His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Dominic’s POV

“….doesn’t always see things the way we do.” I paused. “But she’s honestly the best thing that has happened to me. You just need to get to know her better and you’ll see.”

Vittoria didn’t flinch.

She sat across from me in the sitting room, spine straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, expression composed in the way only women who had never had to fight for their place could afford.

“I don’t have to get to know her to know that she doesn’t belong here,” she said calmly. “You know that as well as I do.”

My jaw tightened. “You’re being completely unfair.”

Vittoria let out a quiet, almost indulgent sigh. “Dominic, I’m not questioning her intentions. I’m questioning her suitability.”

“She saved Mama’s life,” I snapped, thankful that Mama had already gone to her room to rest. She doted on Isa like no I had no doubt in my mind that she wouldn’t hear a single word against her.

“And that makes her kind,” Vittoria replied. “Not right for this world.”

Salvatore shifted beside her, uncomfortable. “Vittoria-”

“No,” she cut in. “This needs to be said. You are leading an empire, Dominic. Your partner cannot be someone who is constantly destabilized by it.”

“She isn’t destabilized,” I said sharply. “She’s human.”

Vittoria’s lips curved faintly. “Exactly.”

That did it.

I leaned forward, hands braced on my knees. “Isa has survived more than most people ever will. She raised a child alone. She outsmarted men who would’ve crushed her if she’d been weaker. She’s intelligent, observant, and far more capable than you give her credit for.”

Vittoria studied me, cool and assessing. “Capability isn’t the issue.”

“Then what is?” I demanded.

“She makes you soft,” she replied simply.

The word landed like a blow I hadn’t been prepared for.

“She makes you hesitate,” my aunt continued. “And hesitation gets people killed.”

“You’re wrong,” I said, my voice low. “She makes me careful. So does Mateo.”

Silence stretched between us.

Salvatore finally spoke. “Dominic, we just want what’s best for you.”

I let out a huff. After my father died, Salvatore had been there for me. He had his own business back in New York that wasn’t completely white. And ever since I made the decision to shift base here, I’d been more in contact with him than ever before, seeing as he was the one I was handing most things there off to.

Chapter 122

OV

see things the way we do.” I paused. “But she’s honestly the best thing that has happened to me. You just ow her better and you’ll see.”

on’t flinch.

She sat across from me in the sitting room, spine straight, hands folded neatly in her lap, expression composed in the way only women who had never had to fight for their place could afford.

“I don’t have to get to know her to know that she doesn’t belong here,” she said calmly. “You know that as well as I do?

My jaw tightened. “You’re being completely unfair.”

Vittoria let out a quiet, almost indulgent sigh. “Dominic, I’m not questioning her intentions. I’m questioning her suitability.”

“She saved Mama’s life,” I snapped, thankful that Mama had already gone to her room to rest. She doted on Isa like no other. I had no doubt in my mind that she wouldn’t hear a single word against her.

“And that makes her kind,” Vittoria replied. “Not right for this world.”

Salvatore shifted beside her, uncomfortable. “Vittoria-”

“No,” she cut in. “This needs to be said. You are leading an empire, Dominic. Your partner cannot be someone who is constantly destabilized by it.”

“She isn’t destabilized,” I said sharply. “She’s human.”

Vittoria’s lips curved faintly. “Exactly.”

That did it.

I leaned forward, hands braced on my knees. “Isa has survived more than most people ever will. She raised a child alone. She outsmarted men who would’ve crushed her if she’d been weaker. She’s intelligent, observant, and far more capable than you give her credit for.”

Vittoria studied me, cool and assessing. “Capability isn’t the issue.”

“Then what is?” I demanded..

“She makes you soft,” she replied simply.

The word landed like a blow I hadn’t been prepared for.

“She makes you hesitate,” my aunt continued. “And hesitation gets people killed.”

“You’re wrong,” I said, my voice low. “She makes me careful. So does Mateo.”

Silence stretched between us.

Salvatore finally spoke. “Dominic, we just want what’s best for you.”

I let out a huff. After my father died, Salvatore had been there for me. He had his own business back in New York that wasn’t completely white. And ever since I made the decision to shift base here, I’d been more in contact with him than ever before, seeing as he was the one I was handing most things there off to.

I knew that he had my best intentions at heart, but that didn’t mean I was going to let him or Vittoria walk all over me. I was still a Mafia Boss. They might’ve been greater in age, but I held more power than both of them combined.

“What’s best for me,” I said flatly, “is not up for debate.”

Vittoria held my gaze. “Then you should consider the consequences of choosing her.”

I stood abruptly. The only reason I wasn’t throwing them out was because they were Tamily. But I was done with this conversation already. “Conversation’s over,” I told them before leaving the room, not waiting for a reply.

I went to Isa’s room later, papers in hand, the familiar weight of them grounding me. Writing everything down had become a strange anchor, proof that I wasn’t hiding, that I was trying.

Her door opened before I knocked.

That alone caught me off guard.

It had been days since I’d been coming here and sliding the handwritten papers under her door quietly. Never once had she opened the door. Today, she had. I was almost about to jump with joy before I noticed the expression on her face. It wasn’t a happy one. Not by a long shot.

“You don’t need to do this every day out of guilt for what you did,” she said quietly.

The words weren’t angry.

And that scared me more.

“It’s not guilt,” I said immediately. “I’m not doing this because I feel bad.”

She tilted her head slightly. “Then why are you doing it?”

“Because I want you to forgive me,” I said honestly. “Because I don’t want to lose you.”

Her mouth curved into something sharp. “Interesting.”

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She crossed her arms. “Tell me, Dominic, do you often explain people away as ‘different”?”

My stomach dropped, my mind immediately catching onto what she meant and going back to the conversation I’d had with my aunt and uncle downstairs.

“You heard that,” I said slowly.

She laughed once, humorless. “I heard enough.”

“I was defending you,” I said, confused now. “I told her she was wrong.”

“Did you?” she asked softly. “Or did you just tell her I wasn’t that bad?”

“That’s not what I-”

“You said I was different,” she cut in. “You said I don’t see things the way you do.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

That’s not an insult,” I said finally. “It’s just true.”

“That’s the problem,” she said. “You don’t even hear it.”

“I was standing up for you,” I insisted. “I told her she doesn’t know you.”

“And yet,” Isa said quietly, “you still let her define me by what I’m not.”

I felt wrong-footed. I had been defending her all along. Then, what was she so angry about? Had I not been firm enough? But that was the most I could do given that they are family. “I don’t understand why you’re angry. I was on your side,” I said to her, frowning deeply.

“No,” she said. “You were on your own side.”

The calmly spoken words hit harder than shouting ever could.

“I’m trying,” I said, frustration bleeding into my voice. “I’m doing everything I can to make this right.”

“And I didn’t ask you to,” she replied.

“That’s not fair-”

She stepped back. “Leave.”

“What?”

“Leave,” she repeated, voice steady. “I need space.”

“I’m not done talking,” I said.

“I am.”

The door closed between us with finality.

I stood there, papers still in my hand, my chest tight with the terrible realization that no matter how hard I tried, I was somehow still failing her.

And for the first time, I wasn’t sure I knew how to fix it.