“What should I do? You tell me, Dimitri. What should I do to keep her safe?” Dominic asked, sitting on the ground helplessly.
“Don’t you get it, Dominic? Keep her by your side. No one will make her feel the safest in the world apart from the person who loves her the most. She is capable of protecting herself, but be there for her when she feels lost. Her parents would be there with her and ensure nothing happened to her. Be there for her like a man. Like the Person she loves so much,” Dimitri walked to Dominic and placed his hand over his shoulder.
“She deserves to be loved after everything she went through. You say you put her in that position, but have you ever considered the other side? Rather than leaving her because she is unsafe with you, why don’t you love her so much that she feels safe with you?” Dimitri kneeled in front of Dominic.
He wanted Dominic to see the brighter side and accept his feelings at any cost. Even if it means he would have to repeat things a hundred times, he would. Dimitri sighed.
“Shouldn’t you be grateful for her sacrifice and love her like no one has loved anyone before? She gave you this second life. So why can’t you spend this life loving her?” Dimitri’s voice turned soft, and Dominic bit his lips.
“I love her, Dimitri. I swear I love her the most in this world. The time she said I used her, I wanted to kill myself. It hurts so much,” Dominic confessed, and Dimitri smiled.
“You still have some time. The party is already ongoing. The engagement must’ve happened already. Aaliyah is hurt, Dominic. If she leaves today with Kyle, you will lose your chance with her forever. You have got to decide if you want this or not. I won’t force you into anything. This is all on you,” Dimitri stood and sat on the couch.
He kept looking at Dominic and the constant changes in his expression. It wasn’t hard to guess Dominic was trying to fight his inner turmoil. It was important too. No matter what anyone says, until Dominic understands what he wants himself, nothing right will happen. Dimitri walked to the window and gazed out with a subtle smile.
It was hard. Love doesn’t come to gangsters like them easily. Dominic was extremely lucky he got a girl like Aaliyah by his side who was ready to be with him even after seeing his Vulcan side. She was supportive and loving in every aspect, and most importantly, rather than being his weakness, she was his strength.
Dimitri can vaguely remember it. A couple of years ago he also started liking someone back in Italy. Everything was going alright. He thought he would have a chance at happiness and family, but as soon as the girl heard what he does for a living, she didn’t think twice before running away.
As Dimitri was busy reminiscing his memories, he heard some noise from behind and turned around to see Dominic standing and leaving.
He doesn’t know what Dominic has decided, but whatever it was, this decision would decide whether his time would be filled with happiness or misery for the rest of his life.
Dimitri looked at his attire one last time before sighing and leaving the room. It was useless to think about their clothes when their emotions were at stake, no?
Meanwhile, Aaliyah stood near the food aisle with a dazed look. She was thinking about how good those times were when Dominic used to come and flirt with her like she was the only woman in the world.
His favorite thing was grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him. She never realized when this thing became her favorite too. Whenever Dominic used to look into her eyes, all she could see was pure sincerity.
It hurts to think that he even thought of leaving her after promising that he would be there for her through thick and thin. Aaliyah took out her phone from her clutch and looked at the image of her and Dominic together.
It was one of the many photos they took when Aaliyah woke up the next day in Dominic’s arms after they made love to each other. They weren’t naked, but anyone could see the naked truth of their love in their eyes that screamed happiness.
Aaliyah remembers how gentle he tried to be with her the entire night even when he wanted to ravish her like a beast. After a couple of rounds, she was really sore, but he wanted to do a few more rounds. So he gently slipped inside her, ensuring she didn’t move her body too much. Her throat had gone sore because of all the screaming of his name.
It might just be an explicit thing to anyone else. But to her, it was how Dominic showed the last bit of his love and took off the thin partition that was separating them. They weren’t married, and Aaliyah wasn’t orthodox, but she felt herself becoming one with Dominic that day. She can’t ever think of being with any other man her whole life.
Even if Dominic doesn’t return to her, Aaliyah knows she will never be able to love another man as she loves Dominic. It’s like he imprinted not only her mind, body, and heart but her soul too.
Smiling at the photo one last time, Aaliyah leaned on the pillar with a cold drink in her other hand.
Everyone was enjoying the party and laughing with the chief guests they invited. Aaliyah could picture herself standing there amidst the crowd with Dominic and him becoming possessive of her. That’s how he was. That’s what she imagined of Dominic and her relationship.
“Why are you acting like this, Dominic? Did I -” Aaliyah sighed before shaking her head as tears brimmed her eyes.
She can’t cry like this. At least not here, where everyone can see her. Aaliyah bit her lips and was about to turn around and leave to get some solace when she saw Dominic running in the hall with a tired look.
She hid behind the pillar to see what it was all about.
Why the hell does he look so beaten up? Did he get into a fight with someone? But who? Kyle and Mike both were here. Did someone attack him? Aaliyah’s heart started pounding at the possibility of someone attacking him, but she kept hiding to ensure he didn’t see her like this.
She needs to act like a strong woman who doesn’t give a damn about him. She can’t be seen crying over him like this. No. It will spoil her plan entirely.
But wait. Why was she hiding? Dominic will leave tomorrow for three months. Today’s night is the only time she can step up her game. Aaliyah took a deep breath before taking a napkin and dabbing the corner of her eyes gently so that it doesn’t mess up her makeup and show people she has been crying or was on the verge of crying.
She signaled Kyle towards the small podium-like thing where Katherine and Bryce were, talking and laughing, and Kyle immediately nodded even though he didn’t know what this was all about.
“What is it?” Kyle asked her, and Aaliyah shook her head.
“Guys, I would like to make a small announcement,” Aaliyah said, gaining everyone’s attention with Dominic, who smiled at her.
Dominic started walking towards Aaliyah to single her out and talk to her somewhere private. He knows that she would have many things to say. She might even want to kick and punch him like Dimitri, and he didn’t want their families to get worried.
Seeing Aaliyah looking so enchanting, Dominic realized Dimitri was right all along. Maybe his love wasn’t so strong.
The purest kind of love asks for sacrifices. Maybe he doesn’t love Aaliyah as strongly as he wants to let her go. He wants to keep her by his side. Sending her away and letting her go to some other man was agonizing to him.
Dominic smiled at Aaliyah in hopes she would understand his meaning, but as soon as he reached the stairs of the podium, Aaliyah said something that broke him completely.
“After thinking for a long time, I have decided to step up and get into a serious relationship with Kyle. Since my parents always supported me and I have nothing to hide from them, I want you guys to be the first ones to know this,” Aaliyah held Kyle’s hand, who was shell-shocked.
Kyle looked at Mike, who was equally shocked by her words. Now the fighters in the coastal rings were all impressed by Aaliyah’s techniques, and it wasn’t hidden they had thought about dating her at least once, but for her to say these things right in front of the two most prominent gang members wasn’t what they expected.
“Aaliyah, what are you talking about?” Nathan was the first to react before he looked around, and his gaze finally landed on his son, who was bleeding from the corner of his mouth. His clothes were dirty, and he looked like he fought someone.
“Dominic? Why do you look like this? Did you fight with someone? Who dared to land his hand on you?” Nathan’s voice immediately turned cold, and everyone’s attention shifted to Dominic, but his gaze was focused on the girl who stood on the stage, her eyes void of emotions.
His heart felt like someone stabbed it with a knife when he heard her saying those words so casually, but could she be really blamed? He deserves it after making her go through this kind of pain.
“Dominic, why aren’t you -” Nathan paused when he saw Dimitri entering the hall with an equally beaten-up look.
“Dimitri? Why do you guys look like this? Did someone attack you?” Sandra asked Dimitri, but he just looked at Dominic.
“Wait. Don’t tell me you guys got in a fight,” Bryce said after a long pause.
There was no way a guy like Dimitri would let anyone touch his face no matter what happened, and seeing his bruised face and Dominic’s knuckles and vice versa, he didn’t know why, it felt like these guys didn’t get attacked, rather, they fought with each other.
“It was needed,” Dimitri didn’t explain further, and Dominic walked to Aaliyah.
“Please say that’s not the truth,” Dominic held her hand, and Aaliyah looked straight into his eyes.
Her heart and eyes went through thousands of emotions. Her heart wanted to rejoice in happiness that Dominic was finally breaking out because of her strategy, while her mind wanted to let this man know he couldn’t play with her, and her soul wanted to be hugged by him and unleash her anger.
“I don’t know why it would affect you, Mr. Volkov. You were my past. Please leave my hand. My boyfriend won’t like it. It’s inappropriate,” Aaliyah said.
Dominic couldn’t believe his ears. Inappropriate? New boyfriend? Past? What was she talking about?
“Aaliyah, I know you are mad at me. You can beat me up in the ring or kick me as many times as you want to take out your anger. But please -” Dominic gulped. His throat felt constricted.
“- Please don’t joke like this. I now understand everything. Please forgive me. I am sorry. Come back to me. I won’t be able to live without you,” Dominic paused.
This was the first time Nathan saw his boy begging someone like this, and honestly, he was proud that even after everything, his son knew who to bow in front of. Vulcan was one of the most feared people, but for his woman, he was down to his knees.
“I have realized that I won’t be able to live without you. You were right. I was a fool to think I could let go of such an amazing bond in the name of protecting you. I should be protecting you by keeping you close to my heart rather than sending you away,” Dominic pulled Aaliyah slightly, and Aaliyah’s lips trembled before she turned her head.
“Hey, don’t look away, Aaliyah. Give me a chance again. Please. I won’t let you regret it,” Dominic said, and Aaliyah closed her eyes for a few seconds before she opened them again, resolutely.