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."

Liam Kingsley.

I leaned back in my chair, letting the leather swallow me as I watched the chaos unfold on multiple screens: the fire at Deranged Desires, Victor Blackthorn's latest statement, and every single gossip about his wife.

Normally, I wouldn't care this much about domestic dramas. They were trivial and fleeting. But everything in this particular disaster revolved around Dominic Russo. 

And Dominic... Well, he always made things interesting.

"Mr. Kingsley," my personal assistant called, stepping into the office with that half-bow posture that people use around me.

I didn't look up immediately. My mind was still calculating probabilities as I anticipated Dominic's next moves.

"The address I told you to post?" I asked, finally lifting my gaze.

"Trending, sir. Social media is exploding. People are speculating on everything from the fire to the Blackthorn drama, and the location you released... it's what everyone is talking about."

I smiled. "Good. You're dismissed."

As soon as he left, I leaned back further and let the sense of accomplishment settle into my mind. 

Phase one was complete. The public's attention was mine to direct now, and every move Dominic makes would be under my scrutiny.

I picked up my phone and dialed the head of security.

"Go watch the address I gave you. Any movement from that location, any vehicle leaving, I want everything tracked. I want to know where the lady is moved to, and I want that intel in real time."

"Understood, sir. Already on it."

Perfect. 

Dominic had no idea that the woman he was protecting was already on my radar. It wouldn't take long, and I'd have her exact location. 

And then, let's just say Dominic's little fortress of control would come crashing down.

I was still lost in thoughts when the office door opened and I didn't need to see her to know it was Isabella. Her heels were loud enough to announce her presence.

"Hey baby," she said as she entered, the scent of her expensive perfume already filling the room. "There's a function tonight that I'm going to need you for. You don't have to worry though, it won't take long."

I sighed and nodded my head. I knew fully well that she only needed me for the red carpet, but I hated events so much. 

However, I knew I would still go. 

She walked round the table and climbed into my lap, adjusting her posture as if she was posing for a magazine cover. 

"Also," she added, snapping a selfie from the right angle, "I'll need a few shots for the gram. Can't let the people forget we exist."

We were actually not intimate. Our relationship was designed for cameras and tabloids, nothing more. 

Isabella and I had history. We had been close friends in college, and she was there for me when I was only just a rich orphan.

However, when we kept getting our hearts broken by people we loved, we created this. We were exclusive enough to make this believable, but behind closed doors, we were distant enough to keep our hearts safe. 

This relationship offered her protection from her mother's matchmaking, while I got control over my own impulses. 

After the selfies, she stood up and leaned in for a quick peck. Then she flicked her hair back, and strutted out of the office like she owned it. 

After she was gone, I exhaled slowly as my thoughts immediately went back to Evelyn.

She had no idea how close she was to being in the center of a war between men whose lives had been built on betrayal, blood, and generational hate.

Dominic was protecting her from her husband, but from me? That would be more difficult than he could ever imagine.

I tapped a few keys on my laptop and the security feed was live now. I was connected to every camera around the trending address.

The vehicle he would use to move Evelyn would be under my lens within seconds of departure. And I would know exactly where she ends up.

Finally, a vehicle moved and the head of security confirmed it immediately: she was on the move. But I didn't move yet.

I just relaxed into my chair, watching. By the time the convoy stopped, she was in a secure location. Dominic had done what he always did best: protect her. 

But now, she was in my world. And I intended to make my first move soon.

Everything was going according to plan. Right now, this city was a chessboard, and all pieces moved under my command.

I waited till it was nighttime when I was sure that Dominic wouldn't be there. And then I stood up, buttoned my jacket carefully, and drove to the house.

I scanned the perimeter, and saw two guards playing cards behind the house. Dominic always overestimated his men, but I loved to take matters into my own hands. 

I slipped in through the open window of her bedroom and landed inside without a sound.

She was on the bed, curled up and reading a book with her back to the window. It was only when I pulled the window shut that she looked up and saw me.

And when she did, her breath hitched as the book slipped from her fingers.

"What... what are you doing here?" she whispered as she sat up. She pulled the blanket all the way to her chin, like it would somehow protect her from me.

"Is the door locked?" I asked, signaling to the bedroom door. 

"Yes," she replied as her eyes grew teary.

"Now, I'm going to need you to be very quiet." 

She nodded just as I took a seat in the chair opposite her bed, crossing my legs like I owned the place.

Her chest was rising too fast and it seemed like she was on the verge of having a panic attack.

"Relax," I murmured. "If I wanted you hurt, you'd already be screaming."

Her eyes widened, but she visibly relaxed. I then leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

"We meet again, little Angel. And this time, there's nowhere to run to."

Evelyn.

"We meet again, little Angel. And this time, there's nowhere to run to." His words sent a cold shiver down my spine.

In less than twenty-four hours, I had been in the presence of three different men, each dangerous in his own way.

At least, I knew Victor was cruel and his violence was predictable and humiliating.

Dominic was dangerous too. I mean, the man was in the mafia if the rumors were true. And despite everything, he had been kind to me.

But the thing about Liam Kingsley was that I didn't know what exactly he wanted from me. And that made him the most dangerous one. 

"What do you want?" I asked, forcing my voice to be steady even though I was scared. Where were the bodyguards Dominic left behind? 

Liam tilted his head slightly, like he was amused by my question. "Straight to the point. I like that."

Dominic had told me enough about him on the drive here. He told me how Liam always found ways to ruin his plans, how he thrived on chaos, and how he couldn't be trusted. None of it had been flattering.

"I need your help," Liam continued calmly. "And if you agree, I'll help you in return. You're going to need it."

"I don't need anything from you," I scoffed. "You're the reason Dominic had to move me here in the first place."

His expression didn't change much, but his eyes narrowed.

"...I'm the reason you're here?" he repeated slowly.

I frowned. "That's what Dominic said."

Silence stretched between us. Then Liam laughed softly.

"Oh, Evelyn," he murmured. "That's interesting."

My stomach tightened. "What is?"

He leaned back in the chair, studying me openly now. "Tell me, did Dominic also mention Victor's announcement?"

My heart skipped. "What announcement?"

Instead of answering, he pulled out his phone and unlocked it. Then he turned the screen toward me.

It was a post.

Victor's face filled the screen, smirking and composed like always. But that wasn't what Liam was talking about. 

Below the picture was a statement: a generous reward will be given to anyone with information leading to the whereabouts of my wife, Evelyn Blackthorn.

My breath caught. The timestamp was from this morning, some hours before Dominic moved me.

My fingers trembled as I stared at the screen.

"I don't understand..." I whispered.

Liam watched my reaction carefully. "That announcement went public hours before you were brought here."

He leaned forward slightly. "So ask yourself something for me, little Angel."

I swallowed.

"Why would a man protecting you need to lie about what he's protecting you from?"

The room felt too small suddenly, and it seemed like I was suffocating.

Dominic's words echoed in my head. "We had to move you because of Liam."

But this didn't align.

"I'm not saying Dominic is your enemy," Liam added lightly. "I'm just saying... he's not being honest."

Anger flared weakly in my chest, along with confusion. "You expect me to believe you over him?"

"No," he said easily as he took his phone from my grasp. "I expect you to start thinking for yourself."

I looked away, my hands curling into fists on the bed.

"I didn't ask to be dragged into whatever war you and Dominic are fighting," I muttered.

"And yet here you are," he replied. "Right in the middle."

He stood, checking his watch. "I have a fundraising event to attend."

Relief washed over me. I needed time alone to breathe.

"But before I go," he added, "just know that you can't trust everything Dominic tells you."

"Oh really?" I snapped. "Are you going to say Dominic lied about you two being enemies now?"

He stepped closer to the bed with a creepy smile on his face that sent shivers down my spine.

"Oh, we're enemies, alright?" he said quietly. "And that's what we'll always be."

He straightened his jacket and walked toward the window.

"Next time Dominic badmouths me," Liam said over his shoulder, "ask him what he knows about my father."

He opened the window smoothly.

"I'm trying to help you, Evelyn. When you finally figure that out..." He glanced back at me and threw his card onto the bed. "You know where to find me."

Then he was gone.

***

I didn't sleep peacefully that night.

Liam's words replayed over and over in my head, mixing with Dominic's kindness, Victor's cruelty, and the sickening realization that nothing around me was as simple as it seemed.

If Victor was offering a reward, then Dominic didn't move me because of Liam. So why did he lie? To make me hate Liam?

I would have loved to run away from this city-from all the drama-but I had no money. Victor never allowed me to have an account of my own. Everything was just so frustrating. 

***

The next morning, Dominic came by with food and he looked really tired. I confronted him about the announcement, but he ignored me. 

He didn't even ask how I knew about it.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I persisted. His jaw tightened and he didn't answer right away.

"I'm protecting you," he finally said.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you need."

Frustration bubbled up, but I let it go. If that's how he was going to act, fine.

"Well, I did some thinking over the night. And I need to start applying for jobs."

"No," he said flatly.

What?

"You don't need to work," Dominic continued. "I'll take care of everything."

"I don't want to be taken care of," I snapped.

His eyes darkened. "This isn't up for discussion."

Anger bubbled inside me. What exactly was his problem?  

"Then at least buy me a phone. I can't keep living cut off from the world," I finally said. I had left my purse at the banquet that night, and I needed a new phone.

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded once. And later that day, a brand-new phone was placed on my bed while I was in the shower.

***

Some days passed, and I hadn't gotten any luck from job applications. Once I sent my resume, I never got an answer back. And I knew it was because of Victor.

Using my maiden name didn't free me from his clutches. And I was still hiding out in the house Dominic rented for me.

Finally, I took Liam's business card that I had tucked inside the drawer and stared at it for a long time before finally texting the number.

-Hi, Mr. Kingsley. This is Evelyn. I need a job.

His reply came less than an hour later: Check your email.

My heart raced as I opened it and saw that I had an interview with Kings Group Headquarters the next day. 

But that happiness was short lived when I found out that I had started trending on twitter; because an anonymous account had leaked my nudes.