Page 299 of Hate Mates

He didn’t answer immediately, his lips curling into a pure mischief smile, yet something darker lingered beneath it. “Oh, Isabella,” he murmured, his voice dropping slightly, as if daring me to feel it. “You are hereonlyfor me.”

The silence stretched, charged with more than just his words. It was impossible to ignore how close he was now, how every part of me seemed to crave more than just the smoke in my lungs. But I had a mission, I thought, as his hand traced my hip and pulled me impossibly close. His breath was warm against my face, sending a shiver down my spine. My heart beat louder in my chest, drowning out every rational thought I had left. But no. I couldn’t.

The family came first. Always.

Focus, I chastised myself, though it felt more like a plea. “I should get back inside.”

He chuckled softly, the sound low and dangerous. His hand slid from my hip to the small of my back, pressing me closer. “Are you sure?” he murmured against my ear, his voice smooth like velvet, teasing, coaxing.

I could barely breathe. I knew what he wanted, whatweboth wanted. But one wrong move, one slip-up, and everything would come crashing down. I pulled away just enough to catch his gaze.

I wasn’t sure if I was pleading for him to stop or daring him to push me further. To give me a reason to be reckless.

His eyes held mine, dark and filled with something unreadable, like a storm threatening to break. But he didn’t push. Instead, he smirked, his thumb grazing my jawline, and for a moment, everything froze.

I didn’t know what would happen next, but I couldn’t deny that a part of me, the part that had been buried under layers of responsibility and duty to always do what’s right. To be the good one, wanted to let go.

Wanted to see where this would lead.

To find out if the stories about him were true—if he really was as dangerous as they said. To taste the Dominic Saviano.

But I couldn’t afford to lose myself. Not when so much was at stake.

“Arrivederci, Isabella,” he whispered before releasing me, sauntering back inside as if nothing had ever happened. I exhaled a shaky breath, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. What just happened?

I leaned against the railing, trying to compose myself, but my hands trembled. He was right about one thing: I hadn't seen that coming.

THREE

Dominic

Stay focused, Dominic.There were rules—rules I couldn’t afford to break. Not now.

But damn, I wanted to.

And for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t sure which fire would burn me first—the one I was playing with... or the one that threatened to consume me whole.

I sat at the long mahogany table, my father at the head, his presence commanding the space like a king with his throne. Around us were the usual players—the suits, the power brokers, the ones who whispered deals in shadows. His fingers drummed lightly on the table. Carlos Deluca locked eyes with me. He was always probing, always hunting for a weakness. And I knew that look.

His voice cut through the quiet and lethal. “So, Dominic,” he said, leaning forward, his eyes never leaving mine, “the shipment’s delayed. Word on the street says there’s been some...interference.”

I clenched my jaw, letting the words sink in. He was baiting me, trying to find a crack in the wall. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction.

“It’s just a minor delay,” I answered, my voice calm, but the edge in my tone was sharper than a blade.

Carlos’ lips curved into that all-too-familiar, predatory smile. “I see. But we can’t afford delays, can we, Dominic? Not when the Deluca’s have invested so much in our little arrangement.”

I could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air, like a hand on my throat, squeezing just enough to make me feel the pressure. My father shifted in his chair, his dark eyes flicking over to me, a silent warning. He didn’t need to say anything. He never did.

“We have it under control,” I said again, louder this time, my voice carrying through the room, firm, unshaken. “Everything’s fine. It’ll be sorted by next week.”

Carlos leaned back, his gaze unwavering, a glimmer of doubt in his eyes, but only for a second. He knew I wasn’t lying. Still, he couldn’t resist pushing.

“Well, I hope so, Dominic,” he drawled, his eyes narrowing. “After all, in this world, timing is everything. One mistake, one slip, and... well, we all know what happens.”

The threat was implied, but I didn’t flinch. I could feel my father’s eyes on me, and I knew exactly what he was thinking. Every moment I spent in this room was another step toward solidifying my place in this world, my dominance. Weakness wasn’t an option, no matter how close to the edge I was right now.

“Everything’s in place,” I said, not letting Carlos see a damn thing. I kept my tone even, my gaze steady. “You have my word.”

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