Page 31

Dominico

Lily. She occupies my thoughts as I sit in a room full of testosterone, the heavy cloud of smoke hanging in the air. I usually enjoyed the stuffy sensation, like an invisible ghost sitting on my chest, threatening to steal my last breath. But not today. Today, I want to inhale vanilla and jasmine. Fuck.

“Enough. Push tonight's delivery out and find out the name of the night shift manager for the South Shore docks. Investigate his finances so we can estimate how much it will take to buy him. We will reroute part of the shipment there.”

Grumbles and nods are followed by a mass exit as the men make their way to the dining room, lunch long past due.

“You coming?” Nero asks, hovering in the doorway.

“Probably not when he hears that Lily is in the gym, taking self-defense lessons from Elio.” I squint at Dante, who laughs and raises his hands defensively.

“Don’t shoot the messenger. I merely watch the cameras.”

Fuck. Elio is my nephew. Our good looks run in the family, and he was no exception. Not to mention his charm. He could break up even the most stable relationship with just a flash of his winning smile.

Both men step aside as I storm out, Dante's laughter trailing behind me down the long corridor toward the gym at the other end of the mansion. When Matteo, stationed by the door, sees me, he mutters that he warned Elio this wasn’t a good idea, but you know how stubborn he can be and that no one listens to him.

I enter the gym, with him not far behind.

I follow the noise toward the back of the gym, to the mats. Elio has his arms around Lily, dressed in black tights and a cropped white T-shirt. He is holding her in a chokehold while explaining to her how to escape it. While she cannot see his expression, the smirk on his face reveals that he enjoys the interaction far more than I care for.

“Fuck,” Matteo mutters as I storm towards them.

Lily catches sight of me in the mirror as I approach, her eyes wide as I grab Elio around his neck, pulling him backwards so that he releases her.

She stumbles, almost losing her footing, but fortunately, Matteo is there to take her hand and steady her.

“You know me well, nephew. So how did you think this would be okay?” Instead of fear or even a hint of remorse, the fool dares to smile.

“Well, I haven’t sparred with you in ages, and I thought this was the best way to entice you. I was right.”

I tighten my grip on him, my height, size, and strength unmatched.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I wanted to learn. He was doing me a favor. Please don’t kill him. Please.”

Lily appears so distraught that we both burst into laughter, effectively easing my anger.

“He is my nephew and manages my shipments, so I won’t kill him. Yet. Butif he touches you again, I won’t be made a liar twice.” I release him from my grip, and he lands with a pleasant thud on the mat. He was fortunate to be an integral part of my operations, or else my threat to kill anyone who touches Lily would be fulfilled.

“Your nephew. Ahhh, I can see the resemblance. You two are both so…” She blushes as she looks from Elio to me, struggling for the words and trying not to offend me by saying that Elio is attractive. Now, I might actually have to kill him.

“So…striking,” she finishes, rubbing her palms against her tights as she gazes at me before looking away.

“Leave us.” Elio has already risen, and with a pat on my shoulder and a goodbye to Lily, he departs with Matteo, who shuts the gym doors behind them.

Lily squirms under my scrutiny.

“Do you recall what I said to you when that man was crouched before you, touching your leg?”

“You mean Dylan, the physiotherapist?”

“Yes,” I reply, advancing toward her as she retreats.

“That you would kill anyone who touched me,” she mumbles quietly, taking another step back as I move forward again.

“So you defied me. And I cannot kill my nephew, so I will have to find another way to punish you.”

“W-what do you mean?” Our game of advance and retreat ends as her back strikes the mirrored wall behind her, her hands pressing against it while her chest rises and falls rapidly—a workout without even having one.