Page 61 of Ruined By the Enemy
It could’ve been for anybody else. I would’ve taken being attracted to a random man from a one-night stand with a terrible sense of humor who lives halfway across the world.
Not Domenico.
It goes against everything I know and everything I should feel, and there’s no logical reason behind it, either.
Other than the shrinking space between us and the silence that settles like a weight in the center console.
Maybe it’s because I’m too close to him. It means admitting that I’m weak, but I’m willing to take anything at this point, as long as it’ll cure me of this madness.
“That’s it,” I mutter under my breath. Space. I need to withdraw and reassess. I can’t do that when he’s watching my every move and dictating everything I do.
“Sophie.”
He says my name so softly it almost blends with the sound of the wind through the half-open window, so gentle I nearly convince myself I imagined it. Until I feel his gaze, heavy and unflinching, land on me.
I turn toward him instinctively, but he’s already looking away, eyes back on the road like nothing happened.
“You were fine until we pulled up at the winery.” He glances at me then—just a flick of his eyes, but it catches. “Is there something I should know?”
The question hangs between us. It’s not an order, and it doesn’t feel like an interrogation, either. If he weren’t sitting next to me, I’d assume it was someone who cared about my answer.
“Nothing,” I say tersely as I curl my fingers in my lap. “It reminded me of something else, that’s all. I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“Okay,” he nods.
The conversation ends there, but as I turn to the window like I did hours ago, I can’t help but wish that he were someone else.
But he’s not.
Even so, it doesn’t dull the ache in my chest that threatens to self-sabotage everything I’ve worked for.
Chapter Sixteen
Sophie
The glass of wine in my hand is warm, and the stem slick beneath my fingers from where I’ve been holding it too long.
The kitchen is quiet—tooquietfor my thoughts. I thought Dom booked a hotel, but we ended up at a villa nearby.
Outside the window, soft and golden vineyard lights flicker in the distance, but they might as well be a world away. I bring the rim of the glass to my lips, pause, then lower it again.
My thumb drifts to the edge of my index finger, and before I realize it, I’m biting the skin around my cuticle. I press too hard, tasting copper before I stop.
Beside me, my phone sits on the counter, facedown and silent.
I’ve tried calling my uncle at least a dozen times, but every attempt has gone straight to voicemail. There have been no callbacks, no messages, and nothing.
I’m past my anger now.
What I need to know is what he wants me to do. It’s evident that Dom has some agenda on the vineyard, and since my uncle didn’t sell as he said, he’s in control.
Just like One Construction.
I need to know what he intends to do with my parents’ vineyard and if he’ll use me as a pawn to secure his interests again.
I exhale shakily as my fist curls at my side, jaw clenched so hard it aches.Maybe I’m not past the anger.
“How could I be?” I mutter under my breath, pushing away from the counter. My steps echo softly as I pace the kitchen, arms crossed tightly over my chest like they’re the only thing holding me together.
