Chapter 7

Dominic Castellano The emptiness beside me in bed was the first blow. I opened my eyes slowly, my head pounding from the excess of whiskey the night before, and the first thing I noticed was her absence. The sheets still carried her scent—a light, sweet perfume mixed with the lingering aroma of sex that still clung to the room. But she was gone. No note, no name, no trace. A low growl escaped my throat as I ran my hand over the cold sheets. She had the audacity to leave. Every other woman stayed. Always. They woke up before me just to watch me sleep, waiting for any scrap of attention. But her? She disappeared as if last night had meant nothing. I sat up in bed, trying to pull every detail of her from my memory. The way her hair fell over her shoulders, the way her red lips parted slightly, the way she gave herself to me without hesitation—yet without submission. She didn’t bow. She didn’t beg. She simply… took. And then she left, as if *I* had been nothing more than a fleeting moment in *her* night. Anger flared in me like fire in my veins. The mirror beside the bed was the first to pay for it. With a single punch, shards of glass scattered across the floor. My breathing was heavy, my fists clenched. Who the hell did she think she was? I stood up, ignoring the pain in my bloodied hand, kicking a chair in the process. I needed to find her. Needed to know who she was. Needed… My phone vibrated on the nightstand. I grabbed it impatiently, and when I saw the name on the screen, my jaw tightened. One of my father’s watchdogs. I took a deep breath before answering. " Speak. " I muttered. "Dominic, you need to come home. Now. There are urgent matters to handle. " I rolled my eyes and ran a hand through my hair. " I already did my part. Three fucking years in that prison for him. I don’t owe him anything anymore. " " If you don’t come, those years behind bars will have been for nothing. And you know it. " I remained silent for a moment. My blood was still boiling because of that mysterious woman, but if I ignored this call, I knew my father would make my life a living hell. " I’m on my way. " I growled. I ran a hand over my face, taking a deep breath. First, I would deal with the family business. Then… I would find that woman. No matter what it took. I hung up the phone forcefully, my fingers tightening around the device as if I could crush the irritating voice on the other end of the line. My jaw ached from how tense it was, and the bitter taste of frustration still lingered in my mouth. What the hell did my father want now? I had already done my part. I spent three years in that filthy cell, rotting like a damn prisoner, all to protect the empire he was so proud to command. Three years swallowing hatred, wasting time, watching everything from inside a cage while he remained out there, playing chess with lives as if they were disposable pieces. And now, he wanted me back. Wanted me to crawl to him like a well-trained dog, as if I still owed him something. I ran a hand down my face, trying to shake off the fury vibrating inside me. But it was useless. My entire body was tense, fists clenched, and all I wanted was to break something. I knew how he played. If he was calling, it meant something big was happening. Something only I could fix. The question was: what would it be this time? A betrayal within the family? A deal falling apart? Or maybe… another death sentence for me to carry on my back? My father didn’t make invitations. He summoned. And those who didn’t answer paid the price. I scoffed, kicking a chair out of the way. I’d handle this shit. I’d find out what he wanted and then decide whether or not I’d play along with his expectations. But first… First, I needed information about that woman. The woman who ran from me as if we had never touched. As if she had felt nothing. As if she were just another name on my list of conquests. But she wasn’t. She was different. And not because she was difficult or because she had left without a name or a number. But because I missed her in a way that shouldn’t be possible. She had gotten into me. Into my mind. Under my skin. And now she was mine. She just didn’t know it yet. But soon… soon she would. I picked up the phone again and dialed a number only a few people had. When the line connected, I got straight to the point: " I have a job for you. I need you to find someone. At any cost. " On the other end, the voice sounded intrigued. "Name? " I ran my tongue over my lips, still tasting her there, the ghost of last night lingering. " If I knew, I wouldn’t need you. But you’ll find her. I won’t accept any other answer. "