Making my way quickly down rushing towards Dominic struggling to move. Dominic kicked my knee "Aaaah!" I grunted stumbling and falling against the cold, wet grass. Dominic quickly got into his feet as I struggled to crawl away in time.

Grabbing my wrist forcefully extending my arm as if I was reaching up to him with his knee pressed into my rib cage. Looking up into his eyes as Dominic snapped my arm against his bent leg. Wailing out in agony unable to ignore the pain he caused. My broken arm fell limp as he let my arm go. Holding my arm panicking trying to crawl away from him.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Dominic drew out menacingly as I let out a desperate sob to get away. He grabbed my ankle dragging me back to him. "No," I sobbed trying to claw at the grass. "The fun isn't over yet." He said bowing over me as I laid on my back.

"You and Nathan deserve a slow painful death. A bullet is too kind for what you've done. I'm going to take pleasure in watching him suffer. He'll regret ever letting you into his life." Dominic taunted gripping my throat as he kneeled over me laying on the ground helpless.

"I hope Rose didn't get too attached to the fellow." Dominic continued as I gasped for air struggling to breathe. "Maybe I'll let her watch." He breathed leaning into my ear.

Tensing my jaw snarling as I shoved his hand away from my throat. Wrapping my legs around his neck in a headlock catching him off guard. Dominic laughed amused in our position on the ground making me grit my teeth trying to keep my hold.

"I missed this." He smiled out of breath making me let out a loud groan as he struggled to breathe and pull away. I felt his hands on my butt before squeezing it making me tense my jaw. I quickly let go of my hold before kicking his face and his wound on his arm.

We both stood slowly watching each other until Dominic kicked me making me dodge it with my non broken arm. He punched me hard causing me to whip my head to the side before he grabbed my arm and threw me into the side of the building. Letting out a sudden scream landing on my arm. My head hit against the ground hard making my vision blurry. "Dominic..." I struggled to move. "please."

"Mikhail told me about how much you'd grown. How powerful you had become since I last saw you. Everyone thought I had made a mistake to leave you. If only they saw the real you." He began slowly limping towards me as I struggled to get up as quickly as before.

"Mikhail came to me before he assigned you to Nathan Vanderbilt. Asking for my opinion if you were ready for a higher profile case. If you would be trusted and reliable." Dominic explained as I tried to get up. "And I assured him that you were." He confessed to my surprise.

"Now I see you're not nearly as gifted and brilliant as they all thought you were. You allowed the one thing you were trained to suppress above all else. Your feelings." Dominic said as I looked up intimidated. "You hide behind your beauty and seduction. Your false confidence. All because you're a woman. That isn't true talent." He spit towering over me before kicking my stomach without warning. Hunching over coughing uncontrollably as he continued.

"You've started a war with the most powerful men all over the world when you decided to turn your back on us." Dominic finally stopped his assault as he kicked in the side of my stomach. "All for a chance to be in love. As if a thing exists." Dominic scoffed in disbelief as I panted struggling to breathe holding my stomach in pain.

There was a short silence as he stared down at me amused never tearing his eyes away from me trying to intimidate me. I burned holes into him as I pushed away my pain to stand up trying to see unaffected.

"You're right. I should be thanking you." I began limping onto my feet unable to stand tall. He frowned confused with a dazed look of bewilderment. "And this organization because if I hadn't been a part of it for all these years then I wouldn't have met him. Because I happen to know for a fact that love does exist because of this life we've led." I continued forcing myself to see the positive aspect of all of this death and hatred we surrounded ourselves with.

"And I only feel pity for you for not knowing how happy you could be if you weren't so consumed with greed and power. This isn't the way anyone should be living." I finished stepping closer full of newfound confidence as he continued to watch me with a blank stare.

"Just let me go." I breathed. "You've done it before."

Five Years Earlier

"Morning, sunshine." Julian said barging into my apartment. I rolled my eyes as I made a cup of coffee trying to wake up. "You look like hell." He stated amused as he tossed a folder on my kitchen counter. "Couldn't sleep." I replied taking a sip of my hot black coffee. I quickly placed it back onto the counter realizing I probably shouldn't be drinking it. "Oh, I'm sure." He replied amused making me fight my smile.

"Who is it?" I asked in a groggy voice grabbing the papers. "Paul Redding. He hits his children." Julian explained as he took my coffee and added sugar. "God." I breathed seeing the police report and the photographs of him and the children.

"I-I'll tell Dominic." I stuttered nervously looking away closing the file as he nodded. "You sure you're alright?" Julian asked seeing through my nerves knowing I wasn't very good at hiding anything from them. "Yeah," I breathed putting on a fake smile. "tell boss it'll be done by the end of week." I said leaving the kitchen as he finished my coffee before leaving.

Raking my fingers through my hair roughly. My hands trembled full of fear and anxiety. For the past few weeks, I've been having horrible morning sickness and realized I had been late. I took a test a few days ago telling me that my suspicions had been right, but I just haven't been able to find the right time to tell Dominic.

"Hey, baby." His familiar deep voice said behind me as he walked into the living room. I quickly snapped from my thoughts applying a false demeanor not wanting him to see my obvious uneasiness. "Hey." I smiled weakly I felt his strong arms wrap around my waist and stomach making me tense slightly.

I leaned into his comfortable, warm embrace feeling his chin lean on my shoulder. Dominic kissed my neck making me close my eyes as I smiled softly.

"Who was that?" He asked pulling away making me turn around with his arms still around me. "Julian. There's another assignment." I said simply making him hum in reply before bowing down to kiss me passionately.

His hands roamed around my lower back and butt pushing me closer to him. I wrapped my arms around his neck running my fingers through his damp hair. I pulled away slightly before it got any further.

"I-I have something to tell you." I breathed stepping away so I could look up at him making Dominic frown. "I-I know you said you like our carefree relationship. And so do I." I smiled as he looked at me with stone cold eyes trying to study me.

"But we have been dating for a few years now. Don't you think we should start growing a-and changing? I-I like how simple things are now but-" I continued until he interrupted me. "What are you getting at? You know how I feel about relationships. That hasn't changed." Dominic stated sternly making me nod.

"I thought you liked this little arraignment we had?" Dominic smiled flirtatiously stepping towards me again tucking my hair behind my ear. "I do." I smiled weakly before he kissed me as it quickly grew more passionate again. He began to grope me reaching his hand up my shirt making me tense my eyebrows.

I pulled away from our kiss again. Dominic pulled his hands away looking down at me confused trying to figure out why I was acting so strange.

"What's going on with you?" Dominic asked as his voice grew angry different from his previous confused, flirtatious demeanor. My lips parted in confusion at his sudden outburst making me frown.

"N-Nothing. I just-" "Don't think you're special, Genevieve." Dominic scoffed amused walking away to find a cigarette. "Don't think you suddenly deserve more from me just because we're fucking." He sat down on the sofa. His harsh words took me aback leaving me speechless. "There's lots of women who would gladly take your place." Dominic said without emotion with a cigarette between his lips as he lit it.

"What?" I breathed as he exhaled smoke making him roll his eyes. "All those 'late night meetings'..." Dominic dragged out with a grin making me scoff. "No, y-you're lying." I stuttered in disbelief never looking away from him making him smile amused.

"You really think I would limit myself from all the other woman begging to be with me?" He asked like I was the crazy one. Tears collected in my eyes at how cold he was being. "I'm pregnant." I barked full of anger as tears fell down my cheek.

His head whipped to the side looking at me across the room. Dominic's entire attitude changed realizing what I just said making him stand up putting out his cigarette. His furious features started back at me as he stalked towards me. My eyebrows furrowed as my lips parted confused.

"Don't lie to me. We've been careful." He threatened through his teeth inches away from my face. "Apparently not enough." I breathed looking up at him with teary eyes. I filled with disbelief and heartache realizing how stupid I was.

Feeling too frightened to move seeing him walk up to me making my heart race. Dominic hit me across the face with the back of his hand my head whipping to the side. My hair covered my face as I let out the sob bringing my shaking hand to my face. I stumbled backwards almost tripping over my own feet before I felt him grab my arm roughly.

"You can't be. How could you let this happen?!" Dominic's jaw tensed before shoving my arm away from him making me fall to the floor. It took me a few seconds to finally put my palms onto the cold hardwood floors trying to get up. "Why are you being like this?" I cried up at him as he huffed in frustration turning away from me abruptly.

He raked his fingers through his hair his back turned to me as I stood back on my feet. I looked over at the front door to run to safety before quickly looking away seeing him face me again.

"Dominic-" "How much?" He asked walking up to me. "How much to leave and keep your mouth shut about this?" Dominic growled as my heart crushed looking up at him like a fish out of water. "What? Leave?! What are you talking about? I want to be with you." I sobbed reaching towards him making Dominic pull away harshly.

"Do you have any idea who I am? Who my family is? I can't be with some poor orphan who has nothing going for her." He scoffed. "And get suck rising a child! For all I know may not even be mine!" He beamed as I tried to create distance between us shaking my head. "You don't mean that." I sobbed making him let out a laugh.

"Why not? You were just a good time. Nothing more." Dominic said our faces inches apart. He was looking down at me with a sadistic smile watching me cry knowing how much pain his words caused me.

Without thinking I stepped back slapping him as hard as I could. He was unaffected making me step away from him in fear. A chill ran down my spine seeing his eyes stare at me like his next kill making everything inside me scream for me to run towards the door. My bare feet were frozen in place unable to move like a dear caught in the headlights.

"Others wouldn't be as nice. You're lucky you're not dead for letting this happen." Dominic beamed making me scoff at him thinking I should actually be grateful for this. "We've been together for years! We love each other!" I beamed as he smiled making him let out a chuckle. "Don't flatter yourself. You're not that special, darling."

He turned around walking towards the kitchen counter where my cup of coffee was. "You ass!" I sobbed full of anger as I picked up a nearby blade and throwing it at him. Dominic grabbed it effortlessly by the handle with his other hand. "I thought you loved me?!" I beamed as he continued to hold the knife.

"I love my position more." Dominic answered pushing off the counter. I ran towards the front door reaching out trying to grab the handle before I felt his harsh grip on my hair. Dominic pulled me backwards making me let out a small painful sob. "How. Much."

"Why are we doing this, Dominic?" I asked. "You've never had a problem with me leaving before." I stated bitterly. "This is different, Gen. You're breaking all the rules and now everyone expects me to fix it." Dominic beamed full of irritation. "This is effecting me too." He said making me scoff.

"Oh, boo hoo." I spit. "I'm so sorry your image and title is being threatened. My life is at stake! And not only mine but Rose's. Unlike us she's completely innocent." I pleaded calmly making him start to relax. "You deserve to let me go. If not for me then for her." I said trying to calm down to defuse this situation.

There was a long silence making me fill with more and more nerves wondering what he was thinking or planning to do. Suddenly we both heard a small noise.

Nathan's POV

"You deserve someone who loves you with all their heart. Someone who will think about you all the time. And you won't be able to stop thinking about them. You will be wondering every minute of the day what they're doing, where they're at, who they are with, and how they are. You need someone who helps you make your dreams come true, and make your fears go away. You need someone that treats you with respect, who loves you like no one else no matter your flaws. You should-" She breathed fondly full of amazement.

"You're naive if you think a love like that exists. We aren't children anymore, Valerie." I interrupted unamused. "You should be with someone that knows how to make you happy. Really happy." She continued ignoring my remark.

"Fall in love with someone who wants you, who will wait for you, who understands you even in your madness. Believe it or not but you can be very annoying and utterly obnoxious." She stated matter-of-factly making me glare over at her as I sat on my couch in front of the fireplace.

"Just be with someone who helps you and guides you- fights for you. Someone who is your support, and your hope." Valerie continued as she occasionally took a sip of her wine until I interrupted her out of annoyance. "Who says I even want to be in love? I'm perfectly fine living with the way I have been." I pressed.

"Oh, please! You're miserable! You're just either too drunk or consumed with work to see it. Passing the time with the next girl on your arm." Valerie expressed making me roll my eyes. "I'm perfectly fine being alone, Valerie. Unlike you I'm not pining away desperate to find someone." I replied making her frown. I looked away feeling guilty seeing her mask her hurt.

"Sorry for being an optimist. Someone in this family has to be. I love you and I want you to have someone to make you happy. I want you to fall in love with someone who talks with you after a fight. Who is patient and kind. Who loves you despite all your flaws." She dragged out making me fill with more annoyance. "How do you even know that's possible? That having a love like that is even real? You haven't exactly picked them well either." I scoffed before taking a sip of my scotch making her furrow her eyes crossing her arms. She stayed silent leaning into the chair across from me in the distance.

"Can we drop this?" I asked ignoring the guilt I felt for drunkenly lashing out at her. "How did we end up talking about this? I'm not going to fall in love. I have work to do. Criminal's to put away."

"Sounds like a very happy life." She retorted under her breath rolling her eyes. I quickly gulped the rest of my drink standing abruptly. I tensed filling with anger. "I have a career, Valerie! Father's legacy to carry since Lee wants nothing to do with this." I said making her step forward beginning to give up on me.

"Lee has a family of his own now." She said growing frustrated. "You need to learn to live your own life too, Nate."

Remembering a conversation, I had with Valerie a few years ago that had always stuck with me and never really went away. No matter how much I didn't understand it then and how it didn't truly click within of me until this moment.

"Are we really not going in with her?" Lee asked doubtfully making me snap from my deep thoughts. "I trust her." I sighed trying to hide my nerves. I didn't know what I would do if anything happened to her.

"I still don't think this is a good idea." I said into the microphone. "Are you going to be talking in my ear the entire time?" Gen replied making me fill with frustration for how stubborn she was when she dug her heels into something. I knew there was no changing her mind.

Because of Genevieve I had finally understood how Valerie always explained the way relationships should be. Lee and Valerie never admired the fact I used women as objects and didn't care about their feelings most of the time. Lee and Valerie have always told me how true love really felt like and how a woman you truly love should act and they should make you feel.

But I never thought I was worthy enough to have everything they said I could have. I was afraid of being so vulnerable with anyone, so I just closed myself off completely.

But with Genevieve I would risk anything to prove to her how much I love her. How much I care for her. I was determined to spend every second of the day to keeping her happy and safe. To give her anything and do anything she wanted. The force pulling me towards her was unexplainable and the mystery made me even more intrigued. I could now finally see past the hard and rigid shell she had trying to push people from getting too close to her. Especially me.

Loving her more than I could ever explain to anyone and more than I ever thought would be possible. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and Rose. I can see how gentle, kind, and loving person and mother she is. How much she cares for others like Valerie and Eve. How determined she was to save my life while risking and putting hers in danger.

"A normal life?" Dominic beamed making me snap from my thoughts. My heart raced feeling agitated that I wasn't there to protect her. "You don't deserve anything from us." Dominic continued. "I deserve everything from them. Especially you!" Gen beamed full of emotion and anger.

"I loved you! Which was the biggest mistake I've ever made." Gen sobbed full of fury making me look away from the camera. "I will do anything and everything to keep myself away from you and this organization you're running!" She finished making me wait anxiously for how he would react.

"Then prove it." Dominic replied making me whip my head to look back at the screen. I stood abruptly watching Dominic suddenly begin to hit her. Lee quickly did the same before stopping me from leaving the van. "She can defend herself!" He assured trying to calm me down making me push past him.

"I'm on my way." I said walking up to the microphone. "No-" Gen started before Dominic continued to attack her. I filled with an uncontrollable rage watching them fight as she tried avoiding his blows.