Chapter 4 Dominic

The more I moved down the hallway, the fewer muffled cries and obscenities I heard from her. I moved into another room, doing my best to ignore it. The room brightened when the lights flickered. He was waiting for me at the corner.

I slid into the empty conference room seat and waited for him to approach so I could give the go-ahead to talk.

The only things we discovered in her house were an engagement ring and a note. He covered up his tracks well."

"Just as I had imagined," I hummed.

There was a suspicious glimmer in his eye, and it appeared like he was going to say something, but I knew exactly what.

"Don't waste your time. She is being truthful. I just said, cutting off his suspicions. He tensed in alarm, then eased into a more relaxed posture.

I understood his thoughts. I didn't always come to the conclusion that I was innocent. Isolation and my carefully planned torture for a minimum of a week was sufficient to force anyone I'd dealt with to reveal everything. If they really were innocent, I would only keep going for a few more days to be sure, and then I would rid of them quickly.

Yet she was different. I could read it on her face as soon as she entered.

The shock and bewilderment, followed by the knowledge and betrayal when I disclosed her fiance's-now ex-fiance's-real job. After that, I noticed a hint of wrath in those green eyes of hers, hardly noticeable in the middle of her terror.

Which one annoyed her more, myself or her fiancé? I was ignorant. Something in my belly began to flare up.

"Do we release her?" Joseph enquired,

From the time I made the decision to question her face-to-face, my strategy was predetermined.

"She will remain our collateral. We'll see how long Mr. Graves manages to avoid us knowing that she is in her hands. I stated. He said nothing at all.

"Sarah," I mentally played her name. Not simply because it was so American in contrast to her blatantly Italian appearance, but also because it sounded strange to me. Her name sounded like a gap. For someone like her, it felt too brief, too straightforward, and too muted.

She was a real firecracker, inside and out. She was angry and still screamed at my men even though she was intimidated and subdued. If I claimed I was unaware of her innocence at the time, I would be lying. Maybe I had brought her along so I could have a close-up look at her. Perhaps it was curiosity.

Or maybe it was after she was seen at the club. She danced so sensually, and I didn't realise she was half gone until I was close. Even so, the glance she shot me swept my mind completely away. I could feel the heat even in her look, like if she had seen right through me.

It would not leave my mind.

She didn't resemble who I had anticipated. On paper, she was abandoned because her mother had passed away years earlier and she was betrothed to the scoundrel who had absconded for three years and several months. My men who were somewhat close to him told stories of how he would oogle his beautiful fiancée as like she were a goddess.

However, in order to protect himself, he had left her on her own. I almost gave a snort at the idea. People were genuinely self-centred beings.

However, Ethan Graves seemed foolish in this instance. Though I could see the reasoning, I couldn't comprehend why he would let go of a creature that was so exquisite.

I couldn't shake the image of her last glance at me, the one that showed her realisation of what I had done. She was intelligent. And the way her lips spread wide...

I immediately balled my fists and allowed my fingernails to dig into my hand. I was kept grounded by the pain, which prevented me from losing myself in my fantasies.

I was unable to divert myself.

"What was said by Gita?" I questioned him.

"Her spies haven't discovered any evidence of him in his domain. He might still be hiding, but since so much time has gone, the likelihood is remote yet still possible.

He stumbled off, and I felt a wave of annoyance come over me. I was as aware of the possibilities as he was, so he didn't have to be afraid to pursue it.

"Talk." I became stern.

It is possible that he is already in the company of Raphael.

I was angry at the sound of his name alone. Ethan Graves had given that guy the perfect opportunity to finally get close to me, which was something he had been waiting for.

It was still unlikely. He was probably still hidden, judging by his movements, but Raphael was definitely aware of him and was looking for him.

I had to track him down and deal with him before he could get Raphael. A lovely set of eyes and lips would not divert my attention.

But prior to that...

"Out of the two twins, who touched her?" Remembering the video of him grabbing her cheeks, I enquired. Even in my office, she still had that strange blush.

"Sir, it was Jose," he replied. My teeth tightened.

"Sever the hand he was using. It is inappropriate for him to touch a woman in that manner. I snarled.

He just walked out without saying anything. Knowing he would carry out my order gave me a pang of satisfaction.

"Sarah." In the quiet, I uttered a murmur. I had a feeling there was more to her than I had realised.