I opened my tear-filled eyes, heart pounding so violently it hurt.
For a moment, I expected nothing but silence. The kind of silence that follows something unspeakable.
Instead—
A sharp cry of pain.
Victor Rex staggered back, clutching his arm, his expensive suit blooming red with fresh blood. His gun clattered to the floor, the metallic clang echoing like a death knell in the dim warehouse. My breath hitched, my wide eyes darting across the room.
And then I saw him.
Dominic Conti.
Tall. Unshaken. A pistol still raised, smoke curling from its barrel.
"Dominic?" My voice barely came out, a whisper strangled by disbelief.
He didn't look at me. His cold, sharp gaze was locked on Victor, his tone laced with quiet, lethal amusement. "You're getting sloppy, Rex. Should've finished the job before I walked in."
Victor let out a breathless, bitter chuckle, his free hand pressing against the wound. "Fucking bastard," he spat. "This isn't your fight, Conti."
Dominic tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "It is now."
I didn't hesitate. Scrambling to Max, I yanked the gag from his mouth, my hands shaking so badly I nearly dropped it.
"Max," I gasped, cupping his tear-streaked face, kissing him—his forehead, his cheeks, his hands—anywhere I could reach. "Baby, are you okay? I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."
Max clung to me like a lifeline, his small body trembling against mine. "Mommy," he whimpered. "Please, let's go."
I kissed his temple, my tears falling onto his soft hair. "We're leaving, sweetheart. Right now."
But before I could move—
The unmistakable click of a gun cocking.
My blood turned to ice.
"And where the fuck do you think you're going?"
A voice like gravel, laced with menace.
I turned slowly, my heart slamming against my ribs.
One of Victor's goons. A massive man with dead eyes and a gun aimed straight at my chest.
I didn't think.
I moved.
My fingers curled around the cold metal in my waistband, my body acting on pure instinct. I pulled the trigger—
Bang!
The shot rang out like a thunderclap. The goon let out a guttural snarl as he staggered back, clutching his bleeding leg.
But he didn't go down.
With a furious growl, he raised his gun again, his face twisted in rage.
My stomach dropped—
Before he could fire, a sickening crack split the air.
The man's body lurched forward as Dominic swung a splintered wooden stick against the side of his head with brutal force. A dull thud followed as the goon collapsed, unconscious before he even hit the ground.
My breath came in ragged gasps, my hands still shaking around the gun.
Dominic tossed the broken stick aside and turned to me. His dark eyes flicked over me, assessing, calculating. "Are you two okay?" His voice was rough, edged with steel, but there was something else there too—something almost… concerned.
I swallowed hard, gripping Max tighter. "We're fine. I just—" My voice cracked. "I just need to get my son out of here. Please, Dominic."
He stilled.
His gaze shifted to Max. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face—there and gone in a heartbeat. "Your son?"
I met his stare head-on, my chin lifting despite the tremor in my voice. "Yes. Max is my son."
Silence stretched between us. Thick. Heavy.
Then Dominic exhaled sharply through his nose, nodding once. "I see."
A low groan came from the floor. Victor. His breath was ragged, his hand still pressed against his wounded arm, his eyes clouded with pain and fury.
Dominic's expression hardened. He stepped over the unconscious goon, his presence a looming shadow over Victor's writhing form. "Get them out of here, Detective." His voice was steel. Final. "I'll handle the rest."
I hesitated. My lips parted, but words failed me.
Dominic didn't look at me. "You can thank me later. Right now, take your kid and get the fuck out before this gets worse."
I squeezed Max's hand. "Come on, baby. Let's go."
As I passed Dominic, I faltered for just a second.
I turned back, meeting his gaze. "Thank you," I whispered.
His jaw clenched. His nod was barely perceptible. "Go, Lexi. Now."
I ran.
I didn't stop until we burst into the cold night air. The wind hit my face, sharp and biting, but I barely felt it. My pulse thundered as I rushed to the car, fumbling with trembling fingers to unlock the door.
I threw it open and pulled Max inside, crushing him against me.
"It's okay now, sweetheart," I whispered, smoothing his hair back. "We're safe. You're safe."
Max sniffled against my jacket. "Mommy," he whispered, his tiny hands gripping me tightly. "Don't let them take me again."
Tears burned my throat. "Never," I swore, pressing my lips to his head. "I'll never let anyone hurt you again."
I started the car, my hands still trembling on the wheel. As the engine roared to life, one thought echoed in my mind.
I owed Dominic Conti more than I could ever repay.
And I had no idea if I'd ever get the chance.
Dominic's POV
The screech of Lexi's car tires tore through the night, fading into the distance.
Good. She was gone. Safe.
I turned my attention back to the sorry excuse for a man bleeding out on the grimy warehouse floor. Victor Rex, the so-called kingpin, looked less like a criminal mastermind and more like a wounded, flea-ridden dog.
I took my time stepping closer, my boots grinding against the dirt-streaked concrete. Each slow, deliberate step sent a clear message—I wasn't in a fucking hurry.
Victor groaned, dragging himself upright against a crate, his breath ragged.
I didn't stop until I was close enough to see the sweat beading on his pale forehead. Close enough for him to hear the deadly calm in my voice.
"What the fuck is your problem, Victor?"
His eyes burned with a mix of pain and fury. "What's my problem?" he spat. "That bitch is my problem! She's sniffing around where she doesn't belong. If we don't take care of her, she'll ruin everything."
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Take care of her?" I repeated, tilting my head. "That's your idea of handling shit? Kidnapping her kid? Putting a gun to his fucking head?" I leaned in, my voice dropping to something colder than ice. "Are you out of your fucking mind?"
Victor's jaw clenched. "You're too soft, Dominic. That's always been your problem. You think you can play nice in this business?" He let out a bitter chuckle, adjusting his grip on his bleeding arm. "That woman—"
"That woman is a cop," I cut in, my patience wearing thin. "And if you think threatening a cop's kid is a solid fucking plan, then you're dumber than I thought." My voice turned sharp, each word a dagger. "You're not just bringing heat on yourself—you're dragging all of us down with you."
Victor barked out a laugh, his face pale but his eyes still burning with defiance. "Spare me the lecture, Conti. You think you're some kind of saint? Don't kid yourself. You've killed people too."
I smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah, I have." My voice was like steel, firm and unyielding. "But I don't kill kids. And I don't pull this kind of reckless shit that puts everything I've built at risk."
To Be Continued...