Funeral of Secrets

Valentine "Val" Gandy's story begins at her father's funeral, where she is forced to confront the reality that she is the product of an affair. Her mother is cold and abusive, her half-siblings (King and Aspen) are strangers, and her father's "real" family wants nothing to do with her. This formative trauma leaves Val desperate for love and belonging, setting the stage for her lifelong struggle with loneliness and self-worth. The funeral is not just an end, but a cruel introduction to the world's indifference and the first of many betrayals by those who should have loved her.

Airport Collision Course

Years later, Val's life is a patchwork of survival and self-deprecation. At an airport, a literal collision with Dominic "Dom" Gonzalez—a powerful, tattooed stranger—sparks a connection. Dom is magnetic, confident, and attentive in ways Val has never experienced. Their banter is electric, and Dom's insistence on replacing her broken backpack and cookie is both charming and disarming. What Val doesn't know is that Dom's interest is not entirely accidental; he's a man with a plan, and she is at the center of it.

Thirty Minutes to Fate

Dom and Val's airport encounter stretches into a shared thirty minutes of flirtation, vulnerability, and unexpected comfort. Dom's protective, almost possessive, demeanor is intoxicating for Val, who is used to being overlooked. Their chemistry is undeniable, and Dom's insistence on buying her a new backpack and cookie is more than chivalry—it's a calculated move to keep her close. The seeds of trust and desire are sown, and Val, for the first time, allows herself to lean into the possibility of being wanted.

Cookies, Nicknames, and Chemistry

On the plane, Dom and Val's connection deepens. Sharing cookies, nicknames, and a first-class seat, they navigate the awkwardness of strangers becoming something more. Dom's physicality—his touch, his teasing, his unwavering attention—awakens Val's long-dormant sense of desirability. For Val, who has always felt "too much" or "not enough," Dom's acceptance is both thrilling and terrifying. Their flirtation is laced with genuine care, and Val begins to hope for more than a fleeting encounter.

First-Class Connections

As the flight progresses, Dom and Val share stories, fears, and dreams. Dom's confidence and Val's vulnerability create a space where both can be seen. Dom's family is large, loving, and loyal—a stark contrast to Val's fractured upbringing. Val's longing for family and Dom's need for connection intersect, and their physical closeness becomes emotional intimacy. The flight is a microcosm of what could be: two broken people finding solace in each other, if only for a moment.

Leaning In, Letting Go

After landing, Dom and Val's connection is tested by the reality of their separate lives. A passionate, impulsive encounter in an airport lactation room blurs the line between fantasy and reality. For Val, the experience is both exhilarating and heartbreaking—a taste of the love and acceptance she craves, but fears she cannot keep. Dom, meanwhile, is more invested than he lets on, and their parting is tinged with the promise of more. Both are left changed, haunted by what might be.

Vegas, Vows, and Vodka

Fate intervenes again when Val and Dom cross paths in Las Vegas. Their chemistry reignites, and a night of drinking, vulnerability, and confessions leads to an impulsive wedding. For Val, the marriage feels like a dream come true—a chance at family, love, and belonging. For Dom, it's the culmination of a carefully orchestrated plan. The morning after, Val is confronted with the reality of their union, her finger tattooed with Dom's name, and the dawning suspicion that not everything is as it seems.

Accidental Marriage

Val's joy is short-lived as she learns the truth: Dom is not just a charming stranger, but the head of the Chicago mafia, and their marriage is a strategic move to secure an alliance with her brother's criminal organization. The revelation is devastating. Val feels used, betrayed, and powerless—her deepest fears realized. Dom's insistence that he never lied about his feelings is cold comfort. The marriage, once a symbol of hope, becomes a cage.

Mafia Revelations

Dom's true motives are laid bare: he needs Val to gain entry into The Alliance, a powerful criminal syndicate led by her brother King. The marriage is a transaction, and Val is the currency. King's fury is matched only by Val's heartbreak. Dom's world is one of violence, loyalty, and calculated risk, and Val is forced to navigate its dangers. Her sense of self is further eroded by the realization that she is, once again, a pawn in someone else's game.

Betrayal and Bargains

Val is swept into Dom's world—his penthouse, his security, his rules. She is tattooed, surveilled, and controlled, her autonomy stripped away. Yet, even in captivity, Val's resilience surfaces. She demands answers, negotiates boundaries, and refuses to be broken. Dom, for his part, is torn between his need for power and his growing feelings for Val. Their relationship becomes a battleground of wills, desire, and the possibility of redemption.

The Tattooed Claim

Dom's obsession with Val manifests in physical and psychological ways: her finger is tattooed with his name, her movements are monitored, and her body becomes both a site of pleasure and control. Yet, beneath the possessiveness, there is genuine care. Dom's actions are driven by a twisted sense of love—a need to protect, to claim, to keep. Val, for her part, is both repulsed and drawn in, her longing for love warring with her need for freedom.

Family, Forgiveness, and Firefights

As violence escalates within The Alliance, Val is forced to confront her family's history and her own trauma. A pivotal confrontation with King and Aspen leads to long-overdue apologies and the beginnings of forgiveness. Dom's world is rocked by betrayal and bloodshed, and Val proves her mettle in the face of danger. When an ambush leaves Dom gravely wounded, it is Val's courage and love that keep him alive. The couple's bond is tested and strengthened in the crucible of violence.

The Alliance at War

The war for control of the Chicago underworld reaches its climax. Dom, King, and their allies launch a brutal assault on their enemies, only to be saved at the last moment by a mysterious army of women. The battle is both literal and symbolic—a reckoning with the past and a fight for the future. Val, once a pawn, becomes a warrior in her own right, defending Dom and herself with newfound strength. The Alliance is redefined, not just as a criminal organization, but as a chosen family.

Healing, Hope, and Home

In the aftermath of violence, Dom and Val begin to heal—physically, emotionally, and relationally. Dom's near-death experience brings clarity to his feelings, and Val's pregnancy becomes a symbol of hope and renewal. The couple's love, once fraught with manipulation and mistrust, is rebuilt on a foundation of honesty, vulnerability, and mutual respect. The extended family—King, Savannah, Aspen, and others—rally around them, forging bonds that transcend blood and betrayal.

Pregnancy and Promises

Val's pregnancy is both a blessing and a source of anxiety. The trauma of her past, the dangers of Dom's world, and the uncertainty of the future weigh heavily on her. Yet, Dom's unwavering devotion and the support of their chosen family provide solace. The couple navigates the challenges of impending parenthood, learning to trust each other and themselves. The promise of a child becomes the ultimate act of hope—a chance to break the cycle of loneliness and create a family built on love.

The Women of War

Val finds unexpected kinship with the women of The Alliance—Savannah, Aspen, Payton, and others. Together, they form a support network that is as fierce as it is loving. The women's role in the climactic battle is a testament to their strength and agency, challenging the male-dominated world of organized crime. Through shared vulnerability and mutual support, Val discovers that family is not just inherited, but chosen and created.

Redemption in Blood

Dom's quest for vengeance leads him to confront his own family's legacy and the man responsible for the violence against The Alliance. The final showdown is brutal and cathartic, a reckoning with the past and a clearing of the way for the future. Dom's willingness to spill blood for those he loves is both his greatest strength and his deepest flaw. In the end, redemption is found not in violence, but in the promise of a better life with Val.

Always, Forever, Valentine

The story concludes with Dom and Val embracing their future—married, expecting a child, and surrounded by a family of their own making. The scars of the past remain, but they are no longer wounds. Instead, they are reminders of survival, resilience, and the transformative power of love. Dom and Val's journey is one from loneliness to belonging, from manipulation to mutual devotion, from survival to thriving. Their love, hard-won and imperfect, is the foundation of a new legacy—one built on always, forever, Valentine.

Characters

Valentine "Val" Gandy

Val is the emotional heart of the story—a woman shaped by abandonment, abuse, and a desperate longing for family. Her childhood is marked by loss and neglect, leaving her with deep insecurities and a hunger for acceptance. Val's journey is one of self-discovery and resilience; she is both vulnerable and strong, capable of immense love and fierce loyalty. Her relationship with Dom is fraught with power imbalances, but she refuses to be a passive victim. Through pain, betrayal, and danger, Val learns to claim her own worth, demand respect, and build the family she always dreamed of. Her arc is a testament to the power of hope and the courage to lean in, even when the world has taught her to expect disappointment.

Dominic "Dom" Gonzalez

Dom is a study in contradictions: ruthless yet tender, calculating yet sincere, possessive yet protective. As the head of the Chicago mafia, he is accustomed to control, violence, and getting what he wants. His initial pursuit of Val is strategic—a means to an end—but genuine affection quickly complicates his plans. Dom's love for Val is obsessive, manifesting in both care and control (tattoos, surveillance, manipulation). Yet, beneath the bravado, he is haunted by his own traumas and a longing for connection. Dom's arc is one of redemption: learning to put Val's needs above his own, to apologize, to trust, and to build a legacy not just of power, but of love.

King Vass

King is Val's half-brother and a leader of The Alliance. His relationship with Val is complicated by guilt, obligation, and the shadow of their shared father's betrayal. Initially distant and emotionally unavailable, King's arc is one of reckoning and reconciliation. Through Dom's intervention, King is forced to confront his failures as a brother and to offer Val the apology and acceptance she has always needed. His journey is a reminder that family is not just about blood, but about showing up, making amends, and choosing to love.

Savannah Vass

Savannah, King's wife, is the first person to offer Val genuine affection and support. She is nurturing, empathetic, and fiercely loyal—a model of the family Val has always craved. Savannah's presence is a balm for Val's wounds, and her acceptance is instrumental in Val's healing. She represents the possibility of chosen family and the power of kindness to change lives.

Aspen Vass

Aspen, Val's half-sister, is initially cold and resentful—a reflection of the family's fractured history. Over time, Aspen's defenses soften, and she becomes an unexpected ally. Her arc is one of growth and empathy, as she learns to see Val not as a symbol of betrayal, but as a sister in need of love. Aspen's journey mirrors Val's: both must learn to forgive, to trust, and to embrace the possibility of family.

Nero

Nero is King's friend and co-leader of The Alliance. He is a formidable presence—dangerous, cunning, and fiercely protective of those he loves. Nero's relationship with Dom is one of rivalry and respect, and his own love story (with Payton) serves as a dark mirror to Dom and Val's. Nero embodies the moral ambiguities of the criminal world, but also the possibility of loyalty, honor, and redemption.

Payton

Payton, Nero's wife, is a survivor of trauma and a source of strength for Val. Her journey from victim to warrior parallels Val's, and their friendship is a testament to the power of sisterhood. Payton's presence in the story highlights the importance of women's agency and the role of chosen family in healing.

Bibi Gonzalez

Dom's mother, Bibi, is the embodiment of warmth, acceptance, and tradition. Her embrace of Val is a turning point in the story, offering Val the motherly love she never had. Bibi's presence is a reminder that family can be created, and that love can heal even the deepest wounds.

Rob

Rob is Dom's second-in-command and a constant presence in Val's new life. He is competent, discreet, and fiercely loyal—a silent guardian who ensures Val's safety. Rob's character underscores the importance of trust and the value of chosen family in a dangerous world.

Hans

Hans is a shadowy figure who appears at critical moments to save Dom and Val. His motives are unclear, but his actions are decisive and life-saving. Hans represents the possibility of unexpected grace, the power of women (and allies) in a male-dominated world, and the idea that not all heroes wear obvious faces.

Plot Devices

Dual Narration and Shifting Perspectives

The story is told through alternating points of view—primarily Val and Dom—allowing readers to experience both the vulnerability of the heroine and the machinations of the hero. This structure creates dramatic irony, as readers are privy to secrets and motivations unknown to the other characters. The shifting perspectives also humanize both leads, exposing their fears, desires, and growth.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The opening funeral foreshadows the central themes of loss, betrayal, and the search for belonging. Tattoos serve as both literal and metaphorical marks of ownership, love, and identity. Objects like the broken bowl, the backpack, and the ring symbolize the possibility of repair, transformation, and new beginnings. The recurring motif of "leaning in" becomes a mantra for courage and vulnerability.

Power Imbalance and Consent

The story grapples with issues of power, control, and consent—both in the context of organized crime and intimate relationships. Dom's manipulation of Val (marriage, tattoos, birth control) is both a source of tension and a catalyst for her growth. The negotiation of boundaries—sexual, emotional, and physical—is central to the couple's journey from possession to partnership.

Found Family and Chosen Kinship

The narrative challenges the primacy of blood ties, emphasizing the importance of chosen family. Val's journey is one from isolation to inclusion, as she finds kinship with Savannah, Payton, and the women of The Alliance. The climactic battle, in which women save the day, subverts traditional gender roles and highlights the power of sisterhood.

Redemption and Transformation

Violence is omnipresent—funerals, shootouts, betrayals—but it is not merely destructive. For Dom and Val, violence becomes a crucible in which old identities are burned away and new ones are forged. The story's resolution is not the absence of danger, but the triumph of hope, love, and the promise of a better future.

Analysis

Dom by S.J. Tilly is a dark, emotionally charged romance that explores the intersection of trauma, power, and the human longing for connection. At its core, the novel is a meditation on the difference between relatives and family—on the idea that true kinship is chosen, not inherited. Through Val's journey from abandonment to belonging, and Dom's transformation from manipulator to devoted partner, the story interrogates the costs and rewards of vulnerability. The narrative does not shy away from the complexities of consent, the dangers of obsession, or the scars of the past. Instead, it offers a nuanced portrait of two broken people who, through pain and perseverance, find healing in each other. The book's ultimate message is one of hope: that even in a world defined by violence and betrayal, love can be a radical, redemptive force—one that creates family, forges legacy, and turns survival into thriving.

Last updated: June 22, 2025