Chapter 10
The next morning, the bright, airy sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the private clinic, casting a clean, healing glow over the recovery room. The clinic, owned entirely by the Vale syndicate, was a fortress of medical luxury.
Elena lay in the adjustable hospital bed, wearing a soft, silk robe provided by the staff. Her right arm was elevated on a pillow, encased in a sleek, lightweight cast that immobilized her wrist and fingers. The surgery to pin her broken bones had been flawless, performed by the best orthopedic surgeon in the state.
She felt groggy from the anesthesia, a dull, pulsing ache radiating from her hand, but her mind was remarkably clear. The events of the previous night felt like a fever dream—the dinner party, the crushed hand, Audrey’s terrifying glare, and the incredible, life-altering offer from Dominic Vale.
The heavy wooden door to her recovery room opened quietly.
Dominic stepped inside. In the harsh daylight, he was just as striking and deeply masculine as he was under the chandeliers. He wore a crisp, tailored suit without a tie, looking slightly more relaxed but still radiating absolute power. In his left hand, he carried a massive bouquet of vibrant, white lilies.
"Good morning, Elena," Dominic said, his deep voice filling the quiet room. He walked over and gently placed the flowers on the bedside table.
"Good morning, Mr. Vale," Elena replied, instinctively trying to sit up straighter, though the medication made her movements sluggish.
"Dominic," he corrected softly, pulling a chair up to the side of her bed. "You are no longer my staff, Elena. You are the guardian of my child. We drop the formalities."
"Dominic," she tested the name, her American accent feeling strange forming the syllables of the boss's first name. "Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful."
"Lily insisted," Dominic smiled slightly, the expression transforming his angular face entirely. "She wanted to come with me, but I told her you needed to sleep. She has completely redecorated the suite next to hers in anticipation of your arrival."
Elena couldn't help but smile, a genuine warmth spreading through her chest. "I can't wait to see it."
Dominic’s expression slowly shifted, the protective father retreating as the calculating syndicate boss returned to the surface. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, his perceptive eyes locking onto hers.
"I received a phone call from Arthur Sinclair this morning," Dominic stated, his voice dropping into a low, serious register.
Elena’s smile faded instantly. The name sent a chill down her spine. "Audrey's father?"
Dominic nodded slowly. "He was entirely displeased to find his daughter crying on his doorstep with a broken engagement. He demanded restitution for the insult to his family's honor. He threatened to pull his union bosses from the waterfront expansion project."
Elena swallowed hard, gripping the silk sheets with her good hand. "Did you... did you tell him why?"
"I told him that his daughter was a violent liability who assaulted the woman protecting my child," Dominic said coldly. "And I told him that if he attempts to slow down my ships by a single hour, I will send my men to burn his warehouses to the ground."
"Is there going to be a war?" Elena asked, terrified that her actions had sparked a massive, bloody conflict.
Dominic looked at her, the artistic tattoos on his hands flexing as he laced his fingers together. He saw the fear in her beautiful, heart-shaped face.
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"There is always a war, Elena," Dominic whispered, reaching out to gently touch the edge of her cast, an intimate, protective gesture that sent a shockwave through her system. "But you do not need to worry about Arthur Sinclair. You just heal. I will handle the monsters."
He held her gaze, the bright, luminous light of the room illuminating the dangerous, undeniable bond that had just been forged in blood and broken bones. The true game for the city had only just begun.
