I wasn’t supposed to be there.
Hell, none of this was part of the plan.”
But when Viktor told me Savannah was gonna be at that rooftop restaurant in Palermo private, exclusive, overlooking the damn sea–l told him to cancel everything. I didn’t care if I had to wear a fucking wig and glasses. I was going.}
So I did.
Sat at the far end, black suit, low cap, sunglasses. The maître d‘ looked nervous, probably knew who I was, but kept his mouth shut. Smart
man.
And there she was.
Savannah.
Fuck.
Hair swept up, earrings like tiny blades. Wrapped in a backless emerald dress that clung to her like a damn prayer.
She laughed. That real laugh–God, I hadn’t heard it in three years. Not since before the fire. Before the blood. Before I ruined everything.” She looked… happy.
And not the fake society–wife kind of happy.
Genuine.
Because of him.
The asshole sitting across from her–Dominik. Eastern European accent, mafia blood, slick smile, custom watch worth more than my fucking penthouse.
He made her laugh again. She touched his wrist gently. Her eyes sparkled.
I felt something snap inside my ribcage. Clutched my chest like I’d been stabbed. Like my heart finally realized it had no goddamn business beating anymore.
And then like a fucking lunatic I stood up. Walked across the room. Ignored the whispers, the murmurs, the waiters panicking. I reached their table. Savannah looked up. Calm. Controlled. But her eyes?}
Cold.
“Let’s talk,” I said. My voice was low. Rough. “You’re mine. Remember?”
She blinked.}
“That was three years ago,” she said slowly, like I was a toddler who didn’t understand time. “And after that… I was no longer yours.“}
I gripped her wrist, couldn’t help it. “Savannah-“}
“Don’t ruin my dinner with Dominik,” she said sharply. “Shoo away.”>
Like I was a goddamn stray dog.
That’s when I lost it.
I leaned down, tried to kiss her. I didn’t care who saw. I needed to taste her again, even if it killed me.”
Next thing I knew, I was punched in the face so hard, my neck cracked.
her TOLO
Dominik stood up slow. Real slow. Like a man who’d been waiting to hurt me. “Touch her again,” he said in that cold–ass accent, “and I’ll break your fingers one by one.”
We squared off.”
S
My men stood. His men stood. Chairs flew. Tables knocked over. Women screamed. Guests scattered. Guns came out.
“Put it down!” someone yelled.}
“No one fires unless I say,” I snapped at Viktor, wiping blood from my lip.
Savannah stood. Her voice sliced through the chaos like a whip. “Enough!“}
Everything stopped.
She stepped between us. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t tremble. Just stood there in that gown like a queen walking into a warzone.
“This is a restaurant,” she said. “Not your dick–measuring arena.” She turned to me. “I’m not yours, Zeus. I’m mine. And you coming here like a pathetic ghost isn’t love. It’s obsession. And you’re making a goddamn fool of yourself.“}
Then she turned to Dominik, touched his chest gently. “Let’s go.”}
He nodded. Calm. Cool. Dangerous. I stood there breathing hard. Heart bleeding in my throat. Rage choking me from the inside out. And as she walked away, hips swaying, fingers laced with his- I knew I’d lost something I might never get back.”
I walked out before I did something unforgivable.
Before I became the man she already thinks I am.”
SAVANNAH’S POV
I didn’t plan on falling into rhythm with Dominik.
But after the restaurant… the way he stepped between me and Zeus without flinching, without asking for permission–I started answering
10:09 AM
his calls. At first it was politeness. Then it was convenience. Then… curiosity.
For two weeks, we talked almost every night. Sometimes about business. Sometimes about wine. Sometimes about the kind of revenge that didn’t need blood–just brilliance. He was sharp. Soft–spoken. But the kind of soft that made you lean in… only to realize he was holding a knife behind his smile.
One night, he sent a car. No questions. Just a note:>
“Come to the water. I have something beautiful to show you.”
I wore silk. White. Not because I wanted to play bride, but because I knew how dangerous softness looked on a woman like me.
His private villa on the island looked like it had been carved out of moonlight. All glass and shadow. Guards posted discreetly at the dock. No paparazzi. Just sea air and tension.§
He met me on the terrace, shirt sleeves rolled to his forearms, fingers wrapped around a glass of Chianti. His eyes swept over me once!
“Every time you wear white,” he murmured, “I think about burying the world that hurt you.“>
I raised a brow, slipping off my heels. “That’s poetic. Are you drunk or just dramatic?“>
He smiled slow. “Maybe both. But I didn’t bring you here for wine.”>
He gestured for me to sit. Laid a leather folder on the table between us. I opened it, expecting another deal–territories, shipping routes, syndicate restructuring. But it wasn’t paperwork.
It was a photo.}
Us. From the dinner date. One of the rare moments I let him touch my lower back. Someone had captured it.”
Beneath it, an emerald ring nestled in velvet.
I looked at him. Really looked. Calm. Composed. That quiet danger behind his eyes always lingering, always unreadable. But this time… I felt heat in his chest. Not power. Not politics. Just something simmering.
“You’re proposing?” I asked.
“To the heiress of the Moretti line,” he said. “And not just for the press, Savannah. This would unite two of the last old bloodlines in Europe. Your father approves. My uncles too. It would make us unstoppable.“}]
I let my fingers hover over the ring.”
“I don’t love you, Dominik.“}
He didn’t blink. “I know.”
“And if I say yes… it won’t be out of affection.“}
His voice was lower now. “Then say yes out of fury.”
I leaned back, eyes on the sea. The wind tugged at my hair, but my mind was already somewhere else.
Reports came in just last night–Zeus had stalked another charity event I didn’t attend. Broke a chair in front of his men. Screamed at Viktor. Two hotel suites destroyed. They said he stared at my photos like they owed him something. Like grief should be loyal.”
He couldn’t let go.”
But I could bury him.
I turned back to Dominik. Pressed the lid closed over the ring box.
1:09 AM
