Fatally Yours

Chapter 29

•INDIANA•

The auction wound down as the final and only item was sold, and the crowd began to thin. The guests, now a little looser from the champagne and excitement, started to leave in pairs and groups, their murmured conversations mixing with the distant hum of engines waiting outside. 

Lee and I had abandoned our hidden spot and moved closer to the entrance, standing just off to the side as the steady stream of people spilled out of the grand mansion.

The air was cool and carried the faint scent of the estate's lush gardens, but I barely noticed. My attention was on the doorway, scanning for Dominik. 

When they finally emerged, both Lee and I unconsciously straightened our stances. Dominik walked out first, his commanding presence making it impossible not to notice him.

His dark suit fit him like a second skin, and his steps were measured, controlled. My eyes flicked to his arm, and I felt a pang of irritation when I saw Katarina's hand resting there lightly, as though it belonged. 

She walked close to him, her heels clicking softly against the stone steps, her head tilted toward his. Her lips moved in a language I didn't understand, but her tone was animated, light, as though she were sharing something amusing.

Dominik's face, typically carved from stone, softened slightly as he responded in the same unfamiliar tongue, a faint smile playing on his lips. 

I couldn't help but stare, amazed. For the longest time, I thought Dominik was incapable of anything even remotely warm. Yet here he was, smiling, and it wasn't the sharp, calculating smile I'd seen him use in negotiations or threats. This was different, almost genuine. 

The language she spoke tugged at something in my memory—sharp consonants, soft vowels. It sounded familiar. Romanian, maybe? I wasn't sure, but the cadence and rhythm of it made me think I'd heard it before. 

Behind them, two men followed, one of them carrying the glass case containing the diamond necklace. A dark cloth was draped over it, concealing the prize from any prying eyes. 

As they walked past us, neither Dominik nor Katarina spared Lee or me so much as a glance. Katarina laughed softly at something she said, and Dominik's faint smile grew just a fraction wider, his focus entirely on her. 

I forced myself to look away, schooling my features into neutrality. This wasn't the time to let emotions cloud my focus. 

Lee nudged me subtly with his elbow as Dominik and Katarina descended the steps toward the waiting car. Together, we and the rest of Dominik's men held our positions, watching carefully as the two of them got into the back seat, the door shutting securely behind them. 

The man carrying the necklace loaded it carefully into the trunk of the car, ensuring it was secure before stepping aside. Only then did Lee and I move, heading to our designated vehicle. 

One by one, the convoy of black cars pulled away from the mansion, blending seamlessly into the night. I watched the mansion shrink in the rearview mirror, my thoughts a tangled mess.

Dominik's world was as cold and calculated as I'd always believed, but tonight, I'd seen cracks in the ice. And for reasons I couldn't quite explain, that unsettled me more than anything else. 

The drive back to the main house was tense and silent. The events of the night lingered in the air, but no one spoke. The rhythmic hum of the tires against the road did little to calm the unease growing in my chest. I kept my eyes on the passing darkness, my thoughts a jumble of questions and doubts. 

Then it happened. 

Out of nowhere, five black vehicles overtook us on the highway, their engines roaring like wild animals. They sped past the first car in the convoy—the one leading ahead where Dominik and Katarina were seated—and in an instant, chaos erupted. 

Gunshots. 

The sharp crack of bullets pierced the night, and the first car swerved violently, tires screeching as it veered off the road and into the grassy embankment. My heart jumped into my throat, fear surging through me like a lightning bolt. 

"Hold on!" Lee barked, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as he tried to keep our car steady. 

I could see the attackers clearly now. The vehicles that had overtaken us were positioning themselves around Dominik's car, trying to box it in. More gunfire erupted, the shots echoing like thunder across the highway. 

Behind us, one of our trailing vehicles exploded in a fiery burst of metal and flames. The shockwave rattled our car, and I couldn't help but flinch as the heat and sound washed over us. 

"Damn it!" Lee growled, pulling a handgun from his side and rolling down the window just enough to fire. He managed to squeeze off a few shots, his aim steady despite the chaos. 

"They're targeting Dominik!" I shouted, my voice barely audible over the chaos. 

"I know!" Lee snapped, swerving to avoid debris from the wrecked car behind us. He grabbed his phone, hitting a number on speed dial while still maintaining control of the vehicle. 

A moment later, the line connected.

"Keep driving!" Lee yelled into the phone. "Head to the airstrip! The jet's ready—we need to get you out of here now!" 

Even amidst the chaos, I recognized Dominik's voice on the other end, calm but firm.

"On it." 

Ahead of us, Dominik's car suddenly accelerated, speeding away from the rest of the convoy. The shooters pursued, but the remaining men in our vehicles behind us cut them off, slamming into the attackers and drawing their fire to buy us time. 

Lee cursed under his breath and slammed on the gas, our car surging forward to catch up with Dominik's. My pulse raced as more shots rang out behind us, the gunfire growing fainter as we left the ambush in the rearview mirror. 

After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the airstrip. A sleek private jet stood waiting on the tarmac, its engines humming, ready for takeoff. 

We all piled out of the car, the cool night air biting at my skin as I straightened and turned toward the others. Dominik was already walking toward Lee, his sharp gaze flicking briefly to me before settling on Lee. 

"They were after the necklace," Dominik said, his voice low and controlled, though his jaw was tight. 

"I don't think so," Lee countered, shaking his head. "It's much bigger than that. This ambush could be tied to what happened two nights ago in the alley. Whoever's targeting you is playing for keeps." 

Dominik's eyes narrowed, his expression hardening.

"And your suggestion?" 

"Get out of the city," Lee said firmly. "Go back to Romania. Let things cool down while I figure out what's going on. I'll find out who's behind this and deal with it."

He hesitated, then added, "Take Katarina with you." 

I watched as Dominik's gaze shifted briefly to Katarina, who stood nearby with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

He didn't like the idea—I could see it in the tight line of his mouth, the flicker of reluctance in his eyes. But after a tense moment, he gave a single nod. 

"Fine," he said, though his voice carried the weight of his displeasure. 

Lee turned to me, nodding toward the car.

"Let's go." 

I turned to follow him, but before I could take a step, I felt a cold, firm hand wrap around my wrist. 

Startled, I turned back—and found myself face to face with Dominik. His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto mine, his expression unreadable. 

"You're coming with us,"