Taming Domenico

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

DOMENICO

I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming against the armrest as I watched the screen in front of me. The video played, grainy but clear enough. The angle was perfect—one of my men had positioned himself directly behind her, the tiny recorder on his shirt capturing every second of it.

And f**k, what a sight it was.

She didn’t hesitate. Not for a second.

The gunshot rang out, sharp and final. Blood splattered across her beautiful dark skin, a violent contrast against her smooth complexion. And then—

She laughed.

Low at first, like she wasn’t even aware she was doing it. Then louder, full-bodied, a sound that sent something hot curling through my chest. It wasn’t hysteria. It wasn’t regret.

She was enjoying this.

“Damn,” Matteo muttered beside me, letting out a low whistle. “Didn’t think she had it in her.”

I exhaled, leaning forward, elbows on my knees. I rewound the footage, watching it again. The moment the bullet tore through him. The flicker in her eyes. The blood on her cheek.

I wanted to lick it off her face.

I gritted my teeth, shaking my head. The f**k is wrong with you, Domenico? I wasn’t some f*****g teenager losing my mind over a woman. But something about her—something about the way she moved, the way she pulled that trigger without a second thought—had my blood running hot.

“Boss,” Matteo nudged me with his elbow, grinning like a damn i***t. “You look like you just fell in love.”

I shot him a glare, but he only laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying. I’ve seen that look before. You’re intrigued.”

“Shut the f**k up.”

He snickered. “Whatever you say, capo. But I bet you watch that clip at least ten more times before the night is over.”

I ignored him, turning my attention back to the screen. Zachary lay crumpled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him. f*****g i***t. He had owed me money. That’s why I was even there in the first place. But finding Maureen? That had been a surprise. A beautiful, twisted surprise.

I watched as she stepped over the body like it was nothing, chest rising and falling with exhilaration. Her fingers still gripped the gun, her lips parted, her eyes—

Those f*****g eyes.

Matteo let out another laugh, and I realized my fingers had curled into fists. Damn it.

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to relax. “She’s got potential,” I said, voice even.

Matteo smirked. “That’s one way to put it.”

“I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“Uh-huh. You gonna watch her? Or watch her?” He wiggled his eyebrows, and I rolled my eyes, shoving him lightly.

“Do you want to be f*****g murdered?”

He grinned. “Not today. But seriously, boss. What’s the plan?”

I leaned back again, stretching my legs out. “She doesn’t know she was being recorded.”

Matteo raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“And that means she thinks no one saw what she did.”

His smirk widened. “You gonna let her think that?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, I let my eyes drift back to the frozen frame on the screen. To her.

To the blood on her skin. The thrill in her expression.

I ran my tongue over my teeth, amusement curling in my chest. No, I thought, I’m not going to let her think that.

I was going to let her know.

And I couldn’t f*****g wait to see the look on her face when she realized it.

The moment she stepped into my office, I was already waiting. Leaning back in my chair, I clapped slowly, my eyes locked onto hers. Her confusion was instant, her brows furrowing as she looked at me like I had lost my mind.

I smirked, then turned the tablet on my desk toward her. The screen flickered, revealing the recording. The moment. Her moment. The gunshot. The blood. The way she had stood there, frozen for just a second, before that laugh—low, breathy, almost unhinged—had spilled from her lips.

She stilled, her body tense as her gaze stayed locked on the screen. Then, slowly, she lifted her head, and our eyes met.

A blush.

My smirk deepened. “Didn’t take you for the shy type, tesoro.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “You recorded me?”

“Not personally.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk. “But I like to keep an eye on my investments.”

She scoffed. “Investment?”

“Oh, don’t look so offended. You just gave me the best show I’ve had in years. I think it’s only fair I get front-row seats.”

Her jaw clenched, but there was no real anger in her eyes. No disgust. Just something sharp, something unreadable.

I glanced back at the screen, at the way the blood had splattered across her face. “Red looks good on you, you know,” I said, my voice dropping just a fraction. “Brings out the fire in your eyes.”

She blinked, her lips parting slightly.

Shit. Why did I say that?

Something about her messed with my head in a way I didn’t like. The control I usually prided myself on? It was slipping.

Clearing my throat, I leaned back again, waving a hand dismissively. “You’ll get your revenge soon.”

She studied me, like she was trying to read between the lines of what I had just said. “Soon?”

A slow nod. “Very soon.”

She didn’t push. Smart girl. Instead, she gave me one last lingering look before turning on her heel and walking out.

The door clicked shut behind her, and I exhaled, rubbing a hand down my face. f*****g hell. What is it about her?

The sound of another door opening made me glance up. Matteo stepped in, his usual cocky grin already in place.

“Well?” I said, arching a brow.

He let out a low whistle. “I gotta say, boss, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

I glared. “Had what in me?”

He flopped into the chair across from me, arms crossed behind his head. “To be completely mesmerized by a woman who just painted herself in blood.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not mesmerized.”

Matteo snorted. “Right. That’s why you were staring at her like you wanted to devour her and lick the blood off her skin.”

I tensed. “You’re pushing it.”

He grinned. “I’m just saying, it’s not every day you get all poetic about a woman’s eyes. Or her… what was it? Fire?”

I shot him a glare, and he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. On to business, then.”

“Finally.”

He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “We’ve got a lead. Tracked down Zachary and Jane.”

A slow smile spread across my face. “Where?”

“Not far. They think they’re safe, but they’re careless.”

I tapped a finger against my desk, considering. I could move now. Take them. End it.

But where was the fun in that?

I met Matteo’s gaze. “Leave them.”

His brows shot up. “Leave them?”

I nodded, my grin widening. “For now.”

Matteo studied me for a second before shaking his head wit

h a chuckle. “You really do love the game, don’t you?”

I didn’t answer. I just leaned back, the anticipation settling deep in my bones.

Soon.