Chapter 2

Dominic's pupils shrank.

It was as if a bucket of ice water had finally woken him up. His eyes dropped to the angry red marks on my wrist, a fleeting flash of regret crossing his face.

When he spoke again, his voice was terrifyingly hoarse.

"Drag the dog's carcass out of here."

"From this day forward, anything that displeases Victoria does not get to live."

Sienna flinched violently. Crying, she let go of the dog, letting my men drag the bloody mess away. She bit her lip, forcing back her tears.

Dominic stood beside her, his eyes red-rimmed.

I had no interest in watching their little drama.

I leaned on my cane and walked out of the banquet hall.

My permanent limp was a souvenir from a hit put out on Dominic years ago. I had charged into enemy territory, completely disregarding my own life, and carried him out on my back. We ran for seven days and seven nights.

A bullet shattered my knee. From that day on, my leg never fully healed.

The night we finally escaped, Dominic had buried his face in my neck, his voice weak and trembling.

“Victoria, you are the bravest woman I have ever known.”

In the past, he would have always chased after me to offer his arm.

This time, he stayed rooted next to Sienna. He didn't even look back.

By the time I returned to the Biscayne Bay Estate, my back was slick with cold sweat.

That evening, my butler marched upstairs, his face tight with fury.

"Boss, Dominic just transferred all your coastal properties to Sienna. He knows damn well those were left to you by your mother."

Those properties, along with The Sterling Trust and the sole-proprietorship holdings, were my maternal inheritance. Dominic had absolutely no right to touch them.

I didn't say a word. I just looked down at my phone.

Sienna had just texted me a video from a private dinner party.

In the footage, they were dining at one of my properties in Miami Beach. Someone at the table suggested a marriage alliance with Sienna. We had treated her well, even giving her a slice of the business to manage.

Sienna rejected it immediately.

"No way. I can't just settle for anyone."

She looked at Dominic. A second later, she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"I only like Dominic."

Her smile was bright, radiant, and utterly provocative. "I'm going to officially pursue him."

The table erupted in cheers and laughter.

Sienna leaned in again, this time aiming for Dominic's lips.

I stared at the screen and counted down in my head.

Three.

Two.

One.

Dominic didn't pull away.

I snapped my phone shut, swallowing the bile rising in my throat.

"Get the car. We're going to Miami Beach."

"And notify the Raven Protective Group. Tell them to hold the perimeter and wait for my command to breach."

Outside, the storm clouds hung low and heavy.

My knee began to ache.

When I arrived at the property, dinner had just been served.

Sienna took a bite of freshly baked mac and cheese and immediately teared up from the heat.

Dominic instinctively reached out, holding his bare palm right under her chin.

"Spit it out."

Sienna's eyes went wide. She just stared at him.

He sighed, used two fingers to pry her mouth open, and scooped the chewed food out of her mouth himself.

I stood in the doorway, watching the entire exchange. My heart sank like a stone.

The only person in the world Dominic would ever debase himself like that for was Sienna.

I pushed the door open.

Dominic's face went sheet-white.

"Victoria, what are you doing here? I booked a PT to come to the house for your rehab tonight."

Sienna, however, didn't shy away. She met my gaze with blatant defiance.

Those eyes of hers... they really did look like mine when I was young.

Proud. Sharp. Like a hawk that refused to bow its head.

No wonder Dominic was so obsessed.

"Victoria," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You should have given Dominic to me a long time ago."

Before the words even settled, a flash of cold steel lunged straight at me.