caught in the shadows

Dominic returned home late, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders. The massive Moretti estate loomed in the moonlight, a fortress that mirrored his cold and unyielding world. As he stepped inside, the dim lighting and familiar silence welcomed him.

But then, a soft flicker of light caught his attention.

He moved toward the living room, where the television was still on. There, curled up on the couch, was Bella. She was fast asleep, her delicate features illuminated by the glow of the screen. Her soft breathing was the only sound in the otherwise silent house.

Dominic stopped, his gaze lingering on her.

She looked serene, her expression devoid of the tension that had clouded her features earlier. Her dark hair framed her face, and her lips, slightly parted in sleep, were inviting in a way he couldn’t ignore. His eyes roamed over her, her long lashes, the curve of her cheek, the way her body fit snugly beneath the blanket draped over her.

For a fleeting moment, Dominic felt something unfamiliar. Something unsettling. He didn’t like it.

Shaking off the thought, he turned and ascended the stairs to his room.

As soon as he entered, his phone buzzed. He pulled it out and answered without checking the caller ID.

“What is it?”

“Boss, we’ve got a problem.” It was Angelo, his right-hand man. His voice was low and urgent, a tone Dominic knew meant something serious.

“What happened?”

“We intercepted some encrypted messages from Bella’s father,” Angelo said. “The tech team’s working on cracking them, but we don’t know what he’s sending or who he’s talking to yet.”

Dominic’s jaw tightened. His instincts told him this wasn’t just a harmless exchange. The fact that the messages were encrypted meant her father had something to hide.

“Who else knows?”

“Just the team working on it,” Angelo replied. “We kept it quiet, like you’d want. But this doesn’t look good, boss.”

Dominic paced the room, his free hand curling into a fist. The deal with Bella’s father had been straightforward: the marriage in exchange for financial protection. But secrets like this threatened to undermine the entire arrangement.

“Keep me updated,” Dominic said coldly. “I want to know the moment those messages are decrypted.”

“Yes, boss.”

Dominic ended the call and tossed his phone onto the bedside table. He stared out the large window overlooking the garden, his mind racing.

Why would Bella’s father risk betrayal? Was it desperation? Greed? And how much did Bella know about it?

The faint sound of movement pulled him from his thoughts.

He descended the stairs again, his sharp instincts on high alert. The living room was empty now, the blanket Bella had been using crumpled on the couch.

The door to the garden was ajar, a breeze slipping through and rustling the curtains.

Dominic stepped outside, his sharp eyes scanning the grounds. The silver glow of the moon lit up the manicured hedges and stone pathways. Then he saw her.

Bella was near the far edge of the property, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, her small frame blending into the shadows. Her movements were cautious, her head turning as though checking to see if she was being followed.

Dominic’s jaw tightened. She’s sneaking out.

He moved silently, his footsteps muffled by the grass beneath him. His mind raced. Was she trying to run away? Or was there something more to her actions something connected to her father’s suspicious messages?

As Bella reached for the latch on the garden gate, Dominic made his presence known.

“Going somewhere?”

The sound of his voice made her freeze. Slowly, she turned to face him, her wide eyes reflecting the moonlight.

“I—I wasn’t ” she stammered, her words faltering under his cold gaze. “I wasn’t going anywhere.”

Dominic didn’t respond. He stepped closer, his towering figure casting a shadow over her.

Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the gate. “I just needed some air,” she tried, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic’s expression remained unreadable as he studied her. Her fear was palpable, but was it the fear of being caught sneaking out or the fear of being discovered for something more?

“I’m not trying to leave,” she insisted, her voice trembling. “I just... I just felt trapped in there.”

Still, Dominic said nothing. Instead, he reached past her, his hand closing around the gate latch. With a deliberate motion, he locked it, the metallic click echoing in the still night.

Bella swallowed hard, her chest tight with anxiety. She stepped back, her gaze darting between him and the now-locked gate.

“You don’t believe me, do you?” she asked, her voice quivering.

Dominic’s silence was more unnerving than any words he could have spoken. His piercing gaze bore into her, making her feel exposed, vulnerable.

Bella dropped her eyes to the ground, her shoulders slumping. “I’ll go back inside,” she murmured, turning away from him.

As she walked toward the house, Dominic stayed rooted in place, his sharp mind already working.

If Bella was sneaking out, it wasn’t for no reason. Whatever she was up to, he would find out. And if it had anything to do with her father’s encrypted messages, the consequences would be severe.

He watched her retreating figure disappear into the mansion, the cold resolve in his chest growing stronger.

Trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford. And Bella, innocent as she seemed, was now another piece in a dangerous game