Chapter 217: S2-Chapter 1 Before Everything Changed（continue their stories）
Dominic’s POV
The amber liquid in my glass caught the dim light of the Social Union as I sat with my closest allies, Caleb Thorne and Xavier Black. Our regular nights at the underground establishment had become our sacred tradition, a way to decompress from the constant vigilance required in running our respective operations within the Thorne crime family. Tonight, however, my curiosity was getting the better of me.
"Caleb, what happened with that woman I recommended for your legitimate front operation?" I leaned forward, genuinely interested in his response.
Caleb’s jaw tightened slightly, his usual calculating expression growing even more rigid. As the Don of our organization, he rarely discussed personnel matters outside of official family business. "That falls under Heidi’s jurisdiction, Dominic. She’s conducting a video interview in the morning. From what I understand, Heidi has already vetted her background thoroughly, spoken with Kyle Miller, and seems rather impressed with her qualifications for our cover operation. The hiring seems inevitable."
His clinical tone told me he was deliberately avoiding details, which only fueled my curiosity further. In our world, every new face represented either an opportunity or a potential threat.
"Robert mentioned she’s exceptionally capable at maintaining legitimate facades," I pressed, watching his reaction carefully.
"According to Heidi’s assessment, yes," Caleb replied curtly, his fingers drumming against his whiskey glass with the controlled rhythm of a man accustomed to life-and-death decisions.
"Come on, didn’t Heidi share any personal details? She must have seen photographs, reviewed her credentials for front work..." I persisted, knowing I was pushing his buttons.
Caleb’s eyes flashed with the dangerous irritation that had made lesser men disappear permanently. "Dominic, I don’t give a damn about my employees’ physical appearance. Their ability to maintain our cover operations without drawing federal attention is my only concern." His voice carried the edge that suggested the topic was making him uncomfortable, though in our line of work, discomfort could prove fatal.
Xavier’s laughter cut through the tension from across our table. "You’re forgetting our Don lives and breathes family business, Dominic. Nothing else registers on his radar except territory and tribute."
"Actually, I did ask Heidi about her," Xavier continued with a mischievous grin that would have been charming if not for the blood permanently staining his hands.
My attention snapped to him immediately. "What did she tell you?"
"To keep my distance from the new applicant. Nothing more specific than that." Xavier’s reputation with women was legendary throughout the organization, and Heidi’s warning made perfect sense given how our business partnerships could be complicated by personal entanglements.
"Can we please stop analyzing my potentially future cover operation manager?" Caleb’s voice rose slightly, causing both Xavier and me to laugh at his obvious discomfort.
His growing agitation was becoming more entertaining by the minute, especially considering how he’d tortured suspected informants without breaking a sweat.
"Damn it! There goes our peaceful evening," Xavier muttered, his expression souring as Yara Rossi strutted through the entrance with her usual entourage of wannabe crime family princesses.
"I warned you we should have chosen the gambling den," Caleb grumbled under his breath. "Apparently, that’s the only establishment in this city where that insufferable woman can’t track me down through her family’s connections. I’m leaving before she sinks her claws into me. Xavier, in the morning at the private airfield." Without another word, Caleb slipped out through the club’s side exit, his bodyguards seamlessly flanking him.
"Territory expansion?" I asked Xavier, watching Caleb’s tactical retreat.
"New business alliance in Ramsey territory. We’ll probably be there for several days establishing new revenue streams," Xavier explained, finishing his drink while keeping one eye on potential threats.
"Damn it! Now who’s going to give me information about Thorne’s new cover operation assistant?" My frustration was genuine.
"Don’t even consider asking Heidi," Xavier laughed, standing to leave. "She guards Don Thorne’s interests like a pit bull."
"Where did my precious kitty disappear to?" Yara’s voice pierced through the club’s ambient noise, her shrill tone making everyone within earshot cringe.
"I had no idea you owned a cat," Xavier replied sarcastically, grabbing his jacket. "Dominic, I’m out of here. We’ll continue this conversation when I return from Ramsey territory."
"Don’t leave so soon, handsome," Elza purred, her voice equally grating.
"Get lost, Elza," Xavier shot back, not bothering to look at her as he headed for the exit, his hand automatically checking for his concealed weapon.
"Well, ladies, the table is yours if you want it. I’m leaving as well." I stood, ready to make my own escape before this social situation became a security liability.
"You’re not going to abandon me here without giving me a little goodbye kiss, are you?" Beatrix pressed herself against me, her lips forming an exaggerated pout.
"I’m not the type for innocent kisses, Beatrix. But I could offer you something more interesting in my car," I replied with a knowing smile.
Beatrix had her appeal. She was younger than my years, tall with platinum blonde hair that cascaded down her back, brown eyes, and a slender frame. More importantly, she understood the rules of engagement in our world and was adventurous in bed. Since I was already here and needed to maintain certain appearances for territorial security, why not end the evening with some physical satisfaction?
"Let’s go then," Beatrix whispered, her smile turning predatory as she pulled me toward the exit.
The parking lot was dimly lit, perfect for what I had in mind. I always parked my armored vehicle in the back corner, specifically for occasions like this. The privacy was essential, and the reinforced steel provided additional security against potential ambushes.
"Are we going straight to your safehouse?" Beatrix asked, her excitement evident.
My car was positioned against the wall, parked in reverse for maximum tactical advantage and quick escape routes. I opened the back door and whispered against her ear, "We’re not going to my place tonight. My mother is visiting. This will have to do." I turned her around, guiding her body onto the seat with her legs hanging down. She laughed softly, clearly enjoying the dangerous spontaneity that came with my lifestyle.
I leaned over her, my voice low and commanding. "This needs to be quick. I don’t have much time before my next security check."
I pushed her dress up around her waist and slid her panties down, running my fingers along her entrance. She was already wet, responding immediately to my touch. I played with her, building her arousal while she began moaning. I freed myself from my pants, stroking my length while rubbing the head against her most sensitive areas. Her moans were becoming theatrical, too loud and obviously fake, threatening to kill my arousal entirely and potentially compromise our security.
I covered her mouth with my hand, leaning down to whisper harshly in her ear. "Stay quiet. Not a sound. We can’t attract unwanted attention in this neighborhood."
She nodded frantically, and when I removed my hand, she covered her own mouth. I stood, retrieved a condom from my pocket, and rolled it on efficiently. Gripping her waist firmly, I thrust into her completely in one powerful motion.
I moved fast and hard, chasing my release while simultaneously working her clit with my fingers. When I felt her body convulse around me, I increased my pace, the sound of our bodies connecting echoing in the confined space. I climaxed silently, my body tensing as waves of pleasure washed over me.
Afterward, I withdrew quickly, disposed of the condom, and cleaned myself with tissues from my car. I zipped up my pants and helped adjust her clothing before pulling her off the seat and kissing her cheek perfunctorily.
"I need to leave, Beatrix. Family business calls. We’ll talk soon," I said, directing her back toward the club entrance. The excuse about family business was convenient and accurate – in our world, business never truly stopped.
"That was too fast," she complained, her disappointment obvious.
"I warned you it would be quick," I replied matter-of-factly. "Did you finish?"
She nodded and smiled. "Then we accomplished what we set out to do. We’ll talk later." I gave her another brief kiss on the cheek and got into my car.
I knew my behavior was callous. This wasn’t how a gentleman treated a woman, regardless of how promiscuous or annoying she might be. But I had been completely honest with Beatrix from the beginning, just as I was with all the women I slept with. I told her explicitly that I felt nothing for her and that we would never have a relationship, but she insisted she only wanted physical satisfaction. So we hooked up occasionally, and I never gave her false hope about anything more.
The truth was simple: I had sex but never committed. I preferred this arrangement because it meant I wasn’t deceiving anyone and wasn’t becoming a bastard like my father, who had betrayed our family’s code of honor and brought shame upon our bloodline. After his exile from the organization, his behavior became even more despicable, transforming into an aging parasite who burned through whatever money remained to him on opportunistic young women who never stayed with him for long.
My father had become what people in our circles called a disgrace to the family name. He no longer wanted any responsibilities within the organization and had abandoned his blood obligations to pursue adventures with gold-digging women. The family council gave him an ultimatum: accept exile or face permanent consequences. He chose exile, and I made sure he received a minimal monthly allowance, enough to support a modest lifestyle far from our territory. Predictably, even the opportunistic women didn’t last long once his resources dwindled.
Now I was a man in my early thirties, Capo of our money laundering operations, who deliberately avoided romantic relationships. In our world, emotional attachments were vulnerabilities that enemies could exploit. But I had no idea that everything was about to change, and that my carefully constructed walls were about to be shattered by a woman who would prove stronger than any fortress I’d ever built.
