The morning after the penthouse celebration, the empire's pulse never slowed. Dominic remained in the penthouse, overseeing operations, while his team moved through the city like shadows, executing precise missions. Elena was at his side, calm, focused, a predator in her own right.
Dominic's rivals had been probing his operations, and intelligence indicated that a critical parcel—a ledger of contacts and assets—was located inside a heavily guarded camp.
Mark, Jay, Tobias, and Rocco had been tasked with retrieving It . The location was dangerous — territory that had been hostile since Kane's escape. Dominic had stayed behind, entrusting the operation entirely to his men."Mark, report every detail,retreat when necessary. kill or be killed "Dominic said over the encrypted line, his voice smooth, commanding. Elena's hand rested lightly on his arm, a subtle reminder that even in this world, intimacy could coexist with power.
The operation began smoothly. The recruits moved through the enemy's perimeter under mark's guidance.with calculated steps,Jay, taller and sharper than most, took the lead, scanning for threats. Mark followed closely, cautious, analyzing every shadow. Tobias and Rocco flanked, covering every angle.
But then Mark noticed something ,movement that wasn't supposed to be there. "Jay… we're being watched," he whispered into the comms.
Jay's eyes flashed with determination, maybe even arrogance. "I see them. I can handle it."
"No. Retreat. We're compromised," Mark warned, tension creeping into his voice. "This isn't worth your life."
Jay ignored him. He charged into the shadows, risking everything to reach the parcel. Bullets ricocheted, dust and debris exploding around them. The air smelled of gunpowder, tension, and wet earth.
Mark cursed, covering behind a wall, trying to provide backup. Tobias and Rocco held position, calculating the risk.
By the time Jay emerged, clutching the parcel, he was bloodied, cuts on his arms, a shallow gash across his cheek. But he had succeeded. Mission accomplished — but recklessness had nearly cost him everything.
Back at the penthouse, Dominic's phone buzzed. Mark's voice was tense, clipped: "Parcel secured… but Jay went off-script. He shouldn't have taken that risk. He could've died."
Dominic's jaw tightened. His fingers drummed against the mahogany desk. The flashback hit like a punch.
***Flashback – Dominic, Age 19***
He was younger then, arrogant, headstrong. Dominic had ignored every warning, every rule, driven by his heart and the naive belief that he could navigate danger. Isabella ,the girl he loved had been the reason. Her eyes, her smile, the thrill of forbidden love.
"Dominic… don't go," his father, Alessandro Moretti, had said, his voice heavy with authority and fear. "She's not who she appears to be. Don't sneak out tonight."
"Dad, I know what I'm doing," Dominic had argued.
His sister, Valerie, older and sharper, had stepped in, locking him in his room. "You're not leaving. Not tonight. If you do… you're on your own."
But Dominic had been unstoppable. Improvised ropes, a window latch, the thrill of rebellion — he slipped through the estate like a shadow, unaware of the danger that lurked. Two men trailed him, meant to protect him from the trap he didn't yet realize.
By the time he met Isabella at the rendezvous point, the truth hit. Tattoos, insignias, the unmistakable mark of the Trevor Gang. "Surprise, Dominic," she had whispered. And in that instant, betrayal and love collided violently in his chest.
The men tailing him engaged the assailants, one shot, one barely escaping, blood slicking the cobblestones. His parents, alerted too late, mobilized their own men. The estate became a battlefield. Gunfire, flames, screams.
Valerie appeared like a storm, her strategy precise, her bravery unyielding. She saved Dominic, but not without cost — a bullet took her eye. Both siblings were rushed to the hospital, alive, but forever changed. Valerie's words had echoed, cutting deeper than any wound:
"This is the last act of kindness I'll ever do for you."
End Flashback
Dominic leaned back in his chair, the memory raw, jagged. Jay's recklessness mirrored his own past arrogance. His jaw clenched. No one under his command would endanger themselves like that — not without consequence.
When the team returned, bruised and exhausted, Dominic's gaze fell on Jay. "You risked everything for pride. For nothing. Stand up."
Jay met his eyes, chest heaving. Respect, fear, and admiration mingled in the glance, but Dominic didn't soften.
"You're lucky this time. But luck isn't a strategy. You understand me?"
"Yes, sir," Jay replied, steadying himself.
Elena, watching from the side, felt a flicker of pride and concern. The bond between Dominic and his recruits was harsh, unyielding, but necessary. And yet… she knew that the memory that haunted him could shape everything to come.
As Dominic dismissed them, he sank into the penthouse chair, Elena moving beside him, brushing a hand along his arm. The scent of roses, the warmth of her presence — it was a fragile comfort against the storm of memory, duty, and the empire he controlled.
For a moment, he allowed himself to simply breathe. But the shadow of Kane, the mole, and the past's relentless echo meant the calm would never last .
Jay's recklessness had left a scar deeper than any physical wound — a reminder that even the most loyal could falter. Dominic's phone vibrated. Mark's voice, clipped and urgent:
"Sir… Kane's been spotted near the East district. Surveillance picked him up moving with heavy support. Looks like he's consolidating forces. He might be planning an offensive."
Dominic's eyes narrowed. "He's waiting… testing us." His gaze drifted to Elena. "Prepare the team. I want everyone ready, full gear. No mistakes."
Elena's lips curved into a sharp, confident smile. "They won't know what hit them."