DeLuca’s Claim

CHAPTER 2

Dominic’s POV

The warehouse was quiet as usual, filled with the smell of blood and sweat, one I despised but was already used to.

My lips curled up in disgust as I looked at the bloodied man kneeling in front of me. He trembled with fear because he knew he had been found out and there was no escape, especially not from me.

“You knew the terms” I said, my voice low and quiet as it rang through the room.

He shook his head quickly in panic,

“Please, I can explain!”

“Hmm, you’ve done enough”

I stared blankly at the man before me, silence filled the room as everyone waited for my decision, holding their breath,

“Get rid of him”

My voice sounded calm, like I wasn’t ordering for the death of another human being. His desperate pleas fell on deaf ears, he knew what he was getting into before he decided to cross me.

Beside me, Raffaele looked amused as he chuckled quietly, I knew he enjoyed the thrill that came from killing as much as I did.

As soon as I stepped into the hallway, the noise behind me became distant. With unhurried steps, I walked into the quiet of my office. My life had always been surrounded by deals, numbers and signatures but today felt different. I was distracted and I could feel it, something I couldn’t afford to let myself feel because in this world, distractions get a person killed.

As I began signing off shipments, I felt my thoughts drift to the girl from the hospital. She looked at me like she could see the shadows I’ve tried so hard to bury and instead of fear, she looked at me with curiosity.

Lost in thought, I didn’t hear the sound of the doors open as my secretary stepped in, she looked everywhere else but at me and spoke in a hesitant but careful voice.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you sir, but you have a meeting in the next thirty minutes”

I gave a curt nod and waved her off as I picked up my phone and briefly looked at the screen before dialing the number. It only rang once.

“Find her” My voice came out sharper than I intended

“Who?”

I let out a deep breath, “The girl from the hospital”

The other end of the line was filled with silence for a few seconds

“It will be done” I ended the call without another word.

Returning to the documents in front of me, all filled with things I understood and could control, the door to my office was pushed open. I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.

She strutted in, slowly but confidently like she actually belonged here. A scandalous dress hugged her figure leaving out very little to the imagination.

My face hardened immediately, giving her a blank expression that gave nothing away as I leaned back into my chair.

“Baby” Her voice rang out through the quiet room as i regarded her with cold, calculating eyes.

“What are you doing here?” She looked at me with a slight smirk tugging on her lips.

“Still straight to the point as always” I did not reply but observed her quietly.

In short strides, she closed the distance between us like she had done so many times in the past. Her fingers trailing and rubbing along my chest as she tried to get a reaction out of me.

Before she could grab my crotch, I caught her wrists and held on, not too tight but firm enough to hurt and make her feel pain.

“Get out” A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes but she recovered quickly and gave me a smile in return.

“Still so sexy even when angry”

Our eyes clashed as she gave me a look, one that I fell in love with but looking at it now made me feel nothing but disgust.

Her voice dropped into a whisper as her lips brushed against my ear,

“You can’t resist me for too long. You were never able to do that”

My grip on her wrist tightened. Her face twisted in pain as I finally let go and pushed her hand away like it was dirt.

“Things have changed” A flicker of hurt passed through her eyes but as always she was quick to cover it with a smile. Pulling her dress down and running her fingers over it,

“I’ll be back” she said, voice firm and filled with confidence as she turned and walked away. The door closed behind her loudly and once again, silence filled the room.

Raffaele walked in a minute later, an amused smile on his face like he knew what had already happened. I glared at him, and didn't bother hiding my irritation at his presence.

“So, Elara huh?” He said in a cheeky tone as he wiggled his eyebrows. He looked so comical, anyone would actually have a hard time believing that he kills people.

“Why are you here Raffaele?” I asked and his face became serious, all playfulness from before gone.

“I noticed something wrong with the financial records of the strip club, it doesn’t add up.

My eyes twitched in anger as I spoke, “Which one?”

“The vixen” he said in a measured tone but there was an edge behind it.

“Handle it”

If there was one thing I don’t joke about, it was business and everyone working for me knew it.

“Yes Boss”

Stepping forward, he placed a file on my desk. I briefly looked at him as I picked it up, turning it over, I realized it was the details of the girl I requested.

Going through her details carefully, two things caught my attention, where she worked and she had a sick mother.

I smirked as I read through forgetting about Raffaele until he let out a low snort reminding me of his presence. My gaze hardened instantly as I turned to look at him. He lifted his hands in the air with a smile as he walked out muttering under his breath.

“Stronzo” (asshole)

Later that evening as I drove home, my thoughts unconsciously drifted to her,

“Valentina Moretti” Her name alone sounded like a prayer on my lips as I whispered it into the quiet space.

I made a detour to the strip club, the vixen. As soon as I arrived, the air shifted. People became more aware of my presence as security paved the way for me. Being escorted to the VIP section, I took in my surroundings, my eyes subtly searching for her. And finally I saw her attending to someone. The outfit she wore clinging to her body and showing off her beautiful curves as she gave out a lazy but tired smile.

As I looked at her, I realized that there was something about her that pulled me in. Maybe it was how she looked at me like she understands me without fear or it was something else.

But one thing that is certain, she was already mine whether she knows it or not.