Destroying Dominic (Genoa Mafia Series Book 3)

by Ginger Ring

  “Why didn’t you stop? You know Carol from the art center.” When she was by his side, they started toward the parking lot.

  “Didn’t feel like it. Besides, I saw her turn her back to me.”

  “I wish you had. She didn’t want the others to hear.”

  “Hear what?”

  “She thinks her grandson might be mixed up in drugs. I told her I thought you could help. I know how Roman feels about drugs in town.”

  Was that really why she’d turned away? “Where does she think he’s getting them?” Roman kept a close eye on things and anyone dealing in the city limits would be relocated fast. No questions asked.

  “Not sure, but she thinks near the school.”

  “Give me the kid’s name and I’ll get Roman the information.”

  “I don’t want him hurt.” She tilted her head.

  “We’re not going to hurt him. We just want to know where he’s getting the drugs. We’ll put a tail on him. The kid won’t even know anyone’s watching.”

  She let out a deep breath and reached for her phone. “I’ll text it to Madison. You know I hate that you guys are in the mafia. But I do feel there are worse people out there.”

  If she had any idea what his past had been like, she’d know firsthand that Dominic used to be one of them.

  Chapter Nine

  Stephanie

  It felt good to get out of the house, but now that she’d returned to her dingy place her funk was back. Whether it was still the effects of the wedding or the possible threat from the biker in town, it was hard to tell. She needed a break from life and a vacation from reality.

  Dominic had followed her home and parked his truck behind her car. Now what? She got out of the car but he hadn’t moved. On sore legs, she slowly walked back to where he parked.

  “I had the plates of that biker checked out.”

  She held her breath.

  “It belongs to some rock star who lives on the lake.”

  Stephanie let out a sigh. “So they’re not here.” She leaned an arm on the roof of his truck. The heat warmed her arm.

  “Who?”

  She opened her mouth but stopped. He’d almost caught her, but the less he, and everyone else, knew the better. “Just friends of Handlebar’s.”

  “Members of his club? You ever going to tell me about them?” he grumbled. “Tell me about the man I killed for you?”

  It was the least she could do but it wasn’t going to happen. Not today anyway. Her shoulders slumped. Slowly, she shook her head.

  “Nope.” She straightened. “So there’s no threat?”

  “None that we see at the moment.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

  “I’m kind of tired. I’m going in.” Stephanie turned and headed for the front door of the complex, half expecting him to follow, but he didn’t. Surprisingly, disappointment sunk in. When she reached the door, she stopped and twisted around just as he drove off.

  “I guess I know where I stand,” she mumbled. What did she expect? The man was only trying to keep her safe, and when the threat was gone, he left. He was probably only being nice because of Madison.

  Her legs protested as she climbed the stairs. It might be best to do some yoga and stretch. Her lungs were still fresh from the run and that rotten egg smell burned her nose as she reached the top of the stairs.

  Someone needed to contact the super about that. What if it was a gas leak? Were the new tenants total pigs and not keeping their kitchen clean? Who knew. Stephanie dragged her fingers along the railing at the top. The air was stagnant in her room so she opened a window. Looking outside, Dominic was nowhere to be seen. She hadn’t exactly been kind to him. He scared her but he also seemed to be there whenever she needed him. Tossing her keys on the table, she took a seat in front of her laptop. Firing it up, she checked her messages. It was just the usual junk mail.

  Loneliness was something that had been a constant companion for years but it was one that she was getting sick of. Bringing up her documents, she scanned over the last few pages of her work in progress. It was a romance. She usually wrote happy, sappy stories, but her mood had changed in the last few months. Why try to pretend she was something she wasn’t? Her life would never be picket fences, roses, and the storybook two point five kids and a dog. Well, maybe a dog.

  She typed a few lines but couldn’t get into it. People thought it was easy to write. That one just sat down and words fell to the pages like blood flowing from a vein. It didn’t work that way. How could she write about love when she had never been in love? She’d been engaged once, but that wasn’t her choice. Any feelings she felt for him had been immature and ill-informed.

  She set the computer aside. It was no use. Today, everything felt off. Damn that wedding. Working in the bridal store had never bothered her, but today she felt lost. Empty. Like her true love would never find her, she was so well hidden. He was probably out there somewhere looking for her under her real name. It had taken a while to get used to being called Stephanie. It was close to her given name but different enough to cause her to hesitate the first few times someone had called her that.

  She rested her chin on her fist and dropped her elbow on the desk. “I’m bored and have no imagination anymore.” She spoke out loud to no one. “I’m not inspired anymore.” She turned her attention to the board that hung on her wall by the desk. It featured photos of all the characters in her books so she could keep track of what everyone looked like. Things like who had blue eyes and who had brown.

  They all left her feeling nothing until her eyes focused on the photo of Dominic. She’d said it before and she’d say it again. The man was an enigma. He was a puzzle with a few of the pieces missing, yet she couldn’t stop trying to figure them out. The man made her heart race and her toes tingle.

  The tall blacksmith did make her feel. Even before what happened with Handlebar, he’d always intrigued her. Was it because he was a mystery? Someone who lived on the border of quiet society, just like she did? He wasn’t someone to bring home to meet the parents. That was for sure. The man did funny things to her stomach whenever he was near. She’d sneakily taken the photo at last year’s Snowflake Ball at Firenza. There was a serial killer in town and he was working security at it. Roman wanted no ladies to leave unattended and Valentina insisted that he escort her home.

  Nothing had happened. He’d walked her to her car, checked the back seat, and then followed her home. After parking out front, he ensured she made it safely to her apartment and then drove off, just like he had earlier. They’d barely exchanged five words the whole time. It had shocked the hell of her when he came to her rescue after what happened with the biker. She reached out and pulled the photo from the wall. The man was more villain inspiration than hero, yet he kept coming to her aid. A true bad guy wouldn’t do that. Even if no one saw it, there was a beating heart under the tough skin. Maybe she wasn’t as afraid of him as she thought.

  Her stomach growled and she tossed Dominic’s picture on the desk. It was after eleven in the morning and she still hadn’t eaten. Opening the windows did little to cool the place down, the hazard of living on the second floor. It was almost way too hot even in winter time. Marching over to the fridge, she was greeted with stale milk and expired yogurt. Dominic wasn’t kidding when he said there was nothing to eat. She’d been working too much and shopping too little.

  Kicking off her shoes, she dropped articles of clothing all the way to the bathroom. A quick shower and she might feel human enough to head to the grocery store. The water refreshed her and she took a few more minutes to wash her hair. It was amazing what a hot shower or bath could do for one’s mood.

  Turning the water off, she grabbed a towel and stepped out of the shower. Humidity had fogged up the mirror and with a whip of her hand she cleared it off. The face looking back at her had aged. She was only in her mid-twenties yet she felt much older.

  Her tummy growled again as she began combing out her thick hair. If she didn’t e
at something soon, she’d pass out. There were several restaurants in town that did brunch, but right now she’d be lucky if she made it to the car and went to a drive-thru. Did any of them deliver? Hunger made her dizzy.

  Opening the bathroom door, her towel brushed the comb she’d set on the sink and it fell to the floor. Stephanie turned and bent over to pick it up. Just doing that made the room spin a bit. Dang, she was starving. “Damn him.” If he wouldn’t have distracted her, she’d have eaten something for breakfast.

  “Damn who?” a deep voice sounded from her living room.

  Stephanie jumped and spun around. Dominic sat on her couch, sipping a cup of coffee. Just the smell of it caused her to take an involuntary step closer.

  “What are you doing here? You scared the crap out of me. And how did you get in?” His eyes seemed to be focused on her legs. “Hey, up here.” She motioned with her hands toward her face, but that just seemed to move his attention to her chest. “Answer me.” Her heart raced and she was weak with hunger. There was only so much more she could take.

  “You didn’t have any food. I had bought you some but they sat in the truck so long, I threw them out and went back for more.” He pointed to where a stack of to-go containers sat on the kitchen counter. The scent of bacon had penetrated the Styrofoam and she headed toward it like a hound dog on a scent. They were packed full of bacon, sausage links, scrambled eggs, French toast, and hash browns, and beside them sat a carton of milk and a bottle of orange juice. There was even a box of donuts. Dunkers! She’d died and gone to breakfast heaven.

  The chocolate dunker was the first to touch her lips. It was her favorite. They came in three different flavors and were sold at the local gas station. Dunkers were a heavenly, old-style cake donut with a sugary glaze. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the chocolate flavor on her tongue. If Dominic wasn’t here, she’d drink the milk straight from the jug. Her thoughts returned to the man in her living room and she spun around.

  “Hey, how did you get in? I know I locked it.”

  He just sat there staring as if he hadn’t heard a word. She took another bite of the dunker and a crumb fell on her chest. Stephanie looked to where it fell and the donut lodged in her throat. She’d been so caught up in the sight and smell of the treats that she hadn’t realized she was naked. How had that happened?

  Dominic got off the couch and picked up the towel that had fallen off halfway between the bathroom and the kitchen. Stephanie couldn’t move except to breathe. Her chest rose and fell as she took deep breaths. Being nude and alone in her apartment with Dominic was something she’d only thought about late at night. This was the middle of the day. She turned around, dropped the donut back in the box it came in and sucked in her stomach. Her face was bright red yet she couldn’t move.

  He stepped closer and draped the towel over her shoulders just like he had done with his coat the night before. She seized it and quickly covered herself. Shyness returned and her gaze settled on the floor. Stephanie swallowed as his hand turned her face back toward his. The man towered over her and his heated gaze focused on her lips. She’d never felt so small before.

  “I can see why you went to these first. They taste sweet.” Dominic brushed his finger over the bit of glaze that had settled on the side of her lip and sucked it into his mouth. “Just like you.”

  Chapter Ten

  Dominic

  It took everything he had to not throw Stephanie on the nearby bed and make love to her for the next twenty-four hours. He puffed out his cheeks and shook his head. She was a vision. It was a given that she had a great body as he’d seen her many times in shorts or workout wear when she jogged around the lake, but he never expected the impact seeing her naked would have on him. His dick stood at attention as soon as she’d stepped out of the bathroom draped only in that barely-there towel. When the white piece of cloth hit the floor, he thought his head would explode.

  She looked like an angel. An angel who had firm breasts, full hips, and a slender waist. Her wet hair gave her a wild look that drew him even more. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his heart rate. Dominic had always prided himself on not being riled by anything. He’d seen it all, done it all, but Steph was a whole new ball game. There had only been one woman in his life, and when she was gone, everything ended. Dom didn’t care if he ever had a woman again. Until now.

  Dominic leaned back in the seat of his truck and glanced up toward her window. What a jerk he was. Licking the sugar from her lips like he was a love-sick puppy and then storming out. Her eyes had gotten big and she visibly shook. Fuck. He’d scared her and made an idiot of himself. To someone like Stephanie, the thought of being with him would probably be worse than death. Like a fool, he’d just left without a word. Everyone thought he was a savage, he should’ve just proven them right and taken her on the countertop like the animal he was. But then he’d never see her again, and that was something he couldn’t live with. Not yet anyway.

  The curtains in her window fluttered and he sat up straighter. Was she watching to see if he was gone? He pounded the steering wheel with his fist. There were no threats to her that they could find so he couldn’t justify staying any longer. He’d continue to teach her how to defend herself but the chances of her wanting to see him again were doubtful. A bead of sweat rolled down his neck. It was hot for June. People always thought it was cold in Wisconsin but the heat and humidity made it almost unbearable at times.

  Dominic started the truck and took one more glance at the window. She wasn’t there. He loved solitude but right now he’d never felt more alone, and it didn’t feel good at all. Scratching his beard, it took a few moments to decide what to do and where to go. Going home didn’t seem like a good idea so he drove to Roman’s. His boss was away spending time with his wife but Roman welcomed his men to use the workout room at his complex anytime.

  It took him longer than usual now that the tourists were back in town. The guards waved him in as he passed through the gate of Roman’s compound and Dom parked his truck by the gym. Swamp-like air struck him with full force as soon as he opened the door. It would be cooler in the front yard with the gentle breeze coming off the lake but enjoying the view was the last thing on his mind. He was here to purge a certain blonde beauty from his mind.

  Chances were good that a storm was building. He paused as even that reminded him of Stephanie. The poor thing was terrified of bad weather but wouldn’t share why. As much as he tried to deny it, he would be staking out her place later in case the skies took a turn for the worse. She’d probably think he was a stalker, and he was definitely starting to feel like one.

  The cooler air of Roman’s huge gym was a welcome relief. It was better than any fitness center. The equipment was first rate. There were always fresh towels, a great television, sound system, and top-notch showers. The place even had a sauna and hot tub. From the heavy breathing coming from around the corner, Dominic, unfortunately, wasn’t alone. It was Jasper. He dropped his chin. Son of a bitch. That was all he needed, to spend more time with the guy. Dom stopped, cursed under his breath, and placed his hands on his hips.

  “Hey, dude.” The man was lifting weights. “Thought you’d still be with that hot little blonde.”

  “What blonde?” Stephanie was the last thing he wanted to talk to Jasper about. Dominic tossed his keys on a nearby bench.

  “Ha, you know.” Jasper put the weights back in place and reached for a towel. His t-shirt was soaked, so the guy had obviously been at it for a while.

  “No, I don’t. What about you?” Dom pulled a pair of boxing gloves on and wandered over to the punching bag.

  “Took that lady cop home.” He winked. “Her name’s Danny.”

  Dom snorted. “You slept with a cop? Are you nuts?”

  “Hey, she’s hot and crazy. Man, she did everything but handcuff my nuts and stick her baton up my ass.” Jasper smiled and shook his head. “I think I’m in love.”

  Jasper was a known player and was making his way
through most of the young women in town, maybe a few of the older ones as well. Working on his uppercut, Dom struck the bag with a vengeance. “You know that’s asking for trouble.” He gave it a sidekick.

  “Some things are worth a little trouble.” Jasper wiped his face with a towel and strolled over to Dom. “So did you fuck the chick or not?”

  He didn’t even think. He just acted. Dominic swung and hit Jasper square in the jaw. The guy staggered back and landed on his ass. Dom stood ready to attack again but Jasper just sat on the floor and laughed.

  “I knew it. You’re in love in with her.”

  “Shut the fuck up or I’ll hit you again.” His fists were still raised, eager to kick some ass, and this guy was his new favorite target.

  “You know it’s true.” Jasper rested back on his hands, an open invitation to take another punch.

  “Fuck you.” Dominic rolled his eyes and gave the bag a series of hits that would put any living being in the hospital. He wasn’t able to strike someone who wasn’t going to fight back. Jasper was a killer just like the rest, but in their off time, the guys didn’t battle. Roman’s rules. Hopefully, he wouldn’t catch hell for the punch to the man’s face. “You don’t know shit,” Dom yelled between punches.

  Jasper held the towel to his cheek and slowly rose to his feet. “You know. If you need some tips on the ladies, I’d be happy to help.”

  “Get lost. I’m not interested in her and I certainly don’t need your help.” Dom threw off the gloves and turned to the barbells next, lifting them one arm at a time.