Chapter 46
Dominic POV
The moment Dominic saw the bruises on Aurora’s body, something inside him snapped.
He’d already hated Francesco Caruso, that part wasn’t new, but hate alone had never been enough to justify an all-out war—not while they were still playing nice under the guise of alliances for the sake of bidding time.
Francesco was a piece on the board Dominic had tolerated for strategic purposes. Disposable, yes, but useful for a time.
Now that time had run out.
Looking down at the scrawled notes spread across the desk in his office, Dominic realized his plans for the Caruso family’s downfall would need to be accelerated. Dramatically.
He didn’t need to see another mark on Aurora to know what kind of monster her father was and how foolish it had been taking her away from the safety of the safehouse and giving her back over to her family. At the time, he believed he was doing what was best—giving Aurora back the comforts of her home she’d been stripped from instead of keeping her in a place she was unfamiliar with.
However, clearly that had been a colossal wrong move. One he rectified immediately the second she’d gotten cleaned up and changed into a fresh set of clothes.
Seeing the shame in her eyes when she tried to hide those marks on her was all the confirmation he needed to start taking out the Carusos one-by-one.
He reached for his phone and dialed without hesitation. It rang once before Romero answered.
“We’re starting early,” Dominic said.
Romero didn’t ask what he meant. “The Carusos?”
“He laid hands on her. Beat her enough that he’s lucky no bones broke.”
A beat of silence. Then: “Understood. I’ll be there in twenty.”
By the time Romero arrived at the penthouse, Dominic already had a partial work-up sketched out: names of Caruso enforcers who could be bought, potential vulnerabilities in their security, shipping routes they used that could be sabotaged to scatter them like rats.
The plan was skeletal, but it would take form quickly once it got going.
Romero didn’t speak for a while as he reviewed the notes. “If we start this now, we won’t have time to isolate each piece like before. It could cause a war if we’re not careful.”
“I don’t care,” Dominic said. “We end him before the wedding.”
Poetic, really, to have both their fathers die at a wedding. Perhaps Aurora really was a black widow in the making.
Romero gave a slow nod, clearly seeing it as useless to argue when he could see the state Dominic was in. “Alright.”
They dropped Aurora off at the safehouse an hour later. Dominic didn’t want her anywhere near the chaos to come. As much as it bothered him to leave her somewhere out of his sight, it was the only way to keep her safe, especially now that Francesco would soon be marked for death.
She hadn’t asked where he was going but he could see the worry in her eyes, the unease that came from knowing exactly what he was capable of. She was smart enough to know there would be blood in the water soon.
And yet, she didn’t try to stop him.
By the time they pulled up to the private airport hangar, Dominic had switched gears again back to the armor he wore in public: composed and in control.
The jet touched down right on schedule, two figures descended the stairs moments later—one in a leather jacket, the other in a tailored trench coat, both with grins that were equal parts charm and menace.
“Dom!” Luca called, dropping his bags onto the tarmac in order to run over to him and sweep him into a tight, back-slapping hug. “You bastard, it’s been too long.”
Dominic could only grunt in response.
“Ten years, give or take,” Marco added, stepping in next and pulling Dominic in for a similarly aggressive greeting. “Ah, Romero. It’s nice to see you out of your care for once.”
“Ha.” Was his response.
“Nice flight?” Dominic asked as they grabbed their bags again, following him over to the car parked a few feet away.
“Long,” Luca groaned. “Not to mention Marco wouldn’t stop flirting with the stewardess.”
Marco smirked at his brother. “What can I say? We don’t all go domestic the second we land.”
Dominic rolled his eyes, motioning for Romero to open the trunk. “Come on, hurry up. I didn’t invite you both here so you could screw half the city.”
“Ah, too bad.” Marco replied, giving him a jab in the ribs while opening the back passenger door. “Maybe on our days off, yeah?”
Dominic shoved him into the back of the cab.
Back at the safehouse, a room over from the one currently housing Aurora, Dominic pulled out a large file filled with maps, photographs, detailed instructions, payment forms and a coded agreement.
He walked them through it all—the assassination of his father by the bratva he’d hired, their thinly veiled alliance with the Carusos forged through Aurora, Matteo sniffing around Theo’s death, and now, Francesco’s beating of Aurora—which had pushed Dominic to set the entire Caruso family on a timer.
“I want him gone,” Dominic said, voice cold and final. “Before the wedding.”
Luca let out a low whistle. “Quite the interest in your future wife’s well-being. Congratulations. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Dominic raised a brow.
Luca gestured at the file. “I mean, come on. Taking out a major player like Francesco over a woman?”
“It’s not just a woman,” Marco teased. “His bride. I bet she’s as beautiful as she is sharp-tongued for taming our infamously hot-headed cousin.”
“I’m not tamed,” Dominic growled.
Luca laughed. “Sure, sure. That is what they all say.”
Marco snorted, jabbing his brother in the ribs. “Give it a year and he’ll be cutting crusts off her sandwiches.”
Dominic’s voice dropped into a warning growl. “Enough. Both of you.”
The twins exchanged looks but fell into line quickly. Smart of them to do so with Dominic patience already wearing thin.
“Alright,” Luca said, mock-saluting. “What do you need us to do first?”
Dominic folded the papers back into the folder. “You’ll be babysitting.”
Marco blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. I am going to be sending a car to the Caruso’s estate in order to take Aurora’s friend. She’ll be brought back here and staying, along with Aurora, at the safe house until further notice. You’ll stay with them, keep them protected until Romero and I get back. We’re heading underground to gather resources. I don’t want anything slipping through while I’m gone.”
“Wait,” Luca said, squinting. “This feels like a trap. You are trusting us with your woman?”
“Yes and don’t make me regret it,” Dominic said flatly.
“We will be sure to treat her with the same kindness you treat us with.”
Dominic sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Just behave. Don’t hit on them. Don’t scare them. And for the love of God, don’t let them out of your sight.”
“Yes boss,” Luca saluted. “Babysitters it is.”
Marco groaned. “I left Italy to put bullets in people, not to make sure a spoiled mafia princess doesn’t run off.”
“I’m trusting you with them because I know you’re capable,” he said. “Don’t make me regret it.”
Luca and Marco both straightened. “Understood.”
