Dominic Russo.

"Call Doctor Matt," I barked at my consigliere, Marco, as I carried the fragile brunette in my arms and rushed toward the waiting car.

Blood stained the bottom part of her dress, and the sight of it sent a sharp twist through my chest.

I had seen a lot of scumbags in my lifetime, but Victor Blackthorn took the fucking cake.

I had watched him humiliate her on that stage like she was nothing more than a disposable object. And then she had collapsed right in front of him, and he hadn't even flinched.

"Where are you taking her to?" Marco asked as he slid into the back seat with me, his phone already pressed to his ear.

"To my house," I said without hesitation. 

Luca was already behind the wheel, and he drove off immediately.

I turned my attention back to the woman in my arms. Her breathing was shallow, but at least she was still breathing.

I adjusted my hold on her, so that her head rested against my shoulder. 

"Doctor Matt is on his way," Marco said after ending the call. "He'll be waiting."

Good. I was so occupied with my thoughts that I didn't even hear his conversation with the doctor.

I didn't know what caused her to bleed. I could only hope it was menstruation and not internal bleeding. 

But does menstruation cause this much blood?

Doctor Matt and two nurses were already waiting as we piled into my estate minutes later.

"Bring her here," Matt ordered the second he saw the blood.

I followed him inside, my boots pounding against the marble floor as I carried her toward one of the guest rooms.

"Lay her on the bed," he instructed sharply.

I did, stepping back only when one of the nurses gently nudged me aside. They quickly started checking her vitals.

"Give us some space," Matt said suddenly, when he realized I was still in the room. "I'll call you when she's stable."

I clenched my jaw and stepped back, just as the door shut in my face. Dragging my hand down my face, I turned and went into the living room. 

I didn't know why I was worried about her this much.

I dropped onto the couch, resting my elbows on my knees as I stared at the floor.

I didn't even know her name. I didn't know anything about her. And yet, the image of her collapsing on that stage wouldn't leave my mind.

"You know I could have stayed back to scout for you," Marco said as he handed me a glass of whiskey.

I took it but didn't drink.

"There was no need," I replied. "We already saw that our target wasn't there."

He scoffed. "But he sent a representative. We could have waited to see what he was planning."

"No," I said, sharper this time. "Postpone the meeting with Jon Denver and oversee the club activities tonight."

Marco frowned. "You're not coming?"

"No."

I slammed my glass on the table and the liquid spilled a little. 

Refusing to acknowledge my temper, I stood and headed upstairs, peeling off my jacket as I went. 

I took a quick shower to wash off the blood and as soon as I got out, I collapsed face-first onto the bed.

Still, my mind went back to her. The disbelief on her face when Blackthorn started talking. The way her eyes finally turned hollow, like she was used to it. And then, the tears.

I hadn't even been invited to that damn banquet. It wasn't my scene. But on my way to Deranged Desires, my club, I saw the lights and heard the celebrations.

When Marco told me it was the Blackthorn Annual Banquet, I had felt the familiar urge to crash it and see if Liam Kingsley would be there. The bastard was my archenemy for a reason.

But he wasn't there, deciding to send a representative instead. I was already leaving, but then I heard Blackthorn's derogatory speech and knew I needed to do something.

Even now, I suspected that he had something to do with his wife bleeding out. But I guess I would have to wait for the doctor to come back with news. 

Several minutes later, when I was almost dozing off, a knock sounded at my door. 

"She's stable now, Don," the doctor informed me. I was on my feet instantly, making my way outside.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked as we walked.

He sighed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "It's really bad."

My hands curled into fists at my sides.

"She had an incomplete miscarriage," he continued. "And her blood sugar is dangerously low. She's lost a lot of blood and even though I've slowed the bleeding for now, she needs to go to a hospital."

The words hit hard. Miscarriage?

I exhaled slowly. "Can I see her? Is she awake?"

"Not yet," he said. "But you can go in."

I turned toward the guest room.

"Don," he called, stopping me in my tracks.

"Based on the injuries on her body," he said carefully, "I don't believe this was natural."

I turned back to him slowly. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying she was physically assaulted."

Something inside me snapped. The image of Blackthorn's smile, his cruel jokes, and his smug little laugh flashed through my mind.

My first thought was simple and terrifying. "I'm going to kill Victor Blackthorn."

But first, I had to get his wife to a hospital.

***

As we drove to the hospital, she lay across the back seat, hooked up to an IV with one of the nurses monitoring her. I sat with her and watched her face the entire time.

She was pale with long dark lashes against her cheeks. There was a faint bruise around her eyes that I hadn't noticed before, which fueled my anger.

At the hospital, they rushed her in immediately, nurses and doctors surrounding the gurney.

"Family?" one of them asked.

I didn't hesitate. "Yes."

They disappeared through the doors and left me alone in the hallway.

I paced back and forth, my body too tense to sit.  That was when my phone rang, and I answered as soon as I saw it was Marco. 

"What's going on?" I asked. 

"The club is on fire," he replied after a short pause. 

I scoffed, "I'm currently in the hospital, Marco. And honestly, I don't have time for jokes."

"Don, this isn't a joke. Deranged Desires is on fire."

The words didn't register at first. And when they did, I let out a bitter laugh. 

"I'm on my way. And when I get there, you better have the bastards responsible lined up for me."

The call ended.

I stared at my phone for a second before throwing it against the wall. It shattered on impact, but that wasn't enough.

I dragged a hand through my hair, chest rising and falling, trying my best not to yell in anger.

I had two suspects already. And if either of them were behind this, I would make sure they begged like dogs before they died.

Evelyn.

I groaned as I opened my eyes to the soft morning light streaming through the windows. This wasn't my room, I noticed. 

My eyes tracked from the white ceiling to the drip fixed on my wrist. 

What happened? Did Victor finally bring me to the hospital? And why can't I remember anything?

Just then, a nurse came in. 

"Hi, you're awake," she beamed. "I hope you're feeling better."

"Where's my husband?" I asked her.

"It wasn't your husband that brought you here, Mrs Blackthorn." I wasn't surprised she knew my name. Victor made sure to keep the social media well informed of his private life.

After adjusting my drip, the nurse handed me a cup of water with a straw and asked, "Do you need anything else?"

I shook my head as I drained the water in the cup. There was a TV hung on the wall opposite the bed and my eyes were glued to it, because they were showing the events of last night's banquet.

"On second thought, can you please increase the volume for me?" 

She nodded and did so, walking out soon after. 

"...fainted on stage and was rescued by a mysterious stranger. Rumors have been circulating that he is a member of the mafia, but due to the fact that his face wasn't captured, we aren't able to prove anything yet."

My heart thumped as I watched the news. The way I slumped on the stage was unflattering and Victor would be sure to point that out when he comes.

But that was the least of my worries now. I needed to leave before the mysterious stranger came back, or worse, my husband. 

"Public opinions, however, are divided at this point. Some people are in support of the Blackthorn bride, insisting that Mr. Blackthorn has taken it too far..." 

My heart swelled, knowing that not everyone took his side like they always do. After all, he was a huge celebrity to the people and also on the Forbes list.

"...but the majority support Mr. Blackthorn, more so because of the statement he released this morning saying the mysterious stranger was actually Mrs. Blackthorn's lover, and the reason for her miscarriage."

For the first time in a very long time, anger fueled inside me against Victor. Grabbing the remote on the bed stand, I turned the TV off and got to work on removing the drip connected to my wrist. 

If I stay here any longer, I risk someone seeing me and calling Victor. Or worse, someone calling the paparazzi. 

I couldn't wait for the doctor to come in either, because I wasn't sure they'd discharge me without alerting anyone. 

When I was done removing everything, I made my way to the door slowly. I was in pain, but I had already endured worse while living with Victor.

However, my plan was thwarted when I got to the door. I broke into a run for the elevator, only to collide with a hard body. 

I groaned as pain wracked through my entire body, but thankfully, I was still on my feet and I realized that the person I ran into was holding me up.

"I'm sorry," I apologized as I looked up to see Liam Kingsley, the king of the corporate world; at least, according to the media.

Quickly, I scurried out of his embrace. He was Victor's rival, being number one on the Forbes list, and I didn't need anyone to remind me that rich men were cruel.

I was a living proof of that, but dang, he's handsome. His blond hair was gelled back, and his green eyes pierced into my honey ones.

"Do I know you?" He asked, effectively snapping me out of my thoughts. "You look familiar."

Shaking my head vigorously, I replied, "No, I'm sure you don't."

Without wasting time, I tried to bypass him but he held me back. Goosebumps erupted from my body due to the contact and I gasped.

I'm sure he felt it too because his lips slightly parted, and I couldn't help but notice them.

Snap out of it, Evelyn.

"It was nice to meet you, but I've really got to go."

But instead of releasing me from his grip, he just tilted his head like he was studying me. The ding of the elevator sounded behind him, just as a man stepped out.

He looked at me, and my heart hammered in my throat as I took in his hoodie. 

"Get away from her," he barked as he pulled me away from Liam's grip.

In confusion, I turned to him and asked, "Do I know you?"

Liam let out a short laugh and remarked, "The irony. Guess I'll be seeing you around, little angel."

My eyes widened. Little angel?

"Let's go," the man holding me said.

But I pushed him away. "I'm not going anywhere with you. For all I know, Victor sent you to kill me."

That made him chuckle.

"Well, unless you want the doctors to discover that you're missing and call your husband, I'll advise you to follow me."

How did he know that I was running from the doctors?

As if reading my mind, he answered, "If you were properly discharged, they would call the person who brought you in, no?"

"You're the one that brought me in? You're the mysterious stranger?" I asked, surprised and extremely grateful.

"No, I'm not. But I'm taking you to see him now." He replied and pulled me over to the elevator just as the doctor entered my room. 

***

We pulled into an estate, bigger than the Blackthorn Estate. And that's saying a lot, because the Blackthorns loved to showcase their wealth.

This one, however, looked old but still elegant. Getting in, I was nervous to meet the Good Samaritan who came to my aid yesterday.

"Don, she's here," the man who brought me here said.

"Thank you, Marco. You may leave."

I followed the voice I clearly remembered from last night, to see a man in a hoodie coming towards me. My first instinct was to run, because I had always associated hoodies with assassins. 

But instead, I stood my ground and said, "Thank you so much for saving me yesterday."

"It's nice to have your acquaintance, Evelyn. I'm Dominic," he replied, pulling off his hood. 

And for the second time today, I came face to face with a hot man that could make any woman wet her panties, and I was no exception. 

Apart from the fact that my savior had dark hair and even darker eyes, he also had piercings and tattoos. I gulped as he moved closer, but I couldn't move as fear kept me frozen.

Dominic.

I moved closer to Evelyn, her name still echoing in my head from the news broadcast this morning. 

I was forced to listen to it in the police station when they questioned me about the fire, my club and basically everything about my life.

They tried to keep me there longer than necessary, but they had nothing solid. So they let me go for now. But I knew it was only a matter of time before they called me back.

So yes, I was angry, exhausted and running on no sleep. But all of that faded the moment I looked at her.

The bruises on her face were already starting to fade, but it did nothing to calm the anger inside me. 

"Umm... if there's nothing else, I would like to be on my way," Evelyn muttered, and that's when I realized that she was scared of me.

I stepped back immediately and shoved my hands into my pockets, forcing myself to look less threatening.

"So if you leave," I said carefully, "do you have a place to go?"

I didn't want her to leave.

I knew I shouldn't keep her. But I also knew that if she walked out of this house, it was only a matter of time before her douchebag husband found her again.

"I'll find somewhere," she replied softly. "You've already helped me enough."

She turned to leave.

I opened my mouth to stop her, but before the words could come out, she suddenly doubled over and gasped loudly.

 I was at her side in an instant.

"Easy," I muttered, gripping her arm to steady her.

She winced and her face paled. That did it.

"You're staying," I said firmly. "At least until you heal."

"But-"

"No buts." My voice came out harder than I intended. "You and I both know there's nowhere you can hide from your husband."

She hesitated, her shoulders slumping slightly as if the fight had drained out of her.

"How can I repay you?" she asked quietly.

"Don't worry about that," I replied. "Just get better."

I guided her up the stairs to the guest room where she had been treated earlier.

"I'll make you some soup," I added. "And I'll have some clothes delivered. Then maybe... we can talk later."

She looked at me with teary eyes and gave a small nod.

"Thank you," she whispered, and I felt so damn proud of myself.

***

I went downstairs and headed straight for the kitchen. I rarely cooked, since I had a chef for that. But I had dismissed everyone for the day.

I scanned the kitchen, trying to decide where to start, when Marco walked in. He stopped and took everything in.

"What are you doing?" he asked slowly.

"I'm making soup."

He blinked in disbelief.

"For... her?"

"Yes."

His brows lifted slightly. "You're getting attached."

I didn't answer.

He scoffed. "You don't even know her."

"I know enough."

"Clearly not," he muttered.

That got my attention. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He leaned against the counter, folding his arms. "I saw her at the hospital."

My eyes narrowed. "And?"

"With Liam Kingsley."

My body went still.

"...What?"

"They were talking," Marco continued. "Very intimately. And when he was leaving, he called her 'little angel.'"

The words sank in slowly. Liam Kingsley.

The same Liam who had tried to screw me over more times than I could count. The same Liam who smiled to your face while stabbing you in the back. 

My hand slammed against the counter.

So that was it.

She walks into my life out of nowhere, just happens to be rescued by me, just happens to be in the same hospital as Liam, and just happens to need protection.

This was a setup.

I didn't say another word to Marco. Instead, I turned and left the kitchen, taking the stairs two at a time.

As much as I wanted to protect her, I wouldn't be played. I wouldn't let Liam use her to get to me, not again.

I reached the guest room and pushed the door open without knocking, but the room was empty.

"Fuck," I muttered.

Just as I turned to leave, the bathroom door opened and she stepped out, wrapped in nothing but a short towel.

Water drops clung to her skin, and her hair was damp around her shoulders. She froze when she saw me, her eyes widening.

"Oh... um... is there a problem?" she asked nervously. "Did you need something?"

For a second, my mind went blank. She looked so innocent, nothing like the manipulative little spy Marco had just painted in my head.

But I wasn't fooled.

"What business do you have with Liam Kingsley?" I demanded.

Her brows furrowed. "What?"

"Don't play dumb with me," I snapped, grabbing her arm. "Did he send you? Is this some kind of game to you?"

Her breath hitched. "I don't know what you're talking about."

But I didn't believe her. I tightened my grip slightly, frustration taking over. "Answer me."

Her lips trembled. "I-I really don't understand..."

I leaned in, my voice dropping. "So help me, Evelyn, if you don't tell me the truth right now, you will regret ever thinking you could deceive me."

That seemed to annoy her because she shoved me hard.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about!" she yelled. "I have never even met Liam Kingsley until I ran into him at the hospital today!"

She jabbed her finger into my chest, anger blazing in her eyes.

"I don't know what it is with rich men like you," she continued, her voice shaking, "thinking that because you have money, you can control everyone around you! I am tired of all of you. I didn't even want to stay in your stupid house, remember?"

Her chest heaved as she finished, and I couldn't help noticing the way the towel strained against her body.

But I pushed the thought away. I stepped forward and she stepped back, until her back hit the wall and my body caged her in.

Her breath quickened as I raised a hand and wrapped it around her neck. It wasn't too tight, but it was enough to remind her of the difference between us.

"Don't you ever talk to me like that again," I whispered. "Do you understand?"

Her eyes widened and the fire in them dimmed. She swallowed hard and nodded, as a small whimper escaped her lips.

And something inside me snapped.

I didn't know when I leaned in. I didn't know when my hand tightened or when my mouth crashed against hers.

One second, I was furious. And the next second, I was kissing her hard.

Her lips were soft and tasted like strawberries. The taste was addictive and I groaned before I could stop myself, pulling her closer without thinking.

Her tense body relaxed after that, and that was my breaking point.

I pulled away, breathing heavily as I stepped back.

What the hell was I doing?

I turned away from her without a word and stormed out of the room.

As I descended the stairs, I saw Marco waiting for me in the living room.

"Don," he said. "We have a problem."

I stopped walking. "What now?"

He hesitated. "It's Victor Blackthorn."

My blood went cold.

"He just put out a statement," Marco continued. "He's offering a huge reward to anyone who finds his wife."

I slowly turned back toward the guest room door.

"And your address," Marco added quietly, "is already trending online."