Silent Scars

CHAPTER 19

DOMAIN HASTINGS

The underground arena buzzed with life, the scent of sweat and adrenaline heavy in the air. Domain wiped his knuckles clean, his heart pounding not from fear but exhilaration. This was his escape, his solace.

For three days, he had avoided returning home, knowing full well that Leonardo's patience was already wearing thin. But the anger brewing within him needed an outlet, and unauthorized boxing gave him just that.

When Marcus called earlier, Domain wasn't ready to return. The irritation in Marcus's voice was clear, but Domain brushed it off. He knew he was already on Leonardo's bad side, and disobeying further would only make things worse. He promised himself he would head back after tonight's fight, but only after venting his frustrations in the ring.

Tonight's fight was different. His opponent was no pushover, and the crowd roared as the two clashed. Domain, well-known in the circuit, moved with precision. A few blows landed on him, bruising his ribs and shoulders, but it was when his opponent's fist smashed into his face that his blood boiled. He hated taking hits to his face, hated the questions they would provoke back home.

The crowd's cheers blurred into white noise as Domain's vision narrowed on his opponent. He let the rage consume him, his strikes becoming faster, harsher, until the man fell to the mat. The referee declared his victory, and the crowd erupted, but Domain didn't care. His friends slapped his back in congratulations, but his mood was soured. He stormed back to the locker room, ignoring their chatter.

Standing in front of the mirror, he scowled at the faint cut above his brow. He wouldn't be able to hide it, and Leonardo would undoubtedly demand answers. After a quick shower, he changed into his clothes and checked his phone.

Twelve missed calls. All from Leonardo.

The clock read midnight. He cursed under his breath, slinging his bag over his shoulder and heading to his jet black Ducati Panigale V4.

It was a 2 ½ hour ride back home. Maybe, if he was lucky, everyone would be asleep, and he could sneak in unnoticed.

The mansion loomed in the dark as Domain approached, its grandeur shadowed by the quiet unease in his gut. The security guard gave him a wary look, opening the gates without a word. Domain parked his bike near the front steps, where Marco, doing his night patrol, greeted him with a knowing smirk.

"You're finally back." Marco said.

Domain nodded, brushing past him without a word. He pushed open the door as quietly as possible, grateful for the silence. The lights were off, save for the faint glow from the kitchen.

His plan was simple: sneak upstairs and deal with Leonardo in the morning.

But as he reached the staircase, a faint sound from the kitchen caught his attention.

Curious and irritated, he turned and walked toward the light. He expected a maid or maybe Kendric grabbing a late night snack. What he found stopped him in his tracks.

A small figure stood near the counter, illuminated by the faint light of a single bulb. She was frail, her posture hesitant, almost as if she didn't belong there. For a moment, Domain thought she was one of the maids' children, but the way she moved, quiet and skittish was off.

"Hey!" he called out, his voice gruff.

The girl didn't respond. She didn't even flinch, her focus entirely on the glass of water in her trembling hands. Domain's irritation flared.

Is she ignoring me!?

He closed the distance between them, gripping her arm roughly. The suddenness of his touch startled her, and the glass she had been holding slipped from her hand, shattering against the tiled floor.

The shattering noise grated on his nerves.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice harsh.

The girl didn't answer. Her head was bowed, her entire body trembling. Her silence only made him angrier. He tightened his grip on her arm, leaning closer.

"I said, who are you? Speak!"

Still, she didn't respond, her shivering intensifying. Domain's frustration peaked as his free hand moved toward the gun tucked in his back pocket.

"If you don't talk, I'll-"

"DOMAIN!"

Leonardo's voice cut through the tension like a blade. Domain looked up to see his eldest brother standing at the entrance to the kitchen, his eyes dark with fury.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Leonardo demanded, striding toward them. His voice, though quiet, carried a weight that froze Domain in place.

"This girl," Domain began, but Leonardo silenced him with a glare, his hand grabbing Domain's wrist just as he reached for the gun.

"LET HER GO!"

Domain hesitated, confused by the sharpness in Leonardo's tone. He released the girl's arm, and she stumbled back, clutching her injured hand. Leonardo turned his attention to her, his expression softening in a way Domain had never seen before.

"Ariana" Leonardo said gently, kneeling to her level. "It's okay. You can go back to your room."

The girl nodded shakily, avoiding both their gazes as she hurried toward the stairs. Her steps were uneven, her frailty painfully evident. Leonardo watched her until she disappeared, his jaw tightening.

Then he turned back to Domain.

"What did you do to her?" Leonardo's voice was low, each word dripping with controlled fury.

Domain stared at his brother, stunned by the mix of anger and protectiveness in his eyes. "I didn't know,"

"You didn't know?" Leonardo cut him off, stepping closer.

"You manhandled her like she was a threat. Look at her, Domain! She's terrified, she's hurt, and you..." He stopped, exhaling sharply as he struggled to reign in his temper.

"She was sneaking around." Domain tried to justify himself, but the words felt hollow.

Leonardo's glare silenced him.

"If you ever touch her like that again, you'll answer to me."

Domain swallowed hard, his confusion giving way to a flicker of guilt. For the first time, he saw not just his brother's anger but his fear, fear for the girl who had just fled the room.

Who is she? And why did she matter so much to Leo?