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Twenty-Two
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Domenico Twenty-Three
I walked the halls, letting memories wash over me, giving me something to do while Domenico healed enough to be released. Dozens of doors lined the halls. Large wooden panel doors, some with intricate carvings, others plain, but all were heavy and solid.I stopped at the detailed tree sculpted into the thick wall of a set of double doors. They were familiar. They led to the best room in the house—the library.As a child, during the rare times we were allowed to go to my grandfather’s, I had loved visiting the library. It was one of my favorite places in the house, a place where I spent a lot of time—so much so that my grandfather kept a shelf of children’s stories for me, then later young adult novels.With a twist of the handles I was able to push the great doors open, exposing one of the grandest rooms I’d ever been in. It was one of the many rooms that dripped elegance and prestige. Dark, rich woods held vast volumes of books.It held both a cozy and expansive feeling. A
Domenico Twenty-Four
After our shower, we got dressed for dinner with my grandfather. I was both excited and terrified by the prospect of the two of them in a room together, but it was a necessity.Armed guards lined the halls wherever Domenico went, a huge leap in security. They wouldn’t pause in taking him out if they perceived him as a threat.When we arrived in the dining room, my grandfather was already waiting for us. However, instead of it just being the three of us, there were two guards at the door, and I was certain another dozen were just outside.“How are you feeling, Domenico?” my grandfather asked as we headed to the two table settings that were thankfully next to each other.There was more to the question than politeness, but I wasn’t sure the extent.“Sore, but I should be ready to leave soon.” Domenico nodded and held out his hand. “Laureano, I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality and generosity.”My grandfather stared at his hand before giving it a shake. “Hmph, so y
Domenico Twenty-Five
The air was tense, Domenico’s guard up as he surveyed every street, which indicated we were close. He crept down one street and pointed at a ten-foot-high brick wall that surrounded a box-like structure.“This is your house?” I asked as I stared up at the modern structure.He remained silent as he hit something on his phone and a large gate slid open. He arranged the car and backed up through it, hitting the button again as soon as we were in. Another button and the garage door opened and he slipped the car in, then shut it as well.“Quietly,” he whispered when his eyes met mine.I nodded and grabbed the bags from the back seat and climbed out of the car, shutting the door as quietly as possible. He held his hand up, listening, then took my hand. We walked through a door that led to the backyard. And while it was surrounded by a huge privacy fence, he still walked quickly to the back door. Another press of something on his phone and he ushered me in, following right behind.
Domenico Twenty-Six
It wasn’t a sound I’d heard in days, though I’d kept it plugged in while we were at my grandfather’s. After a day there I’d remembered his phone and located it in a tray full of his things. One of the maids had been able to get me a charger, and I’d kept it on me. I wasn’t sure why I had, but I remembered Domenico saying he was waiting for word, and I didn’t want to miss it. Anything that could help with our path forward.After he was released from the infirmary, I gave it back.A week had passed in silence, but it was going off nonstop.“What is it?” I asked as he picked up the phone.“Marco.”I froze. “What about him?”He mashed his teeth together, the sharp angle of his jaw even more severe. “Roman tortured him to get information on us.”My eyes widened. It shouldn’t have surprised me. Marco was Domenico’s closest ally, and Roman would assume he knew where we were. “Is he okay?”He stretched his neck to the side, letting loose a cacophony of pops. “He’s in the hospit
Domenico Twenty-Seven
I awoke gradually, and awake was entirely subjective at that point.My eyes were heavy, but I felt the familiar cold sinking into my bones.Bars. Cold steel. The stale smell of decay.My head pounded and my body ached. I wasn’t even sure the words at least I’m alive were relevant. The sinking in my stomach confirmed that, because things were about to turn out very differently than before.The scene before me was familiar, eerily so. A sort of déjà vu.I sat up, and darkness enveloped the room. My heartbeat skyrocketed because I knew Domenico wasn’t hiding in the shadow. A fate worse than death slithered in the black.“Awake now?” Roman said as he emerged from the shadows.“Let me out of here,” I growled.“Oh, kitty got her claws, huh? A little bit of freedom and suddenly you’re a badass?”My lip twitched up into a snarl. “I always was. You were just too stupid being nice not to notice.”“You bitch!” He slammed his hand against the cage, but I didn’t flinch. I wasn’t g
Domenico Twenty-Eight
Domenico’s arm swung out as he stepped forward, putting himself between me and the men storming in. The arm pinned me to his back and a hissed “fuck” slipped between his lips.I couldn’t see around him, but I knew it wasn’t good.Thankfully my coat was long enough to cover my ass as my jeans were across the room, and also still able to close.“Domenico,” a smooth voice said. The tone was stern, reprimanding.“Father,” Domenico replied.I drew in a breath and pulled back, but he kept me tightly to him. I was able to peer around his arm to see the near-dozen men with their guns pointed straight at us.In the center was a man in a crisp charcoal three-piece suit, his expression pulled tight and framed by short salt-and-pepper hair. His eyes were the same silver as Domenico’s, and his gaze was just as piercing. His eyes locked with mine, and I stared back before sliding fully behind Domenico again.“You’ve been causing quite a stir,” Giovanni said.“And? If you’ve come to k
Domenico Twenty-Nine
The house was grander in design and opulence than my father’s, but different than the ornate details of my grandfather’s home. The grounds were much larger and secluded, the halls wide, and there was a flurry of staff walking around.Domenico kept me close to him, hugging me tightly to his side, glaring at anyone who even glanced at me. I was practically naked, my coat barely hitting my thighs. There hadn’t been time to grab my jeans as we’d been practically pushed out the building. Thankfully I had been able to grab my panties, and Domenico had zipped up my coat, concealing my destroyed shirt. I was thankfully covered, but my legs were cold and on display.The looks could also have been due to the blood that covered us both.We followed his father into a room walled with dark wood, a fire glowing in the fireplace, and bookcases filled with antiques and books. It was similar to my grandfather’s office, and that fact put me somewhat at ease.Giovanni strode across the room a
Domenico Thirty
Once everything was settled, Giovanni released us to clean up, assuring us he would send the physician to tend to our wounds. I didn’t even want to look at myself in a mirror. In twenty-four hours I’d been hit by a car, had my head slammed into metal bars, and had been beaten with a belt. Domenico didn’t look much better. I hadn’t really gotten to focus on much but the presence of him, and I had a feeling there was more to be seen under his clothes.When we stepped out of his office, a woman in slick black heels and tears streaming down her face stomped toward us.“You murderer!” I recognized her as Renata Ferrante, Giovanni’s wife. Domenico stepped in front of me, but when I watched her pull her hand back to strike him, I moved in front of him and grabbed hold of her wrist.“Don’t you fucking touch him, you witch,” I growled.“Get your hands off of me, maggot!” she screeched.In her heels she was easily six inches taller than me, so I turned her wrist outward, bringing he
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