Chapter 46
*Grace POV*
The weight of Sony Domenico’s presence clings to the air like a bitter chill. He’s been with us all day, moving around the house with an unsettling calm. He barely speaks, but his eyes observe everything, calculating, evaluating. Eleonor tries to keep herself occupied, but I notice her discomfort every time she crosses paths with him. Despite her years of service, the man unnerves her in a way I haven’t seen before. She was once his attendant when he was capo, but something tells me there’s more to her unease than just past loyalty.
I can feel his silent judgment too, the way he scrutinizes me every time I’m within his line of sight. I should probably be upstairs resting, giving my body a chance to recover. But the last thing I want is for Domenico to assume I’m avoiding him or, worse, hiding something. He already doubts my loyalty. Staying out of sight would only confirm his suspicions. So, I stay where he can see me, letting him observe me as I go about small tasks.
But every movement sends jolts of pain through my body, a constant reminder that I’m not fully healed. My forehead glistens with sweat, and I have to grit my teeth to keep from wincing.
“You don’t have to prove anything to anyone, Grace,” Eleonor says quietly, noticing my discomfort as we work together in the kitchen.
I pause, gripping the vegetable peeler tightly in my hand, feeling the bite of the handle against my sore palms. “I know. But it’s important that I show I have nothing to hide.”
She frowns, shaking her head. “This is pure madness. I should call Elio. He wouldn’t want you straining yourself like this.”
“No, please don’t,” I reply quickly, reaching for her hand to stop her from leaving the kitchen. The movement sends a sharp pain through my side, and I barely stifle a gasp. “I’ll only cause him more trouble if he comes rushing to my side.”
Eleonor hesitates, torn between her concern for me and her loyalty to Elio. Finally, she nods and returns to her work, though I can see the tension still etched in her features. The silence between us is heavy, punctuated only by the sound of peeling vegetables and the occasional clink of cutlery. I force myself to focus on the task at hand, trying to ignore the tension creeping up my spine.
After a while, I hear footsteps coming from the living room. I know instantly that it’s Elio; I could recognize his stride anywhere. I glance up, and my breath catches in my throat when I see the way he’s looking at me. His fists are clenched at his sides, his jaw set in a hard line. I can see the flicker of anger in his eyes, frustration directed not at me, but at the situation forcing us both into these uneasy roles.
I look away, forcing myself to ignore him. It’s better this way. He can’t afford to let his father see him caring about me. If Sony catches even a hint of Elio’s feelings, it could make things infinitely more dangerous for both of us. As much as I ache for his comfort, for his protection, I know this is the best choice we have.
As if on cue, Domenico enters the kitchen. His presence fills the space, turning the room even colder. He walks over, observing Eleonor and me in silence, his gaze lingering on me in particular. Eleonor excuses herself, shooting me a wary look before leaving the room.
Domenico’s eyes track her exit, and for a moment, he says nothing, letting the silence stretch. I feel the weight of his gaze on me, analyzing, dissecting. It’s unnerving, but I refuse to let him see me flinch.
“Grace,” he says finally, his voice smooth and calculated. “Your father… I never would’ve expected such stupidity from him.”
I bite back the instinct to defend my father. Arguing with Domenico is pointless. Besides, even I struggle to understand why my father would have betrayed someone as dangerous as Domenico.
“Perhaps he felt he had no choice,” I reply carefully, choosing my words with caution. “Maybe he thought it was the only way to protect me.”
Domenico lets out a humorless chuckle, a sound that’s more condescending than amused. “You think he betrayed me for you? That man’s loyalty is as thin as paper. If he was willing to betray me once, he would’ve done it again if it suited him.”
His words sting, but I don’t let my expression falter. I can’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how deeply his words cut.
“Then perhaps it’s a good thing he’s in hiding,” I say evenly, holding his gaze. “At least he’s out of the way.”
Domenico’s eyes narrow, and he takes a step closer, lowering his voice to a near-whisper. “If I wanted to betray someone, Grace, they wouldn’t even see it coming. They’d never know what hit them until it was too late.”
A chill runs through me at his words. It’s a warning, one meant to instill fear, to remind me of the power he holds. And it works. The underlying threat in his voice sends a shiver down my spine, but I keep my face impassive, refusing to show him any weakness.
“I suppose that’s the difference between you and my father,” I reply, struggling to keep my voice steady. “You’re…more thorough.”
He lets out a dark chuckle, and I see a glint of something sinister in his eyes. “Indeed. Your father’s betrayal was sloppy and reckless. If he thought he could outsmart me, he was a fool.”
I swallow, trying to keep my nerves in check. Domenico’s gaze is unrelenting, a predator watching his prey, waiting for a crack in my composure. He wants to see fear, to know that he’s gotten under my skin.
But I won’t give him that satisfaction.
Instead, I meet his gaze head-on. “I may not agree with my father’s actions,” I say slowly, “but that doesn’t mean I condone them either.”
He raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my response. “Interesting. So, you’re loyal to Elio, then?”
I hesitate, feeling the weight of my answer. There’s no easy way to explain my loyalty to Elio without exposing the feelings I’ve tried so hard to hide. Domenico is perceptive, and I know he’ll seize any hint of vulnerability if he senses it.
“Elio saved me,” I say finally, choosing my words carefully. “I owe him my loyalty.”
Domenico regards me for a long moment, as if weighing the truth of my words. Then, he nods, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Very well,” he says, stepping back. “But remember this, Grace. Loyalty isn’t enough in our world. It takes more than that to survive.”
With that, he turns and leaves the kitchen, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. The moment he’s out of sight, I release the breath I’d been holding, feeling the tension drain from my body.
His words linger, though, echoing in my mind. *If I wanted to betray someone, they wouldn’t even see it coming.*
The chill in his voice, the way he delivered that line—it’s more than just a threat. It’s a reminder of how ruthless he can be, how dangerous it is to be caught in the middle of a world I barely understand.
As I stand there, alone in the kitchen, I feel a wave of exhaustion wash over me. I’ve been trying so hard to prove myself, to show Domenico that I’m not a threat, that my loyalty lies with Elio. But after today, I’m beginning to realize that loyalty might not be enough. Not in Domenico’s world.