Chapter 7 – Into the Lion’s Den
1078 Words
Elena had never ridden in silence this heavy before.
The black SUV sped down the private road, the windows tinted, Dominic’s men following closely behind in two more cars. Dominic sat beside her, one arm resting on the seat behind her shoulders—not touching, but close enough that she felt the heat of him.
Close enough that she didn’t feel alone.
He hadn’t said a word since they left her apartment, but the tension rolling off him spoke volumes.
“Are you angry?” she finally whispered.
Dominic turned his head slightly. His jaw was tight, eyes fixed forward. “At the situation.”
“Not at me?”
“No,” he said quietly. “Never at you.”
Her heart jumped—unexpectedly, annoyingly.
She pressed her palms together. “I’m not trying to cause trouble.”
“You didn’t,” he murmured. “Someone else did. Someone who’s going to regret it.”
The SUV turned sharply, entering a long private driveway lined with tall iron gates. Elena inhaled sharply as the mansion came into view.
Calling it a mansion was an understatement.
It was enormous—an estate carved into the hillside, surrounded by forest, stone walls, guards, and surveillance towers. Powerful, intimidating… cold.
But strangely beautiful.
Dominic watched her reaction carefully. “Too much?”
“It looks like a movie set,” she breathed.
He smirked faintly. “You’ll get used to it.”
She doubted that.
The car stopped. One of the men opened the door for her, but Dominic stepped out first, extending his hand to her. His palm was large, warm, steady.
She hesitated—just a second.
Then she placed her hand in his.
His fingers closed around hers with a certainty that sent a strange warmth through her stomach.
The air outside was crisp, quiet. Too quiet.
As the guards bowed slightly at Dominic in respect, Elena swallowed.
*This is his world.*
*Mafia. Power. Control.*
*And now… her world too.*
Dominic led her inside, his hand still holding hers like he refused to let go. The interior was elegant but intimidating—dark marble, glass, soft gold lighting. It felt both luxurious and isolating.
“Dominic…” she whispered, stopping in the hallway. “I don’t belong here.”
He turned to her fully.
“You belong where I can keep you safe,” he said simply.
“That’s not the same thing.”
“It is to me.”
She opened her mouth, but his expression shifted—softening in a way that reached straight into her chest.
“Elena,” he said quietly, “I know this is overwhelming. I know you feel out of place. But I need you to trust me.”
She searched his eyes. “Why me?”
His breath left him in a slow exhale, almost as if the answer was heavy.
“Because,” he said, voice low, “when I look at you… something in me calms.”
Her lips parted in surprise.
“And that hasn’t happened in my entire life,” he finished softly.
Before she could respond, a woman’s voice echoed through the hall.
“Well, well… so this is the girl.”
Elena stiffened.
A tall, striking woman approached—raven hair, red lips, heels that clicked sharply against the floor. Confidence dripped from her like perfume.
Dominic sighed. “Camila. Not now.”
Camila ignored him, circling Elena like a fox examining a rabbit.
“She’s pretty,” Camila hummed. “Much… softer than I imagined.”
Elena blinked. “Um… thank you?”
Camila smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, sweetheart, that wasn’t a compliment.”
Dominic stepped forward instantly, positioning himself between them. “Enough. She’s my responsibility.”
Camila raised a brow. “Responsibility? Is that what we’re calling it now?”
“Camila,” he warned.
She clicked her tongue. “Relax, cousin. I’m only curious why the most feared man in the city brought home a little office worker like she’s made of gold.”
Elena flushed. “I didn’t ask to be brought here—”
“Oh, I know,” Camila cut in smoothly. “You don’t look stupid.”
Dominic’s voice dropped. “Say one more thing and you’re leaving.”
Camila smirked, clearly amused. “I’ll behave. For now.”
She winked at Elena. “Welcome to the lion’s den, sweetheart.”
Then she walked off, hips swaying like she owned the world.
Elena released a shaky breath. “She… really doesn’t like me.”
“She doesn’t know you,” Dominic corrected. “And she likes provoking me.”
“Well, she’s good at it.”
A small, frustrated sound escaped Dominic. “I should have warned you about her.”
“It’s fine,” Elena said quietly. “I’ve dealt with worse.”
Dominic frowned. “Not in *my* house.”
He gently touched her elbow. “Come. You need to see your room.”
He led her upstairs to a spacious room overlooking the forest. It was beautiful, warm, surprisingly soft compared to the rest of the estate.
Elena turned slowly. “This… this is for me?”
“For as long as you stay.”
She bit her lip. “And how long will that be?”
Dominic stepped closer—too close. “Until it’s safe.”
“And when is that?”
“When the person hunting you is gone.”
Her breath caught.
She whispered, “Dominic… what if they don’t stop?”
He leaned in, his voice a low promise. “Then I won’t stop either.”
Her heartbeat stumbled, unsteady.
He brushed a stray hair from her face, fingers lingering for a second too long. “Rest. I’ll have someone bring you food.”
“Dominic,” she said softly, before she could think.
He paused in the doorway. “Yes?”
“Thank you… for protecting me.”
His expression shifted—something warm flickering in his eyes.
“I don’t protect you because I have to, Elena,” he said quietly. “I protect you because I want to.”
Then he left, closing the door gently behind him.
Elena pressed a hand over her heart, trying to calm its wild pace.
Because for the first time…
She wasn’t sure if the danger chasing her was the outside world—
Or the man she was beginning to fall for.
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