Chapter 7

Dominic's voice was low and menacing, its undertones dripping with malevolence, as he uttered a single, chilling command that hung in the air like a deadly promise: "Leave us alone."

Kael hesitated, his eyes locked onto Dominic's, filled with a deep-seated concern that seemed to plead for mercy, his brow furrowed in a desperate attempt to reach the man he once knew.

"Don't hurt her, Dominic," Kael warned, his voice laced with caution, his words trembling with a mix of fear and urgency.

Dominic's gaze snapped toward Kael, his eyes blazing with anger, the intensity burning brighter with every passing moment.

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Kael took a step back, his eyes never leaving Dominic's, before turning to leave, the soft click of the door echoing through the room like a death knell.

Valerie was left alone with Dominic, the silence between them oppressive, heavy with unspoken threats.

Valerie's panic set in, her heart racing like a wild animal trapped in her chest.

Dominic's calm demeanor was unsettling, a facade that seemed to conceal a maelstrom of emotions.

She knew him well enough to recognize the signs—the calm before the storm.

His eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, searching for something to exploit.

Valerie's voice trembled as she tried to speak.

"D-Dominic..."

But her words stuck in her throat, silenced by the fear that gripped her.

Dominic's expression remained impassive.

No emotion.

Valerie's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape.

A way to flee from the impending storm.

But she was trapped.

Dominic's presence filled the room.

Ominous.

Intimidating.

Valerie's breath caught in her throat.

She knew she had to speak.

Valerie tried to speak, her voice trembling as she attempted to explain the events that had unfolded.

But before she could utter a word, Dominic's hand shot out, his palm connecting with her cheek in a resounding slap.

Valerie's head snapped to the side, her eyes widening in shock.

Pain exploded across her face, and she felt a warm trickle of blood from the corner of her lip.

She tasted the metallic tang of blood as she struggled to process what had just happened.

Dominic's eyes blazed with fury, his face inches from hers.

"Shut up," he growled.

Valerie's heart raced.

Fear gripped her.

She had never seen Dominic like this before.

The man she loved was gone.

Replaced by a monster.

Valerie's eyes welled up with tears.

She tried to speak again.

But Dominic's grip on her jaw silenced her.

Valerie's voice trembled, her words barely audible. "Dominic..." she whispered.

But Dominic's fury boiled over, his face red with rage. "He was your responsibility!" he thundered. "It was your responsibility to take care of him, to keep him safe, to protect him from harm!"

Valerie's eyes welled up with tears, her body shaking uncontrollably.

She felt a wave of despair wash over her, a crushing weight that threatened to consume her.

Dominic's words cut deep, piercing her soul like a dagger.

"No use shedding tears now," Dominic spat, his voice venomous.

"He will not come back, Valerie. I lost my son because of you," he accused.

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

Valerie's voice caught in her throat.

She tried to speak, to defend herself, but the words wouldn't come.

Dominic's anger intensified, his questions tumbling out in a torrent of rage.

"Why did you go alone?" he demanded.

"What possessed you to take such a reckless risk?"

"What do you think you are—some kind of hero?"

"Was the kid a joke to you?"

"Did you ever care at all?"

Each question felt like a slap.

Valerie's face contorted.

She shook her head.

"Sorry," she sobbed.

"I didn't know Viktor was there," Valerie sobbed, the words tumbling out in a desperate plea for understanding.

But Dominic's fury wouldn't be satiated.

His eyes blazed with anger.

His face twisted in rage.

His hand shot out.

A second slap cracked across Valerie's cheek.

The sound echoed through the room.

Pain exploded.

A radiating wave of agony.

Valerie's head spun.

Her vision blurred.

Tears flowed.

A deluge of sorrow and regret.

They streamed down her face.

Hot and relentless.

Her lip bled.

A tiny trickle of blood.

A crimson reminder of Dominic's wrath.

A symbol of the destruction of their relationship.

The bond they shared.

Dominic's slap had shattered more than just her cheek.

It had shattered her hope.

Her trust.

Her love.

Dominic's voice was laced with venom, his words dripping with malice as he growled, "Don't talk back in front of me; your insolence will not be tolerated."

"Open your mouth only when I ask you something," he commanded.

Valerie couldn't believe her ears, her mind reeling in shock as she struggled to comprehend the transformation in the man she loved.

How could Dominic change so much? The man who once held her with tender care now seemed replaced by a monster.

Dominic's eyes blazed with contempt, his gaze piercing Valerie's soul.

"I married a girl like you," he spat.

"When you don't even deserve me, I gave you the status of being the wife of a mafia king, a position of power and prestige beyond your wildest dreams."

"And you, you killed my child," his voice cracked.

"Just because of your stupidity, your reckless abandon, your utter carelessness."

His words were piercing, like a needle stabbing into Valerie's heart, leaving her breathless and shattered.

Her tears flowed continuously, a river of sorrow that seemed to have no end.

Dominic's anger showed no signs of abating.

"I gave you love," he snarled.

"Gave you everything you could never dream of, every luxury, every comfort, every happiness."

"You ruined everything," his voice boomed.

His hand shot out, a third slap cracking across Valerie's cheek.

Pain exploded, a radiating wave of agony that left Valerie reeling.

Her head spun, her vision blurred, and her knees buckled.

"This is the beginning," Dominic warned.

"Get ready for the real hell, a hell of your own making."

His grip on Valerie's wrist tightened.

He pulled her down from the bed.

Valerie groaned in pain, her body protesting.

Dominic grabbed her elbow.

Pulling her out of the hospital room.

Arthur stepped forward.

"Where are you taking her?" he asked.

"She's injured, Dominic, show some mercy."

Dominic's glare silenced him.

"Valerie's safety was your responsibility," Dominic snapped.

"You failed, Arthur, and now you must pay the price."

"Get ready to punish yourself," Dominic's voice dropped to a menacing whisper.

"Otherwise, if I do, you may not survive."

The threat hung in the air.

Everyone was surprised.

Valerie was in a lot of pain.

But Dominic didn't care.

He pulled her out of the hospital.

Pushed her into the car.

And slid in beside her.

The doors slammed shut.

The engine roared to life.

As they drove away from the hospital.

Leaving behind a trail of shocked faces.

Valerie's heart sank.

She knew what awaited her.

A living hell.

At Dominic's hands.