More Than Lust

Authors pov

Grace gulped looking at him. Dominick looked at her and walked passed by without saying anything.

Grace looked at him confused, she thought he will scold her but he isn't even talking to her. Grace felt wierd when he didn't talk to her. Dominick freshen up and walked out, he was still in dilemma. He was going to make decision but wasn't sure about it.

He walked out of his room and started walking towards the dinning room but stopped when he saw his father near the mini bar.

Dominick looked at him, he wants to talk but was hesitant. He took a deep breath and walked towards his father, first time his Feet felt heavy. He never felt nervous like this.

"Alcohol isn't good for your health"

He said and sat beside Massimo.

Massimo scoffed.

"Now you care about me"

"I always cared about you."

He replied.

"Dad, i am sorry"

He finally said and Massimo looked at him.

"I am sorry, i shouldn't have leave you... I wanted to apologise but couldn't muster up the courage...'

"You don't have to apologise, it was my fault. I tried to control your life."

Massimo said.

"I failed to understand the needs of new generation. Couldn't understand that things can't be same for us... I wasn't sad because you fought back, what made me sad is you left us... Was it that easy for you?" Dominick shook his head.

"It wasn't and i realised it when i stepped out of this house. But it was too late to apologise... I missed you. It's all my fault, i could have handle it nicely... I need you dad, i need my family, my people... Please forgive me."

Massimo smiled.

"Come here"

He pulled him in a fatherly hug.

Dominick hugged him back tightly, he was dying for this from last five years. He didn't know that saying sorry is so easy, he was definitely overthinking about it.

"You forgive me?"

He asked.

"I wasn't angry... I was just heartbroken. But it's fine now, You are back..."

He patted his back.

"I am actually Proud of you, you proved you can do it without my name and money..."

Dominick sighed in relief, it felt like big burden has lifted up from his chest. He was correcting his mistakes one by one.

"Did you talk to your mother? She didn't like whatever you did to that girl..."

He said.

Dominick nodded.

"I know... We talked about it. Dad

He hesitated.

"

"Do you know about her past_ today, first time I saw that pain in her eyes..."

Massimo's eyes snapped towards him.

"She talked about that?"

He asked shocked.

Dominick nodded.

"What happened with her? How did you find your love in her? Was she always strong like this? Was it is to get her?" Massimo sighed.

"I am surprised that she talked about that, may be because of Grace... I know Anamika see herself in Grace's place. I was scared that it might affect her badly that's why I was trying to keep her away from her but she is too stubborn..."

He placed his glass away.

"It wasn't that easy, they completely destroy her innocence. It wasn't easy to tame wounded tigress but i was lucky that she found her peace in me. She still get nightmares even after so many years, she can't sleep without me because she doesn't feel safe while sleeping alone. It angers me, I want to go back and punish them again and again..."

"You killed them"

Dominick asked.

"Yes, but that time i had no idea that I am saving my love."

He replied.

"She will be fine, she is stronger than you think... Even I am scared of that woman."

He chuckled.

"Why?"

Dominick asked confused.

"When you torture your captives, how much time it takes you to break them..."

Massimo asked.

"Few hours and they give in."

Dominick answered.

"Anamika was in that hell for two years and still didn't give in."

He said and Dominick looked at him shocked.

"When her foster brother adopted her, he thought she will go insane but she did completely opposite... She completed her studies, she build her empire and destroyed everything and everyone who hurt her... Two years of hell bring out the best of her... I still can't understand how did she managed to survive it but she does know how to play her cards. She knows how to manipulate her surroundings, her beauty hides her evil face perfectly and that what makes her more dangerous..."

Massimo sighed.

"The motive of telling you about this is, women are not weak. If you think you can conquer them with your power and fear then you are wrong... If you want to win her then you have to give her love and respect... With fear she will stay with you for few days but with love she will give you her forever..."

"Is it too late?"

Dominick sighed.

"She agreed to come with maa, it means she doesn't want to stay with me..."

"You shouldn't be surprised with that"

Massimo said.

"Of course she will run. You can't make her yours with fear."

"You never tell how did you find mother."

Dominick asked.

Massimo Smirked.

"It's a long story, not for kids."

"I am not kid, i am 28 years old grown man."

Dominick replied.

Massimo stood up and started walking towards the dining hall and Dominick followed him.

"One night stand"

He said.

Dominick clenched his jaw.

"You mean you just saw her as a random girl"

Massimo chuckled.

"No, I knew what i wanted... It wasn't easy to get your mother... She made me go insane for six months..."

"So what is the key?"

Dominick asked.

"Love and care!"

Massimo replied.

"That's it"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock when they saw Dominick and Massimo together.

"Finally!"

Raajnandini screamed in happiness.

"I am very happy today"

"Finally he got enough balls to talk it out"

Alexander mocked.

Anamika smiled at them.

"Welcome back"

She said to Dominick.

Massimo sat beside Anamika and kissed her forehead.

"Are you okay?"

He knows that it's not easy for her to talk about it that to in front of her son.

Dominick kissed Anamika's hand.

"I love you maa, i am so proud of you"

Anamika smiled at him and everyone looked confused because they have no idea what's going on.

Grace smiled seeing Dominick's

different side. This is completely

different man, not like the man she

first met. He is soft towards his people, he loves his family. Grace couldn't enjoy family like this, when she started understanding things from the point of view of adult then she lost her mother and father couldn't be there for her. Her all college days went by working multiple part time jobs so she can pay her fees. She hardly got time for her to enjoy moments like this.

Dominick sat beside Grace and everyone finished their dinner.

"Come on girls... It's time to make Christmas tree."

Bella exclaimed.

Grace joined girls and Alexander and Dominick walked out for a talk.

Anamika was sitting with her husband.

"Go easy on him, he has realised his mistake."

He said.

"Doesn't matter... It's on Grace, if she wants it then only he can have her."

Anamika replied.

"You won't give up, will you?"

He sighed.

"It's not about that... He is playing with her life."

She countered.

"Fuck it..."

He said.

"Come here, i missed you today."

He pulled her in a hug.

"You are not good for my heart"

Anamika chuckled while hugging him back.

"Don't worry, I have control over it."

He Smirked.

"Oohhoo... Love birds"

Bella whispered and girls giggled.

"They are so cute together"

Grace whispered. "But i am scared of him. He is scary."

"He is! But he won't do anything to us."

Bella Said.

"Why?"

Grace asked.

"Because we are family now."

Bella answered.

"You want to see... I love to make him irritate. Come I'll show you."

"Are you crazy... Why you want to put your hand in lions mouth?"

Grace asked.

"There is no fun in life without risk... Come."

Bella dragged her towards Massimo.

"Father in law"

Bella grinned.

Massimo closed his eyes and cursed frustratingly.

"Not again"

"Can you please open this jar for me?"

Bella said innocently.

Massimo looked at Anamika and she just chuckled.

"Ask your husband"

He replied.

"Why, don't you love us... I am your daughter in law... I thought we are family."

Bella pouted.

Massimo snatched the jar from her hands and opened it.

"Take it and go"

He said.

"You are so rude, I love Maa more"

Bella said and walked away with Grace while grinning evilly.

"Bella you are crazy"

Grace laughed.

"I swear this girl do it on purpose"

Massimo said madly.

"Why you are so mad at her?"

Anamika laughed.

"She made me hold her kitten that day and that thing pissed on me. Anyway this girl is already irritating"

He said frustratingly.

"Keep her away from me"

Anamika laughed at him, Bella didn't even spare Mafia king.

Grace helped girls to decorate Christmas tree and after that head towards her bedroom.

Dominick came shortly after that and still didn't talk to her. He slept beside her silently.

He didn't spoon her like he always

do neither he touched her. Grace

She

was confused with his the

turned around to look at him but he turned his back on her. Content

She felt bad that he is ignoring her, till morning he was giving his all attention to her.

When she woke up in the morning Dominick wasn't beside her. His behavior was making her feel restless. He was looking worried and

tensed. She was up whole night and

so was he.

She decided to talk with him.

She freshen up and walked outside.

"Where is Dominick?"

She asked one of the guard.

"He walked out"

He replied.

Grace followed him outside. He was out of the main gate. Grace ran behind him.

"Dominick"

She called him.

Dominick was walking outside, he turned around when he heard her. He wasn't expecting her to come.

"Why you are not talking to me?"

She asked.

Dominick looked at her with frown. Grace gasped when he suddenly pushed away making her fall on the ground.

Grace hissed and looked at him confused but her eyes widened when she saw Dominick on the floor.

She screamed loudly when she realised that someone shot him.