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. "Did you bring company?" Dominic questioned amused.

My lips parted looking away from him towards the other room begging to not see Nathan or Lee come to my defense. I heard Dominic walking closer but ignored it too worried about seeing Nathan. My heart raced knowing Nathan wasn't in any condition to defend me right now. I turned my head to face Dominic feeling him standing over me making me look up.

"I thought you were smarter than that." He said disapprovingly under his breath grabbing my face. "You're making this too easy." I felt his rough fingers smearing my blood around my mouth as he held my chin in a cruel grasp. My lip trembled from pain and fear as I grabbed his arm trying to pull from his grasp.

Sucking in a breath seeing Dominic lean in closer to my face feeding off of how frightened I was. I struggled to not move against him. "You'll never get rid of me, Genevieve." Dominic grit through his teeth before slowly smirking amused.

"And you will never see that daughter of ours." He spit inches from my lips feeling his hot breath against my face. "Even years from now long after your contract expires, you'll never be able to forget about all the horrid things you've done. You'll never be free. You'll never be able to relax and let your guard down. Was there even a moment in time where you did have a normal life?" Dominic asked amused still holding my chin roughly forcing me to look up at him with his sweaty, dirty hand.

"You really think you're able to have the life you want? With the white picket fence in the suburbs? Neighbors who have no idea the kind of person they're living next. And the things you're capable of? You're lying to yourself if you think that's the life for you. That you're even capable of having the normal life you think you deserve. You aren't a normal person, Genevieve." He scoffed through his devilish grin.

"You wouldn't even know how to live happily without the guilt and memories of everything you've ever done. Without fear of me being right behind you." He breathed in a low ominous tone inching his face closer to mine. Dominic's breath fanned against my face making me finally pull away from him.

"Face it you belong here. This is all you have ever known. And I hate to admit it but you're better than anyone else who has ever gone up against me. You were taught by the best of the best. Including me." Dominic praised dripping arrogance making me tense my jaw. "Make up your mind. Am I brilliant and skilled or just a woman hiding behind her beauty?" I spit making him chuckle.

"You could have had a real career here. You could be rich with money and power, be feared. All the things you could have, and I can help you get there." He ignored me making me tilt my head looking up at him dumbfounded and disbelief. Dominic's seriousness made me scoff not believing he thought he could still try to convince me to stay.

"Those aren't my priorities anymore, Dominic. I used to think that was the most important things to have; power and people to fear you. To feel unstoppable and untouchable by anyone or any law. But that all started to change the day you left me. And losing me was your biggest mistake because you had me in the palm of your fucking hand!" I shouted making him frown as his previous amused and intimidating demeanor vanished.

"I would've done anything for you. My dream was to work with you up the ladder. To become the most powerful and the most feared couple alive with you!" I confessed through angry tears streaming down my face. "But you messed it all up." I breathed exhausted never looking away from him as he stood inches away from me.

"This... is all your doing. I have different priorities and now I see just how stupid I was then. Just how stupid you are! For thinking there's still a chance in hell that I could willingly come back." I laughed. "All the things you think are the greatest things to have and accomplish don't even compare to the feeling you get seeing the person you love every day." I breathed trying to calm down.

"To feel loved and content without any ounce of fear or panic for anyone who could possibly be around the corner." I softly cried as he continued to study me completely emotionless. "To feel completely safe and happy. And I honestly feel sorry for you, Dominic." I laughed weakly making him frown.

"Because you will never have that. You will never know what it feels like to love someone and to have someone who loves you wholeheartedly. You will never really know and care enough to know what you are missing. Money and power will never compare to the love Rose gives me every single day." I continued struggling to see him through the tears in my eyes.

"I will not apologize for being soft and for wanting the life that I want to have! It should be no one's decision and business but my own! I'm going to do what I want to do; I'm going to be who I really am. And I will figure out what that is." I confessed stepping away from him wiping the tears from my face.

"One day you will look back and wish you loved me just a little bit more." I finished trying to suck back the angry tears.

Dominic and I starred at one another as he absorbed every thing I said as I anxiously waited for what he would say or do. We both snapped our heads to the side where I saw Nathan standing pointing a gun at Dominic beside me. My lips parted in shock gasping softly.

He struggled to stand upright from the pain as he held the gun. "Nathan-" I breathed as Dominic turned his attention away from me stepping towards Nathan. "Did you come for another beating?" Dominic asked amused raking him up and down forgetting all about me.

"Get away from her." Nathan demanded in a low growl only making Dominic smile wider. I quickly walked towards Nathan when Dominic grabbed my broken arm. Struggling to not wince showing my obvious pain to either of them.

"We were just having a little conversation." Dominic replied innocently making me wince. His grip only grew stronger as I tried to pull away. "Right, baby?" He said in my ear making me pull away in disgust before elbowing him in the face with my other arm

"Nathan, get out." I pleaded walking quickly towards him before I felt Dominic behind me. I didn't make three steps before he grabbed my hair pulling me harshly towards him. Forcing to tilt my head to look up at him. "Dominic, don't do this." I grit through my teeth making him pull harder, so my back arched, and my neck was exposed.

He pulled out a knife making me tense against him as my eyes widened. I looked over at Nathan across from us pleading for him to leave and get to safety. "Put the gun down... or this knife is going into her pretty little neck." Dominic threatened never tearing his eyes away from mine.

Nathan's eyes widened as he started lowering the gun. I knew he was concerned about the knife making me fill with worry not wanting Dominic's tactic to make Nathan lose focus. "Don't do this. Let me go." I couldn't let Dominic use me to get to Nathan.

"Why would I do that?" He asked gliding the blade across my neck softly. "Not again." Dominic continued I sucked in a breath feeling the sharp tip of the blade pierce my skin.

"Practice makes perfect." I replied before using my trained quick reflexes to grab the knife ignoring the pain of the blade slicing my palm. Grabbing his extended arm to pull away from him spinning him around pinning his arm behind his back.

Pressing hard making him groan forcing him to fall on his knees using his free hand to press against the hard concrete to keep from falling. Dominic turned grabbing my broken arm with his free hand making me let go of him as I yelled in pain. Flipping me over him falling hard on my back feeling the back on my head on the cement. Closing my eyes groaning softly as he towered over me.

Shoving my pain and discomfort away as I kicked up back onto my feet. Doing a skip roundhouse kick across the face with a deep grunt before a double roundhouse kick in Dominic's chest. He stumbled backwards taken by surprise before I punched him swiftly with my non dominant hand that wasn't broken. Blood spilled from his nose and mouth as I punched him again and his Adam's apple.

Dominic coughed in pain falling onto his knees. Using my last remaining strength to kick him across the face for the final time. Dominic fell limp hitting his head hard on the ground. Breathing heavily watching Dominic struggle to bounce back as easily as before.

Limping my way towards Nathan I took the gun away from him as he stood motionless with wide eye's with everything happening so quickly. I held the gun with my arm outstretched standing firmly as he struggled to move to get up. "You can't kill me." Dominic smiled breathless in exhaustion with his injuries and blood loss.

I answered by pulling the trigger aiming it at his knee. Dominic cried out in anguish holding his knee as he laid on the ground. I walked towards him slowly pressing my foot against his gunshot. He let out a loud distressed cry "Genevieve!" Dominic growled tormented making Nathan limp towards me.

"You wanna bet?" I replied aiming the gun down at his head as he looked up at me. "I don't idolize you anymore. And I can't believe I ever did." I said making him smile up at me with blood in his mouth before I shot Dominic in the chest.

Dominic looked up at me full of shock not expecting me to shoot him. He coughed up blood before a few seconds passed of his labored breathing. Dominic's head fell limp to the side lying motionless in a pool of his own blood.

Letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding my lips parted as I flooded with overwhelming emotion staring down at him. My jaw tensed breathing heavily remembering everything he put me through. Feeling relieved that it was all finally over. But that eighteen-year-old girl inside of me was heartbroken seeing the man she had loved for years dead at her own hands.

"Are you alright?" Nathan asked walking up behind me making me flinch. I wiped the blood from my mouth with the back of my hand. "We need to get out of here." I said grabbing his hand rushing to leave.

We struggled to run towards the van when Lee got out and opened the door for us. "What happened?" Lee asked hesitantly raking me up and down seeing the state I was in. I ignored him as Lee began to speed away.

The car ride was spent in awkward silence knowing Nathan wanted to discuss everything in private. Lee pulled up to my apartment making me frown. "Rose is at school we need to pick her up." I said quickly as Lee started to get out of the car. "Valerie flew here when I told her we found you. She's been watching her." Lee explained making me part my lips.

Nathan and I struggled up the stairs making me grow frustrated and exhausted. Lee attempted to help Nathan making him push off of him. "I can walk myself." He said making Lee roll his eyes pulling away. Lee rushed to my front door opening it as I helped Nathan walk. I ignored the pain of him pressing against my arm and bruises and continued to help. "I should be helping you." Nathan groaned as we limped down the hallway.

"Be quiet. It'll be faster if I just help you." I replied knowing he needed my help with how much weight he was putting on me.

"Hey." Valerie breathed through a hesitant smile as we stumbled into my apartment. I noticed the sun was starting to go down making me realize how long we have been gone. "I-I just put Rose down." She said unable to tear her eyes away from my bloody and disheveled body. I desperately wanted to see her, but I couldn't let her see me in the state I was in.

"Thank you." I said genuinely trying to apply a smile. I was extremely grateful to have someone I trusted to be watching her when I wasn't able to keep her safe myself. I only wished this would all end and I could finally spend all my time with Rose myself without worrying about her safety. "I-I should probably go-" Valerie started making me frown as I interrupted her.

"What? N-No, of course not. You just got here." I said as she smiled weakly. "It's okay she going to stay with me at my hotel. It's not the Hamptons but it'll do." Lee joked making Valerie roll her eyes. "I'll fill her in with everything." He said as they began to leave making me nod following them towards the front door.

"Thank you for watching her. It means a lot to know she was safe while we were gone." I replied seriously making her smile trying to avoid looking at the state I was in. Feeling slightly self-conscious at my appearance before they left closing the door behind them. "God." I breathed leaning my forehead against the door in exhaustion. Pulling away turning to see Nathan limping towards me.

"She's never going to want to talk to me again." I scoffed making him chuckle. "Of course, she will." He assured making me roll my eyes before looking between us. "Are you alright?" Nathan asked bringing me close making me tense. "I-I need to take these clothes off." I breathed pulling away desperately wanting to get Dominic's blood off me. Walking into the bedroom down the hall struggling to take off my clothes by myself.

Filling with realization forgetting that my right arm was broken making me wince. Biting down on my lip to not call out in pain. Looking down at my swollen arm as Nathan came into view. "What's wrong?" He asked seeing the discomfort etched on my face. "My arm is broken." I breathed. "I need ice." I said walking past him to go into the kitchen.

I struggled to put ice in a towel one handed as I tried to not move my broken arm beginning to feel immense pain. As my adrenaline faded, I began to feel every impact made on my body from Dominic and falling the ground. "I just called my family doctor. He'll be here soon." Nathan said behind me as I stood in the kitchen shirtless pressing ice on my arm.

"Does he just drop everything to come to your aid?" I asked not looking at him. It was beginning to be difficult to breathe unable to take in a full breath. Looking down seeing bruising and more swelling under my bra. Clenching my jaw knowing I had a few broken ribs. "Yes. I pay him very well to." Nathan replied as I stayed silent closing my eyes.

"What can I do?" He asked breaking the silence as I tried not to show him how much pain I was in. "Why? It's not like you'll listen." I bit turning my head to face him finally. "I couldn't just stand idly by and watch him attack you." Nathan replied. "You could've died."

"And could've too. You would've done the same thing for me." He said making me grow silent still affected by Dominic's death and everything he said. "I need a shower." I walked away with the ice leaving him in the kitchen alone.

I avoided looking into the mirror not wanting to see how repulsive I looked after our fight to the death. Taking my loofah, washing my body from the mud and blood. Tears formed in my eyes at the stubborn dried blood that wouldn't leave my legs and hands. I scrubbed my legs causing my skin to turn red and irritated as frustrated tears fell down my face. Letting out a sob as my body began to shake making me try covering my mouth.

Seeing my bloody hands, I filled with disgust making me quickly pull them away. I continued crying as I tried to scrub at my hands until I felt a wave of pain reminding me of my broken arm.

I heard the shower curtain open as I continued to cry. A chill ran down my back from the sudden cold air. "It's okay." Nathan said grabbing the loofah from my hands wrapping a towel around my trembling body. I leaned into him as I stepped out of the shower crying into his chest. I heard him turn off the water as I continued to sob into his warm chest letting everything out of me.

All of my heartache and rage for everything Dominic and this organization has put me through. For being foolish enough to love and trust someone like Dominic and stupid enough to sign my life away for a whole decade. Nathan's clothes turned damp as I felt his hand against the back of my head and rubbing my back soothingly letting me cry.

"I'm not sorry he's dead." I said after a few minutes pulling my head away to look up at him. Mostly trying to remind myself as I slowly began to calm down against his warm embrace. "I shouldn't be so emotional." I breathed full of frustration with myself.

"It's okay. I understand. He was an important person in your life at one point." Nathan said making me pull away shaking my head. "He ruined my life." I spit clenching my jaw wiping my tears away. "But what happened shouldn't matter anymore." I breathed through a weak smile. "Dominic is dead and he will never be a part of our lives anymore. This-This is finally the start to live the life we want." I breathed enthusiastically attempting to smile up at his concerned features.

I leaned up kissing Nathan softly as a tear fell down my face. He kissed my back as I brought my hand to the side of his face as Dominic's words rung in my ear. "Even years from now long after your contract expires, you'll never be able to forget about all the horrid things you've done. You'll never be free."

"You wouldn't even know how to live happily without the guilt and memories of everything you've ever done." And I couldn't help but shake the sense that he may be right.