MADDEST OBSESSION - Chapter 19: Chapter 19
You are reading MADDEST OBSESSION, Chapter 19: Chapter 19. Read more chapters of MADDEST OBSESSION.
The morning sun hadn’t even fully risen when chaos struck.
Aria woke to the vibrating of Dominic’s phone, his sharp voice slicing through the bedroom air. He was already half-dressed, pacing by the window as urgent updates came in.
“They hit the east docks,” Dominic growled into the phone. “How many casualties?”
Aria sat up, pulling the silk sheets around her. She didn’t need to hear the full report to know what had happened — Valentina had made her first move.
Dominic slammed the phone down. “Three dead. The entire shipment destroyed. Millions gone overnight.”
Aria slid out of bed, crossing to him. “She’s sending a message.”
He pulled her into his chest, his pulse racing beneath her fingertips. “She wants to cripple my operations. Force me to kneel before her.”
“But she made a mistake,” Aria whispered. “She attacked your business, not your heart.”
Dominic’s eyes darkened. “That’s why you’re coming with me tonight.”
Later that evening
The gala at The Verona Hotel was Valentina’s stage—a public charity event masked as a declaration of dominance. The city’s elite paraded like puppets while the real war simmered beneath the glitter.
As Dominic and Aria entered, every eye shifted toward them. Together, they were a storm in human form. Power. Wealth. Ruthlessness.
Valentina spotted them instantly, gliding through the crowd like a serpent in red silk.
“Dominic. Aria.” Her voice dripped with false sweetness. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”
Aria smiled, every inch of her composed. “We wouldn’t dare.”
Valentina’s gaze flicked briefly between them. “I trust you received my little… message this morning.”
Dominic’s voice was lethal calm. “I’ve received many messages lately. I’m starting to lose track.”
Valentina’s laughter was light, but her eyes sharpened. “Consider it motivation. The sooner you submit, the less blood will be spilled.”
Aria stepped forward, her voice like velvet wrapped around a blade. “Funny how confident you are for someone whose empire is built on old debts and fragile alliances.”
Valentina’s smile tightened. “You’re bold for a woman who still breathes under your husband’s protection.”
Aria didn’t flinch. “Don’t mistake my place beside him as weakness. I’ve bled for this seat, and I’ll bleed for it again.”
For a brief moment, true hostility flashed between the two women.
Dominic’s arm slid protectively around Aria’s waist, his voice cold. “Careful, Valentina. My patience is thin. And unlike Salvatore, I don’t negotiate twice.”
Valentina’s smile returned, but the tension thickened like fog. “We’ll see how long your kingdom stands, Dominic. Queens are such… fragile creatures.”
With a final glance, she disappeared back into the crowd, leaving behind a lingering chill.
Back in the car
“You baited her,” Dominic said as they sped away.
Aria’s gaze stayed fixed on the city lights blurring past. “She needs to know I won’t break.”
Dominic’s hand found hers, squeezing it tightly. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Aria.”
She turned, fierce and unyielding. “So are you.”
Their war had just escalated. And in this game of kings,
it was the queens who would decide who lived — and who burned.
Aria woke to the vibrating of Dominic’s phone, his sharp voice slicing through the bedroom air. He was already half-dressed, pacing by the window as urgent updates came in.
“They hit the east docks,” Dominic growled into the phone. “How many casualties?”
Aria sat up, pulling the silk sheets around her. She didn’t need to hear the full report to know what had happened — Valentina had made her first move.
Dominic slammed the phone down. “Three dead. The entire shipment destroyed. Millions gone overnight.”
Aria slid out of bed, crossing to him. “She’s sending a message.”
He pulled her into his chest, his pulse racing beneath her fingertips. “She wants to cripple my operations. Force me to kneel before her.”
“But she made a mistake,” Aria whispered. “She attacked your business, not your heart.”
Dominic’s eyes darkened. “That’s why you’re coming with me tonight.”
Later that evening
The gala at The Verona Hotel was Valentina’s stage—a public charity event masked as a declaration of dominance. The city’s elite paraded like puppets while the real war simmered beneath the glitter.
As Dominic and Aria entered, every eye shifted toward them. Together, they were a storm in human form. Power. Wealth. Ruthlessness.
Valentina spotted them instantly, gliding through the crowd like a serpent in red silk.
“Dominic. Aria.” Her voice dripped with false sweetness. “I was beginning to think you were avoiding me.”
Aria smiled, every inch of her composed. “We wouldn’t dare.”
Valentina’s gaze flicked briefly between them. “I trust you received my little… message this morning.”
Dominic’s voice was lethal calm. “I’ve received many messages lately. I’m starting to lose track.”
Valentina’s laughter was light, but her eyes sharpened. “Consider it motivation. The sooner you submit, the less blood will be spilled.”
Aria stepped forward, her voice like velvet wrapped around a blade. “Funny how confident you are for someone whose empire is built on old debts and fragile alliances.”
Valentina’s smile tightened. “You’re bold for a woman who still breathes under your husband’s protection.”
Aria didn’t flinch. “Don’t mistake my place beside him as weakness. I’ve bled for this seat, and I’ll bleed for it again.”
For a brief moment, true hostility flashed between the two women.
Dominic’s arm slid protectively around Aria’s waist, his voice cold. “Careful, Valentina. My patience is thin. And unlike Salvatore, I don’t negotiate twice.”
Valentina’s smile returned, but the tension thickened like fog. “We’ll see how long your kingdom stands, Dominic. Queens are such… fragile creatures.”
With a final glance, she disappeared back into the crowd, leaving behind a lingering chill.
Back in the car
“You baited her,” Dominic said as they sped away.
Aria’s gaze stayed fixed on the city lights blurring past. “She needs to know I won’t break.”
Dominic’s hand found hers, squeezing it tightly. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Aria.”
She turned, fierce and unyielding. “So are you.”
Their war had just escalated. And in this game of kings,
it was the queens who would decide who lived — and who burned.
End of MADDEST OBSESSION Chapter 19. Continue reading Chapter 20 or return to MADDEST OBSESSION book page.