. Weren’t you supposed to be in Timbuktu by now? I’m pretty sure I booked you two tickets.” She says, her voice dripping with venom.

I sigh. “Camilla—”

“Don’t ‘Camilla’ me.” She yanks me into an empty room nearby, shoving the door closed behind us. “You have no right to be here. You’re supposed to be on the other side of the damn globe. Why the hell did I see you come in here with Dominic?”

“I came to talk to Gianna,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm.

It’s only a matter of time before she freaks out. She thought she was going to be getting Dominic all to herself after I left the States. Once she realizes that’s not going to happen, it’s going to be World War three.

She scoffs. “Oh, I heard all about that. I know Gianna’s just dying to see the girl who betrayed her to some Russian businessman. Funny, I wasn’t aware you had outside contacts.”

I flinch but stand my ground. “This isn’t about you, Camilla. So can you please leave me alone?”

“Everything’s about me,” she snaps. Then her eyes narrow, catching sight of something down by my wrist. “What’s that?”

She grabs my left hand before I can pull it back and freezes. My engagement ring gleams under the light above us like a taunt.

Her face twists into something almost inhuman. “What… is this.”

I try to pull away. “Leave me alone.”

She tightens her grip on my hand, yanking it up to eye level once more. Her grip is like a vise. “Is this what I think it is? Oh my god… did Dominic give you this?”

I sigh. There’s no sense in lying about it now. She’s going to find out the truth eventually. “Yes.”

The word barely leaves my lips before she shrieks. “You bitch! You stole my man!”

I wince at her volume. “No, I didn’t—”

“Don’t you dare lie to me!” Her nails dig into my skin as she twists my hand painfully. “You’ve been sniffing around him from the start, I knew it! You lied and said you didn’t want him, but clearly that was all just some game to you! Always pretending you’re so fucking innocent, so helpless, but really you’re just a manipulative little leech!”

“Camilla, stop—”

“Take it off!” she practically roars. “That belongs to me!”

She claws at my fingers, trying to wrench the ring free. Panic flares in my chest as I yank my arm back from her but she’s stronger than I expected, fueled by something ugly and desperate.

Her fingers dig into my knuckles painfully while she yanks on my finger again, practically dislocating it. “This should’ve been mine! Dominic was supposed to be mine! I waited for him this whole time! I was patient! And you… you waltz in and steal everything that was meant for me!”

“Camilla, listen to yourself! You don’t even know him!”

“Shut up!” Her palm slams into my shoulder, shoving me back.

I stumble, my body hits the wall with a thud, the air rushes from my lungs. Anger suddenly boils inside of me. For the first time in my life, I want to get up and hit her right back.

The fight isn’t just about Dominic.

Actually, it never was.

This is about every snide comment she’s ever made to me growing up. Every time she reminded me I wasn’t my father’s favorite, that I was the outsider that happened to have the same last name as her only by default. That I was the one who didn’t belong here.

Back then, I used to cry into my pillow. Her endless insults hurled at me ringing in my ear until they nearly drove me insane.

I’m done taking shit from her though. I’m a grown adult with a backbone that I’m ready to finally use.

When she comes at me again, I shove her off me with every ounce of strength I have. “Get away from me!”

“You’ve always been a leech,” she hisses, swiping her hand toward my face. “Clinging to what isn’t yours. Well, not this time! I’ll rip that ring off your cold, dead, finger!”

The door suddenly flies open. “What the hell is going on here?”

Gianna’s voice cuts through the chaos like a blade.

She storms into the room, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Camilla, what the hell are you doing?”

“She stole Dominic from me! She stole everything!” Camilla’s voice is shrill, her face blotchy with rage.

“Get out.” Gianna demands.

“What?”

“Go back to your room!”

Camilla’s mouth opens then snaps shut. She lets out a furious sob and storms past Gianna, slamming the door behind her.

I nearly slump to the floor, my breathing ragged, my hands trembling in my lap. “Thank you.”

Gianna’s eyes flick to me. They’re cold and unforgiving. “Whatever.”

I flinch.

“Go home, Aurora,” she says flatly.

“I just wanted to—”

“I don’t care what you want. Go home. This isn’t the place for you anymore.”

I quickly straighten as she turns to leave, reaching for her before she can pass through the doorway again. “Please. Just hear me out. I can’t explain everything.”

She darts away from me before I can touch her, throwing me a sharp glare that cuts through me deeper than her slapping me had. “Go home.”

She turns on her heel, retreating out the door and down the hall without another word.