Dominic was up before the sun rose, and he knew that Isadora would be sleeping for a while. He’d taken her twice during the night; her screams had filled his ears, and he’d loved every second of it. During sex, her face was an open book, which she clearly didn’t realize.
At the kitchen counter, he poured himself a cup of coffee, grunting a good morning to Austin, who stood on the other side. Ingredients lay out on the counter as he prepared to start breakfast. Dominic hadn’t slept much, and neither had Austin, it seemed.
“The look on your face says it was a productive night,” Austin said with a grin on his face.
“It’s been a while,” Dominic replied.
“What time do you want to leave?”
Dominic stretched his arms over his head and emptied his cup of coffee. “We’ll leave tomorrow at five sharp. Take the day and night off; spend it with whatever floats your boat. I won’t be going out.”
“Do I still have to make you breakfast?” Austin’s grin had Dominic grinning too.
“Definitely not; you’re no Ethan. I can feed myself for one day. Don’t let Hudson near the strip clubs at all.”
“I won’t make that mistake again. Fuck, the last time he nearly killed two guys who couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.” Austin smiled at the memory.
It had taken money, whispering in listening ears, along with a few threats, to get Hudson out of cuffs and back on the streets after the stunt he’d pulled. He hated the manhandling of women, especially strippers and hookers, who he claimed weren’t there by choice. He had a warped sense of responsibility towards women who couldn’t fend for themselves.
Hudson was a diamond in the rough, with an emphasis on the rough, but he had a heart of gold. He was also a mean motherfucker, with a sick glint in his eyes when he faced an enemy. He had no fear or remorse for taking a life that he deemed unworthy. Dominic still loved him like a brother, warped and all.
“I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Once Austin had left the apartment, Dominic made his way upstairs to his private penthouse and worked out in his own gym for an hour, needing to get rid of the pent-up frustrations that were bottling up. Isadora was still asleep by the time Dominic had showered and dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt.
Isadora appeared just as Dominic finished with breakfast, wearing Dominic’s dress shirt, looking completely sated and at ease. Her hair was disheveled and he liked that she hadn’t bothered with make-up or dressing up to try and impress him.
“Did you sleep well?”
She smiled and slid onto a bar stool, watching him as he filled a cup with coffee for her. “I did. Did you?”
“Very.” She didn’t need to know that Dominic hadn’t slept or that he rarely slept through the night.
“You, Dominic, are a man full of surprises,” she said as he placed a plate in front of her.
“My mother believed her sons should be able to care for themselves.”
“Sons? How many siblings are there?” She looked genuinely intrigued.
“I have three brothers and two sisters.”
She looked at Dominic with shock etched in her eyes. “Your mother must be a saint.”
“What about your family? Tell me something about you. Any siblings?”
She hesitated. She was going to lie to him, and he knew it the moment he’d seen it. He had no idea why she’d want to lie, but it could’ve been one of many reasons. Perhaps death or disappointment, everyone had that one person in their family that they’d rather not talk about. He already knew everything she’d done to hide the truth, but he’d let her lie herself into a corner.
“I’m an only child. My parents live in Sherwood. My mom teaches English at the high school, and my dad’s an accountant,” she said. Dominic didn’t believe her, but he decided not to call her out on it. She’d only known him for a day, so one could argue that it was good that she didn’t trust others easily. She would tell him the truth eventually, which he’d make sure of.
They ate in silence, and he didn’t object when Isadora offered to clean the kitchen. He hadn’t planned on doing it, but she didn’t need to know that either. Dominic retreated to the living room and checked his emails on his laptop while she hummed to herself in the kitchen.
At some point in the near future, he’d have to meet with Lorenzo Altobella to finalize his arranged marriage to his daughter. The agreement had been made on the day of her birth, and Conrad would escort him to that meeting to make sure the contract was signed.
Lorenzo Altobella was one of the Famiglia Elders and an important man. He held the monopoly on the strip clubs in the city, and the Manso family worked directly under him. Luca Manso was one of the heads and paid tribute to the godfather as well as the Elders.
“Dominic.”
He turned his head towards Isadora as she sat down on the couch next to him. “Yes?”
“Don’t you think it’s a bit soon for me to just move in here with you?”
Dominic smirked; she clearly hadn’t been listening the previous night. “I don’t live here, Isadora. I only use it when I’m in the city overnight.”
She bit her bottom lip, reminding him again how he’d rather do the biting. “So I’m supposed to live here in your apartment and be available when you come to town?”
He didn’t like the bitter tone in her voice, but he kept his expression neutral. “I’m not forcing you to stay here. I just thought you’d be more comfortable here with a stocked apartment, a driver, and a car at your disposal. It’s still your choice.”
Her eyes softened as a smile appeared on her lips. “How is a man like you still single?”
“Perhaps I’ve been waiting for the right one.” Women needed to know that they meant something, and Dominic never made a promise he couldn’t keep.
Her cheeks heated slightly, and he watched as the idea took form in her mind. She thought he was talking about her, and for now, he’d let her think that. He wasn’t opposed to having feelings, although he rarely did; he just didn’t waste his time with having feelings for someone that wouldn’t last.
“Anything specific you want to do today?”She looked thoughtful for a moment, and Dominic watched as she shifted on the soft cushions. He was pretty sure that she was still a little sore. He wanted to take her again, but he wouldn’t. It wasn’t in his nature to hurt people he didn’t have to, and never a woman, unless she deserved it.“Do you ever do anything normal?” She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger as she watched him.“Define normal?”“Like ice skating or going for ice cream, maybe going to the movies or eating at a diner,” she said.“I’ve done all of the above … when I was twelve or so.”Isadora laughed delightfully as she stood up from the couch. “Great! I’ll go get ready, and then we can walk around the market square. There’s always lots to do there on Sundays.”She disappeared down the hall before he could tell her that he hadn’t exactly planned on going out, and he wasn’t sure who’d be more pissed off, Hudson or Ethan, but there were ways around that as well. He
At exactly five am, the elevator doors dinged open, and Dominic stepped inside. Ethan smirked as he looked at him, and Dominic knew that he hadn’t said a word, yet. In the basement parking lot they climbed into the SUV, and Cooper sped off through the quiet streets.“Anything to report?” Dominic asked the four quiet men in the SUV with him.Cooper grinned and shook his head. He was the nicest of the four, the nicest manners, courteous, and respectful to others. He didn’t drink or smoke, didn’t go to strip clubs, and he never helped himself to the hookers they had on payroll either.Austin was less reserved. He knew what he wanted, and took it when he wanted it. He liked women, and a lot of them. He drank on occasion, but usually only when they were at the house with no plans to leave. He was a reader, and spent a lot of his time outdoors.Ethan liked to be in the shadows. He never really left Dominic alone, he was always somewhere nearby, and it had proved valuable over the years. He
The four men were led into the small meeting room adjacent to Dominic’s study. His men took up their positions as did his brothers. Dominic had given them each a slice of the proverbial pie, and they had their own responsibilities under his watchful eye.Casio Robustelli reported directly to Gage, and he had a hand in the gun trade. Their guns were bought from the Russians, and distributed for personal use in their territories.Giovanni Manso reported to Eris, and they kept a firm eye on their strip clubs. Eris was good with the women, and washing their money was second nature to him.Santino Conti reported to Faro, and he was a genius when it came to their gambling rings. He never misplaced a cent, and handling money was what he was good at.Dominic watched Elmo Larussa, and the many escort clubs they owned. Prostitution was easy money, and Michael De Santis, an Elder, also owned a few escort clubs. At first the Elders voted against Dominic’s escort club but he soon showed them that
Isadora was a breath of fresh air in Dominic’s life. Within a month, he slept at his penthouse every night, curled up against her. Talks of finding her own apartment had dwindled, and Dominic had only gone to his country estate for his twice-a-month meetings.The more time he spent with her, the more he liked her. Most nights she cooked dinner for him and his men, and afterwards they’d watch a movie or talk about their lives. She’d talk about work, and more than once she’d refused his offer of a better job in one of his own companies.Dominic had left Giovanni with the girls in the warehouse to question them before he made his move, but they’d been there for two weeks with no results. He wasn’t the type of man to condone the torture of women, but he was getting tired of not having answers.Ethan parked the large SUV inside the warehouse, and Dominic stepped out, not waiting for the men to flank him. They were indoors but he knew Hudson would have something to say, he always did.“Can
Isadora smiled as she read the text on her phone from Dominic. Her life felt like a fairytale. Every morning Dominic woke her with coffee in bed. They’d take a shower together, and get ready for work.Ethan always had breakfast ready when they emerged hand in hand. Her driver, Remy, would take her to work, and pick her up again in the afternoon. She’d started paying off a lot of her parents’ debts since she had no living costs.“What are you smiling about?” Susanna asked her.Susanna was the first one to befriend Isadora at work, and they always took their lunch together, and ate whatever they bought in the park across the street from where they worked. She liked Susanna, and so far she’d only told her that she’d met someone.“Can’t I smile?”“Nuh uh, that smile says someone’s getting laid tonight,” Susanna said.Isadora burst out laughing, and shook her head. “I get laid every night.”“Oh my word, Isa! Spill it, girl!”Isadora sighed, but she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. “T
Dominic was running late and had sent another text to Isadora to let her know that he would meet her at the event. Remy would time it perfectly and he would arrive at the same time as her. He’d seen the charge from the boutique on his credit card and he felt slightly better knowing she’d fit in.“Ten minutes, Dominic,” Cooper said as he sped down the street.“Who was supposed to remind me about this charity thing?” Dominic asked.“I did remind you,” Austin said.“Half an hour before the fucking thing starts,” Dominic bit back.“At least it’s not like the last time, where you had to tell people that you cut yourself shaving to explain the blood on your collar,” Hudson said.Dominic snorted. “What’s this one for?”“Orphans,” Ethan said and produced a glossy piece of paper from his jacket.Dominic looked at the page and read through it quickly. It was a $500 a plate function where they’d give speeches and people would donate money. He had nothing against orphans and he donated regularly
Isadora woke up to an empty bed, and she swallowed her emotions away. She’d never felt so cheap in her life before. His words had hurt her, and she couldn’t believe she’d let him call her a whore for a second time.Was she Dominic’s whore? She supposed she was. He paid for everything, she lived in his penthouse, used his car and credit card, and in return she let him fuck her whenever and however he wanted.She ran to the bathroom, and made it just in time as she vomited up bile. She dry heaved a few times, and realized that someone was holding her hair back. She lowered her head to the toilet, and took a few deep breaths.“Are you feeling sick?” Dominic asked her.She shook her head, and stood up on shaky legs. She rinsed her mouth a few times, and pulled the lever of the toilet to flush her vomit away. She looked up, and saw the concern in Dominic’s eyes.“I’m not sick,” she whispered.Dominic placed his hand on her forehead, and frowned slightly as he looked at her. “Well, you’re n
Dominic stripped off his suit in the bathroom and let the shower wash the blood from his face. He’d have to burn his shirt, nothing would get the blood from that shirt. He sighed as the steam rose and he pushed his hair back.It was getting too long and he needed a haircut. It could wait like many other things had to wait. He’d avoided Conrad too and he knew that soon his car would pull up and he’d be forced to climb inside and listen to Conrad berate him.They’d never had a loving relationship, rather Conrad was a general and Dominic his soldier, always learning and never being good enough. He was tired and more than once he’d thought about just killing the old man.Gage would approve. Faro and Eris would too but Hunter and even more so, Inara would be heartbroken. He wouldn’t be able to look at his sister and know that he was the cause of her pain. Conrad was a good father to his sisters.**Dominic sat on the wooden chair, his back ramrod straight. Slouching was never acceptable. Th