Meline’s eyes filled.

“You terrified me.”

His expression broke.

Silence stretched.

Then Ethan spoke carefully.

“She’s had panic attacks for weeks. She barely sleeps. Whoever you are, whatever world you come from—she’s not surviving it well.”

Dominic’s eyes flicked toward him.

“What exactly are you to her?”

Meline answered first.

“He’s my doctor.”

Dominic blinked.

Ethan sighed. “High-risk maternal specialist. She fainted outside my clinic six weeks ago.”

Dominic’s stomach dropped.

“What?”

Meline looked away.

“I was stressed.”

Ethan’s expression darkened.

“She was malnourished, severely sleep deprived, and dangerously anemic.”

Every word sliced through Dominic.

Because while he had been tearing cities apart looking for her, she had been quietly falling apart alone.

Ethan glanced between them.

“She needs stability. Not this.”

Dominic looked at Meline.

And finally saw the shadows beneath her eyes.

The fear.

The exhaustion.

The loneliness.

Something unbearable settled inside him.

He had done this.

Then suddenly, Silas’s voice exploded through Carlo’s earpiece.

“Boss, move her now.”

Dominic’s head snapped up.

“We intercepted chatter from a Duca crew in South Boston. They know she’s pregnant.”

Meline went white.

Ethan swore.

Then headlights turned the corner.

Three black Escalades.

Too fast.

Too deliberate.

Dominic’s face transformed instantly.

The ruthless king returned.

“Get behind me,” he ordered.

Meline’s pulse exploded.

The SUVs screeched to a halt.

Doors flew open.

Men with guns poured into the snow.

And Seraphina Duca stepped out wearing white cashmere and diamonds.

Smiling directly at Meline’s pregnant stomach.

“Well,” she said softly. “There’s the heir.”

The street erupted into chaos.

Dominic pulled Meline behind him so fast she barely managed a breath before a gun appeared in his hand.

Carlo and two Valente soldiers spread outward instantly.

Ethan grabbed Meline protectively.

Snow swirled between rival syndicates.

And Seraphina Duca looked utterly unafraid.

Her crimson lips curved slowly as she studied Meline.

“So this is the girl who ruined everything.”

Dominic’s voice dropped into something lethal.

“You should not be here.”

Seraphina ignored him.

Her eyes remained fixed on Meline’s stomach.

“My father spent twelve weeks wondering why Chicago’s most disciplined man suddenly stopped caring about business.” She tilted her head. “Turns out you were grieving a runaway mistress.”

Meline flinched.

And Seraphina noticed him noticing.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

“You followed her?” Dominic asked.

“Of course.” Seraphina smiled coldly. “You forget, darling, paranoia is what built our families.”

Ethan stepped slightly in front of Meline again.

“Take her inside,” he muttered.

“No,” Dominic snapped instantly.

Because buildings could become traps.

Open streets gave him exits.

Seraphina laughed softly.

“There he is.”

Dominic’s gun never lowered.

“What do you want?”

Her gaze drifted to Meline.

“I wanted to see the woman powerful enough to make Dominic Valente destroy a billion-dollar alliance.”

Meline stared at her in confusion.

Dominic’s jaw tightened.

Seraphina continued casually.

“The engagement ended three days after you vanished.”

Meline blinked.

Seraphina looked amused.

“He nearly strangled my uncle during a meeting because the man suggested using you as leverage.”

Dominic said nothing.

“That was when I realized,” Seraphina murmured. “This wasn’t an affair. This was obsession.”

The snowfall thickened.

Meline looked at Dominic.

And for the first time, she saw something she had missed before.

Exhaustion.

Not physical.

Soul-deep.

Like he had not truly breathed since she disappeared.

Seraphina folded her gloved hands.

“My father wants the baby.”

Every gun lifted.

Ethan swore under his breath.

Dominic’s expression became terrifyingly still.

“Explain carefully.”

Seraphina sighed.

“The Duca family believes a child carrying Valente blood can still unite both organizations through marriage eventually.”

Meline felt sick.

“You’re talking about my baby like property.”

Seraphina’s eyes softened unexpectedly.

“My dear, in our world, bloodlines are property.”

Dominic stepped forward.

One word.

Absolute.

Seraphina studied him.

“You love her that much?”

Dominic answered without hesitation.

The word hit Meline harder than any scream could have.

Because Dominic Valente did not say things he didn’t mean.

Seraphina looked almost wistful.

“What a tragedy.”

Then her expression sharpened.

“My father sent men to retrieve her tonight.”

Dominic’s grip tightened around his gun.

“You came with them.”

“Why?”

A strange silence passed.

Then Seraphina looked directly at Meline.

“Because I know what it’s like to become collateral in men’s wars.”

Meline frowned.

Seraphina smiled faintly.

“My mother was murdered carrying my brother because another family wanted leverage against my father.”

Nobody moved.

Even Dominic looked stunned.

Seraphina slowly removed a folded envelope from her coat.

“There are twelve men positioned around this block,” she said calmly. “But only six are loyal to my father.”

She handed the envelope to Dominic.

“The others are mine.”

Dominic opened it.