BEYOND THE SHADOWS: The Billionaire Mafia Boss Claimed the Broke Waitress Who Saved His Life—And Tore Down the Underworld to Protect Her

Before I could warn Dominic in the crowded gala, events moved at a terrifying speed.

Dominic ordered our security convoy to return to the Beacon Hill penthouse immediately. In the back of the armored Cadillac, the air was suffocatingly tense. Dominic was on his phone issuing rapid tactical commands to secure his port facilities, while Marco sat in the front passenger seat, pretending to coordinate perimeter defenses.

I tapped Dominic’s knee, leaning in close so only he could hear. "Dominic. Marco is working with Rossi. I saw them signaling each other at the gala."

Dominic didn't react visibly. He didn't gasp or widen his eyes. But his hand found mine in the dark, gripping my fingers tightly.

"I know," Dominic whispered back, his lips barely moving. "I’ve known since yesterday morning. We fed him false coordinates for tonight's shipment to confirm it."

"Then why is he still in the front seat?" I hissed in panic.

"Because if I kill him now, Rossi’s strike team will abort their main assault," Dominic explained quietly. "We need them to commit fully so we can eliminate the threat once and for all. But you and Chloe are being moved to the safehouse bunker tonight."

At 1:30 a.m., our convoy pulled into the underground garage of the safehouse—a fortified estate on the outskirts of the Blue Hills reserve.

Teresa had already brought Chloe there an hour earlier. When I entered the secure basement living quarters, Chloe ran into my arms, hugging me tightly.

"Mommy! Mr. Dominic has a secret library here with giant picture books!" she cheered happily, completely oblivious to the war raging outside.

"That's wonderful, sweetheart," I said, kissing her forehead while my heart hammered with dread.

Dominic entered the room, strapping a tactical holster over his shoulder. He looked at me, his obsidian eyes burning with fierce resolve.

"The house is surrounded by twenty of my most loyal men, led by Matteo," Dominic said. "The walls are reinforced concrete. You stay in this panic room with Chloe. Do not open this door for anyone except me or Matteo."

"Dominic, please," I said, catching his hand as he turned to leave. "Don't go back out there."

Dominic looked down at our joined hands. For the first time, he leaned in and pressed a firm, passionate kiss against my lips. It was fierce, desperate, and filled with everything words could not express. My breath caught, my entire body melting into his embrace.

When he pulled back, his eyes were blazing. "I have something to live for now, Emma. I am not dying tonight."