Chapter 10

Dominick

The weight of Chloe's head on my shoulder is strangely comfortable. She's already falling asleep, and I can't help but look down at her as her breathing evens out.

There's only the light from the hall since I left the door cracked, and the thin sliver of light that cuts across her brown waves makes them glow a honey color.

Like this, the ease of unconsciousness covering her, Chloe looks relaxed, unburdened. It's gorgeous.

He hurt her. He threatened her.

Anger swells in my gut as I think of that prick, Ethan. I could sense the upset in Chloe but hearing her divulge the truth had been a brutal exercise in restraint.

Because I want nothing more than to find that asshole and tear him to shreds.

Chloe is completely innocent in all this, and that jerk is trying to kill her over fucking drugs. I will not stand for that.

I mean, it's the right thing to do. Of course, I'm going to help. I'd do it for anyone.

Movement draws my attention back to Chloe as she shifts against me. I think she's trying to pull back, but then she snuggles herself deeper into my side like even just an inch between us is too much.

She needs a break. I've got the time and resources. That's all.

But I instinctively hold her tighter, wanting her to feel safe. To feel taken care of.

Her bare leg drapes over me, and I pull up the comforter to cover us, my hand sliding gently over her smooth skin.

I can still taste that incredible skin, her body quivering around my tongue.

Abruptly, I'm forced to remember the erection I haven't done anything about. I'm desperate to come, visions of taking Chloe completely swirling in my head as I pleasured her.

"Fuck."

The word is just a breath, and it does nothing to ease the tension in my cock.

Chloe's leg is right there. I could pull her on top of me and claim that delectable pussy of hers.

But I won't.

Tonight needed to be about her, for both our sakes. After all, I am the boss, and Chloe will need to have a safe, complication-free place to work when all this is over.

I just want her to feel good while I've got her. Treat her to something since she's been through so much.

Her leg moves again, brushing my shaft, and it's a form of torture that leaves me damn near ready to explode.

If she doesn't roll over, it's going to be a long fucking night.

I stir awake, my internal clock telling me it's time to get up, and I look over to see Chloe still sound asleep on my usual side of the bed.

Thankfully, once she was good and out, Chloe rolled off me, and I was able to deal with my personal situation without waking her.

I was also able to switch out of the dress slacks to sweats, which was way more comfortable.

Climbing back into bed afterward reignited a few reactions, however, because the look of her ass in her panties was too fucking good.

"And now, you're thinking about it again. Ugh."

I know well enough to keep my voice at a whisper, and as I slowly sit up and get out of bed, I pad down the hall to the kitchen. Breakfast. Food and coffee will help.

Getting the brew going, I check the fridge and pantry for any type of breakfast food. I'm fresh out.

"Well, shit."

I'm not much of a breakfast person. There are way too many things to do, and I'm even worse at remembering to go shopping for groceries.

The shelves of raw ingredients seem to mock me as I hear my mug fill, and then I notice the flour and cinnamon.

"Do I have eggs?"

Checking the fridge, sure enough, there's some eggs, and they're not even expired. Better yet, I even have bread.

"Perfect."

Grabbing a skillet and a bowl, I crack a few of the eggs and add the cinnamon and a bit of vanilla.

Chloe adores French toast. I've seen her take down a huge stack during several breakfasts with the Hamiltons.

Once I've dunked a few slices, I start to sauté them in the pan and hear Chloe come down the hallway.

"No way."

The surprise in her voice makes me smile, and I turn around from the stove to see her padding to the island, still just wearing her underpants and T-shirt.

My smile gets wider.

"And good morning to you."

Chloe grins, sliding onto one of the stools and leaning her elbows on the counter. "I can't believe you're making French toast."

"If I recall, you love it."

"I do!"

Her oversized tee hangs loosely on her, but I can still see the curves of her full breasts and how obviously chilled she is.

After a second, Chloe notices I'm staring, and I can't stop myself from just smirking at her. Her cheeks fire up bright pink as she looks away.

The food is done, so I pile up the slices onto two plates and set us up at the island with forks and syrup, which, again, I miraculously had in the fridge.

"Oh my God. This is delicious." Chloe moans happily as she enjoys a few bites, and I'm all smiles as she works to clean her plate. "I wouldn't have pegged you for a guy who knows much about cooking."

I laugh hard, swallowing down a mouthful of coffee afterward. "I'm not. Thankfully, French toast is actually really easy. It's one of the few things I can make, the other one being macaroni and cheese."

"Boiling pasta can be so tricky." She smirks at me, and I glare right back.

"Well, thank you. For, um—" that blush paints her cheeks once more "—everything."

"I'm just trying to help. Anyone would."

Chloe scoffs. "That's where you're wrong."

There's a moment of silence, and Chloe is picking at the last few crumbs on her plate with her fork.

"I still don't think you should be involved in this whole Ethan thing."

"Well, tough. You've already told me about it. I'm going to send the info along to Cameron. He'll get back to me with something."

Shaking her head, Chloe rolls her eyes. "Always the boss, huh?"

I take her plate with mine to the sink. "Yes."

"Well, I should get going. I wouldn't want to be late for my shift."

My heart pinches for a second, and then I shrug it off, going back to stand near Chloe.

"No, you wouldn't. Do you want me to drive you?" I raise my brows. I really don't want her taking the bus or something, not after that guy from last night.

She smiles, shaking her head. "No, no. I'll be fine. I'm used to getting around Hildale."

Concern needles through me. "The streets aren't safe. You know that. I don't mind taking you."

"I'll be fine, Dom. I'll call an Uber. Okay?"

It's better than the bus or walking, but I'm still not a fan. I can't exactly force her to let me give her a ride, though, now can I? That would definitely be an Ethan move.

"All right." I nod. "I'll just wait with you outside, okay?"

She slides off the stool and walks to her bag. "I don't think I could stop you, could I?"

"No."

Chloe gathers up the few things she has and books an Uber with her phone. I have to give her the address, and I make sure she keeps it in her phone, just in case.

"Save my number in there, too. You can call whenever you need me. Anytime something feels off."

Chloe puts a hand on my chest, doing her best to contain the intensity that's bleeding off me.

"I will. Now, would you please let me go get ready? I apparently have to get a new pair of tights and a shirt."

She tilts her head at me, driving home the reminder of my disregard for that stupid outfit. I smirk, pulling Chloe against me, where I'm already getting stiff at the thought of destroying another pair of tights.

"I'll have new ones at the club for you. Don't worry about it."

"I can get them myself, Dom." She squints at me.

"I said don't worry about it. I'm the boss. They're provided uniforms from Opal, and it was my fault they got damaged."

"Damn right, it was."

Eventually, the Uber arrives, and I walk Chloe out to the car, mentally holding on to the license plate number.

"Call. Whenever you need."

Chloe eyes me before hanging her head for a moment and sighing. "I don't like asking for help, Dom."

"You're not. You're just accepting it."

Shaking her head, she ducks into the cab of the blue Nissan. "I'll see you."

"Call me, Chloe Hamilton. I'm not letting him get to you."

Her eyes glass up for a moment, but then she quickly blinks it away. "Okay."

The car heads off, and I go back inside the penthouse to call Cameron.

"And there was a guy at the club last night who tried to take her. He's clearly working for this fucker."

Cameron is silent on the other end of the line for a beat, and then I hear him sigh.

"Okay. So, you didn't give me much, but I'll do my best. You're sure that you want to go through all this? Domestic situations can get messy."

"Yes. I'm sure. Just do it."

"All right, all right. I'll run this through my contacts. I have a few favors I can call in. Don't expect anything fast, though. You know how slow the authorities can be where there isn't much to go on."

"Yeah."

I roll my eyes. I'm well aware of their typical pace. Mom's shit took ages to get worked out, and it had to get really bad before they did anything at all.

"Thanks, Cam. I'll talk to you later." I'm about to hang up when I stop. "Hey, will you be at the club later? It's nearly the end of the month."

"Normally, I'd say yes, but now you have me doing this."

I chuckle. "Fair enough. I'm thinking I'll go down there anyway, sort through some paperwork."

"On your night off? Why?"

Cameron's shock is plain enough through the line that I bite down on my molars.

I know Chloe has a shift tonight, and if I'm there, I can stop something from happening. Like I already did once.

"Like I said, paperwork."

"Uh-huh." Cam is immediately skeptical, and I sigh. "Sure, boss. Whatever you say. I'll hit you up with more information when I have it."

"Talk to you then, I guess."

"Keep it on ice, sergeant."

Cam hangs up before I can snap back at him for breaking out the familiar line. It's something we all used to say to each other in the field when our emotions were getting the best of us.

But that's not what's happening.

I have paperwork. And yeah, Chloe will be there, but that just makes keeping tabs on the situation easier.

Bird's-eye view and all.

It's just the most logical thing to do. It's not like you're going to do something with her in the club. That'd be insane. No, this is just strategic planning.

With that, I start to get things in order to head down to the club. Weeknights at Opal are usually slow, so I'm sure everything will be just fine.

Absolutely fine.