9. Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Dominic

Driving to Vince's place, I'm fighting my own desires.

I was hoping that taking Gianna up to the VIP room and having my way with her would mean I no longer thought about her.

I was wrong. Now, she's all I can think about.

"Come inside, my favorite son," Vince welcomes me as I arrive at his house. He's happy now that I got the debt paid by the dead guy's brother-in-law.

Vince is easy to please as long as he gets his own way.

"I have another mission for you, Reaper, but this one is so tame that you can do it in your sleep."

I sit down and wait for the rest of the story.

"One of my dear old friends is hosting a fundraising gala – how exciting – and he's inviting everyone . Not me, but everyone else. This man took out a loan of two million dollars, Dominic, and he is due to pay it back in thirty days. He's got the money but not the cashflow, so I worry that he won't be able to pay us back. So, your job today is to go to the party and bring me back info on his home."

"That's all?"

"That's all! Eat some cake, kiss some lonely girls and take a few photos of the house." Vince gives me the address and some details about the security arrangements there. This doesn't sound like a job for an assassin, but I won't turn my nose up at a simple job.

"Okay." I put the address into my phone. Standing up to go, I notice that Vince has his walking stick out again, leaning against his desk. He's been battling with his knee, and it's obviously flared up again.

"Good man!" Vince beams at me, but I can see the hovering specter of his advancing age creeping up on him.

In the not-too-distant future, my adoptive father is going to be too old for the game. What will come of the family business when he's forced to step down?

I have to admit that I don't want to take it over, but I'm probably the one who is the most fit to do so.

The thought makes my stomach turn a little, and I hurry from Vince's office as if that will help me outrun the impending change in my fortunes that Vince's age might mean.

Time marches on, even in our dangerous business, whether we want it to or not.

***

I bump into the host's wife as I'm leaving the bathroom after giving in to my every temptation with Gianna, and the wife offers me a house tour.

I accept, using it as an excuse to take a few photos. She starts downstairs, giving me a whole story about how the house was built, although I'm not listening.

The living areas are expansive, offering ample space for entertaining guests or hosting formal gatherings. A formal dining room, cozy sitting areas, and a grand ballroom provide options for socializing and relaxation.

The master suite is a retreat unto itself, boasting lavish amenities and expansive views of the surrounding grounds. Additional bedrooms and guest quarters offer comfort and privacy for family and visitors alike.

Outside, the grounds are meticulously maintained, with manicured lawns, flowering gardens, and a pristine swimming pool.

A network of pathways meanders through the estate, offering opportunities for leisurely strolls and quiet contemplation. There's no doubt that these people have money.

I have my photos, so now I can leave. I realized partway through the tour that Vince needed me to take pictures of the various priceless pieces of art that are hanging on the walls.

I know enough about art to be sure that some of these pieces are worth a fortune. No wonder Vince wanted someone to check out the house. He was expecting to find assets that would resolve the debt with ease.

Coming to the party was the easy part, but being here is a different story. And now I have yet another secret with Gianna that I'd prefer William doesn't find out about.

Fucking Gianna yet again was a mistake. Doing it at this party, with Will here, and while I should have been working, was reckless.

This woman is going to be my undoing if I'm not careful.

I don't know what has gotten into me, but I know I need to get Gianna out of my mind.

I haven't spoken to Will at this party yet, because somehow, I'm sure he's going to know that I was just banging his sister on the bathroom door.

I hang around for a bit longer, watch the family, and take a few more photos of the house. Then I leave.

Outside, I see Gianna standing at the stables and go to say goodbye. At least this way, I could say I was looking for Will.

"I came to say goodbye," I say to Gianna as I walk up to her. She looks at me, her expression pained. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just…today was a close call with Will. And as nice and protective as my brother can be… he'll convince my parents to send me away again if he finds out, Dom. And this time, it won't be London. It'll be some hellish place like Austria."

"What do you have against Austria?" I stroke the horse in front of me, avoiding making eye contact with Gianna.

"Nothing." She laughs lightly. "I just don't understand the language, and I hear it's freezing all the time. Plus, I've sort of gotten used to being at home, you know?"

I do know. I didn't have a home for so much of my childhood that I am overly protective of my little place in the city now. It'll probably be worse when I finally move into the house that I bought from Will.

"Look, you're an adult now Gianna. You can't let Will or your parents, dictate your life."

"Well, I don't have any of my own money right now, so they all have a lot of say on how my life goes." She looks genuinely worried, and I feel bad for her.

"Take my number," I hold my hand out for her phone, and she gives it to me. "And I promise that if you are about to be sent to Austria or Australia or Mars, I'll come and save you, okay?"

She smiles. I don't know why I'm inserting myself into her family issues, but I can already tell that Gianna is smart, stubborn, and independent. For her to be worried about this, it's obviously not a small issue.

"Thanks. You don't need to worry about saving me, though. I appreciate it, but I just have to work on figuring out what I'm going to do now that I'm back here for good. So I can move out and have my own space."

"You're smart and capable. You'll figure it out."

She nods slowly, stroking the horse while staring into its eyes. "I hope so. I just have to wait until Mercury is out of retrograde, and then my plans should be more concrete."

"What's in the microwave?"

Gianna laughs, causing the horse to back away. She quickly soothes the large animal and then turns to me. "Do you really not know, or are you just using that same line that everyone who doesn't care uses?"

"No, I really don't know."

"It's just when things go a bit wonky in the cosmic dance. Mercury, the planet of communication, decides to do a little backward shuffle in the sky. It's not really moving backward, but from down here, it looks like it's taking a step back."

"So, what does this mean for us Earthlings?"

"Things go haywire. Communication might get a bit confusing; plans might go off track, and technology might decide to throw a curveball."

"Well, either way, that number is for any kind of emergency. Planet-caused emergencies and all."

"I'll use it wisely." She winks at me, causing a strange sensation in my chest. I need to leave this party before she distracts me even more.

"I was going to say goodbye to Will…"

"He's in a meeting with the host's advisors or something. I think he's playing with fire, but he's adamant he's going to get money from this guy for his property downtown." She rolls her eyes.

I wonder if her brother or father ever listens to her business ideas. She's smart, and she seems to have a natural understanding of this stuff.

"Okay, I have to go. Tell Will I say hi and bye, if he knows I was here."

"I will." She smiles at me, and I turn to walk away. "Dom." Gianna calls after me. I turn back, and she kisses me before I can pull away.

I glance around to see if anyone saw that, but there's no one around the stables.

"Take care of yourself," I tell her, walking away to deliver the information to Vince.