Raven's Point of View
I'd just finished showering, and god-I needed that more than I needed sleep.
My body still felt heavy in that slow, aching way, like it had been through something intense and hadn't fully caught up yet. I'd managed to doze for maybe an hour, but Lila and Jamie hadn't let me stay down long.
Apparently, resting was suspicious.
"It's not my fault you got wrecked last night," Jamie had said from the hallway while I was still wrapped in a towel.
I'd told him to shut up.
It was already ten.
By the time I pulled on an oversized hoodie and shorts and padded into the kitchen, the apartment was bright with daylight. Both of them were off today-no rushing, no uniforms, no excuses.
The coffee maker was still sitting out from five this morning, right where I'd left it. I finished what I'd started earlier, refilled the water, measured the grounds by instinct, and pressed the button.
The smell hit almost immediately.
Comforting. Familiar.
We ended up in the living room, all three of us curled into our usual spots, steaming mugs in hand. I took the first sip and sighed.
Perfect.
Lila glanced at me over her cup. "Damn. This is really good."
I shrugged. "I mean... duh."
Jamie squinted at me. "Yeah, because you're a PA. You literally get paid to make coffee for a scary rich man every morning."
I rolled my eyes. "It's a skill."
He hummed thoughtfully, then added, way too casually, "That's not the only thing you make for him though."
I choked.
Actually choked.
Coffee went everywhere-down the wrong pipe, onto my hoodie, my dignity fully gone.
"JAMIE," I croaked, slapping my chest.
He burst out laughing. "I'm just saying! Multitalented!"
My cheeks were on fire.
Lila shook her head, laughing into her mug. "You're evil."
"I'm observant," he corrected.
Once I recovered-and cleaned myself up-Lila leaned back against the couch and eyed me. "Okay, serious question. How much money do you have left?"
I sighed. "A lot. But it's already accounted for. Rent. Groceries. Bills."
"Responsible queen," she said approvingly.
Jamie groaned dramatically. "Ugh. I need to get my nails done."
I snorted. "You literally just did them."
"And?" He waved his hand. "Maintenance is expensive."
Then he paused, eyes drifting off like he was imagining something dangerous.
"This is why I need a man," he said. "A hot man. Like Dominic."
I spat my coffee.
Again.
"What is WRONG with you today?" I wheezed.
He grinned. "I'm manifesting."
"Too bad he's straight," I shot back, smirking.
Jamie didn't miss a beat. "And married."
I shot him a look so nasty it could've curdled milk.
He raised a brow, smug. "Did I hit a nerve?"
Lila lost it-full-on laughing, nearly spilling her drink.
I leaned back against the couch, glaring at the ceiling, my face warm, my heart doing something stupid in my chest.
Maybe he did hit a nerve.
But I wasn't about to give them that satisfaction.
My phone buzzed in my hoodie pocket.
Once.
Sharp.
All three of us froze.
Lila's head snapped toward me. Jamie's eyes widened like he'd just heard a gun cock.
We all knew.
I swallowed, suddenly dry-mouthed, my palms already clammy as I pulled my cracked iPhone out. The screen lit up with his name.
Mr. Derveaux: I got a surprise for you.
My heart dropped straight into my stomach.
A surprise? From him?
Lila and Jamie practically lunged at me.
"Oh, we need to see this," Lila muttered, eyes gleaming.
Jamie gasped dramatically. "What could a mafia boss possibly surprise you with? A bag of untraceable cash? A private island? A literal crown?"
I rolled my eyes, thumbs hovering before I typed back.
Me: Aren't you at work?
The reply came instantly.
Mr. Derveaux: I'm the boss.
Something cold-and hot-ran down my spine.
Jamie snatched my phone and screamed, "OH MY GOD."
Lila leaned over his shoulder. "Why is that the hottest thing ever?"
Jamie clutched his chest. "It's the audacity. The confidence. The complete disregard for normal jobs. Jesus, I need a minute."
"Y'all are too much," I muttered, reaching for my phone.
Jamie grabbed my arm instead. "Girl. Get outside. NOW."
Lila nodded aggressively. "Go. We're following."
I stood.
Then immediately sat back down.
My chest felt tight. Too tight. Like everything this morning-every warning, every look, every word-was crashing back in at once.
They'd almost fought me earlier. Not yelling, not really-but close. Close enough to hurt.
I pressed my palms to my knees, my vision blurring.
"I don't know what to do," I whispered.
My voice cracked.
Tears burned fast, humiliating and sudden. I hated that he could do this to me without even being here. One message and I was unraveling.
Jamie crouched in front of me immediately, all joking gone. "Hey. Hey. Look at me."
I did.
"You're already in deep," he said gently. "Jacket or no jacket. Giving it back didn't change that."
I shook my head. "That's not helping."
He shrugged softly. "I know. But it's true."
Then, quieter, with that half-smile he used when he was trying to steady me-
"If I had a man like Dominic," he said, "I'd still hit."
I let out a broken laugh through my tears.
Lila snorted. "Same."
I looked at her.
She crossed her arms. "Nobody's perfect, Raven. And let's be real-by the look on his face at the mall? That man hates that woman."
My throat tightened.
I nodded, tears finally spilling over.
Jamie reached up and wiped them with his thumb. "No crying. You're too hot for that."
I sniffed. "Shut up."
He smiled anyway.
I exhaled shakily, staring at my phone again. "Do you think he actually wants to be with me?"
They looked at each other.
Just for a second.
Then Jamie sighed. "Men like Dominic don't really do love."
Something in my chest folded in on itself.
I nodded slowly. "He told me that yesterday."
"But that doesn't mean you won't get cock every day," Jamie said helpfully.
My heart skipped. My face went instantly hot.
"Jamie," I hissed.
"I mean," he shrugged, unapologetic, "it's true."
Lila snorted. "He's not wrong."
They both looked at me-really looked-until my shoulders finally dropped.
"Breathe," Jamie said gently, squeezing my arm. "You're allowed to want things and still be scared."
They pulled me up between them, grounding me the way they always did. I took a deep breath, then another, and nodded.
"Okay," I said quietly.
I walked to the door and pushed it open.
The familiar smell of the building hit me immediately-old wood, dust, someone's cooking from downstairs. My sandals slapped softly against the worn brown floor as I stepped out, Jamie and Lila right behind me. The stairs groaned with every step, complaining like they always did.
When I reached the bottom, I pushed through the busted front door.
Outside, it was warm.
Not hot-just warm enough that the sun felt heavy on my skin. It was wild, honestly. Two weeks ago it had been snowing. Now the air smelled like summer. Insects buzzed lazily. Kids were outside playing. People sat on stoops and patios, talking loud, laughing.
The neighborhood was alive.
Then my foot hit the cracked concrete.
And everything went quiet.
At first, I didn't understand why.
This place never slept. Ever.
But as I walked farther down the sidewalk, I felt it-the stillness, the way conversations dropped, the way laughter cut off mid-sentence. A woman across the street glanced up, froze, then quickly went back inside her apartment, pulling the door shut behind her.
My stomach twisted.
Then I saw him.
Dominic was leaning against his car at the curb.
Of course.
The expensive black car looked violently out of place parked beside overflowing trash bags and cracked pavement. He didn't care. He never did.
People were staring at him. Some openly. Some through blinds that shifted just enough to give them away.
They knew exactly who he was.
And he knew they knew.
A slow smirk tugged at his mouth-like he fed off it. Like their fear gave him energy.
God.
He was wearing a suit.
Not just any suit-an expensive one. I didn't know the name, didn't know the brand, but I knew money when I saw it. The fabric caught the sunlight in a way that made it look almost liquid. It fit him like it had been sewn onto his body.
His broad chest stretched beneath the jacket. His muscular arms filled the sleeves like they'd been tailored around him specifically. The dress shirt beneath was unbuttoned just enough to tease the sharp lines of his chest. His veiny, tattooed hands adjusted his cuffs slowly, deliberately-like he wasn't actively ruining my life just by standing there.
And his hair-
Jesus.
Perfect, but not stiff. Styled, but slightly messed up, like he'd run his fingers through it before getting out of the car.
His dark eyes locked onto mine.
I felt that stare everywhere.
Jamie clutched his chest dramatically. "I-I can't. He was hot at the mall, but this?"
Lila smacked him. "Breathe."
"He looks like a rich, sexy, murderous god," Jamie wheezed. "I need to pray."
Dominic ignored him completely.
Of course he did.
He pushed off the car and walked toward me with that calm, unhurried confidence that made my knees weak. I could feel eyes on me-windows, doorways, people pretending not to stare.
Before I could even react, he bent down and pulled me into his arms.
Someone gasped.
And it definitely wasn't Jamie or Lila.
His scent hit me instantly-expensive cologne, leather, something dark and dangerous underneath it all. It wrapped around me, familiar and overwhelming.
I hugged him back without thinking.
Melted into him.
"You smell so good," I murmured.
His grip tightened, lips brushing against my hair. "You always smell better, piccola."
Jamie collapsed. "HE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT."
Lila groaned. "Jamie, please."
Dominic pulled back slightly, reaching into the car.
And when I saw what he was holding-
My heart stopped.
A tiny, fluffy, adorable puppy.
My breath caught. "Oh my God."
Jamie and Lila exploded.
Jamie pointed at the puppy. "BITCH."
Lila grabbed my arm. "NO."
I covered my mouth, overwhelmed. "Dom..."
He smirked, holding out the tiny ball of fur. "You like him?"
Tears burned my eyes. "Are you serious?"
Jamie dropped to his knees. "THIS MAN GOT HER A PUPPY."
Lila shook me by the shoulders. "THIS IS HOW WOMEN GET TRAPPED."
I took him anyway.
The puppy fit perfectly in my arms, warm and soft and blinking up at me with huge brown eyes. His tiny paws twitched like he was dreaming already.
My chest hurt.
Lila gasped. "What's his name?"
I smiled, heart bursting. "Astro."
Jamie shrieked. "LIKE THE STARS?! I'M GONNA CRY."
Dominic chuckled, his warm hand settling on my waist. "You like him?"
I looked up at him, my heart pounding. "I might keep you around after this."
Dominic stilled-then smirked, dark and slow. "Might?"
His voice was a dangerous caress.
I swallowed hard. "Depends."
His grip tightened. "On what?"
I grinned. "If you keep spoiling me like this."
Jamie collapsed again. "I CAN'T DO THIS."
Life with Dominic was never boring.
The moment I cradled Astro in my arms, my heart melted. The tiny puppy blinked up at me, all fluffy fur and innocent eyes, and I felt my chest tighten with emotions I wasn't used to.
Dominic had done a lot to make me weak-his voice, his presence, his dangerous allure-but this? This was different.
I glanced up at him, eyes wide with something I wasn't ready to admit out loud.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely there.
His gaze softened, but only for a second. "You're welcome, piccola."
Jamie was already losing it, gripping Lila's arm.
Lila was just as breathless. "This isn't normal. It shouldn't be this attractive."
I let out a small laugh before handing Astro to Lila. "Hold him."
Lila took the puppy carefully. "Wait-what are you-"
But I didn't wait.
With a rush of adrenaline, I jumped onto Dominic.
He wasn't expecting it. His brows lifted for a split second-before his arms wrapped around me instantly, catching me mid-air like I weighed nothing.
And he didn't even stumble.
His muscles flexed beneath his expensive suit, but his grip was effortless, like I was made to be held by him.
Jamie let out a choked scream. "DID SHE JUST-"
Lila froze. "OH MY GOD."
Dominic exhaled a deep chuckle, his large hands securing me against his body. "Impatient today, aren't we?"
Before I could answer, he shifted his grip-lifting me under my arms like I was a child.
My soul left my body.
Jamie gasped so loud, I thought he stopped breathing.
Lila clutched her chest. "HE DID NOT JUST HOLD HER LIKE A BABY."
"OH MY GOD," Jamie yelled. "WHAT IS HE MADE OF?"
Dominic just smirked up at me, completely unfazed.
"You done?" His voice was lazy, amused-like holding a grown woman mid-air was the most normal thing in the world.
I pouted. "Put me down."
"No."
And just like that, he lowered me onto him-my legs wrapping around his waist, his strong hands gripping my thighs effortlessly.
Like I belonged there.
Like he didn't care that I was probably ruining his insanely expensive suit.
Like he'd hold me like this forever.
My breath hitched. "Dom..."
He looked at me then.
Really looked at me.
Dark, deep, and unreadable-his gaze burned through me, sending a slow, molten heat everywhere.
My heart stopped.
Jamie whimpered. "THE WAY HE'S LOOKING AT HER."
Lila fanned herself. "I need water."
But I didn't care about them anymore.
Because Dominic's hands had moved.
One arm locked securely around my back, the other sliding down-gripping me by the ass as he squeezed, hard.
I gasped, my entire body shivering.
His smirk was pure sin. "You gonna thank me properly, or what?"
I melted.
Eyes locked on his, I whispered, "I guess you deserve a proper thank you."
And then I kissed him.
It wasn't soft.
It wasn't careful.
It was needy, messy, desperate.
His lips claimed mine, rough and demanding, sending shivers down my spine. The way he kissed was dangerous-like he owned me, like he needed me.
And God, I let him.
A low moan slipped past my lips.
Jamie screamed.
Lila dropped Astro.
(Thankfully, Jamie caught him.)
"OH MY GOD," Lila shouted. "WHAT KIND OF KISS-"
Jamie stomped his foot. "THAT WASN'T A NORMAL KISS. THAT WAS A MAKE-YOU-PREGNANT KISS."
Dominic only pulled away slightly, his lips brushing against mine as he murmured, "Satisfied?"
I was dizzy.
Breathless.
Ruined.
I swallowed hard. "I think I need another one to be sure."
His smirk was wicked.
"Greedy."
And then he kissed me again.
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