Chapter 95

Dominic sat at the head of the long oak table in his private study, surrounded by his most trusted men. The air was thick with tension, the gravity of the night’s mission pressing heavily on them all. Maps, blueprints, and photographs of Alex’s stronghold lay spread across the table, each detail scrutinized to the point of exhaustion. This was their last chance—Dominic was determined to make it count.

Lucas leaned forward, tapping a spot on the map. “We know Alex is holed up here, deep within the estate. Heavy security, multiple layers of defense, but the north side is the weakest. It’s our best point of entry.”

Dominic nodded, his sharp eyes following Lucas’s movements. His mind was already two steps ahead, anticipating every possible complication, every risk. His goal was clear: this would be the final strike, the end of Alex and the Vasquez cartel. No more loose ends.

“This isn’t just about taking him down,” Dominic said, his voice hard. “This is about ending it—for good. We go in, we hit them fast, and we don’t stop until Alex is dead.”

The men around him exchanged glances, their loyalty to Dominic unquestioned, but the stakes tonight felt higher than ever before. Dominic wasn’t just fighting for his empire—he was fighting for Ava, for their unborn child, for a life beyond this violence.

The door to the study creaked open, and Ava stepped in, her presence immediately drawing the attention of the room. Dominic’s eyes softened as he met her gaze. She had been quieter than usual over the past few days, the weight of the impending battle hanging over both of them like a dark cloud.

“Can I talk to you?” Ava asked, her voice calm but edged with worry.

Dominic stood, motioning for Lucas and the others to take a break. As the room cleared out, he walked over to Ava, his hand resting gently on her arm. He could see the fear in her eyes, the uncertainty gnawing at her as the hour of the assault approached.

“I know you’re scared,” Dominic said softly, guiding her over to the window. “But this is the last time. After tonight, it’s over.”

Ava looked up at him, her brow furrowed with concern. “You don’t know that, Dominic. You can’t promise me that. What if something goes wrong? What if you don’t come back?”

He cupped her face in his hands, his voice steady but filled with the weight of his conviction. “I have to do this, Ava. Alex has to be taken out. If I don’t stop him now, he’ll never stop coming after us. After you. After our child.”

Ava pressed her lips together, her hands instinctively moving to rest on her belly. “I understand that, but I need to be part of this. I can’t just stand by and wait, wondering if the life we’re building is going to be torn apart before it even begins.”

Dominic shook his head. “Ava, I’ve kept you out of this for a reason. You’ve already been through enough.”

“But this is our future, Dominic,” she interrupted, her voice stronger now. “I want to have a say in it. You’re not alone in this anymore. Everything you do affects me and our child. I need to know what’s happening, and I need to be part of the decisions we’re making—together.”

Dominic exhaled, feeling the weight of her words settle over him. He had always protected her, shielded her from the worst parts of his life, but now, he could see the determination in her eyes. She wasn’t just asking for reassurance—she was asking to be his partner in every sense.

“You trust me, don’t you?” he asked, his voice softening.

“Of course I do,” Ava replied, her hand resting over his. “But trust goes both ways. I trust you to keep us safe, but you have to trust me to stand with you. We’re in this together, Dominic. I can’t sit on the sidelines anymore.”

For a moment, Dominic said nothing, just searching her face, weighing her words. Finally, he nodded. “Alright. But I’m going to do everything I can to make sure this is the last time. Once Alex is gone, once the cartel is finished, we’ll be free of this life.”

Ava’s expression softened, and she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. “That’s all I want. For us. For our baby.”

Dominic held her tightly, feeling the strength in her embrace. Her love was his anchor, the thing that kept him grounded amidst the chaos of his world. He had promised her that he would end this, that their child would be born into a world free from the violence and bloodshed that had defined his life for so long. And for her—for them—he would make sure that promise was kept.

As he pulled back, his gaze turned steely once more. “I’ll finish the plan. You stay here, safe. I’ll come back to you.”

Ava nodded, though the worry remained in her eyes. “Just come back. That’s all I ask.”

Back in the study, Dominic rejoined his men. The tension in the room had thickened, the clock ticking down toward the moment of the assault. He took his seat at the head of the table, his mind sharper than ever, driven by his love for Ava and the future they were building.

“Lucas, take point on the north entry. We hit them on two fronts. No mistakes, no hesitation,” Dominic said, his voice filled with quiet authority.

“We’ll be ready, boss,” Lucas replied. “This ends tonight.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed as he looked over the map one final time. It would be the last plan he ever made like this—the last time he’d lead his men into a war. After tonight, he would walk away from this life for good.

Because for the first time, Dominic wasn’t just fighting to win. He was fighting for the chance to start over, to give Ava and their child a life worth living.

And nothing would stand in his way.