Fatally Yours

Chapter 26

•INDIANA•

I froze on the spot, my eyes meeting the barrel of the gun as he aimed it at my head. Despite the circumstances, I knew this was going to happen. After running into Dominik in the alley last night, I knew he was pissed, and this was inevitable.

I ran during the shooting because he caught me at an unlucky moment, and I had no excuses prepared—I hadn't expected to see him there, of all places.

I needed to get away, to buy myself some time to figure out my next move and what to tell them when they came looking for answers. I had nothing to do with the shooting last night; I was caught off guard, just like Dominik.

But instead of waiting around for them to come after me, I decided to go back to the main house and face them head-on.

The moment I set foot in the foyer, Dominik was already there. He immediately pointed his gun at me, with a dozen of his men standing behind him, their weapons also drawn.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming back here after what happened last night," Dominik stated, his tone laced with venom.

"Can't say I wasn't expecting this," I replied evenly. "But I just need a minute or two to explain everything."

He clicked the safety off, and my breath caught in my throat as he pressed the muzzle of the gun against my forehead.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do, but don't get your hopes up. I hate lies," he said, shoving the gun harder against my skin. "And I hate liars even more. I'll know if you're lying to me."

I steadied my breathing and glanced behind him, spotting Lee, Alexa, and Katarina entering the room. Their expressions were stoic as they watched the exchange. I clenched my jaw and met Dominik's cold stare.

"An old contractor called me yesterday," I began. "He wanted to know if I was available for a job, but I turned it down."

"What was the offer?" Dominik asked sharply.

"A bank heist in San Francisco set to happen in three days."

"Then what were you doing in the alley last night?" he demanded.

"I set up a meeting with him because he had some valuable information that might be useful to us. We met at the bar, he told me everything, and I was on my way home when..." I hesitated, seeing Dominik's glare intensify.

"When I ran into you in the alley," I finished.

He stared at me for a long moment before finally lowering his gun. I couldn't help but release a small sigh of relief. I don't mind being under pressure, but being held at gunpoint always makes me uneasy—especially when the control isn't in my hands.

Dominik's men eased up slightly, lowering their weapons when their leader put his down.

"What was so important that you risked your life going to that part of town to see him?" he asked angrily.

"He had another job for me. Not another burglary or anything like that—just companionship for a local businessman attending a private auction. I don't know if you've heard of it, but there's an annual private auction hosted by wealthy families worldwide. They—"

"The Diamond Eye," Lee interjected, drawing everyone's attention. "The necklace being auctioned off to one of the wealthiest families. Whoever gets it auctions it off the next year. I've heard of it."

Dominik spun back to face me.

"What's so important about this stupid necklace?"

"I wouldn't call it stupid," Alexa cut in. "The necklace holds as much power as the family that owns it. It comes with benefits. It opens doors to high society, and your family's status becomes untouchable. That necklace is worth millions and has been missing for centuries because the people who possess it are above the law."

She wasn't wrong. I was impressed by her knowledge, though I realized she likely knew about it because of her own wealthy background—the one she ran away from at sixteen.

"I figured it might be beneficial for you," I said as they turned back to me. "I know you already have money and power, but this necklace is a key. It grants access to high society without needing an invite or a free pass. Not even the cops can stop you."

Dominik seemed to consider this, pacing the foyer with his eyes fixed on the floor. I just hoped he bought the story. I had spent all night backing it with reliable sources in case he decided to dig deeper.

"How much is the necklace?" he asked aloud. Everyone turned to me, waiting for my answer.

"Bidding always starts at a million," I replied.

He took a few steps closer, his piercing gaze locking onto mine.

"It's a good thing I'll need that necklace," he said. "You're safe for now. But don't think I'm letting you off the hook. I couldn't care less about your life, but if you give me another reason to doubt your loyalty, I'll gut you like a fish and feed you to the dogs. Understand?"

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I clenched my fists at my sides before nodding reluctantly.

"When is the auction?" he asked, still staring at me.

"Tomorrow night," Lee replied.

"Find out everything about the auction and the hosting family," Dominik ordered. "I want the ins and outs of the venue, too. We might need it if something goes down."

He turned his attention back to me. "If this turns out to be a trap, you'll be the first one I put a bullet through."

It wasn't a trap—not exactly. But my uncle needed leverage to finally open an investigation into Dominik and his crew. I just hoped they wouldn't find out about that part.