Chapter 123 *
Damon's POV
I needed to keep my shit together and deal with this bastard.
Every muscle in my body was locked tight. My fingers dug into the leather armrests hard enough to leave marks.
Under the desk, I could feel Scarlett's hands moving against my thigh. She was dabbing at the coffee stain with her sleeve. Trying to fix the mess she'd made.
The fabric was wet. Hot. The pressure of her touch sent heat straight through the wool.
This was torture. Actual torture.
And Dominic was standing right there. Three feet away. Jabbing his finger at me like I was some punk who needed discipline.
"What the hell gives you the right to keep Rocco locked up like some dog?" His voice was already loud. Already aggressive. "He's been stuck in that fucking safe house for two weeks!"
I took a slow breath. Forced myself to lean back in my chair.
Tried to look casual. "Because your son has been harassing female employees." My voice came out cold. Controlled. "Multiple complaints. Multiple witnesses."
"He's lucky I didn't break his legs."
Dominic's face turned red. "Those bitches are lying! Trying to get money!"
The word made something dark twist in my chest.
My hand moved under the desk. Found Scarlett's shoulder. Squeezed once.
A warning. Stay still. Stay quiet.
I could feel her breathing. Fast. Nervous.
"Rocco's behavior is making the family look like animals," I said. "We're not some street gang. We have standards."
"Standards?" Dominic laughed. It came out harsh. Mocking. "From a bastard who showed up out of nowhere?"
There it was. The legitimacy card.
He always played it when he was losing an argument.
"You think having the old man's blood makes you better than everyone else?" His voice dripped contempt. "You're still just the nephew who got lucky. The outsider."
I leaned forward slightly. Slowly.
Let my eyes go cold. Empty.
"Watch your mouth, Uncle."
The temperature in the room dropped about ten degrees.
"Nonno won't be around forever."
Dominic's jaw clenched. "You threatening me, nephew?"
"Just stating facts." I kept my voice level. Calm. "Already picked out your plot at Woodlawn Cemetery. Nice spot. Good view."
His hands curled into fists. "You little—"
I cut him off. Reached into my desk drawer. Pulled out a file folder.
Slammed it down on the desk between us.
"Security footage. Text messages. Witness statements."
I flipped it open. Pushed photos across the mahogany surface.
"Your son grabbed a waitress at Bella Notte. In front of customers."
Another photo.
"He cornered a secretary in the parking garage."
Dominic's eyes darted to the images. Then away. Then back.
His face went from red to pale.
"That doesn't prove shit." But his voice had lost some of its force. "Boys will be boys. She probably led him on."
Under the desk, Scarlett's hand went completely still.
I could feel the shift in her. The tension.
She was pissed. I could practically feel the anger radiating off her.
I wanted to tell her it was okay. That Dominic was just an asshole saying asshole things.
But I couldn't. Not without giving away her presence.
So I just kept my hand on her shoulder.
"This isn't negotiable," I said to Dominic. "Rocco stays locked up until he learns to keep his hands to himself."
Dominic straightened up. Pulled out his last card.
"Santino loves that boy like his own grandson." His voice got harder. More confident. "The old man's not gonna let you touch him."
He leaned forward. Put both hands on my desk.
"You may run the business, but I'm still blood. Real blood."
The emphasis on "real" was deliberate. Pointed.
"Nonno will make you pay for this."
I didn't react. Didn't let anything show on my face.
Just stared at him until he broke eye contact first.
"Get out of my office."
My voice was quiet. Almost gentle.
That's when people should be most afraid. When I went quiet.
Dominic knew it too. I could see it in his eyes.
But he was too proud to back down completely.
"This isn't over!" He turned toward the door. "Not by a long shot!"
The door slammed behind him hard enough to rattle the frame.
Silence flooded back into the office.
I sat there. Didn't move. Just listened to my own breathing.
Counted to ten in my head.
Made sure Dominic was really gone. That he wasn't coming back.
Then I slowly turned my chair.
Looked down.
Scarlett was still wedged under my desk. Her face was flushed. Her hair was a mess. Her dress had ridden up to mid-thigh.
And she was kneeling between my legs. Hands pressed against my thighs. Lips parted slightly as she tried to catch her breath.
Jesus Christ.
The image burned itself into my brain.
Blood rushed south so fast I actually felt dizzy.
"What the hell were you doing down there?" My voice came out rougher than I meant it to.
She blinked up at me. Those light eyes were wide. Innocent.
Like she had no idea what she looked like right now.
"I was trying to make it up to you!" Her hands came up in protest. "The coffee— I didn't mean to— I was just trying to clean—"
She tried to scoot backwards. To get out from under the desk.
I moved faster.
My hand shot out. Grabbed her wrist. Pulled.
She stumbled forward with a little gasp. Her hands landed on my thighs to catch herself.
The touch burned through the wet fabric.
I hauled her up. Not gently. With barely controlled aggression.
She ended up standing between my legs. Pressed against the edge of my chair.
Her chest was rising and falling fast. Her skin was warm. I could smell her perfume mixed with something sweeter. Her.
My hand moved to her waist. Fingers spreading across her lower back.
"You're playing with fire." I kept my voice low. "And you don't even know it."
"I—" She started to say something.
My other hand moved to the back of her neck. Fingers tangling in her hair.
I pulled her closer. Felt her body press against mine.
She was soft everywhere I was hard. The contrast made my blood run hotter.
"You really want to make it up to me?" My thumb traced along her jawline. Down to her chin.
Tipped her face up toward mine.
Her lips parted slightly. Her pupils were dilated.
"Damon—"
I didn't let her finish.
I was done waiting. Done holding back.