52

Dominic tilted his head, confused but clearly entertained. “What? It’s a compliment.”

“A compliment?” I snapped, throwing my hands up, nearly smacking him across the face. “We were just chased through the woods by dogs, through a freezing river that I’m pretty sure gave me hypothermia, and almost got mauled by whatever the hell was growling out there! And you, Mr. Highlight of My Week, told me—no, suggested—that I could just go ahead and die if I wanted to!” My voice rose with every word, my chest heaving as I stared him down. “And now, you’re sitting there all smug, saying I’m the ‘highlight’ of your night?!”

For a moment, Dominic just blinked at me, his expression unreadable. Then something clicked. His eyes widened slightly, and his smirk vanished as he finally understood why I was getting all riled up.

“Oh,” he said softly, almost to himself. “That’s what this is about.”

“What this is about?!” I nearly screeched. My fists clenched, and I felt my body practically vibrating with anger. “You told me to die if I wanted to, Dominic! And now you’re—”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “Eleanor, listen to me—”

“No, you listen,” I cut him off, pointing an accusatory finger at his chest. “You don’t get to say stuff like that and then act like none of it matters. Like I don’t matter. You don’t get to—”

“Hey,” he said sharply, cutting through my tirade. His tone wasn’t harsh, but it had enough weight to make me pause. “I didn’t mean it the way you’re thinking. I said it because I was trying to make a point—because I didn’t want you to give up. If I hadn’t said it like that, you wouldn’t have fought to keep going.”

I stared at him, my breathing still uneven, my chest rising and falling as I processed his words.

“I wasn’t telling you to give up,” Dominic continued, his voice softer now. “I was trying to tell you that you had a choice. That you always have a choice. And you chose to keep fighting, Eleanor. That’s why you’re the highlight of my night—hell, probably my month.”

I blinked, my anger faltering as his words sank in. He wasn’t teasing anymore, wasn’t grinning that infuriating grin. He was serious, and something in his eyes made my throat tighten.

“You’re stronger than you think,” he added quietly. “I didn’t mean to upset you back there, but I’m not going to apologize for pushing you. You’re still here, aren’t you?”

I swallowed hard, my hands dropping to my sides. “You’re an ass,” I muttered, though the bite in my words had dulled.

Dominic’s lips twitched, the ghost of a smirk returning. “Yeah,” he said, leaning back against his seat, “but you’re still here with me.”

I rolled my eyes, turning back to the door handle. “Don’t push your luck.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he murmured, but I could still hear the faint amusement in his voice.

Just as I opened my mouth, ready to fire back with something sharp, Bunny’s gruff voice cut through the moment like a blade.

“Hey!” he barked, his voice grating and loud enough to rattle the silence. “Both of you, out of my damn car! Now!”

Startled, I jumped, my hand slipping off the handle. I looked up to find Bunny glaring at us through the rearview mirror, his expression a mix of irritation and impatience.

Dominic, unfazed as ever, smirked. “Were you eavesdropping, old man?”

Bunny scoffed, his large hands gripping the steering wheel like he was imagining it was Dominic’s neck. “Eavesdropping? You’ve been flapping your gums like a couple of kids back there. Hard not to hear it. Now get out before I go back to dump your asses on the side of the road!”

I froze, heat creeping up my face as the realization hit. He’d been listening the whole time. Every bit of my rant, every snide comment, every moment of banter.

Dominic leaned over, patting me on the shoulder like this was no big deal. “Guess we’ve overstayed our welcome,” he said, grinning like an idiot.

“Dominic!” I hissed, elbowing him in the ribs. “Do you have no shame?”

“Not particularly,” he replied with a shrug, clearly enjoying himself.

Bunny grumbled something under his breath, probably a string of colorful curses, and turned to glare at us over his shoulder. “Out. Both of you. Now.”

Dominic finally moved, reaching for his door with a lazy stretch. “Alright, alright. Keep your fur on, Bunny.”

I shot him a glare. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Yeah, but you’re still here with me,” he said with a wink, clearly referencing our earlier exchange.

I groaned, shoving my door open before he could say anything else to make me regret not strangling him in the woods. As I stepped out into the cool night air, I heard Bunny muttering to himself again, and Dominic’s low chuckle followed close behind.

Finally, I took in the surroundings. We were parked in an enclosed compound, the tall trees that lined the perimeter overhead tall and near dizzying. I could barely make out the way we’d come, but I was sure there had to be a gate somewhere beyond the darkness.

Up front stood a mansion. It wasn’t enormous, not the sprawling type of estate you’d see in a movie, but it was big enough to exude elegance and scream “money.” The sleek lines, pristine stonework, and subtle glow from the porch lights hinted that whoever owned this place had spent a small fortune on it. Hundreds of thousands of dollars, at least.

I found myself staring, taking in every detail. The arched windows, the perfectly trimmed hedges flanking the pathway leading to the entrance. For a moment, I almost forgot my exhaustion.

“Careful now,” Dominic’s voice came from behind me, laced with playful teasing.

I didn’t have to look to know he was standing closer than necessary. Sure enough, he poked my elbow, disrupting my thoughts.

“Quit it,” I snapped, smacking his hand away without sparing him a glance.

He laughed softly, a low rumble that was both infuriating and—ugh—annoyingly charming. “Keep staring like that, and I’ll have to kiss you. Can’t have you falling for a house.”

I spun to glare at him, his grin spreading wider as I did. “You’re impossible.”

“Admit it.” He leaned in slightly, his tone mock-serious. “You like me impossible. Feisty women always do. You know I’ve got a type, right? And guess what? You’re it.”

I swatted at him again, aiming for his shoulder this time, but he dodged, laughing.

Before I could come up with a sharp retort, the sound of a shotgun cocking froze me in place. My breath hitched, and I turned my head slowly, the blood pounding in my ears as a petite woman emerged from the shadows of the mansion.

She wasn’t just holding a shotgun. She was cradling it like it was an extension of herself. It was massive, and she carried it with an ease that made my stomach twist. Her face was half-lit by the light spilling from the house, and even in the dim glow, her sharp eyes pierced right through me.

Dominic stiffened beside me, but his face didn’t show fear. No, the bastard actually looked intrigued.

Bunny, meanwhile, let out a low chuckle and leaned casually against the side of the car, folding his arms across his chest as if we weren’t staring down the barrel of a shotgun. “Well, this just got interesting,” he said, his grin wide. “I missed this kind of drama. You’ve still got a way with people, Dom.”

The woman didn’t stop moving. Step by deliberate step, she got closer, her focus solely on Dominic. She raised the gun with a practiced motion, and before either of us could say a word, she pulled the trigger.

The blast shattered the silence, and I flinched hard, stumbling back. My ears rang, my vision blurred, and for one terrifying second, I thought I was dead.

But the shot wasn’t meant for us.

Behind me, a tree exploded, bark and splinters flying through the air. The ground seemed to quake under the force, and my chest felt like it was trying to climb into my throat.

The woman lowered the shotgun just slightly, her face still cold and unreadable as she took another step closer.

“Adeline,” Dominic finally said, his voice even but quieter than usual, like he knew not to push her too far.

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink. Her hands gripped the shotgun tighter, and her lips pressed into a thin line before she spoke. “Dominic.” Her voice was sharp and flat, cutting through the tension like a blade. “Why are you here?”

I looked up at Dominic, expecting him to be rattled, but his expression hadn’t changed. In fact, there was that damned smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth again.

“Nice to see you, too, Adeline,” he said, raising his hands slightly, palms out in mock surrender. “I’m sensing a little hostility here. Miss me that much?”

Her eyes narrowed, and her finger twitched on the trigger. “Don’t,” she snapped. “Don’t start with your bullshit. You’ve got five seconds to explain yourself before I make sure you don’t take another step onto this property.”

I glanced between them, confused and slightly panicked. Was this seriously how they knew each other? I could barely catch my breath, but Dominic acted like this was some kind of casual reunion.

“Adeline, come on,” Dominic said, his tone softening, though the smirk stayed. “We’re old friends. Is that really any way to greet me after all this time?”

“Friends?” she said, her laugh harsh and bitter. “Don’t make me laugh. Now talk, Dominic. Or I promise you, I won’t miss next time.”

Dominic finally dropped the smirk, his lips pressing together in a thin line as he held her gaze. For a second, the tension in the air felt like it could snap my neck.

Then he sighed, his shoulders dropping ever so slightly. “We need a place to stay. Just for tonight.”

Her eyes flicked to me for the first time, her brows knitting together before she returned her attention to him. “Who the hell is she?”

“Eleanor,” Dominic said easily, as if that explained everything.

Adeline’s jaw tightened, and I felt her gaze burning into me again. “The Eleanor?” she asked, her voice dripping with something I couldn’t place—anger? Jealousy? Suspicion?

Dominic chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, yeah. That Eleanor.”