Underworld Submission (book 1)

Shadows of the Cellar

Adrian sat across from Dominic in the dimly lit office, the tension in the room easing as the storm within Dominic began to subside. The remnants of whatever had shattered Dominic's composure were still visible—papers strewn across the desk, a half-empty glass of whiskey on the table, and the flickering lights casting long shadows against the walls. But in that moment, none of that mattered. All that mattered was the look in Dominic's eyes—an expression of deep pain and vulnerability that Adrian had never seen before.

"Dominic," Adrian said softly, leaning forward slightly, "you don't have to carry this alone. Whatever's been haunting you, I'm here to listen."

Dominic's eyes flickered with uncertainty, as if he were weighing whether to reveal a part of himself he had kept buried for so long. His hands trembled slightly as he ran them through his disheveled hair, and for a moment, Adrian thought he might retreat back into his shell. But then, Dominic took a deep breath and began to speak, his voice barely above a whisper.

"There's something I've never told anyone," Dominic said, his gaze fixed on a spot on the floor, as if he couldn't bear to meet Adrian's eyes. "Not even Marco knows about this... It's something I've tried to forget, but it's always there, lurking in the shadows."

Adrian remained silent, sensing that Dominic needed the space to bring this painful memory to the surface.

"I was just a kid," Dominic continued, his voice trembling slightly. "No more than seven or eight. It was late at night, and I was supposed to be asleep. But I couldn't sleep, so I wandered around the house... That's when I heard the noise. A door being kicked in, voices I didn't recognize. I didn't understand what was happening at first, but I knew it wasn't good."

Dominic paused, his breathing uneven as he relived the moment. "I panicked. I didn't know where to go, where to hide. I was too scared to run upstairs to my parents, so I did the only thing I could think of—I ran down to the cellar. It was dark, cold, and quiet. I thought... I thought I'd be safe there."

Adrian's heart ached as he listened, the pain in Dominic's voice cutting through him like a knife."I hid behind some old crates," Dominic continued, his voice growing quieter. "I was shaking, but I thought I was safe. I didn't know... I didn't know my mom had seen me. She must have been looking for me when she saw the cellar door open. She followed me down there, Adrian."Dominic's voice cracked, and he closed his eyes, as if trying to block out the memory. "And the assassin followed her. He saw her go into the cellar and... he followed her."

Adrian felt a lump form in his throat, the weight of Dominic's words heavy in the air."I watched... I watched from the shadows as he killed her," Dominic whispered, his voice breaking. "I didn't even scream. I couldn't move, couldn't make a sound. I just... I just watched."Tears welled up in Dominic's eyes, and for a moment, he was no longer the powerful, controlled man that everyone knew. He was a terrified child, trapped in a nightmare that had haunted him for years.

"It was my fault," Dominic choked out, his voice filled with anguish. "If I hadn't gone down there... If I hadn't hidden like a coward, maybe she would still be alive."

"No," Adrian said firmly, his voice full of empathy. "It wasn't your fault, Dominic. You were just a child, scared and alone. What happened wasn't your fault—it was the fault of the man who did this, the man who took your mother from you. You were a victim too."

Dominic shook his head, tears spilling down his cheeks. "I've carried this with me for so long, Adrian. It's like a shadow that follows me wherever I go, reminding me of what I lost... of what I did."

Adrian reached out and placed a hand on Dominic's shoulder, his grip strong and reassuring. "You didn't do anything wrong, Dominic. You survived. And your mother... she loved you. She would never blame you for what happened. If anything, she'd be proud of the man you've become, the strength you've shown."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the only sound in the room the soft hum of the city outside. Dominic's breathing slowly steadied, the raw pain in his expression beginning to ease, replaced by a deep, exhausted sorrow.

"I've never told anyone," Dominic said again, his voice hoarse. "I've tried to bury it, to forget. But it's always there, and some days... some days it's too much."

Adrian nodded, his own emotions swirling inside him. "You don't have to carry this alone anymore, Dominic. You've been strong for so long, but even the strongest people need support. I'm here for you, and I'm not going anywhere."

Dominic looked up at Adrian, his tear-filled eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "Thank you," he whispered, the words carrying the weight of years of silence and pain.

As the night stretched on, the two men sat together in that office, the darkness outside giving way to the first light of dawn. The storm that had raged within Dominic was beginning to calm, the shadows of the cellar finally starting to fade. And in that moment, a bond was forged between them—one built not just on shared experiences and mutual respect, but on a deep understanding of the pain that lay hidden beneath the surface.For the first time in years, Dominic felt a glimmer of hope, a sense that perhaps he could begin to heal from the wounds of his past. And as he looked at Adrian, he knew that he wasn't alone anymore.