Page 115 of Dominance

He’s winning.

But something inside me snaps at his cool tone, his indifferent expression. It riles up a part of me that has been fighting tooth and nail to stay sane and lead a double life for months.

“And you will learn not to fuck with me,” I grit out.

“You want to play that game?” His nostrils flare, his gaze hammers into me.

“No. I’m done playinggames. I’m done being incumbent to a madman, let alone two. I’m done with being owned, financially or otherwise.”

For a fraction of a second, I see him waver, hesitate. I know the feeling. The screaming desire that I am desperately trying to smother in the back of my mind, and a heart that aches for him and what we have. What we had.

“You really didn’t know who he was, did you?”

“My mother tried to make damn sure of that, actually.”

“He will never let you go. It’s not in him to let a slight go unbalanced, unpunished.” That’s when I see it, that look in his eyes, the true dread hiding in Adriano’s soul. “Which is why I never expected to survive coming back. I only wanted to buy my brothers a life not running. Not being hunted.”

“So you throw your life away? Throw your older brother’s sacrifice away? For what? Who wins in that situation, Adriano?”

“No one wins Gloria. Ever. Not in this life.” His tone drops, chilly, empty.

“I cannot accept that. There has to be a way through. There has to be.” Because I can’t bear the thought of a world where my sister suffers. Where she doesn’t get to live out her dreams.

“He has no idea that you’re here, does he?” Adriano huffs, an incredulous look on his face. “You wererunning.”

“I have to dosomething.” It sounds so hollow. So hopeless. Because it is. I had no plan.

He sees right through me.

“I keep saying the same thing. But every time, every idea I have blows up in my face. So what does that leave me?! What option do I have?! Maybe I should just be like you. Be just like you and throw anyone I can under the bus and make a run for it. Go as far away as I can and kill anyone who gets in my way. Hmm? How about that?!” His voice escalates, rising to a cracking shout, his normal, absolute control fraying to tatters.

All I can do is stand there, quaking as the torrent rains down on me.

“So what would it give me,Gloria? If I took you back? If I dragged you back to Dom and told him everything that’s happened. Expose you for running. Tell him that you followed me to sabotage his plans. To find dirt onhim.”

My throat constricts.

“What happens if I tell him about your secret account? The one that pays out monthly to a school inParis.”

Tears spring to my eyes. Tears of anger, embarrassment, shame.

Who was I fooling?

“Please. Don’t,” I whisper.

“Don’t what? Tie you up and make you tell me what I want to know? I should make you spill your fucking guts on everything you’ve been hiding.”

I feel the break inside me, the collapse of my world.

“Do your worst,” I mumble, fighting back a sob.

Adriano pulls up short, a strange, curious look on his face. “He already knows, doesn’t he? Who you’re protecting.”

“And now, so do you. So use it. Hold it over me, shackle me in terror of losing her and make me do whatever you want. I’m done.” I failed. I failed Anna. My mother.

Silence chokes the room, thick with the smog of tremendous pain and loss.

Adriano exhales, his eyes red, despondent.

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