Alessia couldn't budge. She was still stuck against the cold brick wall because all those people who had been fighting her ran as fast as they could away from her, even tumbling over each other. It was a quiet alley now, not like a while ago when the narrow passage was filled with mean laughter. The only thing she could hear right now was her own heartbeat loudly in her ears, and each beat was powerful, irregular, scary. She took short, jolting breaths as she tried to fathom what was going on. Then the shadow approached, slow and deliberate.
One of her attackers was lying on the ground, groaning and holding his arm. Another one lay fully unconscious on the sidewalk. Alessia's eyes widened as she saw who was coming into view and who had done this. He moved so serenely that it made him even scarier, his steps quiet, but his presence was something she felt before she even knew who it was. The tall figure came fully out of the dark, and her heart stopped beating.
She recognized the way he stood. She knew how he held his shoulders, wide and in charge. She knew how quietly he moved, how precise his steps were, how the air changed when he was near. Old memories that she tried not to think about came back all at once.
Dominic.
He stood under the dim streetlight, and seeing him made it hard for her to breathe. He was different, sharper, stronger, colder than she had remembered. His dark hair was shorter than she remembered, combed back in such a way that made his sharp face even more evident. Eyes that had once been kind and full of promises now were hard to read, closed off. His jaw was tight, evidence of his tension. This wasn't the man she'd left behind. This was someone changed by power, loss, and betrayal he had never understood.
Alessia opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She could not say anything-she was too shocked and frightened, and the memories pierced her chest. Dominic's eyes moved up and down her body, as if he wanted to ascertain that this was real and not some dream he had conjured up in his head. The silence between them lasted for a long time.
Then, without warning, he reached for her.
His hand closed tightly around her wrist, tugging her toward him; it felt more like an order than a touch. Alessia stumbled forward, hands landing on his chest. The hard warmth beneath her hands was so different from the cold of his face. She swallowed hard, unable to tear her gaze from him. Dominic said nothing at first. He only tilted his head slightly, looking at her face, her shaking body, and the tired look under her eyes. Flashing in his eyes, though controlled and well-hidden beneath anger, was something sharp.
Before she could retreat, he stepped forward, and an injured attacker struggled to rise. Dominic slung his arm over her shoulders to shield her, making sure everyone knew she was his. Alessia froze, rigid. It was overwhelming being pressed up against him; he was like a wall that protected her from possible harm. Even now, after all that had happened, he instinctively took to shielding her from danger. But in his embrace there was a strength that quickened her heartbeat for another reason altogether.
The other man swore softly and walked away unsteadily, and Dominic didn't bother to look at him again. After the alley was clear, he dropped his arm but didn't release her wrist. His hand remained in a tight grip, as if releasing her meant she would disappear once more. Alessia attempted to pull away, and his hold on her tightened further.
"You shouldn't be out here by yourself," he finally said, his voice soft, steady, with a hint of something she couldn't understand. He didn't seem to be worried. It was restrained, short and almost like a scolding.
Her throat felt constricted. "Dominic…" His name felt odd, fragile. Saying his name after five years felt like reopening a painful wound from the past.
He didn't react. Instead, his face turned even more somber and concerned. "Are you hurt?" His eyes ran over her as if searching for any injuries. She shook her head, but he seemed no more convinced and certainly not assured. His fingers gently brushed her arm at the spot where one of the men had grabbed her. The touch was fleeting, almost doctor-like; it nonetheless served to make her feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
She whispered softly, "I'm fine.
His jaw tightened. "You almost weren't."
Alessia looked away from his stare; she did not know what to say to him at all. Her mind was in complete turmoil-fear, shock, anger, guilt, and even more terrifying-the old, well-known pain at the sight of him. For years, she had been trying to forget the sound of his voice, his gaze, and the feeling of his closeness. She had failed utterly, though. Being this close with him now felt like facing everything she had tried to forget.
Dominic breathed out slowly, but the sound was controlled, full of concealed stress. "We're leaving now."
It wasn't a friendly and gentle suggestion. It wasn't even a simple and basic request.
It was an order.
Her eyes flashed up to meet his. "I'm not going anywhere with you," she said, and her voice quivered.
His face didn't budge. "Yes," he said quietly, "you are coming with me."
"Dominic…"
"Don't," his voice came sharper, stopping her before an argument could ensue. "Do you really think I'll let you disappear again? You really think I spent years just searching for you to find you in an alley like this?"
He tightened his grip on her wrist, not hurting her, but just enough to remind her that he wouldn't release her. "You're coming with me," he repeated, "whether you agree with it or not."
She felt fear, yet it was different from when the attackers were there before. This fear didn't make sense. It was about feelings. It had old memories and pain that weren't dealt with. "You can't just choose that," she said in a quiet tone, but the words seemed weak to her. Dominic looked straight at her, and his face was hard to read. "I am already doing it." Before she was able to decline again, he leaned in closer, making the space between them smaller. The alleyway seemed cramped, and the air felt heavy around them. He spoke softly but as if he would not budge on what he thought. "You will not run away from me ever again."
A
nd Alessia believed that he really meant it.