Chapter 6
Dominic froze. He briefly looked down toward Margaret, a profound, agonizing pain passing through his dark eyes as he realized the depth of the cruelty his mother had been subjected to in her own home. The woman who had raised him, who had shielded him from the violence of his father's era, had been marked for a slow, agonizing death by the woman he had invited into his life.
He slowly turned his head back toward Estelle. His sharp jaw tightened slightly. The cold, unyielding armor of the mafia boss slammed firmly into place. He held a cold, unwavering stare, locking the manipulative woman in a silent, terrifying promise of absolute retribution.
The silence stretched, heavy and apocalyptic. Estelle cradled her arms against her elegant gown, gasping in panic as she realized her coup had failed spectacularly.
"Get out," Dominic finally commanded, his voice a low, vibrating hum.
He wasn't speaking to Estelle. He shifted his dark gaze to the fifty guests seated around the banquet table.
"This dinner is concluded," Dominic stated, his authority absolute. "Everyone who does not carry the Ashford name will vacate my home immediately."
Chairs scraped frantically against the cream marble floors. Men and women scrambled to their feet, abandoning their fine porcelain and crystal glasses. They rushed toward the massive double doors, eager to escape the impending explosion of violence. No one dared to look back. Within two minutes, the sprawling, luminous dining hall was completely empty, save for the core family, the brave maid, and the heavy security detail standing by the walls.
"Guards," Dominic called out, not breaking his cold stare from Estelle's weeping face. "Lock the perimeter. No one leaves the grounds without my express permission."
Two massive men in dark suits stepped forward, the heavy mahogany doors slamming shut with a definitive thud. The festive warmth of the room had entirely vanished, replaced by the freezing, calculated wrath of an executioner.
"Dominic, you cannot do this," Estelle whispered, her voice shaking violently. "My father brings the entire eastern port to this alliance. If you touch me, he will starve your syndicate. You need me."
"Do you honestly believe I require the permission of a corrupt politician to handle a traitor in my own dining room?" Dominic asked, taking a slow, predatory step toward her.
"I am your fiancée!" Estelle cried, pointing a shaking finger at her diamond engagement ring.
"You were a political necessity," Dominic corrected coldly. "And you have just proven yourself to be a fatal liability."
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He turned his head slightly, looking at Ada. The beautiful maid was standing firmly beside his mother, her delicate hands resting protectively on Margaret's shoulders.
"Ada," Dominic said, his voice softening only marginally. "Take Luca to his quarters. And send my private physician to this room immediately with a fresh supply of my mother's medication."
