Silent Scars

CHAPTER 87

DOMAIN HASTINGS

I woke up with my hands clenched into fists and my breath stuck somewhere between my lungs and throat.

Victor’s face was still in my head.

That smug grin. The way his eyes gleamed like he knew we’d never be free of him. Like he belonged inside our nightmares.

I sat up, the sheets tangled around my legs, damp with sweat. My chest rose and fell too fast, my jaw tight.

I hadn’t really slept.

Every time I shut my eyes, something snapped me back. A creak. A rustle of leaves against the window. Anything could’ve been them.

I ran a hand down my face, wiping away the cold sweat and swung my legs off the bed.

No point in trying again.

We didn’t get back until after midnight. Luca had texted, letting us know she was sleeping in his room. Said not to worry. Said she was smiling when she dozed off.

When we got home, I’d peeked in.

She was curled between them, safe, her face pressed to Kendric’s side. Luca had one arm around her like he’d always meant to be her shield.

It made something tight in my chest finally loosen. Just a little.

All night we’d been moving, updating security at every entry point of the estate, doubling men around the warehouses, calling in extra surveillance units.

Every word we spoke carried weight.

Victor might’ve been here, but Dmitri was the real poison.

And he knew Ariana existed now.

We couldn’t afford even the smallest mistake.

I stood and went to freshen up. Cold water helped shake off the fog. I changed into a simple dark tshirt and jeans, grabbed my phone, and made my way downstairs.

It was quiet.

Not the eerie kind, just early morning stillness. Like the house was holding its breath, waiting for everyone to rise.

But then I heard the softest sound.

Glass against marble.

I stepped into the kitchen and stopped.

There she was.

My princess.

Still in her sleep shirt, hair a wild mess of curls, one hand holding a glass of water, the other tucking a strand behind her ear like she wasn’t expecting anyone to see her.

She looked up.

"Good morning, Dom."

She said, a little surprised, a little sleepy, but smiling.

I smiled back before I could stop it.

"Hey, princess. Why are you up so early?"

She set the glass down, blinking at me.

"Kendric."

She said like it was obvious.

"He snores. Loud."

I let out a real laugh, shaking my head.

"Yeah!"

I said.

"He’s the loudest one. You should’ve heard him during that trip to Rome, Leo nearly threw a shoe at his head."

She laughed, soft and clear, rubbing her eyes.