RUTHLESS DEVOTION: THE EMPIRE BETWEEN US

SECRETS AND SCARS

Early the next morning, Dominic strode down the VIP wing of his hospital, discharge papers gripped in his hand. Behind him trailed the Salvatore brothers-Damien, Debrin, and Dane.

They walked with the effortless, dangerous grace of men who owned the city, their eyes gleaming with amusement. They were dying to meet the woman who had finally brought the ruthless, unshakeable Lowin Vance to his knees. But as Dominic approached the private waiting lounge, he halted. The corridor was eerily quiet.

"How is this love-struck i***t not here yet?" Dominic muttered, checking his watch.

"I've been ringing his cell," Debrin said, a smirk playing on his lips. "He's completely MIA."

Dane leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "You don't think he went after Justin the second he got released, do you?"

"No," Damien replied, his voice dark and measured. "Lowin is smarter than that. Maybe the bastard is finally sleeping."

The heavy black-suited guards stationed outside the door straightened instantly, bowing their heads in respect. Dominic ignored them, pushing the door open and stepping inside. He slammed it shut behind him, leaving the Salvatores in the lounge.

Dominic turned around, and his boots froze against the polished floor.

Lowin Vance wasn't late. He was right here.

Right inside Dominic's hospital, tangled in the hospital sheets, with Dominic's patient trapped securely in his arms. Both of them were fast asleep, the steady rise and fall of their chests perfectly in sync.

Dominic's jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked. Lowin had sneaked into his ward, past his security, and spent the night in a patient's bed without his permission. He couldn't believe the sheer audacity. Dominic couldn't wait to sign these discharge papers, if he didn't get this woman out of his hospital today, he was going to murder his own cousin for failing to keep his inner beast in check.

Clicking his tongue in pure irritation, Dominic whipped the door open and stormed back out to the guards.

"Who pays your salary?" Dominic snapped, his voice a low, lethal whisper.

The guards blinked, caught off guard. "It's you, Boss..."

"Then why," Dominic hissed, leaning in, "is Lowin Vance inside my ward, sleeping like he's checked into a five-star presidential suite?"

The guard swallowed hard, shifting on his feet. "Well, sir... he came in incredibly late last night. We-we didn't think it would be a problem."

Dominic ran a hand through his hair, a volatile mix of exhaustion and rage boiling over.

Behind him, Debrin burst into a loud, booming laugh. "So you're telling me the mighty Lowin Vance is in there cuddling at this hour? Unbelievable."

Dominic cursed violently under his breath.

"Just wake them up, Doc," Dane chuckled, nudging Dominic's shoulder. "I'm dying to meet the future Mrs. Vance."

Dominic pointed a fierce finger at his own chest. "Me? Wake them up? If I go back in there, I might actually strangle him to death. I told him to wait until she recovered, but the bastard sneaked in anyway."

---

Inside the quiet room, the heavy atmosphere of the hallway didn't penetrate. But Lowin's internal clock did. His eyes snapped open. He glanced down at the heavy Rolex on his wrist, and his heart gave a rare, violent thud.

Fuck.

He knew Dominic would kill him the second he walked through that door. What he didn't know was that Dominic was already outside, pacing a hole into the floor.

Moving with silent precision, Lowin carefully slid his muscular arm from beneath Amilah, ensuring he didn't disturb her deep sleep. He looked down at her pale, beautiful face, his chest tightening with an overwhelming wave of possessiveness. Bending down, he pressed a lingering, soft kiss to her forehead, inhaling her sweet, calming scent.

He quickly slid into his trousers, buttoning his crisp white shirt halfway, and grabbed his tailored suit jacket.

The moment he threw the door open, he came face-to-face with Dominic's murderous glare.

"Well," Dominic drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "The mighty Lowin Vance is finally awake."

Lowin didn't blink. "Good morning to you too, Dom."

"You couldn't keep your beast in check for one more day?" Dominic stepped into his space, his voice dropping into a harsh whisper. "You turned my medical ward into a lover's playground?"

A slow, wicked smirk crept onto Lowin's face as memories of the previous night flashed behind his eyes. The way she had clung to him. The torment he had endured just to hold her close.

"You should be nagging your patient, not me," Lowin murmured, brushing past his cousin.

"Now you're blaming her for your complete lack of self-control?" Dominic snapped, following him.

Lowin threw his jacket over a chair in the lounge and sat down, completely unfazed. "Dom, I told you to get yourself a woman. Stop being so damn worked up so early in the morning." He glanced up at the Salvatores. "Good morning."

The Salvatores responded with a collective nod, their sharp eyes dissecting his relaxed posture.

Lowin raised an eyebrow. "What? Are you all here to nag me too?"

"Not at all," Damien said smoothly.

"We are just here to see a patient," Debrin added, his eyes dancing with mischief.

Lowin's eyes narrowed. "What patient?"

Dane smirked. "The patient you're apparently mishandling, Mr. Vance."

Lowin rolled his eyes, leaning back. "I hope you're here to sign the discharge papers, Dom. I'm taking her home today."

"You are infuriating," Dominic groaned. "Your psychotic brother Justin knows she exists, he's out there lurking, and you're sitting here acting like everything is fine."

Lowin's expression hardened, the warmth instantly draining from his eyes. "Dom. Please. Not now."

Dominic felt a sudden, violent urge to beat his cousin to a pulp. Lowin was taking Justin's threat way too lightly. And worst of all? Lowin had absolutely no idea about the real ticking time bomb. Amilah hadn't told him about the baby yet.

Dominic rubbed the bridge of his nose, the weight of the secret crushing him. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked back into Amilah's room, closing the door behind him.

He pulled up a chair next to her bed and sat down in the quiet room.

He watched her sleep. She looked so innocent, so blissfully unaware of the dark storm gathering around her. She had no idea why there were heavy guards outside her door. Dominic's chest ached with pity. These two idiots were madly in love, but the danger surrounding them was mutating by the hour. She was caught in a lethal blood feud between two brothers and she was carrying the secret Vance heir. A baby the Vance empire didn't know existed.

How much longer can I keep her secret? Dominic thought, his conscience tearing him apart.

Unable to bring himself to wake her from her peace, he stood up and walked back out.

Lowin stood up the moment the door clicked. "Tell me I can take her home."

"Call me when she wakes up," Dominic said flatly, his face a masked wall as he strode past them down the hallway toward his office.

Damien frowned. "I thought he went in there to wake her?"

Lowin didn't answer. He stared intently at his cousin's retreating figure. Suspicion coiled tight in his gut. Dominic had been acting strange, overly protective, and incredibly tense whenever Amilah was mentioned.

Is he hiding something from me about her health? A dark, uneasy feeling clawed at Lowin's chest. An instinct he couldn't explain.

---

Inside the ward, Amilah woke up with a violent gasp. A sudden, aggressive wave of nausea hit her like a physical blow. Panting, she threw back the sheets, her bare feet hitting the cold floor as she sprinted into the bathroom. She dropped to her knees before the toilet, vomiting her guts out until her ribs ached.

Tears scalded her eyes. Trembling, she pressed a shaky hand against her flat stomach.

"Please, baby," she whispered, her voice breaking in the empty bathroom. "Don't give mommy a hard time. She has so much to take care of... and daddy can't know about you yet. So please, listen to mommy."

A lone tear slipped down her cheek. She had desperately wanted to go back home to her parents the second she was discharged. She wanted the safety of her childhood bedroom. But then she remembered Victoria. That witch. Amilah's hands curled into tight fists. She had to teach Victoria a lesson, and she refused to let her parents worry or get dragged into this mess.

Suddenly, the scent of expensive cologne and cedar wood hit her nose, lingering on her own skin. Lowin. He had spent the night. He had held her.

Panic flared. She couldn't let him see her like this. She couldn't let him see the tracks of her tears.

Amilah quickly stood up, stripping out of her hospital gown, and stepped into the large glass shower. She turned the handle, letting the scalding water splash over her face, drowning out her quiet sobs.

Outside in the lounge, the heavy double doors swung open. Daniella, Annah, and Jared arrived, arms loaded with premium catering bags and a fresh change of designer clothes for Amilah.

Daniella stopped dead in her tracks, surprised to see Lowin's entire inner circle already gathered.

"Son!" Daniella marched straight up to Lowin, setting the bags down. "How did it go down at the police station? You never answered a single one of my calls, you little brat!"

Lowin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mom, I told you not to worry. I have it completely under control."

Jared Vance stepped forward, his voice stern but carrying the heavy weight of a father's concern. "You should at least answer your phone, Lowin."

"I was busy, Dad."

"Oh, don't worry, Uncle," Dane chimed in from the couch, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "He was incredibly busy making you some grandchildren. Dominic is currently raging because Lowin harassed his patient all night."

Lowin's jaw tightened. He was completely speechless. They were all standing here branding him a beast, when his sweet little bird was the one who had practically tormented him last night.

Smack!

Daniella hit his muscular shoulder hard. Lowin didn't even flinch.

"Are you insane?!" Daniella scolded, her eyes wide. "She is a recovering patient! You are supposed to protect her, not behave so shamelessly!"

Beside them, Annah buried her face in her arms, giggling uncontrollably. She already adored the idea of Amilah as her sister-in-law. Eager to see her, Annah turned and sprinted toward the ward door.

"Hold it right there, kid."

A cold, authoritative voice cut through the lounge. Dominic had returned.

Annah spun around, her chest heaving with instant irritation. "Stop calling me a kid, you crazy doctor!"

Dominic didn't even look at her, his expression grim. "Oh, really? You're a kid to me. Get out of my way."

Lowin stepped in front of the door. "I don't think she's awake yet, Dom. You all should wait until she's up."

Dominic glared at his cousin, his eyes flashing with a dangerous secret knowledge. "And whose fault is that? I can't wait for all of you to leave my hospital."

Dominic clicked his tongue, forcefully pushing the door open and shutting it firmly behind him, locking the family out.

He stepped into the private suite, expecting to see her asleep. But the bed was empty. The sheets were tossed aside.

Dominic's eyes scanned the room. She wasn't in the small living area either. His gaze landed on the closed bathroom door. He walked over, his chest tightening, and knocked gently.

No response.

His heart skipped a dangerous beat. He leaned closer, his voice dropping its harsh edge. "Amilah? Are you okay in there?"

Inside the shower, lost in the roar of the running water and the heavy fog of her own thoughts, Amilah heard nothing.

Dominic listened intently. He could clearly hear the water rushing against the tiles, but there was a deafening silence underneath it. No movement. No answer.

A cold dread seized him. He whipped around, threw the ward door open, and roared into the lounge.

"Get your ass in here, motherfucker!"

The sheer panic in Dominic's voice cut through the room like a knife. Lowin's posture altered instantly. The relaxed alpha vanished, replaced by a deadly, terrified predator.

"Did something happen?" Lowin demanded, his voice dropping an octave.

"Just come!" Dominic snapped.

Lowin charged past him, his heart hammering against his ribs like a caged animal. He stormed into the room and arrived at the bathroom door. He knocked violently. "Amilah!"

Nothing.

Without hesitation, Lowin grabbed the handle. The lock clicked open. He threw the door aside and stepped into the steam-filled, massive bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him to shield her from Dominic's view.

Through the dense, thick fog of steam, his eyes locked onto the frosted glass of the shower.

Lowin stepped forward, his breath catching in his throat, and slid the glass door wide open.

There she stood. Completely bare, the warm water cascading over her glistening skin. Amilah stood motionless, the water streaming down her face, looking entirely lost to the world. Seeing her like this so fragile, so visibly weighed down, Lowin felt a sudden, sharp ache in his chest. A fierce pang of heartbreak tore through him. What the hell is bothering her?

He couldn't stand the distance between them for another second.

Moving with quiet intensity, Lowin shed his trousers and shirt, letting them fall carelessly to the tiled floor. He stepped over the threshold into the glass enclosure. Coming up directly behind her, he wrapped his heavy, muscular arms around her waist, pulling her cold body flush against his heat.

Amilah gasped, her entire body jolting at the sudden contact. She whipped her head around, her wide, startled eyes locking onto his.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Lowin murmured against her ear, his deep voice vibrating through the steam. "Mind sharing what's on your mind?"

Amilah's eyelashes fluttered as panic seized her. Her mind raced, desperately searching for a believable lie. She wasn't ready to share what was truly tearing her apart not right now. Not when he was already buried under a high-profile murder investigation.

"It's nothing," she whispered, looking away. "Just... thinking about work."

Lowin's grip tightened imperceptibly. He leaned down, his lips brushing the wet skin of her shoulder. "Why do I feel like my little bird is hiding something from me?"

Amilah's heart skipped a violent beat. He knew. Or, at least, his instincts knew. She was hiding the biggest secret of their lives, terrified of how a powerful, dangerous man like Lowin Vance would react to finding out she was pregnant with his child.

"I... I need a change of clothes," she stammered, trying to wiggle out of his grasp. "Now that I'm finally being discharged."

"Answer my question first," Lowin commanded smoothly, his tone laced with a possessive authority that brooked no argument.

Amilah swallowed hard, forcing a mask of defiance over her face. "I'm not hiding anything from you, Mr. Vance."

Lowin's dark brows snapped up in surprise, his eyes darkening with a dangerous glint. "Mr. Vance?" He let out a low, rough chuckle. "I thought our relationship had already progressed past official titles, sweetheart. I distinctly remember warning you never to call me that again."

"I-"

Her breath was instantly stolen away. Lowin cut her off, capturing her lips in a wild, intoxicating kiss that left her mind completely blank. It was a punishing, desperate kiss, filled with all the unspoken passion and fear he was harboring for her.

When he finally pulled back, Amilah was breathless, clinging to his chest for support.

"Amy, it's time you get what I'm about to say permanently through your head," Lowin growled softly, framing her wet face with his large hands. "I love you so much. And it damn well hurts me when you pull away after everything we've been through. I'm not here for fun. I'm here to take care of you. To love you. To protect you."

His thumb brushed a stray tear from her cheek, blending it with the shower water.

"So please, stop with this nonsense," he pleaded, his voice cracking with rare vulnerability. "One minute you're pouncing on me, and the next you're running away. I am here to stay, Amy. I'm not leaving you. Even if you want to leave me, I won't let you go."

Amilah's eyes welled with fresh tears. Her soul desperately wanted to believe every beautiful word dropping from his lips. But after all the betrayals and the secrets, a dark voice inside her whispered: What if this is a lie, too?

Lowin saw the agonizing silence stretch between them. He groaned, pulling her tightly against his chest, burying his face in her wet hair. "Amy, I don't know what's locked inside your head. If you don't tell me, how the hell am I supposed to be there for you?"

Amilah squeezed her eyes shut, unable to handle the emotional pressure cook of the small space. "Can we talk about this another time? I'm... I'm hungry."

Lowin let out a heavy, defeated sigh. He knew when to push and when to give his little bird space. Reaching past her, he clicked the shower valve, turning off the rushing water.

"Dominic is waiting outside," Lowin said, his voice returning to its calm, protective baseline. "I'll go get you a fresh towel and a change of clothes."

He pressed one last, lingering kiss to her lips, grabbed a large white towel to wrap around his waist, and stepped out of the steaming bathroom.

The moment Lowin opened the bathroom door, he found Dominic leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking ready to explode.

"I thought you went in there to check up on her?" Dominic drawled, his eyes scanning his cousin's damp torso.

"I did," Lowin replied coolly. "She was lost in thought, so I joined her and tried to talk to her. Don't worry, Doc, I didn't do anything inappropriate to your precious patient."

Dominic's fists clenched in his pockets. He was struggling so damn hard not to spill the secret right then and there. His chest burned with frustration; he hated seeing Amilah carry the heavy weight of this pregnancy all by herself while Lowin stood there completely oblivious.

"Did she talk to you?" Dominic asked, his voice tighter than usual.

"She said it's nothing," Lowin said, his eyes narrowing as he studied his cousin's tense posture. "Which actually makes me think you know something. You've been overly protective of Amilah since the second you walked out of that operating theater, Dom. Is there something about her health I should know?"

Dominic stiffened, his medical mask slamming down. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Just get dressed. Why isn't she out yet?"

Lowin clicked his tongue, a dark scowl settling on his face. "There you go again. Dismissing me the exact same way she just did." He grabbed his clothes. "Ask Annah to bring in Amilah's clothes and her breakfast."

Dominic gave a stiff nod and walked out of the room, eager to escape Lowin's predatory intuition.

The moment Dominic stepped back into the waiting lounge, Daniella rushed to his side, her face pale with motherly anxiety. "What happened? Is she okay, Dominic?"

Dominic rubbed his temples, a massive headache pounding behind his eyes. The secret was eating him alive. Amilah was stressing herself out, and that volatile cortisol level was dangerous for the early stages of her pregnancy. He desperately needed to talk to her alone.

"She's okay, Auntie. Just a little stressed," Dominic forced a reassuring smile. "Annah, take her clothes inside to her. Aunt Daniella will help set up her breakfast."

"On it!" Annah chirped, grabbing the designer garment bags and heading for the door.

While the lounge buzzed with movement, Debrin Salvatore didn't move. He leaned against the windowpane, his sharp, calculating eyes locked entirely on Dominic. He had noticed the subtle shift in the doctor's demeanor. Something was deeply troubling the mighty Dominic Sinclair and Debrin made it his business to know everything.

"Doc," Debrin called out, his voice smooth but carrying a dangerous edge. "Is something wrong?"

Dominic froze, slowly turning his gaze to meet the Salvatore brother's piercing stare. He cursed violently in his mind. Debrin was a notorious mind reader; the bastard could sniff out a lie from a mile away, and he was going to make Dominic spill the truth if he wasn't careful.

"And don't give me that 'it's nothing' routine," Debrin added, a slow, knowing smirk spreading across his lips.

Dominic adjusted his lab coat, steepling his hands to hide their slight tremor. "Just some personal stuff, Debrin. Drop it."

Debrin's smirk only widened. He didn't believe him for a single second.

"You shouldn't lie to me, Sinclair."

Debrin's voice dropped into a dangerous, velvet purr. He slowly pushed himself off the windowpane, straitening to his full, imposing height. The sudden movement caught the attention of everyone in the lounge. A heavy hush fell over the room. If Debrin Salvatore noticed a crack in Dominic's armor, then something was definitively, catastrophically wrong. The man was never wrong.

Debrin prowled forward, crossing the gap between them with predatory slowness until he was standing directly in Dominic's space, breathing the same air. His piercing eyes locked onto the doctor's.

"Something is up, Dom," Debrin murmured, his gaze cutting right through Dominic's clinical facade. "What is it?"

Dominic didn't flinch, though his pulse was hammering against his ribs. "I told you, Debrin. Just personal stuff."

"Is Amilah okay?"

"As I said... yes, she is."

Debrin let out a dark, cynical scoff. He knew Dominic Sinclair; the man was a vault and would stand his ground no matter the pressure. But a wicked spark flared in Debrin's eyes as a new strategy formed in his mind.

"You know," Debrin whispered, leaning in a fraction closer, "if I go in there and ask her myself... and she lies to me? I'll know instantly. You know I will."

Dominic's jaw clenched so hard it ached. "You don't have to do that."

A cold sweat broke out on the back of Dominic's neck. Reading Amilah would be like reading an open book for a psychological demon like Debrin. Lowin's predatory instincts were already hyper-alert, and now Debrin was circling the truth like a shark smelling blood in the water.

Debrin held his gaze for one more suffocating second, then stepped back, a grave look settling on his face. "Whatever the hell it is, Dom... I advise you to tell him sooner rather than later."

"What is it, Dominic?" Jared Vance's booming voice cut through the tension. He stepped forward, a genuinely concerned, protective look crossing his weathered features a rare sight for the stern Vance patriarch. "Is something wrong with Amilah?"

Before Dominic could answer, Daniella rushed forward. She grabbed Dominic's arms, her eyes wide and staring up at him expectantly, practically begging for the truth.

Dominic could feel a blinding, agonizing headache throbbing behind his temples. The walls were closing in on him. He had to deflect the pregnancy, or the entire Vance empire would erupt right here in his hallway.

"She is fine! Nothing is wrong with her health, please stop worrying," Dominic lied smoothly, throwing his hands up in frustration. He leaned into the very real, terrifying external dangers to mask the internal secret. "She is just completely overwhelmed. Think about what she's dealing with. Lowin is currently being investigated for murder. Someone literally just tried to assassinate her. And on top of all that, she's trying to process this whole 'Lowin Vance' identity. She had absolutely no idea the man she loved was some massive, dangerous billionaire big-shot."

Daniella's grip softened, her heart breaking for the girl. She let out a soft, maternal sigh. "Poor girl... she must be feeling so overwhelmed, so incredibly disappointed in him for keeping everything hidden from her."

"And the i***t is still doing it," Dominic snapped, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "She still doesn't know about Justin being out there."

Jared's face darkened instantly, a vein throbbing in his forehead as his paternal fury flared. "That brat never listens to a damn thing I say."

"But don't you think it's best that way?" Damien interjected, his low voice instantly cutting through the rising tension. "If she's already under this much stress, dropping Justin's name on her will only push her over the edge."

Dane nodded in agreement. "I'm with Damien on this one."

"We will keep her safe regardless," Debrin added smoothly, his tone chillingly confident. "We'll hunt that bastard down before he can even get close."

Dominic let out a harsh, dry laugh. "He was here yesterday."

Daniella gasped, her face draining of color. "What?"

"He didn't see her," Dominic explained, his eyes scanning the lounge to ensure no staff were listening. "But someone else was here asking targeted questions about exactly where Amilah Miles was being kept. I'm assuming it was one of his henchmen scoping out the place."

Jared's gaze hardened into flint. "Then going back to her apartment is completely out of the question."

"I'm sure Lowin has a plan," Dominic muttered, rubbing his temples.

Just then, the heavy wooden door clicked open, and Lowin stepped out into the lounge, fully dressed and radiating authority.

Jared turned to his son immediately. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Lowin replied, his deep voice carrying a trace of exhaustion. "She'll be ready in a few minutes. You can all go in and see her soon."

Debrin leaned forward, his sharp eyes pinning his friend down. "What's your play, Lowin? What's the plan now?"

Lowin ran a heavy hand through his hair. His mind was spiraling in a dozen different directions. He knew Dominic was keeping a massive medical secret from him, but he couldn't force it out of him right now. He had immediate, lethal threats to neutralize first.

"She's a runner," Lowin admitted, a tight, frustrated edge to his voice. "If I try to force her to move into my place right now, she won't agree. She'll fight me on it."

Dane shrugged carelessly. "Then just lock her up."

Every single person in the room whipped their heads around to glare at him. Dane quickly lifted his hands in mock surrender, a smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, just a suggestion."

"I will convince her to move into our estate instead," Daniella offered, her maternal instincts kicking into overdrive.

Jared nodded, approving of the idea. "That works."

Lowin's eyes narrowed as he looked at his mother, his jaw clenching. "You didn't take care of her when she was there the first time. What exactly is going to be different now?"

Daniella flinched, her eyes widening with hurt and defensive anger. "Are you seriously still throwing that in my face, Lowin? That was not our fault! It was yours. If you had just told her about your psychotic ex-girlfriend from the start, she never would have walked out of that ballroom that night!"

Jared stepped between them, gently patting his wife's back to calm her rising temper. "This is not the time to point fingers and blame each other," he said sternly. "Right now, our only priority is keeping that girl safe."

Damien stepped forward, always the voice of tactical reason. "How about instead of suffocating her and pressuring her to move into one of your estates, we just let her go back to her own apartment? But the moment she locks her door, we deploy a massive shadow security detail. We track her every movement, monitor every single person who enters or leaves that building, and keep eyes on her twenty-four hours a day."

"They need to be people we can absolutely trust," Dominic added, his doctor's instinct tuning into her survival. "People Justin can't buy or threaten."

"I can send Alex over to head the detail," Jared offered immediately.

Debrin tilted his head, calculating. "I can also pull some of the absolute best men from my personal roster."

"Now that," Dane chimed in, "is a solid plan."

Lowin gave a curt, tight nod. Without a word, he pulled out his encrypted phone and strode down the hallway, speaking in low, commanding tones to finalize the airtight security arrangements for the woman he loved.