Underworld Submission (book 1)

Shattered Glass and Shadows

Dominic paced his office like a caged animal, fury radiating off him in waves. The events of the night had left him on edge, his control slipping through his fingers like sand. His normally pristine office now reflected the chaos within him. Papers were strewn across the floor, books lay scattered, and shards of glass glistened under the dim light where vases and picture frames had met their end against the walls.

He clenched his fists, his breath coming in ragged bursts. The image of Adrian, nearly caught in the crossfire, haunted him. He couldn't let it go—couldn't let the thought of losing him settle into his mind. But it wasn't just Adrian's safety that gnawed at him; it was the deeper, unresolved anger that had been festering for years, brought to the surface by the events of the night.

Dominic's mother's face flashed in his mind, a vision of grace and warmth, now forever tinged with the horror of her final moments. He had been just a boy, helpless as the assassin took her from him. The memory consumed him, feeding the rage that he had kept buried deep inside for too long.

He reached for another vase, his hand trembling as he prepared to hurl it against the wall. But just as he was about to let go, the door to his office opened, and his subordinate, Michael, stepped in, holding a folder filled with the results of the interrogation.

"Sir," Michael began, his voice steady but cautious as he took in the state of the room. "We've got the information you wanted."

Dominic froze, the vase still in his hand, his chest heaving with the effort to control himself. He slowly lowered the vase, setting it back on the desk with deliberate care. His eyes locked onto Michael's, the anger still burning, but now contained, barely.

"What did you find out?" Dominic's voice was a low growl, his usual calm demeanor stripped away.

Michael hesitated for a brief moment, unsure of how much to reveal in the face of his boss's obvious distress. But he knew better than to withhold anything from Dominic, especially now.

"The assassin we captured—he's not just a hired gun. He's part of a larger network, one that's been planning this for months," Michael explained, stepping forward to hand Dominic the folder. "They've been watching you, tracking your movements, and Adrian's too. The ambush tonight was just the beginning. They're targeting you both."

Dominic took the folder, his hands still shaking slightly as he opened it. The contents only fueled his rage further—surveillance photos, detailed notes on his and Adrian's routines, and a list of potential weak points in their security. It was all there, meticulously planned and executed, a clear indication that whoever was behind this wasn't going to stop until they had what they wanted.

"And the assassin?" Dominic asked, his voice dangerously calm now.

"He's been cooperative, but only to a point. He knows the consequences of crossing the people who hired him," Michael replied. "We've extracted as much as we can for now, but he's scared. There's something—or someone—bigger pulling the strings."

Dominic slammed the folder shut, the sound echoing in the room. He couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that was creeping up on him, the same feeling he had when he was a boy, hiding in that cellar while his mother faced her killer. He had sworn to never let himself feel that way again, to never be powerless in the face of danger. But now, with Adrian's life on the line, those old wounds were ripping open.

He looked around his office, at the destruction he had caused, and felt a wave of disgust. This wasn't who he was—or at least, it wasn't who he wanted to be. He had built his empire on control, on being the one who called the shots. But now, with everything falling apart around him, that control felt like it was slipping away.

Dominic took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. There was no time for self-pity or regret. He needed to act, to protect Adrian, to put an end to this threat once and for all.

"Double the security around the mansion," Dominic ordered, his voice regaining some of its usual authority. "I want every inch of this place covered. And get me a team to start digging into this network. I want to know who's behind it and why they're targeting us."

Michael nodded, relieved to see Dominic taking charge again. "Already in motion, sir. We'll have a full report by morning."

Dominic nodded, dismissing Michael with a wave of his hand. As the door closed behind him, Dominic sat down at his desk, running a hand through his hair. He couldn't afford to let his emotions get the better of him, not now. There was too much at stake.

But as he looked at the shattered remains of his office, he couldn't help but feel the weight of his past pressing down on him. The memories of his mother, of that night, of the cellar—all of it was coming back with a vengeance. And now, with Adrian's life on the line, those memories felt like they were suffocating him.

Dominic clenched his fists, closing his eyes as he tried to push the thoughts away. He couldn't afford to dwell on the past, not when the present was so precarious. But even as he tried to focus on the task at hand, the image of his mother, of her final moments, lingered in his mind, a constant reminder of the darkness that had shaped him.

And now, that darkness was threatening to consume him once again.

As the night stretched on, Dominic knew one thing for certain—he couldn't lose Adrian, not like he lost his mother. He would do whatever it took to protect him, to keep him safe, even if it meant confronting the demons that had haunted him for so long.