His

by Fiona Murphy

  I blink when my eyes begin to water, opening them to find he’s inches away from me. I wonder what it would be like to kiss him. Are his lips as soft as they seem? Those lips curve into a deeper smile, a knowing smile. “Dominic Sabatini, and you are Regina.”

  He says my name with the Italian pronunciation, rolling his tongue on the re, then stressing the e sound the i becomes. I haven’t heard it that way since I came to New York. I’m sure that’s why it causes a violent twist in my tummy, not the way his dimples flash as he stresses the e sound. It’s a question that’s not a question, but I nod anyway.

  Sabatini, the name sounds familiar. Usually the lawyers have bland old white guy names. He’s holding out his hand for mine, and I give it to him without thinking. Electricity zips through my entire body, so strong it verges on pain. He feels it too; his eyes widen as they catch and hold mine. I’m enveloped in heat so intense I wonder if it’s going to leave a mark. Fear of this unknown shakes me out of the heady moment. I try to tug my hand away, only his smile is gone as his grip tightens. Oh god, the core of me is melting in a way I’ve never felt before, didn’t know could happen. Closer, he’s getting closer. Even with my fear I can’t move away from him. Everything in me is desperate for him to fulfill the promise in those eyes.

  “Dominic, I see you’ve met my Gina.” Johnny’s voice is loud, close, and shocks the both of us out of...I don’t even know what. Dominic drops my hand, instantly I’m cut free from my mooring, drifting painfully alone. “Come in, come in. Can I get you a drink? Scotch?”

  Johnny’s hand is on my back, guiding me into the formal living room. I collapse into the closest chair. “No scotch for you, Johnny.” The words are out automatically—he doesn’t do a good job of following doctor’s orders. I’ve caught him sneaking scotch before. “Can I have a brandy, please?”

  “How many goddamn times I gotta tell you to call me—” He catches sight of Dominic and mutters, “Fine.”

  I don’t usually drink anything other than wine, but right now I feel like I need something stronger. The burn of the brandy yanks me out of the haze clinging to me. I keep my eyes down, shocked by what happened, what’s still happening. His eyes are on me, I feel them as if he were touching me. My skin is hot, tight, so sensitive the fine velvet of my dress almost hurts.

  “Gina, your father tells me you work for a publishing house doing book translations. How do you like it?”

  His voice is deep, rich and smoky; it sends a shiver along my spine. I can feel him urging me to look at him, only I don’t dare. “Regina,” I reply sharply. It annoys me when people call me Gina. Yet one of the thousands of reasons I can’t stand Johnny for, is his refusal to call me anything but Gina no matter how many times I asked him not to. “I like it. It’s a great way to get to read books for free and even get paid for it.”

  “Reading, all she does is read all day. She doesn’t clean or do any cooking. She can’t cook. She doesn’t even visit her Nonna.”

  “Your mother doesn’t want me to visit her. She calls me a bastard every time she sees me,” I remind him. I hang my head in embarrassment—Johnny is on his usual roll of what a disappointment I am. Next will come how fat I am and my lack of fashion sense. Then suddenly he’s not. The air vibrates around me, I look up to find Johnny and Dominic Sabatini in the depths of a stare-off. Stunned, I watch Johnny drop his eyes first.

  What the hell was that? I’m still in shock when Dominic’s eyes find mine. Once again even though I want to, I can’t look away. Intense heat hits me, melting every single bone in my body. Why does my mouth water? I desperately want to understand what is happening. Only I couldn’t form the question even if I could speak.

  He blinks, the heat dims ever so slightly, allowing me to draw in breath to my starving lungs. The corner of his mouth lifts up, then he winks at me. “I don’t think all women belong in the kitchen. The bedroom is a much better place.”

  I blush, to the tips of my ears. I hate him for it. In a flash the air is vibrating around him with something I cannot define. He reminds me of a lion who spotted his prey and is ready to pounce, watching, waiting for the perfect moment. But I’m not prey, certainly not to him, am I?

  “That’s just as insulting, Mr. Sabatini. A woman doesn’t exist for the sole pleasure of a man.” I spit out the words, annoyed at the way it doesn’t faze him in the slightest. A mad urge builds to shake that damn smile off his face, hating the crazy feelings it’s causing in me.

  “Of course not, don’t forget they are needed to birth the babies.” His eyebrows go up. “I’m not going to argue with a beautiful woman. There are far better ways to spend my time.”

  His innuendo is clear. I can’t hide my blush. I’m saved by the doorbell.

  “That will be Raymond. I’m still pissed the last one retired, best damn lawyer they had. They promised he’s the best new partner they have. Is Darren still practicing?” Johnny asks Dominic.

  “No, he retired last year. His successor isn’t so bad.”

  What? I look to Johnny. “I thought Dominic was your new lawyer. You said your new lawyer was coming for dinner.”

  “He is coming for dinner. Dominic is in town on business for me.”

  Business, which means Dominic Sabatini is a mobster. My stomach drops, agony rips through me. I have no idea why I feel so betrayed. Dominic Sabatini has nothing to do with me. That moment in the hall didn’t make any sense I shouldn’t even have—oh my god, Richard. How the hell did I forget about Richard? My stomach twists. I’m going to marry Richard in less than twenty-four hours. How could I have forgotten that, or him, for even a single second?

  4

  Dominic

  When it clicks for her who I am, her disappointment is palpable. Her beautiful face falls, those honey eyes darken. Regina refuses to look up from the glass she’s holding tightly in her hand. The second she remembers Taylor is clear. Tension is in every muscle of her lush, sexy as fuck body.

  Anger flares within me all over again, at her, and myself for how not just my cock, but my whole body is hard for her. This is bullshit. My control over my body, my entire fucking world, is complete and absolute. At least it was until I locked eyes on Regina Conti.

  I shake my head as I try to get the moment I saw her out of my head. I still don’t know what the fuck happened. One minute I was fine, the next I couldn’t remember my name. Every cell within me was rioting in desperate, aching need to touch her.

  Before coming here, in my mind she was some shadowy figure of any woman; in reality she’s a fucking knockout. Her face is a classic oval with high round cheekbones. A smooth straight nose is maybe a tad too big, yet it fits perfectly over a wide, soft mouth. When that mouth made an oh at the sight of me, I knew my cock would fit just right. It’s her eyes I can’t get over, though—amber became gold, honey, then chocolate with a flicker of her thoughts. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

  I like that Regina didn’t wear makeup, her golden skin doesn’t need it. The long, silky black hair framing her face is such a stark contrast to her glowing skin, for a moment I couldn’t help but wonder if it was from a bottle. Yet nothing about her is false or fake. Something so rare these days, that alone is appealing about her. Even though I know she’s young, she doesn’t look it. She appears to be in her late twenties, maybe even early thirties. It isn’t a bad thing, she will likely look the same in her mid-fifties.

  It was all I could do to tear my eyes off her face. Only to take a city bus to the chest when I took in her body that was all woman. Her large breasts swayed when she took a deep, gasping breath as our eyes met. She’s tall, the way I like my women. Those legs were hidden by the long dress, but I have a feeling they’ll fit around my waist perfectly.

  The moment I took her small, soft hand in mine, electricity shot through me and fried my fucking brain. All I wanted was her, all of her. I wanted to devour her, consume her until there was nothing left. She felt it too, her gasp as she tried to snatch her hand back fed my cock. I d
idn’t let her go, it was too late for that.

  Then Johnny spoke up. I tried to remember who the fuck I was and who she was, and that if I touched her the way my body screamed to, then I was damned to hell. Only I can’t shake the thought that if I don’t touch her it’s a different kind of hell, never knowing the feel of her skin or the taste of her mouth.

  Christ, Johnny is laughing and I have no idea what the hell he’s laughing about. I can’t fucking focus. Knock it off, Dominic. It was one thing to tease her, to entice her into forgetting Taylor; there would be no follow-through. No body, no matter how hot, is worth the price I would pay if I fucked Johnny Conti’s daughter. It would be marriage. It would be forever. I’m not willing to pay that price. Only my stupid fucking cock won’t listen, it knows what it wants and it wants her, right now.

  She’s pulling into herself, those long legs press tightly together as she tilts them to the side, crossing her ankles primly. Regina is sitting like the queen her name means. Her spine is straight, her shoulders back—Conti’s money wasn’t wasted on the school he sent her to. It would, however, be a damn waste if she married Richard Taylor. The guy was filthy as fuck. Valdez followed up his half-complete report with the question of me needing disposal service. I fucking wish. He wasn’t done, and Valdez was sure there was only more horrible shit to come. The idea of the piece of shit’s grubby hands even touching Regina makes me savage.

  The lawyer is a pale old man whose name I barely catch as he takes a glass of brandy from Johnny. Thankfully, only a few minutes later the woman who opened the door announces dinner is served. I’ve eaten dinner before with Johnny, he loves formal dining. I’m surprised we aren’t at an expensive restaurant. Johnny prefers them and usually stuck the other person with the bill.

  Regina is barely speaking, as she picks at her food. What is it about her? I’ve fucked women who were far more beautiful than she is, only none of them have ever made me this hard, this hungry. I catch Johnny watching me. Ice slides down my spine at his knowing smile.

  No. She’s too young, and too clean for me to dirty up. It’s also clear as a fucking bell she doesn’t want anything to do with me. The few times I’ve asked her something, attempting to include her in the discussion, she looks through me. Anger simmers within me. I’m not used to being ignored, not by anyone, least of all a woman.

  We make it to after-dinner drinks, and the lawyer asks Regina about a painting on the wall. Johnny uses the moment to step close to me. “You aren’t doing as well as I thought you would.”

  “No shit, you didn’t tell me she hates guys like you and me.”

  Johnny shrugs. “Yeah, but I saw you two. First time I’ve seen her smile in weeks. Now she’s disappeared into her room. Go.”

  I look around and she’s gone. “Where’s her room?”

  “Down the hall, the last door on the right.”

  Walking down the hall, I pull out my phone. It would be better if I had it in paper, for now my phone will have to do. I don’t bother knocking. Regina is standing in the middle of her room, running her hands through her long, silky hair. She isn’t posing, but fuck me, the sight of her with her arms up high, her hands in her hair, her breasts thrust up has me stone fucking hard in an instant.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing in here?” Her outrage animates her beautiful face. Not helping me get my cock under control.

  “The man you think you’re marrying tomorrow is a piece of shit. A coke-addicted, rapist, murderer, and embezzling piece of shit. He’s in debt over three hundred thousand to a bunch of people, one of them Alonzo Bruno. He’s using you.”

  I shove my phone in her face. Her eyes darken to melting chocolate. She steps back, shaking her head, doesn’t even look at my phone.

  “Take it and look. This was all found in less than three hours of not even deep digging. I can get you the pictures of a prostitute he fucked up so badly she’s had two reconstructive surgeries. There’s a stripper too. She disappeared after she pressed charges, no one can find her. He doesn’t love you, Regina. He loves money and his skin, which is what he’s trying to save by marrying you. The minute he gets a ring on your finger the plan is to hit up your father for five hundred thousand.”

  Fuck, she blinks, there are tears glistening in her eyes. Squeezing her eyes shut, she keeps shaking her head. Then she’s opening them and pushes me away, hard. I don’t move an inch. “Get out of here, you lying bastard. Fuck you and fuck Johnny. I’m tired of him trying to control me.”

  “He’s not trying to control you. He’s trying to save your damn life. If Taylor doesn’t get what he wants from your father, he will make your life a living hell. Your father cares about you, he’s trying to protect you. Johnny doesn’t even know half the shit I found. Look at it, damn you.”

  She smacks the phone out of my hand. “Get the fuck away from me. I don’t believe you. I know Richard, he loves me. He—”

  “You don’t know shit. Fine, ask him. Ask him about Katrina Snyder, the stripper who went missing. Ask him about Tory—”

  Another shove. “Get out! Get out! Shut up!”

  Jesus Christ. “Regina—”

  She slaps me across the face, hard. Her eyes go wide, as her hands go up to her mouth. She’s backing away from me, scared.

  Yeah, she should be scared. No one has hit me since I was sixteen years old. No one has dared. I force a deep breath and grab my phone, walking away while I still can. I’ve never laid a hand on a woman in anger, and I won’t start now. I’m barely out of her room when I run right into Johnny.

  “Where the fuck are you going? Holy shit, she hit you?”

  “I need a minute.” I run my hands through my hair, fighting for control. This is bullshit. I’m cool, downright cold, a ruthless sonofabitch. I’ve made grown men cry before I even touched them. Men are afraid of me, and none of it has to do with me carrying a gun. The more pissed I get the colder I get, but right now I feel like I’m a volcano about to blow.

  “Make her listen, Dom.” He sighs heavily. “I don’t have five hundred, I don’t even have five Gs. I’m broke. I didn’t have insurance, between the cancer treatments and my mother, I barely have enough for a cup of coffee most days.”

  Shock doesn’t cover it. How could he be broke? As the head of the family I send him fifteen percent of the earnings from my business. On average I send him a little more than fifty grand a month, Pop sends him about twenty grand a month. There are six other men in Chicago paying him. Yeah, some of it goes to pay bills, senators, cops, aldermen, and lawyers, but he should still be netting three hundred grand easy. How deep is his debt? “Broke?”

  His face is red with shame. “I got nothing, I’m barely treading water. Any day they are going to repossess this condo and there’s nothing I can do about it. Dominic, I need you to take care of Gina. I trust you. I’m giving her to you. She’s yours, your moglie.”

  I’m shaking my head. I don’t want her. I don’t want any woman for a wife.

  “Please, Dominic, this is my last request of you as your Don. As a father who wants to die knowing his daughter is safe. Take her and protect her from this world and herself.”

  Goddamnit. For a split second I consider walking away from this whole fucking mess. Only I can’t do that to Johnny, as my Don, as a father who cares about his daughter. And Regina, fuck. Despite what she may think, I have no doubt Taylor would hurt her, and the idea of it... Jesus fucking Christ, savage anger fires through me. Taylor won’t touch her, not now, not ever.

  I don’t want her, yet honor demands I take her and do as he asked, keep her safe, even from herself. “You got cuffs?”

  He shakes his head.

  Mine. Regina is mine. She isn’t going to be any happier than I am about it. I take off my tie, it will have to do.

  She’s locked her door, too bad. I’ve done this before, never to a woman, there’s a first time for everything. A well-placed kick and the door swings open. Regina screams.

  She aims a punch at me
, this time I don’t let her get close. I grab her wrist to bring it around behind her back. Sonofabitch, she fucking bit me. Fuck this, I’m not quite as careful as I was a minute ago. I swipe her feet out from under her to bring her down to the floor, a knee to the middle of her back and it’s only seconds to get her hands tied. Yanking her up onto her feet “Where’s the bag you packed for tomorrow?”

  She shakes her head, compressing her mouth. I keep her hands in one of mine as I get her closet door open. I spot a large cloth bag, a quick check tells me this is it. Dropping the bag onto my other shoulder, I haul her after me down the hall.

  “Johnny! Daddy, you can’t let him take me. Please! Help me!”

  “Dominic is a good man. He’ll take care of you. You belong to him now, be a good moglie and behave for him.”

  Aw shit, it’s a match tossed on a stack of dynamite. Regina starts struggling like a demon possessed. “Wife? Have you lost your fucking mind? Fuck you! I hate you! You’re a horrible father, the shittiest father in the Western Hemisphere! When you die, I’ll spit on your grave.”

  Damn it, she’s struggling so much she’s going to hurt herself. I bend over and toss her over my shoulder. It has an added benefit of shutting her up. I grab her bag from the floor.

  The woman who opened the front door comes running. Her eyes wide, she backs away as I leave.

  I hit the elevator button and let Regina down. I’m pretty sure there are cameras covering the elevator as well as the garage I’m going to. The last thing I need is someone seeing this. I had driven the car over to show Johnny, and now I’m glad I did. “You’re going to behave or I’m going to make you behave.”

  “You get off on hurting women, throwing them around, showing how big and strong you are? You’re disgusting.”