Taming Domenico

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

"You want me to go on a mission?" I asked, my tone bitter, as I stared Domenico down.

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable but for the slight quirk of his lips. "Yes. Is that a problem, Maureen?"

I crossed my arms, glancing down at the tailored black dress and designer heels they had so thoughtfully provided me. They’d shopped for me, dressed me up, even replaced my phone. On the outside, I looked like the wealthy, confident woman I was supposed to be. But on the inside? I was a tangled mess of confusion and fear.

"A problem?" I snapped. "You just explained this whole… operation to me yesterday, and now you want me to jump headfirst into some life-or-death mission? I don’t even know what I’m doing!"

Domenico’s gray eyes narrowed slightly, the flicker of amusement gone in an instant. "This isn’t a request, Maureen. Consider it your initiation."

"Initiation?" I laughed bitterly. "What happened to easing me into this world? Maybe letting me figure out if I even belong here?"

"This mission is to determine if you belong here," he said sharply. His voice was calm, measured, but the underlying authority was impossible to ignore.

I clenched my fists. "And if I fail?"

Domenico smirked, a dangerous curve of his lips that made my skin crawl. "You won’t. Because failure isn’t an option."

I glared at him, the audacity of this man pushing me to the edge. "You don’t even know me! I’m not—"

"You’re not what?" he interrupted, his tone colder now. "Not strong enough? Not capable? Not angry enough to do what needs to be done?"

I fell silent, his words hitting too close to home.

Domenico stood, walking around the desk until he was standing right in front of me. He reached out, tilting my chin up so I had no choice but to meet his gaze. "This isn’t just about proving yourself to me, Maureen. This is about proving yourself to yourself. If you can’t do this, then you’ll never be able to take revenge on the people who betrayed you."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in.

"What… what exactly do you want me to do?" I asked finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

He released my chin, stepping back as if satisfied with my compliance. "Simple. You’ll collect a debt from a man who owes me a significant amount of money. And then you’ll kill him."

My stomach dropped. "Kill him?"

"Yes," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I shook my head, backing away. "No. I can’t do that. I’m not a killer!"

"You weren’t a fighter either," he pointed out, his tone maddeningly calm. "But look where you are now. You’re stronger than you think, Maureen. All you need is the right push."

I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand to stop me.

"You won’t be alone," he said. "I’ll send backup with you. If anything goes wrong, they’ll step in and handle it. But you’ll be the one to make the call. You’ll be the one to pull the trigger."

My heart raced, the thought of taking someone’s life turning my stomach. "Why me? Why not just send your men to do it?"

"Because I need to know if you’re capable," Domenico said simply. "I need to know if you’re willing to do whatever it takes to survive in this world. If you can’t… then there’s no place for you here."

I hesitated.

"Do you want revenge or not, Maureen?" he asked, his tone softer now but no less insistent.

I bit my lip, my hands trembling. "Yes," I said finally. "I want revenge."

"Good," he said, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. He motioned to one of his men, who stepped forward and handed me a sleek black gun.

I stared at it, my breath catching in my throat.

"Take it," Domenico said.

With shaking hands, I reached out and took the gun, the cold metal sending a chill down my spine.

"You’ll have everything you need," he said. "My men will drive you to the location and wait outside. Once you’re in, it’s up to you."

I nodded, my mind racing as I tried to prepare myself for what was about to happen.

One of Domenico’s men opened the door for me, and I stepped outside, the cool night air hitting my skin. A sleek black car was waiting for me, its engine already running.

Domenico followed me to the car, his eyes never leaving me. Just as I was about to get in, he leaned in close, his voice low and dangerous.

"Remember, Maureen," he said, his lips curving into that unsettling smirk again. "This is just the beginning."

I shivered, his words ringing in my ears as I climbed into the car.

The drive to the location was tense, the silence broken only by the hum of the engine. When we arrived, I stepped out of the car and found myself in front of a run-down building, the stench of alcohol and smoke heavy in the air.

Prostitutes lingered outside, their laughter echoing through the night as they flirted with men passing by. My heart pounded as I approached the entrance, the weight of the gun in my bag feeling heavier with each step.

I glanced back at the car, where Domenico’s men sat waiting. One of them nodded at me, a silent reminder that they were there if I needed them.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The moment I stepped into the building, the stench of alcohol and sweat hit me like a wave. The low hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter echoed through the dimly lit hallway. My heels clicked against the floor as I walked toward the office at the end of the hall.

Two burly guards stood in front of the door, their arms crossed and their eyes narrowing as I approached.

"You lost, lady?" one of them sneered, his gaze trailing over me like I was some sort of joke.

"I’m exactly where I need to be," I said coldly, my fingers tightening around the gun hidden in my bag.

The other guard chuckled, stepping forward to block my path. "You sure about that? This ain’t a place for a woman like you. Why don’t you run along before you get hurt?"

My heart pounded, but something inside me snapped. I didn’t have time for fear.

"Move," I said, my voice steady. "Or I’ll make you move."

The first guard barked out a laugh. "And how exactly are you gonna do that? You’re just a—"

I pulled out the gun in one swift motion, aiming it directly at his chest. "Try me," I hissed.

For a moment, there was silence. Then they both laughed, a deep, mocking sound that made my blood boil.

"You’re kidding, right?" one of them said, shaking his head.

Before he could say another word, I pulled the trigger, the sound deafening in the enclosed space. The bullet hit his leg, and he crumpled to the ground with a scream.

The second guard lunged toward me, but I spun around and shot him in the knee, the recoil jolting through my arm. He collapsed, clutching his leg and cursing loudly.

My hands were shaking, and my ears were ringing, but I didn’t have time to think about what I’d just done.

"I told you to move," I said, stepping over their writhing bodies.

I shoved the office door open, my gun raised as I stepped inside.

Behind a large, cluttered desk sat a man with a greasy smile and a cigar hanging from his lips. He looked up at me, his eyes narrowing before widening in surprise.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," he said, leaning back in his chair. "Domenico sent a woman to collect from me? What a joke."

I clenched my jaw, taking a step closer. "Don Domenico wants his money. I’m here to collect."

The man barked out a laugh, shaking his head. "You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But this? This is pathetic. Tell Domenico to send someone who can actually—"

I fired a shot, the bullet grazing his shoulder and making him yelp in pain.

"Do I look like I’m joking?" I said, my voice trembling with adrenaline.

He clutched his arm, his face twisted in anger and disbelief. "You little—"

I stepped closer, slamming the heel of my shoe onto his desk. "Where’s the money?"

He glared at me, breathing heavily. "You think I’m just going to hand it over to you?"

Without thinking, I shot him in the other arm. He screamed, falling out of his chair and onto the floor.

"Where’s the money?" I demanded, my voice rising.

He groaned, his body trembling as he pointed toward a safe in the corner of the room. "It’s… it’s in there. The money’s in there."

"Open it," I ordered, keeping the gun trained on him.

He struggled to his feet, staggering toward the safe. His hands shook as he entered the combination, the sound of the lock clicking open echoing in the room.

"There," he said, stepping back. "Take it. Take it and go."

I grabbed the bag of cash from the safe, but as I turned around, I caught a glint of metal in his hand.

In an instant, he raised a gun, aiming it at me with a desperate look in his eyes.

"You’re not walking out of here alive," he spat.

I didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate. I raised my gun and fired, the bullet hitting him square in the forehead.

The sound of the gunshot was deafening, and for a moment, everything was still. His body collapsed to the floor, blood pooling around him and splattering onto my face.

I stood there, frozen, staring at what I’d done.

Then, without warning, a laugh bubbled up from my chest. It started low, but it grew louder and louder until it echoed through the room.

So this is power.