The silence was thick in the large house, eerily so, as Alessia walked down the halls at a snail's pace. She felt that caution and vigilance should be exercised, but the anxiety buried deep inside her was hard to push aside. Avery. Her daughter's frail health, which required medicine and constant attention, was one reason she needed to hear from Celine. She was looking for reassurance, knowing her daughter was safe as Alessia dove into this far-from-safe world she'd returned to.
She finally reached the small spot where the phone had been stashed. Her fingers were fumbling and cold, shaking wildly while she dialed Celine's number. It felt like a very pivotal moment, and she could feel her heart beating in her ears, loud. The truth was, she needed to hear Avery's voice to know that she was doing well, and that they were still connected on some deeper level.
A soft noise sounded from behind her, quiet enough that any other might have missed the almost inaudible sound. Alessia froze, her body going tightly rigid as a shadow appeared in the hall.
Her chest felt tight as she turned slowly, already knowing who it was before she was able to see clearly. Dominic was standing there, with his arms crossed and his face hard to read, but the deep darkness in his eyes was sharp enough to slice through the dim light.
"Alessia," he had said softly, in control-but that one word had been an accusation that had made her feel sick.
"I," she began, but the words stuck in her throat. She couldn't say what she was doing. Not now, not when saying the wrong thing may give away Avery's existence.
Dominic looked at her with narrowed eyes. "What are you doing?" His voice was steady, yet Alessia could feel the edge of the anger, the strong anger held back until now.
"I. I was," she tried again, but he stopped her with a move so quick it surprised her. In an instant, he was closer, his hand grasping her wrist in a controlled, yet firm clasp. Alessia gasped, not in pain, but taken aback by the show of strength.
"You're keeping something secret," Dominic said in a voice quiet and dangerous, with each word carefully spoken. "You think I don't see it? You think I can't tell that you're hiding things from me?"
Alessia swallowed hard as panic began to build in her chest. "I'm not," she started, but didn't say the word. It was her secret, her burden. If Dominic knew even for a second, repercussions might be a lot worse than him finding out about her. She had promised to do whatever it took to keep Avery safe, and that promise was more powerful than the fear of Dominic's fury.
Dominic's grip tightened sufficiently to make her shiver. "Do not lie to me," he warned louder now as his voice echoed down the hall. "I won't lose you again, Alessia. Whatever it is, you will tell me."
Alessia's heart was pounding hard. His words were heavy, and she felt fragile. She felt stuck because he was so intense, stood so near, and had much power like a shield around him. "I," she began but stopped, and he would not let her continue speaking. He stood like a strong tall wall, and she felt the old ways he used to control her.
Dominic's voice continued low, quiet, and growly. "You cannot move without me knowing. From now on, I need to know all about your messages and movements. Do you understand me?
Alessia nodded quickly, scared and yielding at the same time. She had changed one danger for another. Before, her life was in jeopardy because of outsiders, because of enemies who did all it took to harm her and her daughter; now the threat was different: Dominic had full control over her, and somehow, it felt like she remembered it from that life she once led with him-a life of love, strong feelings, and danger.
"From now on, guards will always accompany you," Dominic said, releasing her wrist just enough to let her breathe but not enough to move away. "If you try to break these rules, I will see it as you going against me, and I will do something about it."
The frustration and helpless feeling made Alessia's hands tighten into fists at her sides. She had come to realize the big house and fancy things, the sense of safety, were a pretty cage. She was back here because she wanted to be, but hadn't made clear how far Dominic would go in trying to control her. Now, every step and every breath was watched and measured-not free.
"I am not trying to go against you," Alessia whispered, her voice hoarse even though she'd tried to speak calmly. "I just," she stopped, knowing she could not say what was true without putting Avery in danger.
For an instant, Dominic's eyes softened; it was as if he remembered the woman he had once loved, the mother of his child. But it didn't last. "I understand what you are worried about," he said coldly. "But my rules are the rules. I'm not changing them. You have to follow them." Alessia let out a shaky breath, nodding once more. She knew fighting back would only make things worse. In this house, what Dominic said was law, and she had to do what he said. But beneath her doing what she was told, a small fire started: a feeling of protection towards Avery and keeping some control, no matter how little. Dominic let her go completely, stepping back, yet still keeping a close eye on her. "Get ready," he whispered softly, his voice low. "Your life is going to change once more, and I want you to do exactly as I say. No mistakes. Alessia nodded, feeling a wave of fear and excitement at the same time, and also really tuned into his powerful presence, which had her shaking a little. Now, she was wholly submerged in his world of directives, persuasion, menace, and powerful emotions, of which she once knew how to clearly handle. Gone was the life that was once her own, gone was her serenity, and gone was her free will, at the discretion of Dominic's unyielding commands. It was suffocating, for one thing; she had grown accustomed to his taking control over her space, her decisions, or anything pertaining to her.
The minute Dominic stepped out into the hall, Alessia's mind began to wander. She had been through rough streets, criminals, deals, and fear, but managing this big house, Dominic's regulations, and tension between them was an absolutely new challenge. From now on, everyone would be watching her, every decision she made would be calculated with a lot of thought, and her daughter would be protected only if she could manage it. She would survive again, with