by Rumer Raines
Dominic rolls over and holds my arms as he pushes himself farther into me. It’s harder and deeper as I open my legs wider for him. With one final hard thrust, he collapses. I can feel his uneven breathing on my cheek as he holds me close.
I settle back, enjoying the feel of his arms around me.
He whispers, his breath hot against my ear, “What did you need to talk about?”
I bury my face against his neck. “I need to get some sleep. I have to go to work in a few hours.”
“Call in sick.” Reclaiming my lips, he crushes me to him. The kiss sends the pit of my stomach into a wild swirl. A few hours later, I do call in, and Dominic makes me grateful for doing so.
After he makes sure I come several more times, he climbs out of bed to make lunch. I’m almost too weak to walk to the kitchen, but I find the strength.
“You don’t have much, baby. I made us turkey sandwiches.”
Sitting across from him, I take the first bite as his suspicious eyes watch me.
“What did you need to talk about?” he asks.
Placing my sandwich down, I swallow hard as he watches me. “I need to talk to you about the money.”
His eyes narrow and he tilts his head. “The money?”
I nod.
“What about the money? You still have it, don’t you?”
Taking a sip of my soda, I shake my head.
“The money is gone, Dominic.” Anxiety spurts through me.
Dominic jumps out of his chair so fast that it falls over, and he runs his hand through his scruffy beard. “What the fuck do you mean the MONEY IS GONE?” he yells.
Maybe I made a mistake by telling him? He doesn’t look like the same man I was in bed with a few minutes ago.
“It’s gone,” I whisper.
“Stephanie… if you’re joking around, this shit isn’t funny.” He stomps toward my bedroom. Dominic starts looking under my bed, going through my closet, and moving to the next room before I stop him. I am starting to feel like I am no longer with my loving Dominic, but instead, I am with the mobster who is about to kill me over this missing money. My life flashes before my eyes as I remember my mother telling me to call the cops.
He halts my escape with a firm hand on my arm. “Where is the money?” His jaw is clenched, his eyes slightly narrowed.
“He took it,” I manage to reply through stiff lips.
He draws his lips in thoughtfully. “Who took it?”
Nervously, I moisten my dry lips as his expression grows hard and resentful. “Ted. Ted stole your money.”
28
“TED... STOLE MY FUCKING MONEY,” he says smoothly, with no expression on his face.
“Yes.”
“How did he get it? You had the money here, didn’t you?” His voice is almost too calm now.
“I did… I hid it in the closet.” My voice is fragile and shaking.
“He just so happens to have access to your closet, Stephanie? Were you fucking him, too?”
“Are you serious right now? You think I was fucking Ted?”
“Let’s not forget the first time I laid eyes on you, you had a dick in your hands. You are a fucking sex toy consultant, aren’t you? Was this all just a game to you?” His voice is thick and unsteady.
“Fuck you, Dominic! You are the only man I have been sleeping with. I don’t know how Ted got in here and found your damn money, but this isn’t some fucking conspiracy. As matter of fact, just get the fuck out!” My voice is shakier than I would have liked.
Dominic stares at me, baffled.
A tumble of confused thoughts and feelings assault me. My feelings toward him are becoming confused.
He moves close enough to put his hand on my shoulder in a possessive gesture, but I shake it off.
“I want you to get out!” I yell.
He holds up a hand to silence me and quickly runs his hand through his short hair. “I’m sorry, baby.” He pulls me against him and wraps his arms around me. In a defensive gesture, I cross my arms across my chest to give myself a little distance.
His dark eyebrows slant in a frown. Stroking his chin, he regards me carefully. Holding out his hands, he offers another apology.
I turn my face away from him. “I want you to leave,” I whisper.
He shakes his head decisively, then smiles and inclines his head. “I’m not going anywhere, Steph. If you’re honest, you don’t want me to either.”
He is right, I don’t want him to leave. I want him to take care of the problem that I caused. I should have never taken that damn money to begin with.
Looking up as I approach, he openly studies me. “I guess you’re about to get your wish for free.” He moves closer, looking down at me intensely.
“What wish?”
“Ted will soon be gone.”
Dominic leaves a moment later, and I pace with worry. He doesn’t tell me where he’s heading, but I know he’s going to find Ted. This all started because I wanted him gone, and it’s about to happen. I just don’t understand why it worries me. Ted is a spineless bastard who will get what he deserves. Dominic is a loving, tender man—and, yes, a killer—who I want to protect. I know he has killed before, but I don’t think I can live with him killing for me. Things are different now that I have feelings for him. What if he gets caught?
As the day goes on, the sky quickly turns dark. I can feel the storm coming, but I am not sure if it’s the weather or my life. Dominic has been gone for several hours, and he hasn’t answered any of my texts.
I watch the storm clouds rolling across the night sky as I drive to Marco’s. I need to talk to Dominic and convince him not to hurt Ted. Who would have thought I would plead for that bastard’s life?
Marching straight to the office, I don’t even knock as I walk right in. Anthony, Nico, Tank, and Dominic are huddled together at his desk. When the door slams shut, four guns point in my direction. Maybe I should have knocked first?
Dominic inhales a deep breath and is the first to lower his gun. “What the hell are you doing, Steph?” He looks at me intently then strides to the door.
“We need to talk.”
“Not now. You need to leave”
Taking a deep, unsteady breath, I step back, ready to argue. “Did you leave when I asked you to this morning?”
His brows set in a straight line.
Anthony moves to stand between us, his eyes hooded like those of a hawk. “Maybe she can help, Dom,” he suggests.
“No. She won’t be involved.”
“It’s her shit. She should help clean it up,” Anthony argues.
“I said no.” Dominic’s eyes darken.
“Maybe she can decide? She can hear, talk, and she is standing in the room,” I say firmly.
“I already said no. Can everyone get out, so I can talk to Stephanie?” His voice is calm, his gaze steady.
Everyone stands to leave, and I feel Nico’s cold eyes burning a hole in me as he walks past.
“You will stay out of this, Steph. I’ll find Ted, get our money back, and he’ll be out of your hair.” His voice is uncompromising yet oddly gentle.
“I don’t want you to hurt him,” I blurt out, scarcely aware of my own voice.
His eyes widen, openly amused. “Excuse me?” He weighs me with a critical squint.
“You heard me the first time.”
“Let me get this straight. You begged me to find a hitman, took money from me and stayed on my ass for months to get rid of him, and now you don’t want him hurt?” His expression is one of pained tolerance.
“Sounds about right,” I whisper.
“What’s going on, Stephanie?” His lips twist into a cynical smile.
“You were a stranger before. Now, you’re more.”
His large hand cups my face and holds it gently as his mouth covers mine hungrily.
I wish I knew what Dominic was thinking as his lips devour mine. I wish I knew if he understands what my words mean. I am willing to save the devil to keep
him out of trouble. It was easy to borrow money from a man who I wasn’t attached to. It was easy to ask him to get rid of Ted and hide the body, but it’s different now. Dominic has become so much more than my fixer. He is the man that I love going to bed with and waking up next to. I love him too much to ask him to get blood on his hands for me. I can’t believe I love this man, this killer.
29
IT’S BEEN weeks since Dominic found out that Ted stole his money. When we walked out of the office, I thought I had gotten through to Dominic. I thought he would walk away from the money, but he hasn’t. Dominic has plenty of money, but I misjudged when I thought he would call it a loss and move on.
I could feel the difference the minute we got back to my place. He was tense. His eyes were cold and distant. He tried to hide it, but I could still feel it. We had sex, but it felt like I was in bed with a stranger and not my Dominic. He wasn’t gentle, and the cruel ravishment of his mouth was unfamiliar.
The next morning, he was gone, the sheets were cold. He obviously left the minute I fell asleep. I cried as I made myself a bowl of oatmeal and could still smell his aftershave in the air. I didn’t know whether I should call him or prepare my heart to move on with my life.
More weeks go by, and I see less and less of Dominic. Maybe it’s time to move on?
I don’t feel like going to work today, but what are my other options? It has been raining for a week, and I can’t remember the last time I have seen the sun. The raindrops get heavier when I pull into the parking lot, so I grab my umbrella from the back seat to walk inside.
The minute I get to my desk, I am called into HR. My heart sinks as they slide the severance package across the table, advising that today is my last day. The department is being downsized, and I am one of the unlucky few who is being let go. They are kind enough to box up my personal belongings and hand them to me on my way to the door.
Despite hating the job, I sit in my car and cry. I have no idea what I’ll do next. I can’t call my parents because my mother isn’t talking to me. I can’t call Dominic because he is barely talking to me either. Monique is mad at me, and Monica is in rehab.
I guess this is one of the times when pride must take a back seat because I drive to Monique’s. I know she’ll be home since the bar isn’t open. I knock on the door several times, but there is no answer. As I am about to turn to leave, the door is yanked open, and I am greeted by a beautiful half-dressed blonde woman. She is wearing a white button-down shirt that is obviously belonged to a man. Her hair is messed up, and I can see she is just getting out of bed.
I feel sick…
“Did you need something?” she asks.
“Is Monique here?”
“No.”
“Is Anthony here?” I ask.
She narrows her eyes and shakes her head.
“Is…”
“Before you ask about everyone that lives in this house, the only person here is Dominic,” she stops me to answer.
A heaviness centers in my chest. Dominic has been with this woman.
“Liz! Who is at the door?” he yells.
I hear his voice and bite my bottom lip in dismay. He pulls the door open wider. There is a sourness in the pit of my stomach as he stands there in only his black pants with his chest covered in new tattoos.
I drop my lashes quickly to hide the hurt. “I-I-I came to see Monique. I guess she isn’t here, so I’ll...” I can’t say anymore and point toward my car.
“Wait.” His voice is rough with anxiety. He grabs my arm and pulls me inside, and I’m stuck staring at Liz.
Dominic notices and turns toward her, asking her to leave us alone.
“This isn’t what it looks like.” His statement sounds a little awkward.
“What do you think it looks like? You have been acting different, and I come over to find you half-dressed with Malibu fucking Barbie. I am not stupid, Dominic!” My heart is racing, and I find it hard to breathe.
After shoving on his chest, I catch my breath to continue. “I hate you! You go right ahead and fuck whoever the hell you want! You are nothing to me! I am done with you!” I push him again, and he catches my hands.
“You aren’t a good liar, baby. You don’t hate me. I didn’t fuck Liz. She works for me. She’s a tattoo artist and is going to lead me to Ted.” His tone is velvety smooth yet edged with steel.
I stare into his dark eyes and only see truth. “What are you talking about?”
He leans forward and lowers his voice. “Go home and I’ll come over in a few hours. I’ll explain everything,” he answers. I can tell by his tense, clipped words not to ask more questions.
Shaking my head, I walk to my car, leaving a half-dressed Dominic with Malibu Barbie.
I sit and wait for Dominic. A cry of relief breaks from my lips when he opens the door like he belongs here, with me.
“Are you going to share what was going on with Liz?”
There is a slight hesitation in his hawk-like eyes. “We can’t find Ted. We searched his house, his usual hangouts, but he’s fucking gone. We found her phone number and had Tank question her, but he couldn’t get shit out of her. After doing more research, I found out that she is a tattoo artist, so I went into her shop and hired her. She’ll share what she has on Ted when she trusts me”
My mind is spinning with bewilderment. “That doesn’t explain why she was walking around naked at your house.”
He stares at me, baffled. “I don’t normally do business at home, Steph. I didn’t know what she had, so I spilled wine on her. When she took her clothes off, I offered to put them in the wash and gave her a shirt to wear. She did my tattoos, and by the time she was done, the dryer went off. I went to get her clothes, and when I got back upstairs, she was at the door with you.”
My troubled spirits quiet since his story seems believable. “Okay,” I reply.
He cups my chin tenderly in his warm hand. “Okay? Is there a reason you’re home in the middle of the day?” His eyes rake over every inch of my face.
“I was fired.”
“Fired?”
“Yep. My position was eliminated. I was coming over to whine to Monique.”
“Your first thought was to talk to Monique and not me?”
“I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with me. I thought we were over.”
“Did I say we were over?”
“You’ve been treating me different, Dominic.”
“Steph… I am looking for a lot of fucking money. I’ve been busy.” His expression stills and grows serious.
I look away swiftly at the sight of his scowl.
“I’m sorry. I’m not good at this shit, Steph. I don’t do relationships or discuss my whereabouts with people. I should have communicated with you.”
“It’s okay. Apology accepted.”
“It’s not okay. You’re my woman, and I dropped the ball. It’s my job to make you feel secure and I let you down.”
“I’m your woman?” I whisper.
My reaction seems to amuse him. “You are…. I guess it’s been a few weeks, so I may have to show you.”
Dominic moves with lightning speed, lifting me easily and hauling me over his shoulder.
Dropping me on the bed, he looks me over seductively. He takes his time, and I enjoy every single moment of him making love to me, reacquainting our bodies.
30
“YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING!” Nico yells as Dominic glances between me and everyone else in the room.
“I am dead serious,” he advises as Nico starts to pace and Anthony runs his hand through his hair.
I’m trying to swallow the lump that lingers in my throat. I knew this wasn’t a good idea, but Dominic was persistent. It doesn’t help that he was mentioning this as he pounded his thick cock into me.
He decided that since I don’t have a job and I started the shit, I should help find Ted and get his money back. I’m a little confused since Monique said women never get involved in the business.
“She’s a fucking woman!” Nico yells, and I watch as Anthony starts to pinch the bridge of his nose. It’s obvious the shock has him silent.
“I know full well that she is a woman.” Dominic’s dark eyebrows arch mischievously.
“We need to discuss this alone!” Nico barks.
“No, we don’t.” Dominic gives me a small smile as he walks behind his desk.
“I have an idea,” Anthony finally speaks.
“Glad you’re back!” Nico yells.
“I think we need to walk away.” His brows are set in a straight line.
“Walk away?” Dominic questions.
“Yes. We need to walk the fuck away. I’m not saying he didn’t get away with a lot of our money, but we have plenty more, Dom. We can make that back in a few hours. What we can’t do is get Stephanie involved in this shit. We move on and he’ll eventually fuck up.”
Dominic’s eyes shoot up in surprise. “Not going to happen. We have a reputation to uphold. If that little fucker thinks he got away with it, he’ll run his mouth.”
“And say what, Dom? He thinks he stole the money from her. He doesn’t know it was ours. Let him walk… for now,” Anthony pleads.
“I say fuck no. We don’t let anyone walk… ever,” Nico argues.
I note Dominic’s set face, his clamped mouth, and fixed eyes. He’s thinking over all their options. A muscle quivers at his jaw as he looks between Anthony, Nico, a silent Tank, and me.
His jaw clenches and his eyes narrow slightly. “He doesn’t get to walk. We’re going to find him and take back what belongs to us. If he doesn’t have all of it, we’ll take body parts as payment.”
I watch as they leave the office. Dominic’s eyes stay fixed on me as I watch him. He walks around the desk and pulls me against him.
“Are you going to be okay with this?” he questions.
“I am going to help you take back what’s yours,” I tell him as I place my lips against his.
