MADDEST OBSESSION - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

The next morning, Aria sat on the balcony, staring at the skyline. The city was alive with its usual noise—sirens, horns, the hum of ambition—but her mind was far from the chaos below.
Last night played on a loop: Salvatore’s smirk, Gabriel’s dangerous charm, and Dominic’s possessive rage.
She had married into this world of power and violence, but no one had warned her how quickly it would become a game of obsession.
Dominic emerged from inside, his presence commanding even in simple black slacks and a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal his strong forearms. The morning sun caught the dark strands of his hair as he walked toward her, coffee in one hand, a file in the other.
He set both down on the table and sat opposite her, watching her closely.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked.
“I could ask you the same,” she said, keeping her voice even.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he slid the file across the table. “Read this.”
Aria opened it hesitantly. Inside were surveillance photos—Salvatore in private meetings with known arms dealers, bribes, secret shipments. And worse… there were photos of Gabriel in some of the same meetings.
Her stomach twisted. “Gabriel’s betraying you.”
Dominic’s voice was cold. “Possibly. Or he’s playing both sides.”
“But why tell you about Salvatore if he’s involved?”
“Because Gabriel always plays the long game.” His eyes locked on hers. “He might want what Salvatore has. Or…” His voice dropped. “He might want what I have.”
Aria swallowed, instantly knowing what he meant. Me.
She pushed the file away, the weight of it crushing her chest. “You surround yourself with men like this and expect me to feel safe?”
“You are safe, Aria.” His voice was firm. “No one touches you without answering to me.”
“Even your own men?” she challenged, her eyes narrowing.
There was a flicker of something raw in his gaze. A crack in his perfect control. “Especially my own men.”
For a long moment, silence hung between them. The wind played with the ends of her hair, and when he reached forward to tuck a strand behind her ear, her breath caught.
His fingers lingered against her skin, tracing her jaw. “You’re stronger than you think, Aria.”
“I’m not sure strength matters in your world,” she whispered. “Only power.”
“And you have more of that than you realize.” His thumb grazed her lower lip, his voice deepening. “You have power over me.”
Her pulse quickened. She should have pulled away. But the way his voice wrapped around her made her feel both frightened and alive.
“Dominic…” she breathed.
“I could burn this entire city for you,” he whispered, his face dangerously close to hers.
Their lips were only inches apart now. The tension coiled tight between them, snapping with every breath.
“You think you love me?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Or is this just your obsession talking?”
He smiled darkly. “Is there a difference?”
And then he kissed her.
This time, there was no hesitation. No teasing. His mouth claimed hers with brutal, unrelenting force. She gasped against him as his hand gripped her waist, pulling her onto his lap, pressing her body flush against his.
Her fingers found his hair, tugging as his mouth moved down her neck, leaving a trail of heat in his wake. She felt herself surrendering—piece by piece—to the very man she swore she wouldn’t lose herself to.
But the truth was dangerous.
She wanted him.
Even if everything around them was about to crumble.
When he finally pulled back, his breathing was heavy, his eyes burning into hers. “You don’t understand what you’ve done to me, Aria.”
She couldn’t speak. Could only stare into the eyes of a man who would destroy the world to keep her.
And as the sun climbed higher over the city, neither of them noticed the tiny drone hovering in the distance, capturing every intimate moment.
Far away, Salvatore watched the live footage on his screen and smiled.
“The game has truly begun.”