Chapter 4: A Blade Beneath the Silk

Two hours past midnight, the penthouse no longer hummed with tension it pulsed with it. Dominic had retreated to his study, a sanctuary of mahogany shelves and war-room-grade digital monitors. Aria remained in the main suite, seated on the velvet window seat, staring blankly into the ink-black sky above Manhattan.

She pressed her fingers to her temple. Lisbon. The name echoed in her mind like a warning bell. The message from “S.” The planted phone. The man who said he’d been hired under her name. None of it was coincidence.

She stood, crossing the room to the antique writing desk nestled in the corner. With a glance toward the study door, she opened a false panel beneath the bottom drawer. Inside: a flash drive, encrypted and dormant for years.

She held it between her fingers like it was a live wire. If Dominic ever saw what was on it, he’d question everything.

Aria slipped it into her clutch. She needed to know how much “S” really knew.

Just as she shut the drawer, the soft rustle of footsteps came from behind. Dominic stood in the doorway, suit jacket draped over one arm, sleeves rolled up. His gaze swept to her closed hand, then to her face.

“You’ve barely moved,” he said, tone unreadable.

Aria slipped the drive into her clutch, voice calm. “Just thinking.”

Dominic approached slowly. “Lisbon’s not just a memory for you. It’s a warning.”

She tilted her head. “And for you?”

“A mistake,” he said flatly. “One I swore never to repeat.”

They stood in silence. Outside, a siren wailed in the distance. Finally, he sat beside her. “Aria, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest.”

She looked at him, her stomach tightening. “Ask.”

“That man tonight. He didn’t say you were the target. He said you were the one who sent him. That this whole thing started with you.”

Her breath caught. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”

Aria opened her mouth, but the words jammed in her throat. She’d spent years walking a tightrope of half-truths. But now, the balance was slipping.

“There are parts of my past I never wanted to touch again,” she said carefully. “People I buried when I left that world behind.”

“People?” Dominic’s voice was low, intense.

Aria hesitated, then nodded. “I used to work for a covert branch of European intelligence. Off the books. They called me Selene.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”

Aria took a deep breath, the memories flooding back. “I was a ghost. A shadow asset in Lisbon. That fire wasn’t a random act. It was my mission gone wrong. I was the target. You just got caught in the crossfire.”

Dominic stared at her, stunned. “Jesus, Aria”

“I tried to leave it behind,” she said. “I thought faking my death in the explosion would be enough. I never expected to fall in love with the man who almost died saving me.”

Dominic’s expression turned grim. “So ‘S’… whoever they are… they’re from your past.”

Aria nodded. “I don’t know. But it feels like someone who knows Selene. Not Aria.”

He stood up, pacing the room. “I don’t know what’s worse,” he muttered. “That you kept this from me… or that I’m still in love with you despite it.”

Aria felt a pang of guilt. She knew that she had hurt him, that she had kept secrets from him.

But she also knew that she had done it to protect him, to keep him safe.

As they stood there, the tension between them grew thicker, like a fog rolling in off the water.

And Aria knew that they had to be careful, that they had to navigate this minefield of secrets and lies with precision.

The question was, would they be able to overcome the challenges that lay ahead? Or would the secrets and lies that surrounded them tear them apart?

Only time would tell. But one thing was certain Aria and Dominic would face whatever came next together, as a team. And they would fight to the death to protect each other and their love.

As the night wore on, Aria and Dominic sat together on the couch, their bodies touching, their minds racing. They knew that they had to be careful, that they had to stay one step ahead of their enemies.

But they also knew that they couldn't do it alone. They needed help, and they needed it fast.

Dominic stood up, his eyes locked onto Aria's. "I think it's time we brought in some reinforcements," he said. "People we can trust."

Aria nodded, her heart racing with anticipation. "Who did you have in mind?"

Dominic smiled, a small, wry smile. "Someone who's been watching our backs for a long time. Someone who's got skills and resources."

Aria's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

Dominic's smile grew wider. "Victor Laurent. He's an old friend, someone I've worked with in the past. He's got connections, Aria. Connections that can help us."

Aria's eyes locked onto Dominic's. "You're sure we can trust him?"

Dominic nodded. "I've worked with Victor before. He's solid. And he's got a personal stake in taking down the people who are threatening us."

Aria nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew that they had to be careful, that they couldn't trust anyone too much.

But she also knew that they needed help, and Victor Laurent might be just the person they needed.

As they sat there, the city lights twinkling outside, Aria felt a sense of determination rising up inside her. She knew that they would face whatever lay ahead, together. And she knew that they would come out on top.

The question was, what would be the cost? And would their love be strong enough to survive the challenges that lay ahead?

As they sat there, the phone rang, shattering the silence. Dominic's eyes locked onto Aria's, and he answered the phone.

"Victor," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We need your help."

Aria watched as Dominic listened to Victor's response, his expression growing more and more serious.

"What is it?" she asked, when he finally hung up the phone.

Dominic's eyes locked onto hers. "Victor's in. He's going to help us take down the people who are threatening us."

Aria nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. She knew that they had a long way to go, but with Victor's help, they might just have a chance.

But as they sat there, the city lights twinkling outside, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. That the danger that lurked in the shadows was growing more intense by the minute.

And she knew that they had to be prepared to face it head-on.

As the night wore on, Aria and Dominic's conversation turned to the details of their plan. They knew that they had to be careful, that one misstep could mean disaster.

"We need to get to the bottom of who's behind this," Dominic said, his eyes locked onto Aria's. "We can't just sit back and wait for them to make their next move."

Aria nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "I agree. But we need to be smart about it. We can't just charge in without a plan."

Dominic nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I think I know someone who can help us. Someone who's got connections and resources."

Aria's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

Dominic's smile was small and wry. "Someone who's been around the block a few times. Someone who's got a reputation for getting things done."

Aria's curiosity was piqued. "Who is it?"

Dominic's eyes locked onto hers. "His name is Marcus. He's an old friend of mine, someone I've worked with in the past. He's got connections, Aria. Connections that can help us."

Aria's eyes locked onto Dominic's. "And can we trust him?"

Dominic's expression was serious. "As much as we can trust anyone in this business. Marcus is a professional. He'll do what's best for himself, but he'll also help us if it suits his interests."

Aria nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew that they had to be careful, that they couldn't trust anyone too much.

But she also knew that they needed help, and Marcus might be just the person they needed.

As they sat there, the city lights twinkling outside, Aria felt a sense of determination rising up inside her. She knew that they would face whatever lay ahead, together. And she knew that they would come out on top.

The question was, what would be the cost? And would their love be strong enough to survive the challenges that lay ahead?

Only time would tell. But one thing was certain Aria and Dominic would face whatever came next together, as a team. And they would fight to the death to protect each other and their love.

As they sat there, the phone rang again, shattering the silence. Dominic's eyes locked onto Aria's, and he answered the phone.

"Marcus," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We need your help."

Aria watched as Dominic listened to Marcus's response, his expression growing more and more serious.

"What is it?" she asked, when he finally hung up the phone.

Dominic's eyes locked onto hers. "Marcus is in. He's going to help us take down the people who are threatening us."

Aria nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. She knew that they had a long way to go, but with Marcus's help, they might just have a chance.

But as they sat there, the city lights twinkling outside, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time. That the danger that lurked in the shadows was growing more intense by the minute.

And she knew that they had to be prepared to face it head on.

The stakes were high, and the risks were real. But Aria and Dominic were ready to face whatever lay ahead, together. They would fight for their love, for their lives, and for their future.

And they would stop at nothing to protect each other.