Fallen: Dominic
Tiffany Aaron
Published 2005
ISBN 1-59578-115-3
Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © 2005, Tiffany Aaron. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Liquid Silver Books
http://lsbooks.com
Email:
[email protected]
Cover Art
by Fabiano Fabris
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
Dedication
As always, Chris, you are my inspiration and my joy.
Grandma, you are showing the way to live with joy and we’ll miss you when you’re gone.
Char and Tina, your help has been invaluable.
To the men and women everywhere fighting for equality and freedom from terror, I give you my eternal thanks.
Glossary Of Terms
Bòkò (baw-kaw): A Vodou priest who exclusively practices black magic and does not lead a socyete; also commonly spelled bokor.
Gèdè (gay-day): The large family of lwa that represents the dead.
Lwa (l-wah): The supernatural, immortal spirits who oversee different areas of the natural world and human experience; Vodou devotees serve the lwa, providing offerings in exchange for their help and advice; also commonly spelled loa.
Mambo (mahm-bo): A fully initiated priestess of Vodou whose responsibilities and authority is equal to the oungan’s.
Mojo (mo-jo): In New Orleans, a charm that uses black magic.
Ounfò (oon-faw): The entire Vodou temple, including the peristil and bagi; refers specifically to the inner sanctuary where altars to the lwa and ritualistic objects are kept; also commonly spelled hounfor.
Oungan (oon-gon): A fully initiated Vodou priest who is authorized to lead rituals, oversee an ounfò, commune with the lwa, heal the sick and advise on the affairs of the people in a socyete; also commonly spelled houngan.
Voye lamò (vo-yay lah-maw): Literally “sending the dead”; a spell cast by a bòkò in which he sends the spirits of the dead to inhabit the victim, causing a slow death.
Chapter One
The hustle and noise of the French Quarter disappeared as Dominic LaFontaine stood on the sidewalk outside of Ryder’s Bookstore staring through the plate glass window at the dark haired woman standing behind the counter. It had been a long two weeks away from New Orleans, but it wasn’t the city that had called him home. It was Teresa Ryder, the woman he called his best friend and the one his heart called his love.
She glanced up at that moment and caught him staring at her. A joyous smile broke across her face and she waved him in. It was embarrassing how his heart jumped at the sight of her racing across the floor to him. It was scary how at home he felt when she wrapped her arms around him and her laughter filled his ears.
Crushing her tight to him, he whispered, “God, I’ve missed you.”
She pulled back from him, her violet eyes sparkling with happiness. “It’s only been two weeks, Dominic.”
“A minute away from you feels like a lifetime,” he stated truthfully.
“Quit your flirting and help me close up.” She led him back to the register. “How was your trip?”
“Productive,” he murmured as he eyed her bottom. He had to stop himself from reaching out and squeezing those luscious cheeks. Great way to greet her after being gone for two weeks, he thought.
“Did you get all your business taken care of while you were out there? I didn’t know you knew anyone out in Reno.” She started counting the till.
“He was more of an acquaintance when I went out there, but I’d like to think we’re friends now.” As he started shutting off the lights, he thought about the routine they had established years ago.
“I’m sure you are. Who wouldn’t like you after they met you?” She finished with the money.
He laughed. Teresa had always seen him as a sweet person. She didn’t know that he was one of the most feared men in New Orleans. He had never told her about his past because he didn’t want to destroy her innocence. “William never does what you would expect him to do. He’s a good man.” He took the cash bag from her and opened the door. “Will you join me for dinner? I’ve missed talking to you.”
A blush stained her cheeks. “I can’t. I have a date.”
Disappointment rushed through him. “That’s great, sweetheart. Who’s the lucky man?”
“His name is Vincent Delacourte. He came into the store the day after you left and we just hit it off. We’ve gone to dinner a few times since then.” Her face was glowing with happiness.
“Does he treat you like the lady you are?” Dominic felt a shiver of fear race through him. He might be too late to be able to confess his love for her. He didn’t know what he would do if he lost her.
“Yes, he treats me almost as good as you do.” She laughed up at him. She didn’t seem to notice that his heart was in danger of being broken.
“That’s good. I don’t think anyone could care about you as much as I do,” he said softly. She studied him in puzzlement. “I’m going to the club. Why don’t you bring Delacourte by after dinner?”
“I’ll see if he wants to. If not, I’ll see you tomorrow morning like usual, right?” She gave him a kiss when he nodded.
“I’ll drop this off for you.” He waved the cash bag and gestured to the limo waiting at the curb. “Go enjoy your dinner. Looks like your ride is here.”
She waved goodbye and slipped into the car. He wasn’t thrilled to see that no one held the door open for her. Where was the respect everyone should show her? He put a black mark against Delacourte in his mind.
* * * *
“Hey man, your little hottie’s here,” Randy said as he poked his head into Dominic’s office.
“She’s not mine. She’s out on a date and I told her to stop by.”
“Your hottie’s got a date and it isn’t you, man? That’s shocking.” Randy’s voice still held a hint of the islands he came from.
“Shove it,” Dominic said nicely. “Take her to our regular table. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Randy grinned and headed out. Dominic followed a few minutes later. He was surprised to see Randy standing next to the table he and Teresa usually used. If his friend had been a cat, his back would be up and he’d be spitting. When he looked at the couple sitting in the booth, he saw a blonde man slightly shorter than him sitting next to Teresa. She was flushed from something the man was whispering to her. He felt his hands clench into fists as he saw the man slide his hand up her thigh. She pulled away before he got too far.
He tried to stifle the raging jealousy inside him. He couldn’t believe the man would try to grope her, especially in public. He managed to ignore the little voice in his head that said he would do it in a heartbeat if he had the chance.
Stepping up to the table, he saw Teresa’s eyes light up. Before he had a chance to say anything, her date said, “Finally. The service here is atrocious. I’ll take a Jack and coke. My date would like a glass of white wine.”
Teresa opened her mouth to protest. He knew she hated wine. Turning, he flagged down a waiter and gave him the order. He didn’t join them at the table yet.
“Do you find the club lacking?” he asked.
Randy ble
nded back into the crowd. Dominic knew if he needed help, his friend would be available, but for now, he had things under control.
“Yes, I do. If I knew the owner, I’d make some suggestions.”
“I never talk about business when there’s a beautiful lady I can enjoy.” Dominic smiled at Teresa.
The waiter returned with their drinks. He smiled at the man’s frown when a martini was set down in front of Teresa.
“I ordered white wine,” Vincent complained.
“Teresa doesn’t drink wine. Do you, love?”
“No, I don’t and I would have told you if you had allowed me to order for myself.” Teresa finally found her voice.
When Dominic had walked up to the table, she had been surprised to see a flare of jealousy in his eyes. It had to have been shadows from the flickering lights because she would never believe he would be jealous of any man she went out with. Her eyes drank in the image of her best friend. She hadn’t had time to talk to him when he stopped by before her date. His dark hair wasn’t as neat as it usually was. She got the feeling he had been running his fingers through it. His chiseled features held a sharp sorrow in them. His blue eyes were the color of the ocean and bore mysteries she had always been too leery to ask about. His body was muscular and lean. She knew he kept in shape because she had gone to the gym with him a couple times. She had wondered if he had asked her to go with him because he thought she needed to lose weight. When she asked him that, he had looked at her in shock. He told her he loved the way she looked and the only reason he asked her to go along was that he wanted her company.
There was a different feel about him tonight. He was eyeing her like she was a juicy peach and he wanted to take a bite. She shifted her gaze from his before the look in her eyes gave away how much she wanted him.
“I’m Dominic LaFontaine and I own Fallen Angel.” His voice was smooth and rubbed against her skin like silk.
She had been embarrassed when Vincent assumed Dominic was the waiter. Of course, Vincent’s inability to see beyond himself hadn’t allowed him to notice the silk Armani suit and linen shirt Dominic wore with such ease.
She had asked Dominic once why he wore such expensive clothes all the time. He had said in a serious tone, “Life is too long to wear uncomfortable clothes.” She had assumed he was joking, but a feeling inside told her he believed what he said.
She jumped when a man appeared beside her. He towered over the other men in the room, even Dominic who was the tallest man she knew.
“May I have this dance?” He bowed slightly. His unusual silver eyes danced in amusement at Dominic’s snort.
She looked at her friend. He shrugged. “He’s harmless to you.”
Vincent started to protest and the man’s eyes turned icy silver. The protest died away. She didn’t mind dancing with the stranger since Dominic wasn’t worried about him. They left the two men staring at each other. She glanced back, not sure she should leave them. She was afraid Dominic would take Vincent apart.
“Don’t worry, Teresa. He won’t hurt your date.” The man must have read her mind.
She wondered who he was. It wasn’t often that Dominic let her dance with someone other than himself.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t allow Dominic to introduce us. I’m Mickey O’Flynn.” He inclined his head.
“I’m Teresa Ryder. Dominic has never mentioned you.” She wasn’t surprised because Dominic had told her very little about his life. If someone asked her, she would have sworn he hadn’t existed before he arrived in New Orleans.
“I’m not surprised. We are acquaintances mostly.”
“Like William was?”
“I think he and William became friends while they did business together.”
“How long have you known Dominic?”
An odd look came into Mickey’s eyes. “Some days it feels like forever.”
She laughed. “I know exactly what you’re talking about. He does have a habit of getting under foot, doesn’t he?”
Mickey smiled down at her. “Under foot has never been my problem with him. I only talk to him when I have a business proposition for him.”
“Oh, so you do business together?”
“Yes, we’re in the same line of work.”
“I’ve never figured out what Dominic’s work is.”
“I’m led to believe he has his hand in many different businesses. He doesn’t like to tie himself down to one type of work.”
Teresa looked back at the table and she saw Dominic lean forward to say something to Vincent.
“Don’t worry. Dominic won’t hurt your man. He’ll only threaten him with bodily harm if he hurts you.”
“Hurts me? Why would he threaten Vincent?”
“He takes your friendship very seriously, Teresa. You are the most important thing to him. He has no real family of his own.”
“So he sees me as a sister.” She couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice.
Mickey’s laughter drew Dominic’s gaze. “Dear, if you were his sister, it would be illegal for him to think of you the way he really does.”
Blushing, she ruthlessly crushed the flash of hope in her heart. She had been trying to get Dominic to notice her from the moment they met, but he never seemed to see her as anything other than a friend.
“He is scared just like you. His heart is a fragile thing, so he wouldn’t risk it without a hint that you might accept him.” Mickey looked over his shoulder at the two men they had left at the table. “I think he has discovered something while he was away. This discovery has helped him make a decision about you. If I were you, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dominic looking at you in a very different way. He’s feeling a little off balance now because he has competition. He wasn’t expecting that.”
Teresa had the strange urge to apologize. “I didn’t know he had any sort of feelings for me. He’s so hard to read sometimes.”
“He has never had an easy life. For more years than he cares to remember, he’s been alone. Don’t apologize, Teresa. Competition is good for him.”
As Mickey swept her into the rhythm of the dance, she allowed her worry to seep away for a little while.
*
Dominic stared at Delacourte. There was a darkness surrounding the man that he didn’t like, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what it was. He would have to talk to Randy to see if the bouncer’s reaction was from the man’s self absorbed arrogance or if there had been something else that set Randy off. He was glad that Mika’il had shown up to distract Teresa, even though he couldn’t help but wonder what the archangel was talking to her about.
“I’ve been trying to talk Teresa into selling her business.” Vincent twitched the French cuffs of his shirt to a perfect inch outside his suit’s sleeves.
Control was important in any business deal and Dominic saw this as a negotiation. He knew there had been other reasons for Vincent to start dating Teresa. Most men would see her beauty and giving nature and treasure them, but Vincent didn’t strike him as being that type of man. Delacourte saw her as a trophy and a potential business deal. Dominic knew the man thought he could talk her into selling her bookstore for less than market value and also letting him get the historical building the bookstore was in. Dominic couldn’t tell from the man’s thoughts why he wanted the building.
“Why should she sell? She enjoys the business and makes a good profit.” Dominic swirled the bourbon in his glass around, his eyes studying the man across the table from him.
“She’s a young beautiful woman. She shouldn’t be working so hard. She should be out enjoying life and seeing the world.” Vincent straightened his tie.
A laugh washed off the dance floor. Dominic glanced over at Mika’il and Teresa in surprise. It had been several centuries since he had heard the archangel laugh like that. He couldn’t help but smile at the pride he felt that it was Teresa who made him laugh. There was a dark emotion buried deep inside of Mika’il’s heart. If Dominic didn’t know better, he w
ould say that the angel had loved and known loss that would have broken a weaker heart. Maybe someday he would ask him about it.
On the other hand, maybe you should just stay away from that question. Mika’il’s voice echoed a warning in his head. He turned to see Mika’il’s silver eyes staring at him over Teresa’s head and he bowed his head in acknowledgement. For now he would hold on to his curiosity.
“What does Teresa say to your business proposition?” Dominic wondered if she was even considering the offer.
“She won’t even listen to me. My business partners and I have some good ideas of renovating the building into a bed and breakfast.”
“Is that really what the city needs? Another hotel?” He took a sip from the glass. The bourbon was the best money could buy, but it didn’t matter. There had never been any taste or kick from it. He could drink every bottle in the club and never be drunk. He drank because it made him feel mortal and less like the freak that he was.
Do you really see yourself as a freak, my friend?
Yes, I always have.
What is it with you and William? You’re not freaks just because you are different from them. You’re another one of His creations and that makes you worth as much as they are.
I don’t think you’re qualified to be handing out advice to fallen angels, Mika’il. You don’t know what it’s like to lose something you would give anything to have back.
Sadness flooded his mind to such a degree that he felt tears well in his eyes. You don’t know all that I’ve been through, LaFontaine. Never think I don’t understand what you’ve lost.
Vincent smiled at him. Dominic wanted to wipe the smirk off his face.
“Law of supply and demand, my friend. New Orleans is a very popular destination for travelers. I think there is always room for another hotel. She’s not being cooperative at all.”
“That’s because she knows her business partner wouldn’t go for the idea.” Dominic saw the look of surprise on Vincent’s face. Ah, so the man didn’t know Teresa had a partner. Damn, his lawyers were good. “Her landlord wouldn’t think about selling that building either, even if she wasn’t there.”
“How would you know? I’d only need one meeting with the guy to convince him that my ideas are the best money making deal he could make.”
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