Inaya's POV

"Did you forget something?" I ask in confusion.

"Who's Haraz?"

I furrow my brows.

I steps closer to me but this time, this time I don't step back.

"I asked you a question, amore mìo." He's searching my eyes for something but I don't know what.

"Haraz... he's my..." I don't know why; I don't know if I had a suicide wish just that second but I thought it would be hilarious to see what happens if I lie.

It shouldn't effect him, there's no way it would. I don't mean anything to him.

I look away to seem dramatic. I'm enjoying this but I have a feeling I won't have fun for long.

Dominic grabs my wrist, pull me to his chest with his other hand on my lower back.

"He's your what? What the fuck are you hiding?" His eyes are dark.

"Why does it matter who he is to me?" I ask back.

"Because I want to know. Simple as that." He states.

"He's someone... someone special." I wanted to push his buttons. I wanted to drive him to the edge but why would this drive him crazy? Am I delusional?

"Is he someone you're fucking?" He edges closer.

Nope, not delusional.

Since I take my suicide wish back, I decide to quickly clarify. "Dominic, relax, it was just a j—"

He leans in so fast that a whimper escapes my lips.

"Are you his whore?" He whispers into my ear.

"What? N—"

"First Nicholas, then this man. Your list seems to be growing. Do you take customers? How much for you to suck my dick?" His voice is stern.

"Dominic!" I raise my voice. "Who do you take me for? One of those women you sleep around with? You link me with any male I mention and it's frustrating! It shouldn't even matter to you who I hang around!"

I'm shaking; not from fear but from anger. His eyes widen slightly from my outburst but they quickly go back to their deadly stare.

He wraps both his arms around me, while his lips are so close to mine that I can almost feel them.

"It matters." He whispers softly. "It fucking matters to me."

He traces my bottom lip with his thumb. "I don't want you touched by anyone else. You're mine to play with, amore mìo, no one else's."

My heart begins pounding so hard, my body is going into overdrive. I thought I'd faint from the lack of oxygen.

He always does this. He does things like this and my anger melts away into a puddle and instantly dries away.

"Why? Why is that?" My voice quiet as a mouse.

"I don't give reasons. All you have to know is that I'd cut the dicks off of any man who looks your way." He growls.

First of all, romantic, I say sarcastically in my head. Second of all, what does he mean? Why would he...

I place my hand gently on his cheek, "Why can't you just be nice for once? Why do you have to try to intimidate me to get your point across?"

"I'm no prince from a fairytale. I haven't been taught how to—"

"It's never too late learn." I interrupt him. "Talk to me, have dinners with me every night, watch movies with me, I'll show you a world outside of yours."

His eyes soften and they're the most beautiful, chocolate-y brown. Every time he looks at me like this, no matter how rare, it makes me want to rip my own heart out and hand it to him voluntarily.

But the softness disappears within minutes, blocking his beautifully lucid eyes with dark clouds.

"You'll never speak of that man in front of me." He says.

"Which man?" I tease.

He places his knee in between my legs, making me yelp. "Keep this up and you'll end up on your knees tonight. And trust me, it won't be because you're praying."

My eyes widen and I gasp. "Dominic!"

He gives a small laugh, laced with a bit of playfulness.

"What am I going to do with you?" He whispers so quietly that I almost didn't hear it.

And what am I going to do about my poor heart that's starting to beat for you?

• • •

"Are you coming to the party next week?" Angela asks.

"What party?" I look at her, confused.

"Dominic never tells you anything, does?" Cat rolls her eyes.

"Okay, so you tell me." I tell Cat.

"It's a party hosted by a cousin. Of course, you're invited." She grins.

"There's no way you can say no. We wouldn't go without you! Plus, Leonard has been asking about your wellbeing. So has Benedetto." Angela smiles.

"Lenny? Your husband? Asking about me?" I swear he hates my guts.

"You might not think it but seems to have grown to care for you like a daughter. Always asking if you're being treated well. Benedetto openly asks while Leonard is a bit shy about it." She laughs.

"Uncle Lenny can be such a hard head sometimes but you should see him with her." Cat giggles while she looks at Angela.

"Oh? And how is he then?" I ask.

"Girls!" Angela looks away shyly.

"He's been in his honeymoon phase with her for over 25 years. He's a completely different person." Cat laughs.

"Is that so? I guess I'll have to attend this party to see how this goes." I wink. "What about Benny? His family?"

They all go quiet.

"I'm sorry, was that something I wasn't supposed to ask?" I frown.

"No... it's just that..." Angela starts but couldn't bring together words.

"Uncle Benny... he lost his wife and daughter in a shoot out three years ago." Cat says.

I blink. I couldn't understand...

"A rival organization attacked us at one of our events and we lost a few close friends and family. Benny lost his wife and only daughter." She explains. "It was horrifying. That was the one event I wanted to invite you to because it was a more normal one. I thank God all the time that I didn't."

I give Caterina and Angela a quick hug. "That's absolutely heartbreaking."

Angela nods. "I think that's why he tries to make sure you're okay. He cares for you a lot, always asking me to check up on you, making sure you have everything you need."

My chest pulls at the pain Benny must feel from losing his family. He must think about them every night, sometimes with guilt of not being able to save them.

Probably similar to how I feel about my parents. All the possibilities; all the ways I could've saved them.

Angela quickly wipes away a tear and tries to change the topic because it's clearly making her uncomfortable.

"Are you guys bringing dates?" She grins.

"No, I haven't met a man worth my time." Cat says. Then, she looks at me with this playful look. "But, Inaya... who's your date? Nicholas? Should I ask Haraz? Or..." she gasps. "Could it be the man himself, Mr. Dominic Belcastro?"

"Caterina!" I yell and playfully hit her arm.

"Our Dominic? Can it be?" Angela smirks.

"No! I'm not his type." I sigh.

"Not his type, huh?" Caterina looks smug as she looks at Angela who carries the same expression.

"We will help you get ready for the party next week. Don't worry." Angela winks.

What does thing one and thing two have in mind?

- - -

A/N: guyssss I'm so sorry I forgot to click update today. I finally took a day off to relax with my friends and totally forgot! I'm sorry!

Next Update: Wednesday, December 10, 2019.