Chapter 130 Dominic
Later that evening, after Darcy had settled in and Richelle had retreated to her room, Jasmine found herself alone in the living room again.
The house was quiet.
Too quiet. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the couch as her mind began to wander.
The cellar, the chains, Bellamy's voice. Her breath hitched. “No,” she whispered under her breath, shaking her head as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Jasmine.” Her eyes snapped open. Damien stood at the entrance of the room, his expression unreadable. But his eyes… they saw too much.
He walked toward her slowly, stopping just in front of her before reaching out, tilting her chin up gently. “Where did you just go?” he asked quietly.
She swallowed.“Nowhere.”
He didn’t believe that, not even a little. His thumb brushed against her cheek, wiping away a tear she hadn’t realized had fallen. “You’re here,” he murmured. “With me.”
Her lips trembled. “I know.”
“Then stay here,” he said, his voice dropping lower. “Don’t go back there.”
Her eyes searched his. “I’m trying.”
Something in his chest twisted painfully at that.
Without another word, he pulled her into his arms.
And this time— she didn’t hesitate. She melted into him completely, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist as if she was afraid to let go.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered into her hair.
And for now… that was enough. Upstairs, his phone buzzed again and again, and again. Dominic.
Damien glanced at it briefly when he finally walked into the room. His expression hardened, the phone continued ringing.
He stared at it for a few seconds then turned it face down on the table.
And ignored it.
~
The next morning came slower than expected.
The house, though filled with people again, still carried a strange quiet. Not the peaceful kind, but the kind that lingered after a storm, when everything looked fine on the surface but something deep beneath had shifted.
Jasmine stood alone in the kitchen.
The sunlight streamed in through the tall glass windows, casting a warm glow across the marble countertops, but it did nothing to ease the tension coiled in her chest.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for a glass. She paused, inhaled, then exhaled. Then continued.
The soft clink of glass against the counter echoed louder than it should have. Her grip tightened as she picked up the jug, pouring water slowly, carefully, like she was afraid it might slip from her hands.
The water sloshed slightly. Her hand shook again.
“Steady…” she whispered under her breath but it wasn’t just her hand.
It was everything, her chest, her thoughts, her breathing. The silence pressed in around her, and for a split second...the kitchen wasn’t a kitchen anymore.
It was dark, cold, damp. Her breath hitched, the sound of dripping water twisted into something else. Chains, footsteps, her grip faltered. The glass slipped but before it could shatter.. A hand caught it, firmly, steady.
Jasmine froze. Her heart slammed violently against her ribs as she slowly lifted her gaze and everything in her body went rigid.
Dominic.
He stood there like he belonged in the space, like he had every right to be in that space. His fingers were still wrapped around the glass, stopping it from falling, his other hand casually tucked into the pocket of his trousers.
His gaze was fixed on her, sharp, assessing, unsettling.“Careful,” he said smoothly, his voice low, almost too calm. “Wouldn’t want you hurting yourself again.”
The words sent a chill down her spine. Jasmine instinctively pulled her hand away from the glass, stepping back like she had been burned. "What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice coming out softer than she intended.
Too soft, too unsure. Dominic tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction. “I could ask you the same thing,” he replied.
Her brows furrowed, confusion flickering across her face for a brief moment before she steadied herself.
“This is my home,” she said, a little more firmly this time.
Something dark flickered in his eyes.“Is it?” he murmured.
Jasmine swallowed, her pulse quickened. There was something about the way he looked at her.
Like he knew something she didn't, “You shouldn’t be here,” she said, her voice dropping slightly, her fingers curling into her palms.
Dominic let out a quiet chuckle, finally releasing the glass and setting it gently on the counter.
“And yet,” he said, taking a slow step closer, “here I am.”
Jasmine’s breath caught, her body instinctively took a step back. Distance, she needed distance. But the counter pressed against her lower back, stopping her retreat.
Dominic noticed, of course he did. He always noticed things like these. His gaze dropped briefly to her hands, still trembling.
“Still shaky,” he observed.
“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, too quickly.
His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.“Doesn’t look like it.”
Jasmine’s jaw tightened.“I said I’m fine.”
The tension in the air thickened and or a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then...“What happened to you?” Dominic asked quietly.
The question hit differently. It did not come with curiousity nor concern. It was calculated, Jasmine’s throat went dry at his tone, the likt in his voice“Nothing,” she said.
A lie, a weak one at that. He stepped closer again.
“You disappear for months,” he continued, his voice lowering, “and suddenly you’re back… like nothing happened?”
Her breathing picked up.“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
That made him pause, just slightly.Then his smile returned.“Fair enough.”
But he didn’t move away. If anything, he leaned in just a fraction.“You look different,” he added.
Her heart skipped.“People keep saying that.”
“And they’re right.” His gaze lingered on her face, her eyes, the way they didn't glint anymore. “You’re not the same girl.”
Jasmine held his gaze this time, refusing to back down.“Maybe I’m not.”
Something about that answer seemed to interest him, his expression shifted subtly.
Then footsteps came, heavy, familiar. Dominic straightened just as Damien’s presence filled the doorway.
The air changed instantly it sharpened, darkened. Damien’s eyes landed on Dominic first then shifted to Jasmine. Then back to Dominic.
And whatever calm had been lingering in the room shattered completely.“What are you doing here?” Damien’s voice was cold.
Flat. Dominic turned slowly, completely unfazed.
“I came to see you, dear cousin,” he said casually.
Damien didn’t move further into the room neither did he break eye contact.“You should have called.”
“I did.”A beat.
“You didn’t answer.”
Silence settled again, heavier. Damien’s jaw clenched, Jasmine could feel the tension between them. It wasn’t just dislike, it was something deeper. Something that had history. “I’m here now,” Dominic continued, glancing briefly at Jasmine before returning his gaze to Damien. “So we might as well talk.”
Damien stepped forward then, slowly, deliberately placing himself between Dominic and Jasmine without even thinking about it.
Protective.
Possessive.
“Whatever you have to say,” Damien said, his voice dropping lower, “you can say it to me. Away from her.”
Dominic’s eyes flickered with amusement.
“Still the same.”
Damien didn’t react, didn’t blink. “Out,” he said.
A command.