No Greater Loyalty

by S. K. Hardy

  "Precaution my ass, Dominick! Don't you dare try and feed me that nonsense!" She let the drapes fall back into place and turned to face him. "It's started, hasn't it?"

  Dom knew what she meant and didn’t pretend otherwise. "Yeah. It's started."

  They locked eyes for several moments before Keisha ran her hand through her damp hair. Pacing back and forth, her mind raced as the gravity of their situation finally set in, and once it did, she felt sick. This wasn't their life. Drug cartels, armed guards, threats against their family. Of course she'd known about Angel and the type of world he lived in before she married Dominick, but she didn't think it would ever touch them. Dom had promised her it wouldn't. Apparently, it was a promise he hadn't been able to keep.

  "This can't be happening," Keisha stated in a low voice. Swinging around, she cast eyes full of accusation and fear towards Dominick. "What now? Do I have to worry about the children's safety every time we step foot out of the house? Do I have to travel with armed bodyguards wherever I go, always on the alert for anyone who looks suspicious because they might want to blow my fucking head off? Is that what you're saying?"

  "Keish..."

  Dom wished like hell that he could tell her everything she'd just said was an over exaggeration, but he couldn't. She was right. She didn't need him to gloss over the facts because shit was real. As of twelve hours ago, life as they'd known it was over.

  "I don't like this anymore than you do, but for now, we need to be very careful. This is the only way I can make sure my family is safe."

  "Oh God," Keisha whispered, turning her back to him.

  This can't be happening, she repeated to herself. Feeling Dom's arms slip around her waist from behind, she thrust them off of her, furious at him, the situation they were in, and hating this Melania Cruz bitch with every bone in her body.

  Dominick fought to keep his own frustrated anger in check, but he was fast losing patience. He turned Keisha around to face him. "Baby, I know this is coming at you all at once, and it’s hard to process, but time is not a luxury we have so I'm just gonna lay it all out in the open. Melania Cruz was going to come after me whether I had a son involved in this or not. Is she dangerous? Yes, extremely so. Am I afraid for my family's safety and well being? Hell yes."

  Dom placed his hands loosely on either side of her neck, using his thumbs to gently lift her face to look at him. He needed eye contact, needed to connect with her in a way they hadn't been able to do in some time. "Answer me this, Keisha, have I ever made you feel as if you weren't safe or like you couldn't depend on me?"

  Keisha swallowed, becoming lost in the intense flame that burned brightly in his eyes. Her husband had the most beautiful eyes, so emotional. They drew Keisha in and allowed her to glimpse down into his very soul. "No. Never."

  And he hadn't. Before Dominick, Keisha hadn't had any other family that she could depend on except for Jerra and Aleesha. The day she met Dominick, she'd felt an instant physical attraction unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She'd tried to convince herself that it was nothing that great sex wouldn't cure, but the first time they made love, it was clear to both of them that the connection was so much more than that. Keisha had fought it every step of the way, as had Dom, but it was no use. After they finally gave in, nothing and no one had ever been able to come between them.

  "I've always taken care of you, Keisha, and I always will. Babe, I need you to trust me the same as you've always done. I understand you're frightened, but I need to know you got my back while I'm gone so that I can concentrate on what I have to do." His eyes searched hers, needing her support more than he would ever admit.

  Keisha hesitated before her hand came up to cup the side of his face. "Two things."

  His expression guarded, Dom answered slowly. "Okay."

  "You'd better not come back with a scratch on you, you understand me, Dominick Spain? I want you back the same way you left."

  A hint of a smile lifted the corner of Dom's mouth. He nodded because he knew she was serious. "And the second thing?"

  "No matter what you have to do, make sure that bitch never bothers us again."

  Pulling her close, he nodded. "I give you my promise."

  Keisha lifted her mouth to his as Dom lowered his head. The kiss started off sweet, its intent meant to allay fears and reassure each of them that everything would be okay, but when Keisha's lips softened and her tongue gently wrapped around his, Dom moaned quietly, enjoying the moment of closeness.

  "I love you, Dominick," Keisha sighed against his mouth.

  Dom's arms tightened, letting her feel his need. He loved this woman so damned much. Hell, without her, there was no him. Keisha was his rib, a necessary part of his survival. Dom would do anything in his power to protect her and their family.

  Which brought him back to Angel and the conversation they'd just had. He needed to take a shower and get dressed in order to leave on time, but when Keisha's hand trailed down his stomach to stop at the waistband of his sweats he became momentarily distracted. Dom lifted his head a fraction so that his lips hovered over hers. His breathing labored, the muscles in his abs tightened in anticipation as he waited on her touch.

  "Keish, baby, I want you so fuckin' bad I ache."

  Sensing there was more, Keisha pulled back a little in order to see his face. She raised a dark, sculptured brow. "But?" she whispered.

  "But... I gotta go."

  Keisha frowned. "Go? Go where?"

  "I'm on my way to Angel's. There's a lot we need to discuss, devise a strategy." His eyes dropped to the towel that had come untucked and slipped down to reveal the rising slope of her breasts. "Otherwise, wild horses couldn't drag me away from this spot. I don't want to start something that I won't be able to finish. Properly, that is," he grinned.

  "Oh. Okay." Keisha glanced down and saw the outline of his erection prominently taking up space in the front of his sweats. She bit down on her lip. "Not even a quickie?"

  Dom gave into temptation and pulled the towel down a little. "Keisha Spain, with you there's no such thing as a 'quickie' and you know it." He bent down to scatter teasing kisses along her neck before traveling lower to kiss the top of her left breast.

  "Mmm. You smell good." Unable to resist, he captured a pouty nipple between his lips, sucking it briefly then pulling back to watch appreciatively as it stiffened in arousal. "Taste even better."

  For a brief second, Dom contemplated whether or not to give them both what they so badly wanted, what they needed, but he meant what he'd told her. If he started now, there was no way in hell he'd be able to stop.

  He reluctantly stepped back. "Later. Tonight. I promise."

  It was on the tip of Keisha's tongue to point out that he'd made the exact same promise last night after Angel called. Instead, she nodded and forced a smile. "Okay, but I plan on holding you to it."

  "Do that," he winked before going to his heavy oak bureau and pulling out a pair of clean boxer briefs.

  Keisha sat on the bed as he disappeared into the closet then came out with a pair of black slacks and a white shirt that he laid beside her.

  "You talk to Jerra this morning?" he asked.

  Samantha and Christian, along with Dillon and Olivia, the kids Marcus and Aleesha were in the process of adopting had spent the night at Darrell and Jerra's house. The previous evening was supposed to have been just the two of them spending some much needed quality time together, but the phone call from Angel had drastically changed their plans.

  "No, but I'm getting ready to call her now."

  "Okay. I'll be out in a second," Dom called over his shoulder as he headed to the bathroom.

  As soon as the door closed behind him, Keisha waited. Once she heard the unmistakable sound of water spraying from the shower, she whipped the towel off and tied it around her wet hair. Hurrying to her closet, which was separate from his, she grabbed a pair of cream-colored pants and a sleeveless aqua blue blouse. After quickly dressing, she ran back to the closet and pu
lled out a pair of multi-colored shoes that had the same color in them as her blouse and slipped them on.

  Racing to her dresser, she quickly selected an oversized pair of gold hoop earrings and a gold cuff bracelet then frowned in the mirror at her still damp hair.

  "Now what am I going to do with this?" she muttered to herself, running her fingers through the soft strands. At that moment, the shower shut off.

  "Shit!" she hissed. Picking up a brush, she hurried and brushed her hair before expertly twisting it in the back and securing it with a pearl colored clip. The overall look was effortlessly chic.

  Seconds later, the bathroom door opened and Dom walked out with a towel around his waist. He had yet to look up to see that she was fully dressed. "Baby, I was thinking, once I leave Angel's, why don't I come home and pick you up. You and I can go and get some lunch before we get the kids. That way..." He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Keisha standing in the middle of the room. Clearly puzzled, his eyes ran over the outfit she had on. "You goin' somewhere?"

  Clearing her throat, Keisha lifted her chin. "Yes. With you."

  Dom squinted, wondering what he was missing. "With me...where?"

  Keisha swallowed. "To Angel's."

  Understanding flooded his face before he scowled and shook his head. "No, you're not."

  Keisha had already been prepared for that response. Carefully inflecting just the right amount of pleading in her voice, she implored him to reconsider. "Why not? Dom, please, I can visit with Nikki while you and Angel have your meeting."

  Dom's eyes captured hers, searching her innocent expression for any sign that she might be hiding something.

  Keisha held her breath, refusing to look away. Once he finally broke the visual connection, she caught the sigh of relief that almost escaped just in time. There wasn't much she could hide from Dominick, and she could only hope that he didn’t see through the flimsy excuse she'd thought to give him.

  Sitting down on the bed, he put his socks on and reached for his shoes. His attention remained fixed on the simple task, the tiny muscle in his jaw jumping in response to his agitation. When he glanced up at Keisha, the warning tingling inside his head intensified. Keisha was looking at him with wide eyes and taking nibbling bites of her bottom lip, which were both dead giveaways when she was trying to get her way. Usually, he found it cute and adorable. That wasn't the case this morning.

  "So your sudden decision to go with me has nothing to do with wanting to find out what Angel and I will be discussing?" Dom’s brow lifted, his gaze spearing into her with the accuracy of an arrow hitting its target. "Right?"

  Keisha shifted in her high-heeled designer shoes. Easing her hands behind her back, she crossed her fingers. Of course that's why she wanted to go.

  "Right. And, um..."

  Dom's head tilted slightly to the side. "And...what?" he prompted.

  "I don't know what to expect with all of this, Dominick. I was thinking that maybe if I had a chance to talk to Nikki, she could give me some insight into how she deals with living like...that." Keisha gestured towards the window, indicating the SUV parked outside. Her eyes welled with tears she didn't have to fake, and when she blinked, her lashes clumped together in thick, silky, spikes. She was so scared for him, for their family.

  "Alright, stop." Dom went to her and wiped away a tear that had dropped and was now rolling down her face. "You know I can't stand to see you cry."

  "I'm sorry," Keisha sniffed. She slipped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest.

  "Don't apologize, baby." Dom's hand ran soothing circles over her back as he fought the guilt he felt. He hated more than anything that he had put her in this situation. Nikki had known what she was getting into with Angel from the very beginning. That wasn't true for Keisha. The last thing he ever wanted to do was expose her to that life. Now, because of him, she was being thrown into it at a lightning fast speed. Of course she was overwhelmed.

  "It's okay. You're right, it'll be good to talk to Nikki, see how she handles this lifestyle, the bodyguards, the fear..."

  With her head still resting on his chest, Keisha did her best to ignore her own twinge of guilt. She knew Dom wanted to shield her from all of the ugliness as much as possible, but the only way she'd be aware of what they were up against was if she sat in on that meeting and heard everything first hand. The not knowing was hell because her imagination was conjuring up all sorts of crazy scenarios that she'd seen in the movies. It was driving her absolutely insane. Keisha planned on getting answers to the questions she sought and she would have them one way or the other.

  She moved back to peer into his eyes. "I love you."

  A smile eased the severity of Dom's expression. "I love you too. Come on. We'd better go."

  Keisha nodded and picked up her purse. As they walked out of the bedroom hand in hand, she said a little prayer. She asked God for forgiveness and mercy because she would need every bit of both when Dominick figured out the real reason behind her decision to go with him to Angel's house.

  CHAPTER 3

  "It's beautiful here," Keisha commented as she and Dom drove past the security gates and entered the ultra-exclusive community where Angel and Nikki lived.

  The area offered privacy and protection comparable to a fortress. It had every amenity its filthy rich homeowners could ask for and more. Celebrities, politicians, and CEOs were among the neighborhood's elite. In addition to an extravagant country club, the community boasted a riding arena, professional golf course, as well as gorgeous parks and gardens. No two properties were even remotely the same; Angel and Nikki's home was the largest by far.

  Hearing the admiration in Keisha's voice, Dom momentarily took his eyes off the road and glanced at her. "You say that every time we come to visit Angel and Nikki. You sure you don't want to buy in this area?"

  Keisha's response was quick and passionate. "Oh, no! We wouldn't last a month, too many rules and regulations." She shook her head to emphasize her point. "No, thank you."

  Dominick chuckled as he turned down the street that would take them to Angel's mansion. Angel had been one of the first to build his home here and had purchased several lots that surrounded his in order to give him complete and utter privacy.

  Stopping at the guard shack outside of Angel’s home, Dom nodded a greeting to the security guard who made sure he had a clear, visual of Dom before opening the gate and waving them in. On either side of the long, winding driveway was a perfectly manicured yard that had been professionally landscaped. Behind the humongous modern mansion that Angel built was a manmade lake. Majestic rolling mountains provided a picture perfect backdrop for the entire property.

  Although Dominick's money was nowhere near as long as his brother's, he could well afford to live in an area like this if he chose to. His architectural business was booming, but the bulk of his wealth came from shares in Davidson World Corporation, a billion dollar company where he and Angel were majority stockholders.

  Pulling to a stop in the circular driveway, Dominick got out of the car and came around to open Keisha's door. Once she stepped out her attention was immediately captured by the armed men who patrolled Angel's property. Normally, she didn't give them a second thought because it was just how Angel lived, but today, she was fully aware of exactly what they represented. The epiphany only served to make Keisha more determined than ever to find out everything she could about the danger her husband would be walking into.

  "Ready, baby?" Dominick asked when she continued to stand there.

  Nodding, Keisha slipped her hand into Dom's and walked to the front door. After ringing the doorbell, they didn't have to wait long before Angel's butler swung the intricately carved wooden door open. Stepping back, he bowed from the waist and gestured for Dom and Keisha to come inside.

  "Mr. Spain. Mrs. Spain," he uttered respectfully in a dignified English accent. "Mr. LaCroix is expecting you. This way, please."

  "Thank you, Jonathan." With his hand on the middle of
Keisha's back, Dominick followed the man inside.

  The foyer of the home was huge, and to their left was a sprawling spiral staircase. At the very top was a long catwalk leading to different wings, which veered to the left and to the right. The third floor of the humongous structure was strictly Angel's domain.

  Keisha's heels clicked sharply on the polished marble floors as they followed Jonathan. They were headed to the dining room where he'd informed them brunch awaited. She admired the paintings they passed along the way like she always did whenever she came here. As a photographer, her artistic eye appreciated the beauty and elegance of each piece. She had to admit that she'd been surprised to learn that Angel was a fan of the arts. He had an extensive art collection in his possession that was showcased on the walls throughout his home, while other pieces were loaned out to various museums and art galleries.

  Once they finally made it to the dining room, the first person Keisha saw was Angel, who sat at the head of the table. She didn't miss the slight lift of his brow when he noticed she was with Dom, but the warm smile that very few were the recipients of stayed on his lips as he stood up and came around to give her a hug.

  Her brother-in-law was a handsome man, no doubt about it. Tall with a lean, muscular build, he was blessed with dark, sooty lashes that surrounded a set of beautiful green eyes. He and Dom shared the same sensual lips and square jawline. Though the two men had different fathers, the fact that they were related was unmistakable.

  The first time Keisha met Angel had not been under the most ideal circumstances. That day almost seemed surreal, but she remembered him sitting behind a desk smoking a cigar and staring at her with an intensity that had caused a shiver of fear to run down her spine. Not many people scared Keisha, but she freely admitted that Angel had intimidated the hell out of her without even saying a word. However, once he became satisfied that she did indeed love Dominick as much as he loved her, and treated Dom's daughter, Samantha, as if she were her own, he embraced her as part of his family.