Dominic didn't let go of her hand. Not until they were safely back in his penthouse, surrounded by light and silence.
Alicia sat on the edge of the couch, arms wrapped around her knees. Her skin was pale, but her eyes burned with something sharp—fear, maybe. Or fury.
"They knew I'd be alone," she whispered. "They were waiting for me to walk into that elevator."
Dominic crouched in front of her, searching her face. "You think it was planned?"
She nodded. "He said something. He said we share blood. And then… he laughed. Like this was all some sick game."
Dominic's jaw tightened. "Do you believe him?"
She hesitated. "I don't want to. But my mother lied about Nathaniel for years. Who's to say she didn't lie about everything else too?"
Dominic stood and began to pace. "If he's your cousin, then he's part of whatever Nathaniel left behind. And if Nathaniel made enemies, it means your family is tied to something dangerous—maybe criminal."
Alicia's voice cracked. "And now I'm pregnant with a child they might see as a threat."
Silence fell.
That single truth—that her unborn baby was tangled in secrets she didn't even understand—was the most terrifying part of all.
Later that night, Dominic made a call.
"I need information on Nathaniel Weston. And I want everything. Not just public records—dig into sealed files, family links, hidden trusts, offshore accounts. Anything that ties him to current activity."
Liam's voice answered, sharp and professional. "You think his people are still active?"
"I think they're watching Alicia. And I think someone's making moves to finish what he started."
Liam hesitated. "You sound… protective."
Dominic didn't answer at first.
Then, softly, "She's not just anyone anymore."
Meanwhile, Alicia found herself drawn to the room Dominic had offered her—a guest bedroom with sweeping views of the city skyline. Yet no view could distract her from the turmoil in her mind.
She ran her hand over her belly, still flat beneath her silk shirt.
"I promise, little one," she whispered, "I'll protect you. No matter who comes for us."
A knock on the door startled her.
Dominic stepped in, holding a steaming mug. "Chamomile," he said. "Helps with nerves."
She smiled faintly. "You always know what I need."
He walked in slowly. "I wish I could protect you from all of it. But some of this… it's tied too deep to your past."
She looked at him. "Then let's face it together."
For a second, something flickered in his eyes—hope, maybe.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small photograph. Faded. Torn at the edges.
"I found this in one of my father's old boxes," he said. "You might want to see it."
She took the photo.
Her breath stopped.
Two men. Young. One was clearly Nathaniel. The other…
"That's… that's your father."
Dominic nodded. "They were friends. Or maybe business partners. This is from almost thirty years ago."
She stared at the picture. "Your father knew mine."
Dominic met her eyes. "It goes deeper than we thought."
The next morning, Alicia woke to a knock at the front door.
Dominic opened it, and a tall woman stepped in. Late fifties. Elegant. Cold eyes.
"Mother," he said tightly.
Alicia's heart skipped.
Dominic's mother looked her up and down, gaze resting briefly on Alicia's stomach.
"So," she said, voice like ice, "this is the girl who claims to carry your child."
Alicia stepped forward. "It's not a claim. It's the truth."
"Truth," the woman scoffed. "We'll see how long it lasts. This family doesn't take well to surprises."
Dominic's jaw clenched. "She's staying. And she's not your enemy."
His mother smiled faintly. "Everyone becomes the enemy eventually, Dominic. Especially when love is involved."
She turned and walked away as if she hadn't just thrown a dagger between them.
Alicia stood frozen.
"She hates me," she whispered.
Dominic sighed. "She hates anything she can't control."
That afternoon, Liam returned with information.
"You were right," he said to Dominic. "Nathaniel Weston wasn't just a disgraced businessman. He was the head of a covert financial network—shell companies, blackmail rings, and coded investments in tech and arms. He disappeared after a scandal, but the network didn't die. It went underground."
Dominic's face darkened. "And?"
"And someone took his place. A man known only as "N." But we found a name attached to a recent transaction."
Liam passed the file to Alicia.
She opened it.
Noah Weston.
Her throat dried. "That's the man who spoke to me. He called me cousin."
Dominic's eyes narrowed. "Your family's not just hiding secrets. They're hiding him."
That night, Alicia's phone buzzed again.
Unknown Contact: Now you know who I am. The next time we speak, it won't be a warning. It'll be war.
She showed Dominic the message.
He didn't flinch.
"We're not running," he said. "We're fighting back."
Alicia met his gaze.
"But how do you fight someone you can't even see?"
Dominic stepped closer.
"By standing beside someone who refuses to let go of you."
A few hours later, she found herself in his room. Not because she was afraid—but because for the first time in weeks, she wanted to feel safe.
He sat on the bed, watching her.
"I don't want to keep running," she whispered. "I'm tired of hiding. Tired of pretending this is temporary."
He nodded slowly. "Then don't."
She took a breath. "I'm scared. But… I'm more scared of not knowing what we could be."
His expression softened.
And then he kissed her.
It wasn't desperate. It wasn't wild.
It was real.
A promise.
A beginning.