Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Dominic’s POV
I drummed my fingers against the desk. “That depends.”
“On?”
“Whether or not I feel like it.”
A sharp inhale from the other end. “Still so fucking arrogant.”
I didn’t respond.
Mikael exhaled harshly. “I never expected you to have men beat me up, Dominic.”
I tilted my head. “Then you’re an idiot. Sometimes I don’t just sit and watch you play a stupid game.”
Victoria tensed slightly.
Mikael chuckled again, though this time there was a distinct edge to it. “You’re lucky I’m feeling generous. Otherwise, I’d be returning the favor right about now.”
I smirked. “You tried, remember? But your little men failed.”
Silence.
Then-
“You do realize you’ve pissed off a lot of people, don’t you?” Mikael said, voice casual but laced with something dangerous.
I scoffed. “Let them be pissed.”
“You’re making enemies, Dominic.”
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I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the desk. “I don’t make enemies, Mikael.”
“Oh?”
I smiled. “I bury them.”
Victoria let out a quiet sigh, but I ignored her.
Mikael, however, laughed. “So dramatic. You always had a flair for theatrics.”
“And you always had a flair for being an annoying little shit.”
Another silence.
Then, a sigh. “Look. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones.”
I smirked. “No, you’re not.”
A pause.
Then, “Fine. I’m willing to overlook this…incident. But I need something in return.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course you do.”
“I want to be appeased.”
I actually laughed. “Over my dead body.”
Mikael chuckled. “That can be arranged.”
I didn’t even blink. “Try it.”
Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken threats.
Then, finally-
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Dominic. When you don’t play by the rules, you know what always happen.”
I smirked. “I always win. That’s why the De Lucas are on top and you would always remain second.”
Another pause.
Then, in a voice laced with amusement-
“For now.”
The line went dead.
I set the phone down, exhaling slowly.
Victoria watched me, her expression unreadable.
Then, she sighed. “You really don’t know how to make things easy, do you?”
1/4
Chapter 54
I scoffed. “Where’s the fun in that?”
She studied me for a long moment before standing. “You should be careful, Dominic.”
I smirked. “Tell Mikael the same thing.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.
Instead, she leaned down slightly, her voice dropping. “And tell Aria I said hello.”
I stiffened.
Her lips curved.
Then, with one last knowing look, she turned on her heel and walked out, the scent of expensive perfurne lingering behind her.
I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face.
Then, just as I was about to call Matteo, my office doors swung open again.
Valerie.
Her expression was tight.
“Sir,” she said. “We have a problem.”
My eyebrows dipped into a frown. “A problem? What problem?”
Matthias came in behind Valerie, his expression dark, his movements tight with barely contained tension. That wasn’t a good sign.
I sat up straighter, my fingers still resting against the desk. “Talk.”
Matthias didn’t waste time. “It’s the docks.”
I stilled. “What about them?”
His jaw clenched. “Mikael hit one of our shipments.”
Silence.
Then-
“What?”
Valerie exhaled sharply. “We just got word. A group of his men ambushed our delivery. The warehouse was raided. We lost several crates.”
I pushed back my chair, standing slowly.
“Losses?”
“Four men injured,” Matthias answered. “None dead.”
I exhaled through my nose. At least there was that.
Matteo stepped in next, his phone in hand. He didn’t look any more pleased than Matthias did. “They left a message.”
My eyes flicked to him. “What kind of message?”
He lifted the phone, showing me the screen. A picture. A crate, opened. The contents spilled out. And across the side-
A warning.
Painted in thick red strokes.
This is just the beginning.
I stared at the words for a long moment. My body was still. My pulse, steady. But the rage in my chest?
It burned.
Matteo watched me carefully. “Orders?”
My hands curled into fists.
Mikael was fast. I’d give him that. I’d expected retaliation, but I didn’t expect him to move this quickly.
But he wanted a war?
Fine.
I’d give him one.
I looked at Matthias. “I want a full report on the warehouse. Everything we lost. Everything that was touched.”
He nodded.
Then, I turned to Matteo. “Where’s Mikael now?”
2/4
Chapter 54
Matteo checked his phone. “Still in the city. He hasn’t left.”
Good.
That meant he wanted me to find him.
I smirked. “Then let’s not keep him waiting.”
An hour later, I was in my car, Matteo driving, Valerie seated beside me. Matthías followed in the second vehicle.
The city lights blurred past us as we moved, cutting through the streets with precision. I sat back, my fingers tapping against my knee, my mind sharp and focused.
Mikael had always been reckless, but this? This was a direct challenge.
And I never let challenges go unanswered.
“Where are we hitting first?” Matteo asked, his eyes flicking to me through the rearview mirror.
“Mikael’s distribution hub.”
Matteo nodded. He knew the place. We all did.
“Subtle or loud?” Valerie asked, voice dry.
I smirked. “Oh, loud.”
A grin tugged at Matteo’s lips.
Valerie sighed. “Of course.”
We pulled up in front of the warehouse a few minutes later. It wasn’t one of Mikael’s main hubs, but it was important enough.
And judging by the number of cars parked out front, he had men inside.
I stepped out of the vehicle, my boots hitting the pavement.
Matteo, Matthias, and the rest of my men followed.
We moved as one.
One second, we were walking. The next?
Chaos.
Gunfire erupted. The guards stationed outside barely had time to react before they were on the ground, groaning in pain. We pushed forward, sweeping through the entrance with precision.
Inside, the air smelled of sweat and stale cigarettes. Stacks of crates lined the walls, men scrambling at the sudden
intrusion.
Mikael’s men.
I recognized some of them.
They barely had time to reach for their weapons before my men took control.
Shouts echoed. The sounds of bodies hitting the floor.
I walked through it all, calm, composed.
Then, I stopped in front of one of Mikael’s captains.
He was already on his knees, blood trickling from his temple, courtesy of Matteo’s quick hands.
I crouched in front of him, tilting my head. “I assume you know why I’m here.”
The man spat blood to the side. “Go to hell.”
I smirked. “Been there. Didn’t like the decor.”
He glared.
I exhaled, straightening. “Tell Mikael-” I leaned down slightly, my voice dropping, “-that I don’t play games.”
I turned to Matteo. “Make sure he remembers that.”
The sound of bones cracking followed me as I walked away.
Mikael wanted to send a message?
Well.