Page 16 of Ruined

His brow furrowed. “Why?”

I had to get the fuck out of here.

Dominic took a slow step back, his face cracking with an evil grin.

“Oh.” He exhaled a soft laugh. “Oh my God.”

“Enough, Dom.”

His laughter deepened, rolling through the room like thunder, and he ran a hand through his thick hair.

“Little boy Luca. Thinking of playing dress up? A trophy for killing me…or a memento for when you jerk it to me at night?”

“You think everyone wants to hop on your dick?”

“Only you, sweetheart.” He held up the cufflinks. “This isn’t hate. This isobsession.”

Yes, Dominic dropped into my thoughts often. Wasn’t that normal? People hated their bosses. He was worse than some asshole boss. He held my future in his hands—one good word from Dom and I’d be back in the family—trusted and respected and…

Loved?

Not possible. No one loved me. They used me. Traded me for leverage against competing families. Hunted me down like a dog for murdering the Pakhan.

The only way forward was through Dom. The only life I could have and future that belonged to me byrightandnameand the hell I’d paid for fourteen years living in the Bratva.

And he had me fetching sandwiches.

Calling me at his beck and whim at all hours of the night. Abusing who I was meant to be in some fucking political feud that controlled my fate without giving me the slightestchoicein what I wanted do.

How I could help better the business.

How I could finally fitintothe family.

He crouched in front of me. “What is it, Luca? Why do you have these in your pocket?”

I didn’t take the cufflinks because I wanted to keep them. No. They were leverage, a reminder of who I dealt with. Dominic lived for power. He had it etched into every damn thing he owned, right down to his initials. Stealing them meant nothing.

Dominic’s eyes sparkled. “What were you going to do once I was gone? Pretend you didn’t get off on me?”

“You’re insane.”

“Sweetheart, you can’t stop staring at me like you don’t know whether to kiss me or kill me.”

My whole body went rigid. “Fuck you.”

He smiled wickedly. “You keep saying that, but I don’t think you’d survive it.”

I turned my head, trying to put some distance between us, but he caught my jaw. Fuck. I had no way out. I wasn’t nervous because he was shirtless. Not at all. My gaze flicked down, catching on the sharp lines of his torso.

Stop looking at him.

Dominic chuckled. “The more you fight, the more obvious it gets.”

“I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”

“Would’ve had a better shot if you hadn’t hiddenin the closet.”

A black fear swept through me.

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