Page 122 of Filthy Dirty Dom

She lay in a pool of her own blood, a gruesome contrast to her snow-white dress. Her chestnut curls fanned out around her, soaked in scarlet, her lips parted in a silent plea. The images were etched deep in his memory. He hadn’t been there when she'd been attacked, hadn't been there to protect her, and the guilt had weighed him down ever since.

Then there was Nico. Loyal, courageous Nico, who'd been stabbed but dragged himself to Alex to warn him. His lifeless eyes had stared up at the night sky, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth and staining his shirt.

Now, he was staring at Alessio's lifeless body. His past was repeating itself and the fear was paralyzing, but he couldn't afford to freeze.

Leslie!

Please, let me not be too late again.

"Leslie!" he shouted, fear for her safety spurring him into action. He turned and sprinted back down the corridor, his heart pounding, his mind spinning with thoughts of what he would do if he were too late.

The door to their bedroom was open, and the sight made ice run through his veins. He’d told her to lock the door…

He made it to the open doorway. There, in the center of the room, stood a woman holding a knife to Leslie's throat. The blood drained from his face as recognition hit him.

The woman wasn't a stranger.

It was Livia, Mia's sister.

Her eyes met his, cold and devoid of emotion. "Hello, Alex," she said, her voice so sickeningly sweet it made his stomach churn.

Instantly, a cascade of realizations crashed over him like a tidal wave.

Livia was the traitor. The one who had sold them out years ago, leading to her own sister's death. She had been the serpent hiding in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

His mind raced, struggling to comprehend the depth of her betrayal.

Livia must have been the one who revealed their location on Caris after Nico had innocently let it slip to her, not knowing the danger he was putting them in.

He saw the twisted satisfaction in her eyes as she guessed what he was thinking. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. He needed to stay calm, for Leslie's sake. He couldn't let Livia see the storm of emotions raging within him.

In that moment, he promised himself he wouldn't let Livia hurt Leslie. He would do whatever it took to protect the woman he loved, even if it meant his own death. Livia had taken so much from him, but she wouldn't take Leslie. Not while he was still breathing.

"Why, Livia?" he asked, forcing his voice to remain steady despite the raging tempest inside him. "Why betray your own family?"

Livia smirked. She seemed to relish the opportunity to explain her actions. "I always felt like those in charge were too lenient, too weak. My family was soft, always putting their emotions before the needs of the business. I wanted power. Power I would have already had if I wasn’t a woman."

The way she spoke about it so casually, so matter-of-factly, was horrifying. She knew her actions had led to the death of Mia and Nico, and she didn't seem to care.

"Did you ever care about Mia and Nico?”

"The Family always comes first, and I mean the Big Family, not my direct one." Livia responded, her voice icy. "Mia and Nico were weak and needed to be rooted out.”

“Why were they weak? Because Mia wanted to be with me? To leave a life of crime behind so she could raise our child? And Nico….what did he do?”

“He sided with you! The man who killed our own.”

“Your own, your brothers, killed Mia.”

“Yes. But they were following orders. Mine. And I would have finally been given an important position, stood side by side by the men, if you and Luca hadn’t done what you did.”

“You mean avenge your sister?”

This was the woman who had caused so much pain, so much suffering, all because of her twisted notion of strength and weakness. She was truly a monster, capable of tearing her own family apart without a shred of remorse.

But he couldn't let his emotions get the best of him. He had to stay focused. He needed to buy more time, to figure out a way to get to Leslie before Livia could hurt her. And so, he kept Livia talking, hoping against hope that he could find a way to end this nightmare.

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