Underworld Submission (book 1)

Calm Before the Fire

Dom sat in his expansive study, leaning back in the leather chair, the headlines of the morning's news glaring at him from the large tablet screen. His best friend, Marcus, stood in front of the desk, his face unreadable as Dom read the headline out loud:

Retired Detective Adrian Hayes' Shocking Relationship with Mafia Leader Dominic Russo!

Dom sighed and tossed the tablet down on the desk with a bitter smile. "Accidentally leaked, huh? Could've been worse. It's slanderous, sure, but Adrian's retired. This shouldn't affect him too badly, at least not professionally."Marcus crossed his arms, watching Dom carefully. "You know this won't stop them, right?"Dom nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I know. This was just the first play. The media's having a field day, and now the world knows Adrian is mine. But my enemies—they don't care about news or reputations. If anything, this just puts a bigger target on him."He stood, pacing the room, frustration building within him. "I thought making it public would protect him. That no one would dare touch him if they knew he was under my protection. But now..."Marcus's voice was steady, calculated. "We need to up security. Make sure Adrian is never alone, and we need to anticipate the worst. They'll come after him. We both know it."Dom nodded, the weight of Marcus's words sinking in. "We need a plan," he muttered. "I won't let them take him. I can't."The two men moved to the large conference table in the corner of the room, laying out maps of the city, contact sheets of loyal guards, and blueprints of the mansion. They began discussing every possible threat, every contingency plan. Marcus suggested increasing the guards stationed around the mansion and having armed escorts whenever Adrian left the house. Dom agreed, but he wanted more—something bulletproof, something that would guarantee Adrian's safety."We need to know where they're hiding, who's pulling the strings behind these threats," Dom said, leaning over the table. "If we can cut the head off the snake—"He was interrupted by the shrill ring of his phone. Dom frowned as he glanced at the screen, his blood running cold when he saw the number.Unknown Caller.Marcus noticed Dom's sudden shift in demeanor and stopped talking, his gaze sharpening as he watched Dom answer the call.Dom pressed the phone to his ear. "Who is this?" His voice was hard, commanding.A slow, deliberate chuckle echoed from the other end of the line. "Ah, Dominic Russo. Just the man I was hoping to speak to." The voice was taunting, dripping with malice. Dom's fists clenched instinctively."Get to the point," Dom growled, already knowing who it was. His enemy had finally made his move."Such impatience," the voice mused. "You should be careful with that temper of yours. It could cost you dearly."Dom's jaw tightened. "If this is a threat, you'd better think twice before—""Oh, it's more than a threat, Dominic. It's a promise," the voice interrupted, now cold and dangerous. "You think making your relationship with that detective public will protect him? That's cute. But I don't care what the world knows. Adrian Hayes is still just a man, and men can be broken."Dom felt his heart slam against his ribs, but he kept his voice steady. "If you lay a hand on him—""Ah, you'll what? Burn down my empire?" The voice sneered. "We both know you won't even get the chance. You see, I'm not going to just take Adrian from you. I'm going to make him mine. I'll capture him, break him, and make sure he begs for mercy before I'm done. And once he's nothing but a shattered shell of the man you love, I'll end him. Right in front of you."Dom's blood went ice-cold as he imagined the horrors the man on the other end of the phone was describing. The thought of Adrian in his enemy's hands, subjected to such torture, was too much to bear."I'll kill you," Dom spat, his voice low and lethal. "I'll make sure you never see the light of day again."The voice laughed softly. "You're welcome to try. But you'd better act fast, Dom. Because time is running out, and once I have him, there's no going back."The call disconnected with a click, leaving Dom gripping the phone so hard his knuckles turned white. He stared at the screen, the dial tone ringing in his ears like a warning bell.Marcus was at his side in an instant. "What did they say?"Dom's voice was a low growl as he responded, "They're coming for Adrian. They're planning to take him and...destroy him."Marcus cursed under his breath. "We can't let that happen. We need to move now."Dom nodded, his mind racing. His pulse thundered in his ears, but amid the fear and anger, one thought rang clear: Adrian had to be protected. No matter the cost."He's not safe here anymore," Dom said, pacing the room. "We need to get him out of the city, somewhere they won't find him."Marcus nodded. "I'll get our best men on it. We'll secure an off-grid location and move him before they can make their move."Dom stopped, looking at Marcus with fierce determination. "We need to hit them first. Track their movements. Find out where they're hiding. If we can neutralize the threat, Adrian will be safe."Marcus nodded again. "I'll reach out to our informants. We'll get eyes on them and move fast."As Marcus began making calls, Dom stared out the window, his mind torn between fear and rage. He knew this battle wasn't just about power or territory anymore—it was personal. And if his enemy thought he could use Adrian as a pawn, Dom would show him just how deadly a mistake that was.
Adrian stood at the window of his room, staring out at the sprawling grounds of the mansion. The peacefulness outside felt jarring, a stark contrast to the tension that gripped him after Dom's sudden call earlier. He had sensed something was wrong, but Dom hadn't explained anything at the time. Now, the air in the mansion was thick with unease. Adrian could feel it like a palpable weight.Just as his thoughts started racing again, there was a knock at the door. Before Adrian could even respond, Dom pushed it open. His face was tense, his usual calm shattered by something deeper, something darker. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his eyes meeting Adrian's."Dom," Adrian said, stepping closer. "What's going on?"Dom took a breath, rubbing a hand over his face. He looked exhausted, but beneath that was a burning anger that seemed ready to erupt at any moment. Adrian had never seen him like this—so close to losing control."It's not good, Adrian," Dom finally said, his voice low and strained. "We're in danger. You're in danger."Adrian's brow furrowed. "Me? Why? What happened?"Dom pushed off from the door and moved toward him, stopping just inches away. "One of my enemies called today. He...he made some threats." His jaw clenched, as though forcing himself to stay composed. "It's you he's after, Adrian. He wants to take you away from me, to make you suffer. And he's not bluffing."Adrian's pulse quickened, but he held his ground, locking eyes with Dom. He could see the anger simmering beneath the surface, but more than that, he saw fear. And it wasn't fear for himself. Dom was afraid for him."Dom, I get that this guy is dangerous, but we've dealt with threats before," Adrian said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I can handle myself. You know that."Dom shook his head, his frustration spilling over. "This isn't the same, Adrian. You don't understand. This man—he's ruthless. He'll do anything to get to you. And I won't let that happen."Adrian could see the fire in Dom's eyes, but there was something else there—something raw and vulnerable. He reached out and placed a hand on Dom's chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath his palm."I believe you," Adrian said softly. "But you're acting like it's already over, like there's nothing we can do to stop him."Dom's expression faltered, and for a moment, he looked like he was carrying the weight of the world. "Because I don't know how to stop him. Not yet. And that terrifies me, Adrian." His voice cracked, the raw emotion slipping through. "If anything happens to you..."Adrian's heart squeezed at the sight of Dom like this. He had always known Dom was strong, but seeing him this vulnerable, this afraid—it was new. And it made Adrian realize just how much Dom cared."I'm not going anywhere," Adrian said firmly, stepping even closer. "I'm not going to let him win. And neither should you."Dom's hands tightened into fists, his knuckles white. "He made it clear what he'll do to you. It's not just about taking you, Adrian. He wants to break you, to destroy you because it's the only way he thinks he can hurt me. And if I can't protect you—""Stop." Adrian's voice was sharp, cutting through Dom's spiral. He took Dom's face in his hands, forcing him to look into his eyes. "You're not going to lose me. We'll figure this out, together."Dom's breath hitched, and for a moment, the fire in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something softer, something more fragile."How can you be so calm?" Dom whispered, almost to himself.Adrian smiled faintly, stroking his thumb across Dom's cheek. "Because I'm more worried about you than about me. I can see how much this is eating at you, and I need you to stay grounded. You've always been the one in control, Dom, but right now, it feels like you're ready to burn the world down."Dom closed his eyes, leaning into Adrian's touch, and let out a shuddering breath. "I am," he admitted quietly. "If it means keeping you safe, I'll burn it all."Adrian's heart swelled at the confession, but he remained steady. "I know you would. But we need to be smart about this, not reckless. You've got people around you, people who can help. We just have to be careful, plan every move."Dom opened his eyes, and there was a flicker of relief in them, though the anger still simmered beneath the surface. "I've already started working on that. Marcus is increasing security, and we're looking into where they're hiding.""Good," Adrian said, nodding. "And I'll be right by your side through all of it. You're not fighting this battle alone, Dom."Dom swallowed hard, his hands finally relaxing as he reached up to hold Adrian's wrists. He stared at Adrian, the intensity in his gaze almost overwhelming. "I don't know what I did to deserve you," he whispered.Adrian smiled gently, leaning in to kiss Dom softly. "You didn't have to do anything. I'm here because I want to be."The kiss lingered, a promise of trust and unwavering support. When they finally pulled apart, Dom looked calmer, though the edge of his rage was still there."You're right," Dom said, his voice steadier. "We'll face this together. I won't let him win."Adrian nodded, feeling a sense of resolve settling over them both. "And we won't give him the chance to."The two of them stood there in the quiet of the room, the tension slowly easing as they held onto each other. There was still danger ahead, but for now, they had each other. And that was enough to keep the fire at bay.