Mafias mute love

6

Dominic sat alone in his office, his mind consumed with thoughts of Olivia and her father, Marcus Smith. The whole situation had made him reflect on everything that had happened over the past few days. How had he misunderstood her so completely? How had he failed to see that she wasn’t just some mystery he needed to solve, but a person with her own pain and secrets?

He had learned one thing—she hadn’t chosen to be silent. She wasn’t quiet by her own will. There was something more to it. Something deeper. She’d never had the opportunity to find her own voice.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Leo stood in the doorway, his face serious, eyes unwavering.

“We have him,” Leo said, his tone calm but firm. “He’s in the room.”

Dominic stood, moving toward the door with purpose. His eyes darkened as he prepared for the confrontation. He’d been planning this moment for days. It was time for Marcus Smith to answer for his actions and explain exactly what had been done to his daughter.

Marcus was escorted into the room by two of Dominic’s men. He was restrained, but still managed to wear an air of defiance. His eyes, however, betrayed him—anger and confusion flickered in them as he was shoved into the chair before Dominic’s desk.

Dominic studied him for a long moment before speaking.

“Sit down,” he ordered, his voice cold and commanding. “We’re going to talk.”

Marcus smirked but didn’t respond, choosing to cross his arms and glare at Dominic instead. It didn’t matter. Dominic wasn’t here to play games. He was here for answers.

“Your daughter,” Dominic began, his voice low, but carrying an edge of danger. “She hasn’t said a word since I met her. I’ve seen the way you’ve treated her.”

Marcus’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t answer.

“I’m going to make this easy for you,” Dominic continued, leaning forward slightly. “Tell me what’s happened to her. Why is she the way she is?”

The room went silent for what felt like an eternity. Then, finally, Marcus spoke, his voice dripping with disdain.

“She’s... she’s silent because she can’t speak. She’s been like that for years. After an accident when she was a child, she lost her voice. She can’t speak.”

Dominic froze.

“She... she’s mute?” he asked quietly, almost to himself, as if the words didn’t quite make sense.

Marcus looked at him with a sneer. “Is that so hard to believe? She’s never been anything but a burden to me. I never had time to deal with that. She was an obstacle, so I kept her out of sight.”

A wave of discomfort swept through Dominic, and for a moment, he had to steady himself. Mute. He had assumed Olivia’s silence was a choice, that she was playing some game, trying to make him guess. But she hadn’t chosen this. She’d never been given a chance to choose.

“Why did you let this happen?” Dominic asked, his voice barely above a whisper, a trace of disbelief in it. “Why didn’t you help her?”

Marcus shook his head dismissively. “I’ve got my own problems, Orvez. I didn’t have time to coddle her. The world’s a hard place, and she’s just a weakness.”

Dominic’s hands clenched into fists on the table. How could a father look at his own child like that? How could he dismiss her suffering so easily?

But Dominic knew what he had to do. If he was going to do anything for Olivia, he had to find a way to communicate with her. He needed to find a way into her world—a way to make it easier for her to open up to him.

Without saying another word, Dominic turned and walked toward the window, looking out over the city. He wasn’t just angry at Marcus. He was angry at himself for not seeing the truth sooner. Olivia had been living in a prison of her own silence, one built by the very person who should have protected her.

“Get him out of here,” Dominic said quietly, his voice thick with restrained fury.

Leo gave a quick nod, signaling to the men to take Marcus away. As the door closed behind them, Dominic sat back down at his desk, his fingers tapping the surface rhythmically. His mind raced. How do I reach her? How could he find a way to make things right?

He couldn’t change her past, but maybe—just maybe—he could give her a future where she didn’t have to suffer alone anymore.

And the first step to that future? He would have to learn how to speak to her in a way that she could understand.