g with malevolence, as he uttered a single, chilling command

deep-seated concern that seemed to plead for mercy, his brow

his voice laced with caution, his words

eyes blazing with anger, the intensity b

his eyes never leaving Dominic's, before turning to leave, the so

c, the silence between them oppres

heart racing like a wild a

ttling, a facade that seemed to

to recognize the signs-

to her very soul, searchin

trembled as sh

omin

er throat, silenced by t

ression remai

emo

around the room, sea

from the imp

e was

resence fil

in

mida

eath caught

she had

trembling as she attempted to ex

inic's hand shot out, his palm connect

d to the side, her ey

and she felt a warm trickle of

of blood as she struggled to

ed with fury, his f

p," he

's hear

gripp

seen Dominic l

he loved

d by a

es welled up

d to spe

grip on her ja

her words barely audible.

your responsibility!" he thundered. "It was your responsibility

p with tears, her body

h over her, a crushing weight

deep, piercing her

rs now," Dominic spa

alerie. I lost my son bec

n the air like a

ice caught i

defend herself, but t

ed, his questions tumblin

go alone?"

you to take such

ink you are-som

kid a jok

ever care

ion felt l

s face c

ook he

," she

erie sobbed, the words tumbling out i

fury wouldn'

blazed wi

twisted

nd sho

racked across V

choed throu

exp

ing wave

e's he

sion b

s fl

f sorrow a

amed down

d rele

lip

rickle o

minder of Do

destruction of t

d they

shattered more th

hattered

tr

lo

pping with malice as he growled, "Don't talk back i

y when I ask you som

reeling in shock as she struggled to compreh

e man who once held her with tender

ith contempt, his gaze

girl like y

atus of being the wife of a mafia king, a position

lled my child,"

dity, your reckless abandon

dle stabbing into Valerie's heart,

usly, a river of sorrow t

r showed no si

u love," h

never dream of, every luxury, e

erything," his

third slap cracking a

ting wave of agony tha

vision blurred, and

beginning," D

real hell, a hell o

Valerie's wr

her down f

in pain, her b

grabbed

out of the h

stepped

ou taking he

, Dominic, sho

glare si

s your responsibilit

ur, and now you m

elf," Dominic's voice drop

I do, you may

t hung in

e was s

as in a l

nic didn

er out of t

er into

d in be

rs slam

ne roare

e away from

d a trail of

's hear

what aw

ving

inic's