Chapter 53
Dominic POV
Come the next morning, Dominic found himself wrestling with a storm of complicated emotions, something he hadn't experienced in a very long time.
Alek’s proposal regarding Gianna had lingered stubbornly in his mind all night, along with his conversation afterwards with Aurora. Both had taken root deep in his mind, becoming even more entangled within each other the longer the night stretched on.
Dominic had always prided himself on keeping emotional attachments at bay. A habit he'd meticulously honed since losing his mother.
Yet somehow, Aurora had managed to infiltrate his defenses effortlessly, quietly slipping past his carefully constructed walls even without actively trying. She'd awakened parts of him he'd thought long dead and buried.
Now, standing by the large windows of the luxurious suite, Dominic stared out at the gray city below not knowing which road to take. Which path at the fork to travel down and which consequence to take on as a result.
He should have jumped on Alek's offer—erasing the debt owed to the Bratva would alleviate a significant burden. The terms were more than fair, perhaps even generous and yet, Dominic couldn't erase the image of Aurora's stricken face at the mere thought of handing Gianna over to a Russian mob boss.
Imagining the grief and anger that would surely ripple through her tightened Dominic’s chest painfully.
This was not the way a man in his position, heir to a soon-to-be mafia empire, should be behaving. Decisions needed to be clinical, ruthless and advantageous. Feelings and sentimentality would only weaken him. Dominic had lived by these principles for years, and they had served him well.
But now Aurora had changed everything.
Soon, Aurora would officially become his wife and with that looming event came unexpected thoughts he’d never entertained before. Dominic had always understood marriage as nothing more than a transaction. A way to ensure heirs and stabilize alliances.
His father had drilled that reality into him from the moment he'd been old enough to comprehend it.
Yet, now the thought of Aurora at his side felt… different.
He envisioned shared meals, entertaining conversations, laughter echoing through the halls of his estate he’d eventually take over. He saw Aurora’s gentle eyes warming with happiness rather than clouded by fear or anger.
The idea of being present for his children’s upbringing surprised Dominic the most.
Being a father had always been an abstract role to him, something distant and eventual. Having heirs was expected. But being a dad? Dominic hadn’t expected to desire such an intimate connection.
Beneath it all he found a longing for companionship. For a partner who stood by his side, someone whose opinion mattered deeply, someone who challenged him and supported him equally.
Aurora was beginning to fill that void, piece by piece.
“Fuck,” Dominic muttered quietly, raking his fingers through his hair.
How could he possibly focus on the cutthroat politics required to expand and maintain his empire if his heart insisted on getting tangled up in his marriage? How the hell was he supposed to systematically dismantle the Caruso’s empire while simultaneously trying not to get Aurora caught up in the process?
It was an impossible balancing act.
A soft knock at the door interrupted his spiraling thoughts.
“Come in,” Dominic called, pulling himself together as Romero stepped into the room, ever the picture of calm professionalism.
“Good morning,” Romero greeted him as he studied Dominic’s restless stance. “Troubled?”
Dominic shook his head slightly, though the gesture wasn't particularly convincing. “Just thinking.”
Romero, perceptive as ever, paused before speaking. “Still about Alek’s proposal?”
Dominic sighed heavily, turning to face his trusted advisor fully. “Among other things.”
Romero nodded knowingly. “Such as?”
He’d never been one to press unnecessarily, always letting Dominic speak at his own pace. But today was different, Dominic realized. This decision carried weight he couldn't easily dismiss.
“I've been thinking about what you’ve said,” Dominic replied. “Handing Gianna over… It’s not going to be easy. Her father will burn down half the city before letting Alek take her. She may be staying at the safehouse for now but that doesn’t mean they don’t keep in constant contact. Her suddenly going silent would alert him immediately.”
Romero nodded. “Right. Exactly. I don’t think it’s worth it.”
Dominic’s jaw clenched tightly. “The problem is… I have a feeling Alek will want Gianna regardless of us telling him it’s an impossible request.”
“You could propose a counteroffer,” Romero suggested. “Something that still benefits Alek without provoking the Carusos.”
Dominic considered it, nodding slowly as he mulled it over. It seemed like the only feasible path forward—a compromise that allowed him to keep Aurora’s trust intact, Gianna back in the States, and a Russian mob boss off his back.
At least for now.
“Arrange a meeting with Alek,” Dominic instructed. “We’ll go speak with him once he agrees.”
Hours later, Dominic found himself once more within Alek’s sprawling mansion. The bratva leader greeted him with a warm smile, though his eyes remained calculating and watchful as ever.
“Alek,” Dominic greeted, settling into a plush chair opposite of him. “I’ve thought extensively about your offer regarding Gianna.”
He raised a brow, leaning forward in his chair with a rather animated expression. “And?”
“I don’t believe handing Gianna over will be possible. The consequences outweigh the benefits. Unfortunately, it could trigger a war neither of us needs. Especially now that my family is rebuilding itself.”
He stared at Dominic for a long moment, his eyes slowly hardening as the seconds ticked on. Disappointment was clearly etched across his features, yet he remained composed. “I see.”
Dominic inclined his head once. “But I do have a counterproposal that may suit both our needs.”
Alek tilted his head, his expression thoughtful but difficult to read fully. “I'm listening.”
Dominic outlined his alternative: promising him a bride from another family. One not so closely linked to his own and who the Guerreros would have no problem squashing any backlash should it happen.
“I will think about this,” Alek finally conceded.
Dominic didn’t respond, merely nodded politely before standing, signaling an end to their meeting. Romero stood with him, his expression unreadable.
Once outside, Romero spoke quietly. “I doubt he’ll actually agree to the alternative. His face suggested he wasn’t impressed. We’ll most likely end up on the original agreement.”
Dominic nodded once, sliding into the driver’s side of their rental. Once their doors were shut and the engine was turned over, he spoke again. “I suppose all things considered, it wasn’t a bad deal to begin with.”
“Yes. Perhaps in the future, we can try to renegotiate again. After you take over the family and have more leverage to use.
Perhaps that would be the case.
Or, perhaps Alek would end up making Dominic regret his choice to work with him altogether.
Unfortunately, only time would tell.
