Chapter 2 - The Contract Written in Blood
The interior of Dominic’s Maybach smelled of expensive leather and old money. The city blurred past the tinted windows in a streak of neon lights. I sat beside him, the silence between us heavy with the revelation he had just dropped into my lap.
“How do you know about Ashley and Derek?” I demanded, my legal mind racing to find the connection. “My husband is a real estate developer. Ashley is a corporate consultant. They move in entirely different circles than you.”
Dominic laughed, a low, gravelly sound that vibrated through the small space. “You think your husband’s real estate projects are funded by legitimate banks, Scarlett? Derek is deep in debt. He took a massive loan from a subsidiary company owned by the Bratva—the very men who just interrupted us at the bar. When he couldn't pay it back, they offered him a way out.”
He turned to look at me, his eyes cold and calculating.
“The terms were simple: Derek gives them access to your firm’s confidential files on the city’s upcoming zoning laws. But Derek didn’t have the clearance. You did. So Ashley suggested a plan. They would gaslight you into an open marriage, drive you to a divorce, and use Ashley’s consulting firm to siphon your assets and your firm's data during the legal chaos.”
The betrayal washed over me again, but this time, it wasn't a emotional ache. It was a freezing, pristine rage. They hadn't just broken my trust; they had targeted my career, my life’s work, and my sanity. They thought I was a weak, predictable wife who would break under the weight of humiliation.
“They underestimated me,” I whispered, my fingers tightening into fists.
“They did,” Dominic agreed, leaning back against the leather seat. “But you cannot fight them in a standard courtroom, Scarlett. The moment you file for divorce, the Bratva will realize their play is dead, and they will eliminate the liability. Meaning, your husband and your best friend will ensure you have an... accident.”
The car came to a halt in front of a massive, heavily guarded estate in the hills of New Jersey. The iron gates swung open like the jaws of a beast, swallowing us into the darkness of Dominic’s world.
He led me into a grand study lined with thousands of leather-bound books. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting long, dancing shadows across the room. On the mahogany desk lay a thick manila folder.
“What is this?” I asked, stepping toward it.
“Your leverage,” Dominic said, standing by the fire, his hands tucked into his pockets. “Inside that folder is every transaction Derek has made with the Russian mob. Every text between him and Ashley detailing how they plan to ruin you. I’ve had my people tracking them for months because I needed leverage on the Bratva. But now, I am offering it to you.”
I opened the folder. The photographs were damning. Derek and Ashley walking into a motel in Queens. Bank statements showing offshore accounts under Ashley's maiden name. Cryptic emails discussing my firm's upcoming mergers.
My phone vibrated violently in my purse. I pulled it out. It was a text from Derek. “Scarlett, please come home. You're overreacting. We can talk about this. Ashley is here, she’s worried about you too. We love you.”
A sick laugh escaped my lips. I looked up at Dominic. “Why are you giving me this? A man like you doesn’t do favors out of the goodness of his heart.”
“No, I don't,” Dominic said, taking a step toward me until he was standing so close I could feel the heat radiating from him. “I need a lawyer who isn’t afraid of the dark. The federal government is building a Rico case against my family. They are using fabricated evidence. I need the best litigator in the city to tear their case to shreds. You represent me in the daylight, and I will protect you in the dark.”
He held out a gold pen. “Sign on as my chief legal counsel, Scarlett. Do that, and by tomorrow morning, I will make your husband beg for mercy.”
I looked at the pen, then at the evidence of my ruined life. The woman I was an hour ago would have walked away, filed a police report, and trusted the system. But the system was what they were going to use to destroy me.
I grabbed the pen and signed my name at the bottom of the retainer agreement.
“Welcome to the family, counselor,” Dominic murmured, his eyes burning with a dark satisfaction.
Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. I answered it, putting it on speaker.
“Scarlett,” a panicked voice gasped. It was Ashley. She sounded terrified, the sound of wind rushing past her. “Scarlett, you need to help us! There are men outside our apartment. They just threw a brick through the window. There’s blood on it. They left a note saying... saying your debt is due.”
I looked at Dominic. He gave me a slow nod.
I pressed the phone closer to my ear, my voice turning as cold as ice. “Tell Derek that if he wants to talk about opening our marriage, he can talk to my new boss. And Ashley? Don't ever call my phone again unless it’s to sign your confession.”
May you like
I hung up, feeling a dangerous rush of adrenaline. But before I could speak, Dominic’s phone rang. He answered it, listened for three seconds, and his face turned to stone.
He looked at me, his jaw clenching. “We have a problem. Ashley just checked into a private clinic. She’s pregnant with Derek’s child, and she just called the FBI claiming you are trying to murder her.”
