MADDEST OBSESSION - Chapter 12: Chapter 12
You are reading MADDEST OBSESSION, Chapter 12: Chapter 12. Read more chapters of MADDEST OBSESSION.
The tension in the room was instant. Aria barely had time to process Gabriel’s unexpected presence before Dominic’s tone dropped into lethal territory.
“You’re in my home uninvited, Gabriel,” Dominic said, his voice cold and sharp.
Gabriel’s lips twitched into a cocky grin, unfazed. “Forgive me, boss. But we both know the door’s always open for family.”
Dominic took a slow step forward, his entire body radiating dominance. “You’re family by loyalty, not blood. Don’t confuse the two.”
Gabriel’s gaze slid past Dominic and landed on Aria. His smile widened slightly, but there was something dangerous behind it.
“And this must be your beautiful wife,” Gabriel said. “We haven’t been properly introduced.”
Aria straightened her posture, refusing to shrink beneath the weight of his attention. “Aria De Luca,” she said, her voice steady.
“Costa,” he offered with a slight bow. “Gabriel Costa. But I imagine we’ll be seeing much more of each other now, won’t we?”
Dominic stepped between them, his possessiveness flaring. “Gabriel, state your business. Now.”
Gabriel raised both hands in mock surrender. “Relax. I came to deliver a warning.”
Aria felt her stomach twist.
Gabriel’s voice dropped as his eyes narrowed. “Salvatore is making moves. He’s growing bolder, faster than we anticipated. He’s targeting not just your businesses, but your alliances. Tonight was just the first flex.”
Dominic’s jaw clenched. “I’m already aware of Salvatore’s ambitions.”
“You don’t understand.” Gabriel’s tone turned deadly serious. “He doesn’t just want your territory. He wants your queen.”
The weight of those words hit the room like a thunderclap.
Aria’s chest tightened. She glanced at Dominic, whose eyes darkened like a brewing storm.
“He won’t touch her,” Dominic growled. “If he tries, I’ll put him in the ground.”
Gabriel gave a slow nod. “Then you better be ready. Because Salvatore isn’t playing subtle anymore. And he’s not the only one watching.”
There was a loaded pause.
Finally, Dominic spoke. “Why warn me, Gabriel? What’s your price?”
Gabriel’s gaze flicked briefly toward Aria before returning to Dominic. “Let’s just say I have my own interests in keeping this empire… intact.”
The insinuation was clear. The hunger behind his eyes unmistakable.
Aria’s skin prickled. She suddenly felt like a prize on display between two wolves circling each other.
Dominic’s voice dropped into a low, lethal murmur. “You’ll keep your distance from my wife. That’s not a request.”
Gabriel gave a slow, taunting smirk. “Of course, boss.” He turned to Aria and added with a wink, “It was lovely meeting you, Mrs. Knight.”
As Gabriel exited, the room fell into thick silence.
Dominic turned to Aria, his expression uncharacteristically tense. “Stay away from him.”
“He’s one of your men,” she said. “I can handle him.”
Dominic’s eyes flashed. “No, you can’t. Gabriel’s loyalty is to himself. Don’t mistake his charm for safety.”
Aria crossed her arms. “And what about Salvatore? Am I supposed to hide from him too? I can’t live like some delicate flower waiting for you to shield me from every man who breathes my way.”
Dominic stepped closer, voice low and dangerous. “You’re not delicate. That’s why I chose you. But you are mine, Aria. And anyone who dares challenge that will suffer.”
Their gazes locked, heat simmering between fear and desire.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Aria whispered, “You’re going to choke on your obsession one day, Dominic.”
And before he could reply, she turned and walk
ed away, leaving him standing alone in the storm he had created.
“You’re in my home uninvited, Gabriel,” Dominic said, his voice cold and sharp.
Gabriel’s lips twitched into a cocky grin, unfazed. “Forgive me, boss. But we both know the door’s always open for family.”
Dominic took a slow step forward, his entire body radiating dominance. “You’re family by loyalty, not blood. Don’t confuse the two.”
Gabriel’s gaze slid past Dominic and landed on Aria. His smile widened slightly, but there was something dangerous behind it.
“And this must be your beautiful wife,” Gabriel said. “We haven’t been properly introduced.”
Aria straightened her posture, refusing to shrink beneath the weight of his attention. “Aria De Luca,” she said, her voice steady.
“Costa,” he offered with a slight bow. “Gabriel Costa. But I imagine we’ll be seeing much more of each other now, won’t we?”
Dominic stepped between them, his possessiveness flaring. “Gabriel, state your business. Now.”
Gabriel raised both hands in mock surrender. “Relax. I came to deliver a warning.”
Aria felt her stomach twist.
Gabriel’s voice dropped as his eyes narrowed. “Salvatore is making moves. He’s growing bolder, faster than we anticipated. He’s targeting not just your businesses, but your alliances. Tonight was just the first flex.”
Dominic’s jaw clenched. “I’m already aware of Salvatore’s ambitions.”
“You don’t understand.” Gabriel’s tone turned deadly serious. “He doesn’t just want your territory. He wants your queen.”
The weight of those words hit the room like a thunderclap.
Aria’s chest tightened. She glanced at Dominic, whose eyes darkened like a brewing storm.
“He won’t touch her,” Dominic growled. “If he tries, I’ll put him in the ground.”
Gabriel gave a slow nod. “Then you better be ready. Because Salvatore isn’t playing subtle anymore. And he’s not the only one watching.”
There was a loaded pause.
Finally, Dominic spoke. “Why warn me, Gabriel? What’s your price?”
Gabriel’s gaze flicked briefly toward Aria before returning to Dominic. “Let’s just say I have my own interests in keeping this empire… intact.”
The insinuation was clear. The hunger behind his eyes unmistakable.
Aria’s skin prickled. She suddenly felt like a prize on display between two wolves circling each other.
Dominic’s voice dropped into a low, lethal murmur. “You’ll keep your distance from my wife. That’s not a request.”
Gabriel gave a slow, taunting smirk. “Of course, boss.” He turned to Aria and added with a wink, “It was lovely meeting you, Mrs. Knight.”
As Gabriel exited, the room fell into thick silence.
Dominic turned to Aria, his expression uncharacteristically tense. “Stay away from him.”
“He’s one of your men,” she said. “I can handle him.”
Dominic’s eyes flashed. “No, you can’t. Gabriel’s loyalty is to himself. Don’t mistake his charm for safety.”
Aria crossed her arms. “And what about Salvatore? Am I supposed to hide from him too? I can’t live like some delicate flower waiting for you to shield me from every man who breathes my way.”
Dominic stepped closer, voice low and dangerous. “You’re not delicate. That’s why I chose you. But you are mine, Aria. And anyone who dares challenge that will suffer.”
Their gazes locked, heat simmering between fear and desire.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Aria whispered, “You’re going to choke on your obsession one day, Dominic.”
And before he could reply, she turned and walk
ed away, leaving him standing alone in the storm he had created.
End of MADDEST OBSESSION Chapter 12. Continue reading Chapter 13 or return to MADDEST OBSESSION book page.