A Dominant Salvation (A Dominant Series Book 3)

by Lena Black

  “Innocent? I am far from innocent, Damian. I am not a meek little virgin who can’t handle herself. I don’t understand any of this…You’re trying to tell me something other than what is actually being spoken. I had a hunch you’d be trouble, and thus far it seems to ring tried and true. What do you want from me, Damian?”

  I wanted her, to lose myself in her body, to fuck her out of my system. But she was forbidden fruit. The way I saw it, I had two choices. One led to my dungeon. The second led to a life of regret.

  She groaned, turning and walking away in frustration. I was desperate to keep following her, make sure she got back safely, to squeeze every last drop of time with her I could, but she was right to run from me. I knew I should let her go.

  I also knew I couldn’t.

  Chapter Eight

  Trash Talk

  It’s been an endless fucking day of emergencies and meetings. After my morning round, I hashed out the details of a possible merger with a communications company I’ve had my eye on for some time. Elle was swamped, so she wasn’t able to come up for our afternoon playdate. On top of that, she has dinner plans tonight with Julie, so I won’t see her until later this evening.

  I stayed late to get ahead on some work, hoping to pass the time quickly.

  My phone suddenly goes off, interrupting me from my concentration.

  I check the time on the clock on my desk. Nearly seven.

  Grabbing my cell, I pick up and place it to my ear.

  “Hunt.”

  “Sir,” Liam’s voice says with a severe tone, “we have a situation back at The Artemis.”

  “Is it Gabrielle?” I ask, feeling panic grow in my chest.

  “No, sir, but you need to come immediately.”

  I hang up and grab my wallet and keys, rushing out of my office.

  The penthouse is trashed.

  “Is Gabrielle out to dinner with Julie?” I ask Banks, praying she hasn’t seen the disaster that is our home.

  “I believe so. She left to meet her after work.”

  “And Red?”

  “She went to visit her mother for a few days, left this morning.”

  “Excellent.”

  Now that I know everyone is safe, everything else seems more manageable.

  I’m going to kill him for this. Since there hasn’t been much activity from my brother recently, I assume this has to do with Olivia’s visit recently. Perhaps our visit to Beverly’s. Whichever the crime, this is clearly a message of war.

  “Sir,” Banks says, bringing my focus back on the current predicament, “I have something you need to see.”

  “What?” I ask, surveying the catastrophe that is my living room.

  “We went back over the footage from the lobby and garage cameras.”

  I guess I’ll have to make a visual log of the damage later.

  “And, what did you find?”

  “We found out how he’s been getting in, sir.”

  “Yes, yes. And?” I rush him, becoming more impatient.

  He pulls a disk out of his pocket and hands it to me. I start towards my office, and he follows closely behind. Moving over to my desk, I rip it from the case and shove it into my computer. An image of the lobby comes onto the screen. I don’t see anything suspicious at first, certainly no sign of Dante. After a moment or two, a woman with a large hat covering her face quickly crosses the marble tile floor towards the elevator. Once inside, the camera view changes into the cab, but it’s an overhead shot so her face remains concealed under the wide brim. We watch her insert a cardkey and ride the elevator down to the garage. When the doors finally open, Dante steps inside and grabs the mystery woman by the hair, wrenching her head back until her face is revealed to the camera…Vanessa.

  Fucking bitch.

  I’d given her a spare key a few years back, in case I ever needed it. I completely forgot about it until now.

  With a devilish grin on his face, he kisses her hard, slamming her against the back wall of the cab. He paws at her breasts and hips, bringing her skirt up about her waist, practically fucking her right there. He’s taunting me, getting off on the idea of driving me over the edge.

  What he doesn’t realize is the fact that it will only play against him. I have something to fight for now, and I will fight to the death to protect it.

  When the doors open, they step off, and the video cuts out.

  Fuck.

  “Is that everything?” I ask, my hands running through my hair in frustration.

  “No, sir.”

  Of course not. All we’re missing is the cherry.

  He reaches back into his pocket and retrieves a camera memory card and hands it to me. I slide it into the computer as well. When the box pops up, I click on it, and a window opens with several pictures, pictures of Elle, personal, intimate pictures from our sessions in my studio.

  It’s from my camera.

  I skim through them until I get to ones I didn’t take. They aren’t like the others. They’re random body parts, male and female, hands groping flesh, hips fused together, the curve of a woman’s back. But the two subjects intertwined in the throes of passion are not my wife and myself. It doesn’t bother. Not nearly as much as what I soon realize.

  My stomach turns.

  These were taken in our bedroom, in our bed.

  I frantically click on the last pictures, to two faces twisted in release.

  Dante and Vanessa fucking where I make love to Elle

  Liam slips a note in front of me on the desk that simply reads…

  Piece of shit got his kicks in our bed, looking at pictures of my fucking wife!

  I slam my palms on the hard wooden surface of my desktop. White-hot rage pumps through my veins like molten metal. I will find him, and I will end him.

  “How does he keep getting past security? Where the fuck are these lazy sonofabitches when he’s coming in and out of my home as he pleases?”

  “It was brought to my attention that a small group of our security guards have been cutting the camera feed and even granting him access into the building. He was paying them off, from what I heard, quite handsomely. They covered up the missing footage, stating there were technical problems with the cameras and system.”

  “And what is being done about that?”

  “I’ve already handled it, Mr. Hunt. They’ve been escorted off the premises and reliable sources will take their places.”

  “You’re sure about them?”

  “Yes, sir. They’re the best. I also took the liberty of placing men at the lobby doors and garage.”

  “Very good.” I release a forced breath. “I want extra security on Elle as well. Discreetly, Banks. I don’t need an argument over this.”

  “Of course.”

  “I want to get a bag packed for the next few evenings. I’m going to take Gabrielle to The Fairmont for a couple days. I want this place back in order as soon as possible. I don’t want her to know any of this ever happened.”

  “Oh my God!” I hear from downstairs.

  Fuck.

  Banks and I glimpse at each other and hurry out of my office. When we get to the top of the stairs, Julie and Elle are standing by the elevator with their mouths agape.

  She glimpses up at me and whimpers, running toward me on the stairs. I hurry down and over to my shaken wife, grabbing her into my arms.

  “You’re alright,” she mumbles breathlessly.

  “Yes, angel, I’m alright.”

  “I thought something happened to you,” she confesses, holding onto me tighter.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, nuzzling my cheek on top of her head.

  “Yes, I’m fine. I’m just confused.”

  “Dante,” I whisper into her ear and she stiffens in my embrace.

  “Jesus,” she murmurs against my chest.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Jules asks and we turn to her, Liam already standing at her side.

  “It’s nothing,” he says, attempting to appease her.
<
br />   “It’s just a break in,” Elle answers.

  “Bullshit,” she says. “There is no way someone could just waltz into this place. You’ve been hiding something from me and I’m sick of it.”

  “We have everything taken care of,” I promise her.

  “If you all think I’m blind, you’re crazy. I see what’s going on around here. I know something’s wrong.”

  “We have it handled,” I snap, breaking under the weight of the truth crushing down on me. “Jules, I’m sorry.”

  “I thought we were friends.”

  “We are.”

  “Friends don’t lie to each other,” she says, tears glinting in the corners of her eyes. “Call me when you’re ready to be honest.”

  “Jules, wait,” I call after her as she bolts for the elevator and take a step forward, but Hunt grips my shoulder with a firm yet caring hold.

  “It’s best, Elle. At least until we get everything figured out. She’s safer in the dark.”

  “Is she?” I ask, hugging my arms around myself. “Have I?”

  Even though I’m facing away from them, I see the expressions on their faces, the same expressions that have crossed them time and time again, pity.

  “Banks, give us a moment,” Damian orders, his voice anything but demanding.

  “Yes, sir,” Liam says, ever the obedient henchmen. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

  “Thank you.”

  As Liam escorts himself out, I slowly take in the scene of devastation around me, the large gashes in the couch, the shredded remnants of the rug, the glitter of shattered glass strewed everywhere. But worst of all, Hunt’s breathtaking photos have been torn from the walls, now smashed and mangled on the floor.

  “Atrocious, isn’t it?” he asks, meeting me in the center of the room. He clasps both hands to my biceps and leans in to kiss me on the forehead, breathing me in before he parts.

  “Oh, Hunt. It’s awful.”

  “Come.” He offers me his hand. “Let’s check the damage upstairs.”

  Holding hands securely, we journey to the bedroom, discovering little difference from the downstairs, our bedsheets and clothes frayed and scattered across everything.

  Nothing we can’t replace.

  I’m following Hunt as we walk the room, looking things over, when he halts in his tracks.

  “What is it?” I ask, tracking his gaze to the wall. There, written in large, red letters across the center portrait of me, is the word.

  “Damian,” I whisper with a voice shaking in terror.

  “He won’t get you,” he says, turning to me. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” He takes me into his large arms and curls them about me, blanketing me in him. “I wish I knew why he did this. He usually doesn’t attack unless he feels threatened.”

  “I may know why.”

  I step back, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “What could you have possibly done?”

  He won’t enjoy what I’m about to confess to him, but it seems I don’t have a choice. He’ll find out eventually. It’s best it comes from me.

  “When you went on your trip to San Diego, I arranged a meeting of my own.”

  “What type of meeting exactly?”

  “With your former subs.”

  “How did you arrange that?”

  “Marlena was kind enough to contact them for me. We held the gathering at The Manor.”

  “And what happened at this gathering?”

  “They explained that Dante was blackmailing them to divulge intimate details of your private life. I offered them a sizeable sum of money and protection from Dante in return for their silence and denial of the rumors.”

  “And you believe Dante figured it out when he couldn’t get to one of them.”

  “This is clearly retaliation. I know you’re going to punish me for putting myself and us at risk by leaving the penthouse and talking to your exes, but you’ve been stretched thin with running your empire and your crazy siblings. You put so much on yourself, I just wanted to help.”

  “I’m not going to punish you, Gabrielle.”

  “You’re not?”

  “No,” he says, “I’m not.”

  “What are you going to do then?”

  “I’m going to speak with Banks. I want you packed and ready leave in an hour.”

  I turn away from him and walk to the wall of glass, looking out over the city I hold so dear, knowing very well Dante is somewhere out there, waiting for an opportune moment of weakness to take us down. By the violence of this attack, hitting us where we live, he’s growing restless. It’s only a matter of time before he exacts his flesh…and a pound won’t be enough this time.

  Chapter Nine

  Cutting Edge

  Over the next few days, I stay at my parents’ estate in Kentfield with my mother, Chase, and Maya. Hunt wanted me to hideout at a hotel in the city while he oversaw the crew working on the penthouse. I suggested leaving San Francisco altogether. My mother has been asking the family to come to Marin County for an extended weekend, so I took the opportunity to spend quality time with her.

  Hunt thought it would be best while everything was taken care of back at home. Plus, Dante probably wouldn’t look there first if he came after me. We just aren’t sure if he’s growing restless of terrorizing us, how soon he’ll attempt the next attack, and what he will do when he does.

  I invited Julie and Liam, but since Dante’s begun to make himself known, he has to keep an eye on things. Plus, after the news of her brother, Jules didn’t feel like going anywhere.

  Since Sloan was visiting her mother, we knew she was safe. We wouldn’t want her to be a casualty of Dante’s revenge.

  By the weekend, the events of earlier in the week have begun to push themselves to the back of my mind.

  Saturday, Hunt headed back into the city to oversee the finishing of the penthouse while I stayed with my mother, sister, and Chase who came up to check on us. I’m still getting used to the fact that he is now my brother-in-law.

  After I get back from the grocery store, having planned out a wonderful dinner for everyone, I put everything away and go in search of them. I call out throughout the house but no one answers, so I stroll out to the backyard.

  There, sitting out on the veranda, I discover Chase, soaking up some rays. It’s an oddly warm day for fall, but this is California, so not completely unexpected.

  “Hey,” I say, announcing my presence.

  He cracks his eyelids a sliver.

  “Hey,” he greets me with a smile.

  I take a seat next to him and look out over the expansive park we call a backyard.

  “I don’t know if Maya said anything to you, but I’m sorry about what I did when…”

  “Ellie,” he reaches over and places his hand on mine, resting on the armrest of my chair, “you know you never need to apologize to me. No matter what happens between us, we’ll always be okay.”

  I smile faintly at him and grasp his hand.

  “I’ve missed you, Chase. So much has changed between us in such a short time. Everything feels different now.”

  “Yes, it does.” He nods his head once in agreement. “That’s life, I guess.”

  “Yeah.” I mentally fan the sullen cloud hanging around my head. “So, how’s married life treating you?”

  He laughs.

  “I still can’t believe I’m someone’s husband.” He looks out over the grounds with a serene, happy expression. “Not just anyone, though. Maya’s,” he utters with a tender tone.

  “You really love her, don’t you?”

  “She’s my everything,” he proudly confesses.

  “How did you know she was the one?” I tuck a strand of hair blowing around in front of my eyes back into the bun atop my head. “Not that I’m questioning your decision.”

  “No, no. I get it.” He takes a second to mull it over, really searching for the best way to explain what he feels. “When you told me you
weren’t in love with me, it broke my heart. If she left, I wouldn’t survive the blow. Every other woman could never compare to her. That’s how I knew.”

  “That’s what Hunt said.”

  “I know.” I glance at him and scrunch my nose. “He talks about you a lot.”

  Ah, yes. I forget how close Damian and Chase have become in the past months. Sometimes I wonder whose best friend he actually is.

  “I owe you an apology.”

  “For what?” I inquire. “You’ve done nothing wrong…That I know of,” I tease, shooting him an overly inquisitive gaze.

  “The way I behaved for years, chasing after you like some love-starved idiot.”

  “Chase, you are not an idiot. To be honest, it took me a long time to realize you harbored feelings for me beyond friendship. I was so blind.”

  “Or maybe I was just bad at it.” We chuckle, but the youthful glow about his face soon fades. “But with all seriousness, a part of me will always love you,” he confesses.

  “You better, Mr. Chase Cahill. Because I’ll always love you. You’re more than an ex or even a friend, you’re my family.”

  “Literally.”

  “Oh Lord. That’s right. You’re my brother-in-law.”

  “And Damian is mine.”

  “Well, aren’t we the happy little dysfunctional family.”

  “Speaking of, how are Jules and Sloan?”

  He had to go there.

  “Um,” I mumble, a single tear trickling down the side of my nose and over my lips at the mention of her name.

  “What’s wrong, Ellie?”

  “Jules and I had a fight.” I wipe the wet trail away with a stealth sweep of my hand.

  “About what?”

  “She’s caught on to Dante’s antics. How could she not? Anyway, I denied it. She called me out, said I was lying to her, and then told me not to contact her until I can be honest.”