Chapter 82

Aurora POV

Dominic’s words hit me like a fist to the gut.

My head snaps up from where I’ve been staring down at my lap, every nerve in my body growing tense.

Did he actually mean that? Would he protect me even if it meant putting his own life on the line?

My traitorous heart thumps hard in my chest at the possibility, at the hope that suddenly rises in my chest. Could I have been wrong about Dominic? Had I been letting myself be fooled by the enemy into believing lies?

“You’re not getting half the city.” Dominic says again.

“Then you are forfeiting the agreement. Aurora in exchange for our deal. That is off the table.”

“Yes.”

I don’t even know what part of what he just said breaks me the most—maybe it’s not the single word along but the finality in his voice. The lack of hesitation. The clear, unapologetic dismissal of any chance of him taking me out of this nightmare like I’d foolishly hoped for seconds ago.

Well… I’ve finally gotten my answer. Dominic will never change.

All the wondering, all the back and forth, all the confusion and second-guessing over my own emotions and decisions that I’ve tortured myself with since the day I ran to Mexico to escape this life.

All of it clicks into place now.

Dominic Guerrero doesn’t care about me.

He never did.

The reasons I ran away come rushing back to me in sharp, bitter waves.

I don’t even realize I’m holding my breath until Dominic stands up from the table, confirming his decision with denying the demand—fifty percent of the city and direct access to his inner circle.

It’s a line he won’t cross, not even for my sake. While there is still a small part of me that wants to believe he’s doing it to protect me, that he’s resisting because he can’t let Alek win… that illusion is gone now.

He’s not doing this for me.

He’s doing it because he won’t let anyone else take what’s his. He won’t let anyone else have control even if it means watching me be dragged away again, never to be seen or heard from.

My eyes burn, but I don’t let the tears fall, especially not in front of Dominic. I bite down on the inside of my cheek until I taste blood, hoping the sting will ground me and keep me steady until I’m back at Alek’s rental where I can cry in the shower in peace.

Alek rises beside me. “Let’s go.”

I don't even hesitate when Alek gestures for me to follow. Dominic reaches for me then, maybe to stop me or to say something else, but I pull away without meeting his eyes and follow Alek out of the room and into the hallway.

It’s easier this way. Safer.

At least Alek’s always been honest about what he wants from me.

The silence in the car is suffocating as we drive back to the rental. The engine hums softly, the tinted windows casting the inside of the cab in a faint shadow. I watch as the hotel disappears from view, that final image of Dominic standing there burned into my mind.

He didn’t fight for me. He didn’t even try.

I press my hands to my thighs to keep them from shaking.

“Well, that did not go as I expected.” Alek notes after a while, glancing at me. His tone is lighter now, almost casual, a far cry from how annoyed he had been towards the tail end of the meeting.

He sounds like we’re two old friends catching up and not kidnapper and captive.

“Guess so,” I murmur.

“He is quite stubborn. More so than I expected. Has he always been that way?”

I don’t answer.

Alek smirks like he already knows. “I will take that as a yes. Why in the world would you involve yourself with a man like him, hm? Seems quite self-destructive.”

I should be angry at him for saying that, for trying to twist the knife but the thing is… he’s not wrong. That hurts more than anything, the truth always does.

“I thought about your offer,” I say, changing the subject before I lose control of the tears I’m still swallowing back. “And how we can go about it. If we can make it look like I’ve somehow escaped, he’ll believe it. He’s… I think he thinks I belong to him. He won’t give up anything valuable to get me back but that doesn’t mean he won’t take the offer if I present it to him.”

Alek goes quiet, his head tilted just enough to catch my attention out of the corner of my eye. “I see. How interesting he’s willing to have you when you are free of charge but digs his heels in when he has to pay. Quite the harsh negotiator, no? ”

I meet his gaze, this time without flinching. “Dominic only accepts deals if he has the upper hand. If you want this plan to work, you’ll have to make it look convincing. He’s not going to be convinced otherwise.”

His brows lift, genuine surprise flickering across his face. “Are you suggesting I have my men beat you?”

“What other idea do you have that can make this look believable? He isn’t a stupid man,” I tell him flatly.

“You’re sure?” he asks, and I can see he’s trying to gauge whether this is real or just some elaborate ploy. Can’t say I blame him. In his world, trust is a currency more valuable than gold and I’m asking him to give it to me without a second thought.

“Yes,” I say. “I’m sure.”

There’s a beat of silence between us. Then Alek smiles, and it’s slow, calculating. “You strike quite the bargain, Aurora. But I will agree to your terms. I will have my men… rough you up and then send you to Dominic. Once you establish a connection with him, we will get to work.”

After nodding and turning to look out the window as the city streets pass us by, I try not to let my thoughts drift back to Dominic but it’s impossible. I keep thinking about the way he looked at me when he realized I had joined Alek for the meeting; how there had been a touch of humanity within those dark eyes of his, the linger speck of softness I had gotten so used to before everything went to shit.

Now I wonder if that was just another manipulation. Another trick to soften me up so I’d stay quiet while he made his moves on Alek.

God, how could I be so stupid?

I don’t even know what’s worse—the fact that I believed he might’ve cared for me, or the fact that I still want to believe it, even now. But I can’t afford that kind of hope anymore. Not here, not now.

Not with everything that’s on the line.

I lean my head back against the seat, shutting my eyes. I’m done being the pawn. I’m done letting my heart get in the way of what needs to be done.

Let Dominic chase his revenge. Let him cling to whatever empire he’s trying to build. I’m building something of my own now.

And this time, no one is going to stop me.