13. Dominic

CHAPTER 13

Dominic

“ T he two of you are the most adorable thing in the universe,” Carly says softly for, like, the third time tonight.

She said it in her texts, she said it back at the bar, and she’s saying it again now. Since she’s content to sound like a broken record, I just ignore her in favor of concentrating on driving us to her house, which I’m sure is a gem considering they live in the most affluent neighborhoods in the city. Her parents are loaded. Her dad is an oil tycoon and her family owns several companies and subsidiaries all under the Queens name. She’s a modern-day heiress, though you’d never know it by looking at her.

“Dominic,” she whispers, sitting up behind me in the car. Madelyn’s fast asleep, which is a little surprising. She must have been tired—and drunk, of course. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“Like what?” I mutter.

“I don’t know. I’m over here marveling at everything that happened tonight. Are you seriously my friend Dominic? Not only do you hate showing your face in public but I’ve also never seen you with a woman before. You keep a low profile and yet tonight you practically stuck your tongue down Maddie’s throat in front of everyone at that bar.”

My jaw clenches as I remember that. She’s right. That was extremely unlike me. I was just angry. I saw that fucker trying to touch her and lost it. Especially after what happened with that bastard Kenneth earlier today. I just needed to stake my claim in some way.

Madelyn’s right. I really am a caveman.

“You care about her,” Carly states, pointing out the obvious.

Of course I care. I wouldn’t have started this if I didn’t.

“Did you say anything to her?” I question.

“Anything like what?”

“You know what I mean, Queens.”

“Oh, you mean did I divulge any of your deep, dark secrets?” she asks, a smile in her voice. “Don’t worry, I didn’t. We mostly just had girl talk. She’s pretty amazing.”

“Okay.”

We arrive in front of the gated mansion and I turn off the car, signaling for her to get off. She opens the back door and steps out of the car but instead of walking in, she moves to stand beside the window.

“She’s a lot like you,” she says, nodding toward the sleeping woman at my side. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

“It could be both,” I say on a shrug.

“I’m scared, Dom,” Carly says, surprising me. “You’re finally starting to open up. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I soften. Carly’s gotten me through dark periods in my life and I’ve extended her the same courtesy. She’s the closest thing I have to a sister.

“I can take care of myself,” I assure her.

“But you’ll take care of her first.”

My lips thin when I realize what she’s trying to say. “I don’t have much of a choice in that regard. I owe it to her.”

“Why do you owe her?”

As much as Carly and Joshua know about me, there’s also so much more that they don’t know. My life in the mafia is something I’ve made sure to keep apart from them. I’m not about to start telling her anything now.

“Don’t worry about it, Queens. I’ll see you later.”

Her expression turns resigned. “Alright, fine. See you later, Dom. Don’t forget my Christmas party next week. Bring Maddie if you can.”

Yeah, that’s probably not happening.

She blows me a quick kiss and I watch to make sure she’s safely inside before driving off. Madelyn doesn’t even stir until we’re in front of my apartment building. I know I said I’d take her home, but I can’t exactly do that when she’s fast asleep and unable to give me her address.

Never mind the fact that I already know exactly where she lives and how to get there.

As soon as my car is parked in the garage, I turn to look at her. Her expression isn’t soft or relaxed in her sleep. Troubled is the word I’d use. I remember her saying she doesn’t sleep much and I realize that, unlike me, she’s constantly plagued by the demons she chooses to hide from the rest of the world while in that state.

My chest practically caves in on itself as I watch her becoming even more restless in her sleep.

“Madelyn,” I call softly.

She doesn’t wake up, though, not even when I carefully tap her cheek. She’s still sleeping deeply despite her nightmares. Seeing no other choice, I step out of my car. I round the other side and, after unbuckling the seat belt, manage to lift her from the seat and into my arms. Once she’s safely there, I make my way toward the elevator that’ll take us to my house.

I fully expected her to wake up during the transport but she doesn’t, not even when I place her in the middle of my bed. I hate that her nightmares have such a hold on her, one she can’t seem to break.

After placing her in my bed, I remain unmoving at the side, staring at the woman who clearly has scars that are painfully similar to mine. I want to find whoever is making her hurt and destroy them.

Actually, scratch that—I will find them. But first I need to get her to open up to me about the truth. Because today when I left work, I thought I’d be able to find it on my own, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that Madelyn’s the only one that can tell me what happened with her. She’s a challenge I need to solve with everything in me. My personal challenge.

I only look away from Madelyn when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I take it out, knowing there could be only one person texting me this late.

Nicholas: We need to talk.

He’s even attached a location for the meeting. I roll my eyes. He has the worst timing. Still, he’s my Don and he made a request. Before I leave, I consider the fact Madelyn could wake up while I’m gone. I could send her a text to ensure she knows my whereabouts, but what’s the fun in that?

I hunt down the note she wrote me a couple of weeks ago, the bright pink one I’d stored in one of my drawers. With a smirk, I hurriedly scribble some words of my own on the back.

I had to step out for a quick errand, but I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere. Sincerely, your one-night stand, Dominic.

I grin as I place the note where she’ll find it. Once that’s settled, I leave the apartment, heading back to my car.

I arrive at the location Nicolas gave me in under twenty minutes. It’s one of the buildings owned by the organization, a hotel that’s a front for our illegal activities. I walk in without anyone checking me twice, heading for one of the meeting rooms.

Nicholas is already in there, and so is Adrian, which is surprising. He’s been underground for a while now. He looks okay, though, hollow cheeks and a distinctive lack of any light in his eyes aside. He even offers me a fake-ass smile as I approach them.

He didn’t get the war he probably thinks he rightly deserved. I voted against it, and so did the rest of the table. My reasoning was a little selfish, though. I can’t very well focus on things with Madelyn when there’s war brewing right under my nose.

The Russians and the Italians need to learn to co-exist. One way or the other.

“Dominic, so glad you could join us,” Nicholas states, gesturing for me to take a seat on the couch opposite him.

I settle in and arch an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain the agenda for this meeting.

“I talked to Camila,” Nicholas starts. “She says you’re considering officially making an appearance at the table.”

“I’m not considering anything. I’m making an appearance at the next table meeting.”

“Really?” Nicholas asks dully. “And why is that?”

“My reasons are inconsequential,” I say, waving off his curiosity.

“I’ll decide whether they are or not,” he rebuts. “And I haven’t given my approval yet. What use do I have of a Shadow that won’t stay where he’s meant to be?”

My jaw clenches. I sit up, making sure to look him in the eyes as I speak.

“I’m sure you’ve done your due diligence on me, Don. Made your investigations into my true identity? If you don’t already know who I really am by now, I’d call it incompetence.”

Nicholas’s eyes narrow. “Good thing I’m very aware of your position, then. But what’s it got to do with anything?”

“Only everything,” I say, relaxing in my seat once again. “You and I both know I come from a powerful family. By stepping out of the shadows, I could have access to that power once again. Power the Cosa Nostra would greatly benefit from.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. You could stop becoming a shadow and become a snake instead. One that bites me in the back.”

I shrug. “That’s not really my style.”

He frowns as he stares at me, studying my expression. “We’re going to have to go back to the why. I need to know what’s brought on this change.”

I sigh softly. I figured he wouldn’t let it go. There’s a certain kind of bull-headedness men in Nicholas’s position tend to attain. Plus, it’s highly likely he’s already suspicious and could come about the truth on his own.

“I found her,” I admit. “Sebestian’s daughter.”

Those words have both men in the room falling still. Adrian who had been tethering the edge of boredom immediately seems at alert.

“You did what?” Nicholas questions.

“I told you I was searching for her. And that I’d find her eventually. And now I’ve succeeded.”

His frown deepens. “You’re not one to quit, are you, Dominic? So what do you plan to do with her?”

“I’m not sure yet,” I answer honestly. “But she’s not the reason I’m stepping forward.”

She’s one of the reasons, though.

“So what is it?”

“I want to draw him out. The man who murdered my family,” I inform them.

Adrian cocks a head to the side while Nicholas sighs.

“Are we going on another quest for revenge?” Adrian asks, smiling wickedly.

It’s the first genuine emotion he’s shown since I stepped in here. He’s like a dog with a bone, sniffing out destruction.

“Sure,” I reply. “But it’s against one man.”

“A man who’s been able to evade capture for decades,” he points out, pulling a knife from his jacket pocket. He balances the tip on one of his fingers and shoots me a grin. “I’ll find him for you, Dom.”

“Thanks?” I say, unsure if I should be touched or worried.

Nicholas seems to be thinking the same thing. On one hand, I’m glad he seems to have something to look forward to again, but this is also my revenge. I hate that Adrian lost the chance to exact pain on the man who caused him torment for so long, but no one’s taking that chance away from me.

“You’ll have the full weight of the organization behind you,” Nicholas says with a short nod.

“Alright, then,” I state, getting to my feet. “I’m leaving now. Good talk.”

My eyes narrow when Adrian shoots Nicholas a smirk. “Wanna bet he has her in his house right now?” he asks the Don in Italian.

“When you told me he was seeing someone, I never imagined it would be Sebestian’s daughter,” Nicholas replies.

I grit my teeth. “You fuckers do know I can understand you, right?” I ask them in English.

I don’t speak much Italian. I’ve never really cared to. But, having lived around Italians since I was a little boy, I can follow conversations pretty well.

Adrian looks up at me with an innocent smile. “Oh, don’t mind us, Dom. I’m just going to enjoy the front-row seat I get to the show that’s about to unfold.”

“He’s right,” Nicholas adds. “You’re either a cold-hearted bastard or a masochist, Dominic. Most people would actively avoid the situation you’ve found yourself in.”

“I’m not most people,” I mutter before glaring at Adrian. “Call off whoever you’ve got surveilling my house.”

“You surveil all of our houses,” he retorts.

“For your protection,” I grit out. “You’re just a bastard that likes to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong.”

He leans back with a smile, “Relax, Dominic. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you not act like a robot. This is beyond entertaining.”

I roll my eyes before looking at the Don, who also has on an amused smile.

“Control him. I’m leaving.”

Neither of them says anything else to stop me as I walk away.

When I arrive back at home, it’s to the clanging of pots in the kitchen. I stalk over there to the hottest sight I’ve laid my eyes on in a while. Madelyn’s awake and her clothes must have been uncomfortable because she’s currently in one of my shirts. I lean against the doorway, watching her for an unhealthy amount of time as she gathers some ingredients from my cupboards before settling them on the island. There’s a pot of water boiling on the stove.

“What are you up to?”

She jumps, clutching her chest as she looks at me with wide green eyes. “Dominic! You scared me. Why the hell are you acting like a creep?”

I smile, stepping inside the kitchen. “How was your nap?”

“Fine,” she murmurs, glaring at me. “I got your note. Very funny.”

I chuckle. “I thought you’d like it. So, what are you trying to prepare?”

“The only thing I’m really good at. Hot chocolate,” she replies with a soft smile. “My mom used to make it for me at Christmas. I’ve been so busy I haven’t even tried, but I woke up craving it earlier. You want some?”

I’m a little stunned she willingly shared something about her past, so I simply nod. I don’t say anything else as I watch her get to work on preparing cups for the both of us. Once she’s poured the hot liquid into the cups, she looks at me.

“Is there any chance you have some whipped cream?” she asks hopefully.

“Yeah, sure,” I reply, heading over to the fridge. I open it and hand her the container, which she gratefully accepts.

“Don’t put it in mine,” I tell her.

She shakes her head in disappointment before spraying a huge amount of the cream into her cup. She takes a sip of her drink once she’s done and lets out a contented moan. The sound goes straight to my cock.

It’s been way too long since I’ve fucked her. When she turns to look at me, she’s got a white mustache that has me chuckling.

“What?” she asks in confusion.

I step closer and lift my hand to wipe the top of her mouth. But of course I don’t just stop there. My fingers rest on her top lip, tracing the bow of her mouth in a soft caress. My entire body heats as I stare down at her.

“No,” Madelyn says firmly, taking a step back. “You’re not kissing me again until we talk.”

My hand twitches and the urge to drag her back into my hold consumes me. But I stay put.

“I’m listening, Flowers,” I tell her, reaching for the hot chocolate she’s prepared.

I take a big sip and find that it’s surprisingly really good, better than any I’ve ever tasted. Her mom taught her well.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Dominic. I’m not a toy. You can’t just do what you did earlier and you can’t kiss me like that in front of everyone just to stake your claim. This isn’t the 1800s.”

“I’m pretty sure it would be highly frowned upon if we’d done what we did earlier in the 1800s,” I point out with a smirk. Her eyes narrow and she’s clearly not amused. “You kissed me back, Flowers. Stop acting like you didn’t.”

“That’s because…” she splutters, runs a hand through her hair before pointing at me with a glare. “My obvious lack of control aside, you can’t do that again.”

“Okay,” I say easily.

“Okay?” she asks, clearly suspicious.

“Yeah, I won’t do anything like that again. As long as you promise to lose control like that around me more often.”

She blinks. “What?”

I place my cup on the island and walking toward her, stopping only when there’s a hair’s breadth of space between us. She doesn’t shift back, instead looking up to meet my gaze. I place a hand on her nape, keeping those fiery green eyes on me.

“You heard me, Madelyn. I don’t want you to hide when you’re around me. I know better than anyone just how much armor you wear. All I’m asking is that you try to take it off, a little bit at a time.”

Her eyes soften, her expression growing warmer. “Why?” she breathes.

“Because I want to get to know you. And I know you want to get to know me, too,” I reply. “It’s pretty simple, baby.”