That little bastard Nicolas was already causing problems again, trying to force his way back into Hazel’s life.
Trying to arrange another marriage as if the first disaster had not been enough.
And when that had failed, he had shifted tactics.
Now he was attacking Leo’s company, creating disruptions that demanded imdiate attention.
Leo had already counterattacked.
Hard enough that Nicolas’s company had begun to wobble.
Leo had shown restraint before because his parents had once had a good relationship with his and Hazel’s parents. That history had stayed his hand more than once.
But if Nicolas insisted on turning business into a battlefield, then Leo was not going to play the saint.
His jaw tightened slightly as the thought crossed his mind.
Nicolas.
Pablo.
The upcoming mafia council eting in a few weeks.
Several rival enemies watching from the shadows.
A spy sowhere inside his own house.
And now even a stalker who had begun circling too close.
All of it pressed against the back of his mind like a constant headache.
He glanced at Dom again.
The model. The hacker. The ridiculous man currently serving as a human pillow for a sleeping Jason.
Leo did not particularly like Dom.
The man was too loud.
Sotis he made Leo’s head hurt.
But right now, Dom was useful. If he could help Hazel heal, if he could pull her out of the depression that had consud her for years.
Then Leo would tolerate him.
He might even, perhaps, be grateful.
His cousin deserved happiness, and if Dom was sohow the key to that happiness,
Leo would let him try.
Even if it ant watching Dom make ridiculous heart eyes at Hazel for the foreseeable future.
Leo finally looked away and caught Bella’s gaze.
She was watching him with that knowing expression she sotis wore.
The one that suggested she could read his thoughts far too easily. He raised one eyebrow. Bella simply smiled.
"Oh! Hazel, you can join us in our car," Dominique said quickly, his voice a little too casual. He gestured vaguely toward the vehicle where Jason was already half asleep again, slumped against the window. "You know, Leo and Bella are a couple. You can’t be a third wheel between them. That would be awkward. Very awkward. For everyone."
Jason’s eyes cracked open. He took one look at Dom’s desperate, not-subtle-at-all expression and imdiately understood the assignnt.
"Yeah, yeah, you should totally join us," Jason said, standing straighter. "Anyway, we’re taking a seven-seater. Plenty of room. Much more comfortable than being cramd in with the lovebirds." He paused, then added helpfully, "Jay and Jace’s car only has three seats in the back. Very cramped. Terrible for long drives."
Hazel looked between them, one eyebrow slowly rising.
Dom nodded vigorously. "Terrible. You’d hate it."
"I see," Hazel said slowly, a small amused smile tugging at her lips. "So your car is the only logical choice."
"The only one," Jason confird solemnly.
"The math checks out," Dom added.
Hazel’s smile widened just slightly. That small smile made Dom’s heart do flips.
Before she could respond, another voice cut in.
"You’re not coming?"
Jason turned to see Rika walking toward them, a small bag slung over her shoulder, her expression as unreadable as ever. She stopped a few feet away, looking directly at Hazel.
Rika shook her head. "I’ll co later. I have to handle so things over here first."
Hazel’s expression flickered, concern, maybe, or curiosity. "Things?"
"Nothing major." Rika waved a dismissive hand. "Just so loose ends to tie up. Family business." She glanced toward the resort aningfully. "You know how it is."
Hazel studied her for a mont, then nodded slowly. Her eyes flashed with understanding. "Okay. Stay safe."
Rika’s lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. "Always."
She turned and walked back toward the resort without another word, her steps unhurried, her posture relaxed.
Dom watched her go, then imdiately turned back to Hazel. "So! Car. Us. Lots of room. Very comfortable. We have snacks."
Jason snorted. "We have the snacks I stole from breakfast."
"Sa thing."
Hazel looked at them speechlessly.
"Okay," she said softly. "I’ll join you."
Dom’s face lit up like the sun.
Jason gave a subtle thumbs-up behind Hazel’s back.
"I’m taking over the back seat. The whole thing," Jason announced, already moving toward the back of the seven-seater. He yanked open the door and practically dove inside, stretching out across the very last row of seats with absolutely no sha.
"There’s like three seats back here," he mumbled, already making himself comfortable. "All mine. Don’t even think about it."
He grabbed a small jacket soone had left and balled it up as a pillow, stuffing it under his head.
"I’m so sleepy. I haven’t gotten proper sleep in..." he yawned dramatically, "...forever. Don’t disturb . I’m hibernating."
He closed his eyes and was fake snoring within seconds.
Dom stared at him through the gap between the seats, his expression a mix of disbelief and long-suffering acceptance.
"Unbelievable," he muttered.
He walked around to the side door of the middle row and opened it for Hazel, gesturing for her to enter first.
She paused, surprised by the small gesture. Then a soft smile touched her lips.
"Thank you."
"Of course."
She stepped up and slid inside, settling into the seat closest to the window. The middle row was spacious, two comfortable seats with plenty of legroom, separated by a small console.
Dom climbed in beside her, pulling the door shut behind him. He settled into his seat, close enough that she could feel his warmth but not so close that it was uncomfortable.
The mont he sat down, Hazel beca acutely aware of sothing.
His scent.
It filled the space between them, not overpowering, not the kind of cologne that announced itself from across a room. Just pleasant. Warm. Sothing clean and subtle with hints of wood and sothing faintly sweet underneath.
She inhaled without aning to.
Her senses suddenly felt very sharp.
Dom, completely unaware of her internal crisis, was busy adjusting his seat and glancing back at Jason’s sprawled form.
"Jason. Your feet are on the seat."
"Mm comfort."
"They’re dirty."
"Mm don’t care."
Dom shook his head, but there was no real annoyance in it. Just the familiar exhaustion of soone who had known Jason for too long.
Hazel glanced at him from the corner of her eye. His profile was sharp in the morning light streaming through the window. That perfect jaw, those dark lashes, the way his hair fell just so.
He was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
And she couldn’t stop noticing him.
The car started moving, pulling away from the resort and onto the winding mountain road.
Jason was genuinely asleep within minutes, soft snores filling the back.
Up front, the driver focused on the road. In the distance, the other cars followed, Leo and Bella, Jay and Jace.
And Hazel sat beside Dom in the middle row, surrounded by his scent, acutely aware of every small movent he made.
This was going to be a long drive.
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