Bella sat on her bed, her heart racing as the events of the evening replayed in her mind. The terrifying look in Dominic's eyes when he faced the intruder, the brutal way he handled the situation, and finally, his cryptic accusations about her father. None of it made sense. Her father wasn't involved in anything shady apart from gambling at least, she was sure he wasn't.
But Dominic's words echoed in her mind. "Your father's actions have put a target on your back."
Pushing her growing fear aside, Bella stood abruptly. She couldn't let this go unanswered. She needed to know what Dominic meant. Steeling herself, she hurried downstairs, searching for him.
She found him in his study, seated at the large mahogany desk with a drink in his hand. His sharp features were partially obscured by shadows, but his piercing gaze immediately locked onto her as she entered.
"Dominic," Bella began, her voice firmer than she expected, "what did you mean about my father's actions? What's going on?"
Dominic set his glass down with a soft clink and leaned back in his chair. For a moment, he didn't speak, his intense gaze making her shift uncomfortably.
"You really want to do this now?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with irritation.
"Yes," Bella replied, crossing her arms. "You said my father put a target on my back. I deserve to know what that means."
Dominic stood and walked around the desk, stopping a few feet away from her. His imposing figure made Bella's confidence falter slightly, but she held her ground.
"I know everything, Bella," he said finally, his voice low. "Your father sent a text to someone. We intercepted it. And don't think I haven't noticed your attempts to sneak out of the house. You're part of this, aren't you?"
Bella blinked, stunned. "What? No!"
"Don't lie to me," Dominic said sharply, stepping closer. "I saw you sneaking around the other night. What were you doing if not trying to help him?"
For a moment, Bella stared at him, her mouth slightly agape. Then, much to Dominic's surprise, she burst out laughing.
His jaw tightened, and his expression darkened. "You think this is funny?" he asked, his tone cold.
Bella held up a hand, trying to suppress her laughter. "I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you. It's just…" She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. "Here, let me show you."
Dominic watched her closely as she unlocked her phone and scrolled to the text conversation with her father. She handed it to him, her hands trembling slightly.
He took the phone and read the message silently: "Bella, come eat with us if you can, we'll wait for you, I Hope you are managing?."
Bella crossed her arms again, her voice softer now. "That's what this is about, right? That's the message you intercepted? My dad was just asking me to eat with him and my family during that time, That's all."
Dominic's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "And what about you sneaking out?" he asked, his tone still accusatory.
"I wasn't sneaking out, I was running away to my family, I knew that if I asked you, you wouldn't permit me" Bella replied, shaking her head. "I missed my family. That's it. I didn't realize that would make you so angry "
Dominic's confusion was evident for a brief moment before his expression hardened again. He handed her phone back without a word, his dark eyes studying her closely.
Bella could feel the tension in the air as he took a slow step toward her. Instinctively, she took a step back. His intense gaze sent a shiver down her spine, and the small smirk on his lips only made her more nervous.
"Dominic…" she began, her voice shaky, "I'm not trying to hurt you. Or help anyone hurt you. I swear."
He didn't respond, his silent steps closing the distance between them. Bella continued to move backward until her back hit the wall. Dominic stopped mere inches away, his towering presence overwhelming her.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Bella's breath hitched as his gaze bore into hers, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what he was thinking, and that terrified her more than anything he could say.
Finally, he broke the silence. "Don't leave the house," he said, his voice low but firm.
Bella nodded quickly, too afraid to argue.
Satisfied, Dominic stepped back, giving her room to breathe. He turned and left the study without another word, leaving Bella to sink against the wall, her legs trembling beneath her. he had asked the tech team not to recover the message again because he wanted to see how she would disappoint him.
As she stood there, catching her breath, one thing became clear: Dominic wasn't just dangerous to others he was dangerous to her, too. And no matter how much she tried to stay out of his way, she was caught in his world now, with no escape in sight.