“Sophia, sweetheart, I need you to listen to me. This is important and I know it’s emotional. You need to hear every word I say, though, so that you fully understand,” I instruct her in my dominant tone.
She nods, “Okay, Dom.”
“I dream of Carol Ann frequently, but it’s always the same theme. The details may vary but the meaning is still there. It was my responsibility to make sure she was safe, healthy, and well cared for. I failed her and I failed myself in the worst possible way.
“Those dreams have haunted me for a year and a half now. If I called out her name, it’s because I saw her falling to her death again. Not because of any other reason. I don’t compare you to her,” I explain and wipe away the tears escaping from her eyes.
“Don’t cry over that, My Angel. No one else has ever called me ‘Dom’ before and no one else ever will in the future. You’re the first and will be the only one. My parents always stressed that if I lived this lifestyle, ‘Dom’ must be reserved for the one I intended to keep. I’ve known that was you from the start. You are second to no one,” I promise her.
Sophia tries to hold it back, but like water building up behind a cracked dam, I know the sobs will burst forward any second now. As if on cue, her face contorts and she wails with sobs she tries to muffle with her hand. She falls forward and clings to me, her body convulsing as the sobs take over. Long hours of pent up emotions and uncertain outcomes release at once, overwhelming her.
Waiting patiently, I let her cry until she gets it all out of her system. Once the sobs slow, I push her hair back from her face and gently stroke it. “Feel better now, love?”
She nods her head but remains still, holding me and trying to overcome the destructive attack of emotions. “Dom, I need to tell you something,” she says, her voice laced with fear.
“You can tell me anything, Sophia,” I try to comfort her.
“I’m afraid my family will try to hurt you to hurt me. That keeps running through my mind. They don’t approve of this life or my choice to live it. They think it’s a form of abuse. I couldn’t stand it if they hurt you because of me.”
“I’m not afraid of your family, Sophia. I’ll be glad to meet them and show them that there’s no abuse if you’d like.,” I offer.
“No, Dom! If they don’t already know about you, I want to keep it that way,” she says adamantly and squeezes me tighter. “Please, no,” she whispers, more to herself than to me.
“If it means that much to you, Sophia, we won’t go around them,” I pacify her, but decide to have Tucker check more into them discreetly.
“Thank you, Dom,” she says sleepily.
We rearrange our positions so that I can hold her from behind as we sleep. My stomach rumbles from lack of food, but the Jell-O cup still isn’t the least bit appetizing. I just close my eyes and let sleep overcome me. At some point in the night, I’m roused from my sleep for a second while the nightshift nurse refills my water and checks my vital signs. The diligent man in the doorway stands watch and I know I’m well protected.
The nurse stops and looks at Sophia lying in the bed with me. She starts to object, but the daunting figure in the doorway clears his throat in warning. The night shift nurse quickly closes her mouth, her lips pursed in disapproval, but says nothing. I think to myself, as I drift off to sleep once again, that Tucker is a handy man to have around.
Chapter Twenty
“I’ve been out of the hospital for more than two weeks. I’m fine, Sophia,” I say for the fifth and final time. She’s not happy that I will soon leave for my trip to Tennessee and has been showing her ass more and more these last few days. Some of it has been intentional, I think, but most of it is because of genuine concern for me.
“Why can’t I go with you then? I don’t like you going alone so soon after a head injury.”
“It’s hardly a head injury when I just got my bell rung, Sophia. All the tests are clear and I haven’t had any headaches or dizziness. I’m fine. And you know you can’t go with me because you have to stay and oversee the daily operations,” I reply. “Plus, you don’t have the security clearances to go with me.”
“What if your wreck was because of your involvement with this top-secret place?”
Honestly, the thought has crossed my mind. When Tucker returned to pick us up from the hospital the day after my wreck, he had a concerned look on his face. I’ve never seen Tucker with such a look before. He’s always been the epitome of cool, calm, and collected. For Tucker to be concerned meant he knew something very disturbing.
He wouldn’t discuss it with anyone else around, but Shadow had obviously briefed Tucker on what he’d found since both men stayed glued to my side. Shadow even refused to let the nurse push my wheelchair out to the waiting car, but the nurse wasn’t the least bit offended since Shadow turned on the charm to get his way.
When we arrived back home, Tucker asked to speak to me alone in my home office. After excusing ourselves from Sophia, Shadow, Tucker, and I met behind closed doors as they explained the situation. Since Tucker had also initiated background checks on Sophia’s family, he wanted to convey that information in private as well.
“What do you have?” I asked Tucker and Shadow.
“Have you ever heard of a ‘Boston Brake Job,’ Mr. Powers?” Shadow asked in response.
“Can’t say I have. What is it?”
“It’s a pretty effective assassination technique originally developed by the CIA. It’s been adopted by some drug cartels and other generally bad guys,” Shadow explained. “Unfortunately, the technology in your car made it a perfect fit for this type of accident. No one would ever find it if they didn’t know what they were looking for.”
“What technique? How does it work?”
“The drive-by-wire technology in your car allows the computer to control most everything—brakes, steering, accelerating, etc. Instead of the brake pedal actually controlling the brakes, it sends a signal to the car’s computer to apply the brakes. In this case, someone put a small chip on your car, sped up close to you with the remote and activated it, frying the car’s computer that controls everything.
“I checked your car out myself. I don’t think it’s related to your government contract negotiations. Had it been a sanctioned hit, someone would’ve gone back to retrieve the chip from your car and erased any proof. It would be deemed a freak accident and nothing would ever be questioned.
“This may have been an experienced hit man, but he didn’t get back to your car in time to retrieve the chip, so he’s not a pro. However, there’s no doubt it was an attempt on your life,” Shadow explained.
Tucker took over the next part of the conversation, “Sophia’s parents and brother all have ties to the Mexican drug cartel. That cartel has been well known in deploying these types of devices against their enemies.”
“I haven’t had any dealings with anyone in a drug cartel!” I exclaimed.
“No, but they may be trying to get to Sophia, and her family, through you. The condo she lives in isn’t in her name, so they wouldn’t be able to trace her to it. If they know she’s with you, that may be our link. Her brother has been in some trouble with possession with intent to distribute charges lately. Somehow, they’ve ‘lost’ the evidence and his case is pending. Has Sophia told you any of this?” Tucker asked.
“She did say that she was afraid her family would try to hurt me in order to hurt her,” I said. “She has no interaction with her family, though. She wouldn’t even let me talk to them to try to smooth things over between them. There’s something missing with this—it just doesn’t add up to me. What would they get from killing me?”
“Would your company go to Sophia?” Shadow asked pointedly.
“No, everything is left to my parents in my will.”
“They may not know that. While I don’t believe in coincidences, the drug cartel angle may be a false lead. I’m still on the case, but this was a definite attempt on your life. We will take additional
precautions until this is resolved,” Tucker said.
“Thank you—both of you—for everything. It’s disconcerting, to say the least, but I’m grateful to have you two in my corner,” I said sincerely while inwardly reeling from being told someone had just tried to kill me. “What are their names—her family?”
“Her father is Manuel, her mother is Sarah, and her brother is Shawn but goes by Smoke,” Tucker replied.
Sophia eyed us suspiciously when we left my office, tightlipped and somber. At that point, without further evidence, I didn’t think it was a good idea to tell her what Shadow and Tucker had found and I advised them both of that before we left my office.
We did have to sit down and discuss the amped up security measures for both of us with Sophia. She wasn’t happy and asked more than once, “If everything is fine, why do we need increased security?”
Shadow answered, “Standard protocol for any of our high-profile customers, Miss Vasco. Mr. Powers is well known, wealthy, and in contract negotiations with a top-secret facility. It’s prudent to be safe than sorry. In this case, we will be safer than sorry.” His emphasis on the ‘-er’ in ‘safer’ didn’t go unnoticed.
Today, Sophia and I are discussing my upcoming trip to Tennessee and her insecurities are showing again. Someone tried to fucking kill me two weeks ago, but I have to keep my concerns to myself until we know more—like who is after me and why. Part of me is concerned to leave her here and part of me is concerned to take her with me. If they make another attempt on me, I don’t want Sophia anywhere around the danger.
My nightmares have also increased in frequency and intensity since this happened. The most disturbing part of them now is that Sophia’s face has replaced Carol Ann’s. The balcony has been replaced with a mixture of exploding cars, car wrecks, or her falling down a long flight of stairs. The end result is always the same, though. I’m standing over Sophia’s dead body, once again feeling inept at protecting her.
Not knowing who is after me, and why, is really weighing on my shoulders. Leaving Sophia at this time feels much like I’m abandoning her to fend for herself, even though I know either Tucker or Shadow will stay with her at all times. They are both masters at their jobs and I know I can trust them both. Keeping this from her seems wrong at times, but then when I see her so worried over my bump on the head, I know she would have a much worse time with handling the current situation.
“Little girl,” I respond to her latest tantrum, “if you argue with me one more time, I will spank you, and it will not be pleasant like last night’s spanking was.”
“You said you wouldn’t ever hit me in anger,” she rebuts.
“Do I sound angry?”
“No.”
“It won’t be in anger. It is part of your training as my sub, though. Punishment is not abuse, love, but it’s necessary when you get out of line, as you are now.”
“I don’t think I’m out of line,” she challenges.
And I answer her challenge. Walking to the dresser, I remove the long, rectangular paddle from the top drawer. I take a seat on the bed and instruct her to pull her skirt up. She does, tentatively, and reveals that she isn’t wearing any panties. Fuck, how I love that sight.
“Across my knees, Sophia,” I demand.
She moves to me swiftly and positions herself across my legs, forcing her ass to rise higher in the air. After ten licks to each cheek, her beautiful skin is bright red and stinging. Picking up the lotion on the nightstand beside me, I rub some into her skin to help soothe it.
“Don’t argue with me, Sophia. Once we’ve discussed it and I’ve given my final answer, that’s the end of the discussion. It’s for the best for both of us,” I explain as I continue to rub. “This trip is important and I can’t and won’t change it now. I am –going—alone—and that is the end of the discussion.”
Helping her to stand again, she keeps her eyes dropped to the ground as she stands before me. “I’m sorry, Dom,” she says contritely. “I just worry about you being away from me.”
“My sub wants to protect her Dom?” I ask, half-teasingly as I stand and wrap my arms around her waist.
She chuckles a little, “Always, Dom. Always.”
Leaning my face down to hers, I capture her mouth and kiss her deeply. My feelings for her are deeper than I’ve admitted to her. She’s proven herself and her love to me. Even though I gave her the name that is reserved only for my soul mate, I still haven’t said those three little words yet. With everything that’s happened and with my upcoming trip, a sense of urgency wells up inside me, urging me to tell her.
Breaking the kiss, I withdraw and stroke her lip with the pad of my thumb as I look at her lovingly. “Sophia, My Angel,” my voice lowers, “there’s something I want to tell you. These words bind you to me and can’t be broken.”
“What is it?” she searches my eyes as my hands frame her face.
“I love you,” I tell her. “You are mine and I won’t let you go now. I am your Dom, only yours. You are My Angel, for all time.”
She opens her mouth but speaks no words as she’s stunned silent and continues to search my eyes for confirmation of what she just heard. “Yes, I love you, My Angel.”
She leaps into my arms and wraps her legs around my waist as my hands slide under her to hold her up. She kisses me passionately, pouring herself into her kiss and taking everything I give her. Stopping to breathe, our foreheads touching, she whispers, “You really love me, Dom?”
“I really love you, Sophia,” I say. “I have something for you.”
“For me?”
I place her on the bed, “Stay right here.” Walking away to retrieve it, I come back to face her. “This is very special, Sophia. In other Dom/sub relationships, the sub sometimes wears a true collar around her neck or her ankle to show she belongs to someone. When you wear this, everyone will say, ‘She belongs to her Dom.’ I want you to wear this to show that you belong to me.”
Opening the box, I remove the white gold band engraved with an inscription that reads, “My Dom’s Angel.” She inspects it closely, staring at the engraving for several minutes before she starts to slip the ring on her finger. I stop her just before she does.
“This is my promise ring to you, Sophia. I want to shout it out to the world—I am her Dom and she is My Angel! But know that once you put this ring on, it doesn’t come off for any reason. This is your collar, the symbol that you are mine, and there is no going back,” I explain sternly.
She pushes the ring onto her finger, “I never want to go back. I want you, my Dom, for the rest of my life.”
Staring at the ring, her fingers lightly brush over it again before holding her hand out in front of her to examine it. She looks so happy now and pride swells in my chest knowing I’m the man who put that beautiful smile on her face.
“You’ve really only said that to one other?” she asks.
“Yes, but you’re the only one I’ve ever collared, My Angel,” I confess. “I don’t say it just to say it. I certainly don’t collar someone I don’t intend to stay with. It’s not marriage yet, but it’s a step toward it.”
Through her smile, she wipes away tears from her beautiful face. “Tears of happiness, Dom,” she says when she sees me looking at them. “You’ve made me so happy. I love you—with all my heart I love you!”
After thoroughly going through every detail of my accident, Shadow is convinced that I am indeed the target and he will accompany me to Tennessee. As a former CIA agent, and a member of the elite Delta Force special operations team, he still has the security clearance needed to enter the facility in Oak Ridge. Tucker is still with Sophia, and while I trust both men with my life, I am the only man I completely trust with Sophia’s life. It’s killing me to leave her in Dallas. Shadow senses my discomfort and again reassures me that Sophia is fine and in good hands. He’s been in constant contact with Tucker and they have coordinated all of our activities.
After landing in Knoxville, Shadow and I m
ake the short drive to the facility in Oak Ridge. This facility is the storage place for the weapons-grade enriched uranium and home to one of the few supercomputers in the world. Gaining this contract is significant to DPS. Our software development will revolutionize their security systems in several different areas of their operations. The hardest part of this entire deal will be over the next few days. Once the contract provisions are approved, the ‘easier’ work of changing their systems over can begin.
Pulling up to the expansive facility, Shadow and I are checked out thoroughly before granted access to the grounds. Because of his past, Shadow’s credentials were a little easier to verify than mine. The guard double-checked every signed paper and every bit of my personal identification to ensure it exactly matched the information they had in their systems. I am excited to think about how my company’s software engineers can change this process, making it more streamlined and more secure.
At the end of the day, I’m mentally exhausted. We were given an extensive tour of every division within the top-secret compound. At various stations, multiple people quizzed me on my ideas to change, upgrade, or enhance their current operations. It was all a test—some of the processes didn’t need upgrades and some did. They wanted to know that I had done my homework before wasting their time with the contract provisions.
That was actually the more grueling part of the day since their policies required that we review every single line of the contract. We talked and negotiated through multiple pages, the administrative assistant would make the required changes, and then we would start the next section. This will be the sum of my week here and I have to keep reminding myself of how the benefits outweigh how mundane this week will be.
Shadow and I are on our way back to the hotel where I will experience the highlight of my day—the distinct pleasure of calling Sophia via Face Time. Checking the time, I realize that since Dallas is an hour behind Oak Ridge, Sophia is likely still at the office.
Her Dom (Dominic Powers #1) Page 19