The president looked into Dom’s eyes, much more serious now. “I see your arguments. But all that went down can’t stand with no retribution. You must see this.”
Domenico stretched and made a small gesture toward Jed. “There were mistakes made on both sides. All I want is to take my family out of your hair.”
Ryder stood between Dom and Jed like a muscle mountain. “What does that have to do with him?”
Domenico frowned. “I think he should be the one to come into my shack and talk on your behalf.”
That caught the president’s attention. “Why am I to trust you won’t take him a hostage?”
“Jed’s not going anywhere,” Ryder hissed, but his brother passed him without looking into Dom’s eyes.
“I’ll go.”
Domenico frowned. “You are all my hostages. You stand on unknown ground that is loaded with explosives that my associate can detonate at any moment. If you ask me, Jed here will be the safest one of you,” he said, slowly relaxing now that he had assumed control. It was just like the good old days.
Ryder gritted his teeth but slowly put the safety back on and looked away.
Jed stepped forward with his handsome face twisted, as if he’d just bitten into a hundred lemons. “I’ll be fine,” he muttered to Ryder before following Domenico into the shack.
Domenico walked up the stairs with a pleasant burn in his stomach and made sure to be especially gallant when he opened the door for Jed. “It’s not much, but it’s home,” he said with a wide smile.
Jed didn’t return the courtesy as the door closed behind them. “You better come up with something good,” he hissed at Dom. “The Prez doesn’t take bullshit offers.”
Domenico smirked and gave him a slap on the ass. “Maybe you should bend over for the boy you assaulted, as part of the agreement.”
Jed flinched and went pale. Dom enjoyed imagining that the guy was a virgin. All cooped up in the closet and wriggling around in its confines. “I—It was…” All the attitude he’d been giving before vanished, and he looked a bit younger with vulnerability in his big blue eyes. He couldn’t be older than Dom.
“I wouldn’t fuck him now. He’s an asshole,” Mark hissed from a shadowy corner, as Seth crawled out from behind the table.
“Isn’t a hole just a hole anyway?” asked Dana from her place by the window, where she sat with a small tablet they used to program the explosives. “You all like fucking so much that it shouldn’t matter.”
Domenico raised his brows at her, enjoying the sight of Jed’s ego shrinking by the second. The guy was terrified, and for good reason: if they wanted to humiliate him for his sexuality, they could, and there would be no one to save him, as he would most certainly not look for help.
“Mark, look out the window, and watch if they’re moving,” said Dom, lighting the gas lamp.
Mark nodded and quickly moved to the window. With the face he was making, Dom could just see him imagining that he was James Bond.
“He told me he was eighteen,” Jed hissed, now getting red in the face again.
Domenico rolled his eyes. “Oh, fuck you and that eighteen year old bullshit. A sixteen-year-old knows whether he wants to fuck or not. The problem is that he said no, you moron,” hissed Domenico, pushing Jed hard at the wall. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the biker’s phone.
Jed eyed it as if it were toxic and didn’t push back, which for a hothead like him had to mean he was terrified. Dom had to admit to getting a slight buzz from it. “He’s the one who offered. He walked up to me about it. I’d have never come up with this bullshit.”
Domenico opened the dating app Jed used and looked at the first message in a row. “I wouldn’t expect that after reading your conversations. You actually block people who send you dick pics,” he said, as he read through pretty much everything on that phone that could come in handy. “But then when push comes to shove, you never actually meet any of these guys. Even Cory, who you’ve told you’re ‘the loneliest guy on the planet.’”
Jed’s eyes went wide, and he rushed at Dom with quite the proficiency, but Domenico still managed to spin around and shove his elbow against Jed’s spine. He pushed him at the table and pulled his arm back so hard the joints crackled.
“Stay,” he said in a commanding voice and switched off the app, only to go find the piece of media that Jed was probably so worried about. The short clip Jed had recorded during the night they all met.
Dom put the phone in front of Jed’s eyes, holding him down against the table, and the video showed a kneeling Mark and Jed’s voice pushing him to do the blow job on camera. When Jed dropped the phone, the camera kept rolling, actually catching his face on video as he pulled up his pants before the end of the clip.
Jed was heaving under Dom, as if he was about to have a heart attack.
Domenico sighed and put the cell back into his pocket, crooking his head at Jed. Just seeing him so worried, so afraid, made Domenico want to get a piece of Seth behind the curtain. “Blackmail isn’t my favorite way to deal with things, but I won’t shy away from it.”
Jed slowly pulled up, massaging his thick, tattooed arm. “I just want this to go away,” he whispered. “But the prez won’t let it go. Ryder won’t.”
“Well, then it’s in your interest to convince your friends to negotiate, because if they won’t, I will kill them.”
Jed nodded, his eyes becoming blank walls guarding the turmoil that was no doubt tumbling through his mind.
Domenico snapped his fingers to get Jed’s attention. “Focus. This will be the agreement between us and you. Whatever we demand, you will support, or I will make sure this video will be very, very public, along with your full name.”
“But we don’t mean any harm,” Seth butted in all of a sudden. “We also want to settle this as quietly as possible.”
Domenico frowned at him. “Maybe offer him cocoa while you’re at it?”
Jed licked his lips. “I’ll do everything I can.”
Domenico smiled. The Loneliest Man in the World wasn’t lying, and so it was time to push. “And you will take the lovely Dana as a hostage.”
Dana gasped. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
Domenico looked back at her and shrugged. “I’m sure Jed here will ensure your safety. And you will soon be back anyway.”
Mark grinned and made a fist pump, but Dana hit the back of his head for it.
Jed gave her a surprised look but didn’t comment. Dom was pretty sure Jed would eat a live eel if it would prevent anyone from ever finding out the truth about his sexuality. It was a loss for the world, really, with Jed’s face so handsome. He could make some guy happy with those pretty lips.
“Can we agree on that?” asked Domenico, looking between Jed and Dana. She eventually gave a weak nod, pressing her lips together.
Domenico rolled his eyes. “Make sure no one tries to fuck her. She’s not a fan of sex,” he said to Jed.
“I could say I have a thing for her,” Jed suggested with a weak laugh.
“Good. Do that,” said Dom and crooked his head. “Who should we invite for more open negotiation? Who can you influence?”
“Ryder,” Jed said with no hesitation, and then, “and the prez. The VP’s my dad, so don’t get him in on this, he’s most pissed off.”
Domenico smiled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you and Ryder are fucking,” he said and slowly walked up to the door. He switched on two more lamps and opened the door to look out.
“He’s my brother, you shit,” Jed hissed behind Dom’s back, but Dom just waved his hand dismissively, glancing at Seth with a small smile.
The bikers immediately stood up straighter, but none made a move to raise any weapons. “I would like to talk to your president. I think both sides agree that there are a few things to discuss.”
As expected, Ryder pushed forward. “I’m going too! This is some fucking bullshit!”
Domenico opened the door. “Good that you v
olunteered. I was about to ask you to come as well.”
The president first carefully lowered his two guns to the ground and stood up, staring straight into Dom’s eyes. He’d strangle Dom if he could, but at the moment, the situation was safe.
The man who had to be the VP spoke up from behind the lights. “You fuck with any of my sons, you faggot bastard, and I will make sure you all end up six feet under!”
Domenico sighed and made room for both men he had invited in. “I’ve got no interest in your sons. Their virtue is safe.”
Seth snorted, and Dom was happy at least someone was getting amusement from this messy situation. There weren’t many jokes to be made once Dom closed the door.
“Gentlemen, I hope you don’t carry any weapons,” said Domenico, gesturing toward the table.
Ryder scowled at him, and his eyes immediately went for Jed. They shared a nod, but it wasn’t the time for brotherly love. Domenico cleared his throat. “Sit,” he said, taking a seat at the top of the table.
They all sat down. Dom and the bikers. There weren’t enough chairs for anyone else. He could only hope Seth wouldn’t ask the men if they wanted tea. That wouldn’t do great things to Domenico’s image.
“There needs to be retribution and payment for the wreckage in the gym,” the president said.
Domenico leaned back and looked at him, all business-like. “I have not introduced myself yet. Domenico Abate,” he said and reached out his hand to him.
Prez eyed him, but did shake Dom’s hand. “Ripper.”
Domenico squeezed the thick fingers in greeting. “I’ve heard quite a bit about your club. The Sicilians are raving about it,” he said, consciously trying to throw the man off guard for the second time in a row. Domenico wasn’t very familiar with this, but the Villanis were supplying the Coffin Nails MC in the northeast, and he wondered how much he could win on this.
Ripper’s eyes opened a bit wider. “What could you know about that?”
Dom didn’t miss the way Ryder glanced at Seth, but he ignored it for the time being. “I am not just some tourist. I am willing to give you some kind of payback, but there is only so far that I will go with this.” He let this settle in, and just before Ripper opened his mouth, utterly confused, Domenico continued. “I can tell you some interesting things about the people you do business with.”
“That depends on how good the leverage would be…” Ripper said, stroking his moustache, but Dom could see the cogs were turning in the old head.
Domenico nodded, looking over at Seth, who sat down on the bed and watched them intently. “Absolutely. What do you want to know?” he asked, suddenly very happy with himself. If he hurt the business for the Villanis, that would not only make Frederico’s life more difficult, but also divert their attention further away from Domenico and Seth. Domenico wouldn’t mind if Frederico suffered a heart attack from overexerting himself.
“I want to know who Mr. Tropico is. He’s the biggest drug provider from the south. We know he’s connected to the Villanis, but we’re not sure how,” Ripper said slowly, weighing every word.
Ryder glared at Dom. “Don’t give him intel, J. This snake is a nobody who knows nothing. I bet he heard the name ‘Villani’ while fucking some mafia pimp. Or was it Seth who fucked them?”
Jed shook his head but Dom was first to speak. “Shut your fucking mouth, breeder! Don’t you dare talk shit about my fiancé!”
Seth got up from the bed with a scowl. “Really, Ryder? That’s what you think now, ‘cause you know I’m gay? We were friends!”
Ryder got up so fast Dom almost grabbed a gun, but fists didn’t fly. “We were friends before your fiancé put a gun against my brother’s head!”
Domenico narrowed his eyes at Jed, who got up as well and pulled on Ryder’s arm. “Shit got a bit heated, give it a break. Can happen to anyone.”
Even Ripper frowned at those words coming from Jed’s mouth.
Ryder visibly tensed in Jed’s grip. “You can’t be serious. Those guys attacked us on our turf.”
“I honestly didn’t know who you were,” said Domenico, trying to do some damage control. “If I did, I’d have never done what I did.”
Ripper sneered, and Dom wondered if his lack of knowledge hadn’t been considered an insult. “So you have insider knowledge about the Villanis, but you claim to be some jealous tourist? I don’t buy it.”
As Dom opened his mouth, Seth butted in and stepped up to the table. “Tourist? You have no idea who you’re dealing with!” He pointed at Dom. “He doesn’t even need the explosives to get rid of all of you if he wanted to. Fucking hell! I saw him kill five armed men with a cleaver, so just say what you fucking want as retribution, and let’s get on with it!”
Dom’s eyes met Mark’s, which were wide as saucers, but he leaned back and looked up at Seth, hardly containing the anger rising beneath his skin. They really didn’t need anything that blatant.
“That was supposed to be a secret, darling,” said Dom somewhat coolly. “I’m retired.”
Ryder gave a barking laugh. “Stop fucking around. You’re a Villani goon at best.”
Ripper didn’t seem so sure though. “Boys, sit back down on your asses,” he said and only continued when Jed and Ryder resumed their places at the table, throwing stormy looks at each other. “Can you get me the details on Mr. Tropico?”
Domenico sighed and shook his head. For a very long time, he’d believed Vincente had been Mr. Tropico, but facts clearly indicated Dino Villani. It was he who had sent the Chinese after Seth, and it was he who had given Vincente the credit card with the fake name. The man was long gone.
“Dead,” said Domenico.
Ripper frowned. “When?”
“Four months ago.”
“He’s been in contact with our brothers in Texas last month.”
Domenico blinked, but his heart skipped a beat and he saw Seth’s shadow move on the floor. “Can’t be. Someone must be impersonating him. He’s been eliminated in the power struggle within the Villani family.”
Ryder spread his arms. “Clearly, we have no reason to believe you one way or another!”
Jed frowned at him. “Can you calm the fuck down?”
Ripper ignored them. “If you can’t be of use with intel, maybe you can be of use as an outsider if you really do claim to have balls. One of ours has been missing for a while now, right, Ryder?”
The young biker’s face fell, and he slouched in the chair. “Yeah. A few months now.”
Domenico swallowed. Getting involved in some lengthy local problem wasn’t on his to do list. “What can I do? I’m not clairvoyant. I don’t know how to find missing people.”
“We have a meeting set up with a trafficker, but we need a complete outsider to talk to the guy, because our faces end up in newspapers sometimes. He seems legit, and so he would check the background on any of the locals, see that they’re connected to us. It’s the sister of Ryder’s girlfriend who’s missing. We will give you all the info about her, and if you manage to get a real lead from the trafficker, you can all go. Just pay damages for the gym and leave the state.” Ripper nodded at Domenico and straightened in the chair. “Until that’s done, we’re gonna keep a hostage so that you don’t try to fuck us over. Him.” Ripper pointed at Seth, and Dom’s blood began to boil. He’d rather break the fucker’s neck than give him Seth.
“No, no. I want her.” Jed pointed at Dana with a cocky grin, and Ripper rolled his eyes, glancing at the other biker. To Domenico’s immense relief, he nodded. Maybe Jed wasn’t as stupid as Dom had thought.
“Can be her.”
Domenico growled and crossed his arms on his chest, pretending to ponder it. Eventually, he looked into Dana’s face, which was a bit less expressionless than usual. At least she was trying to look frightened.
“Dom?” she asked, and he looked up at the bikers across the table.
“Can you guarantee she won’t be hurt in any way?”
Ripper frowned. “
I can’t be responsible for her pussy twenty-four-seven. That’s why I wanted the guy.”
Jed nodded with a silly grin that jarred with him being The Loneliest Guy on Earth. “I’ll keep her to myself.”
“Do that,” said Dom. “She’s my cousin, so if anything happens to her, I’m gonna pull you behind your own motorcycle.”
Ryder scowled. “Shut the fuck up. Nothing’s happening to her. She’s a hostage, not a club slut.”
Jed raised his hands. “I mean, I can’t be held responsible if she falls for me.”
Domenico squinted. “She does like blonds. But I’m gonna ask her.”
“Whatever,” hissed Ryder, for once seeming more cooperative. “If you find out what happened to Jo, I’m gonna deliver that bitch of yours in a fucking limo.”
Ripper got up from the table and extended his hand to Domenico. “So we have a deal?” He snapped the fingers of his other hand at Dana, and she slowly got up with a slight pout that managed to hide her usual lack of facial expression.
“I’ll just gather my things.”
Domenico nodded and grabbed Ripper’s rough, calloused hand, shaking it firmly. “Any more details?”
“I don’t want to text about this, so show up at our club tomorrow, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know, in case the contact gets cold feet over night. The club’s down the street from the gym.”
Domenico nodded. “I will be there.” He was already wondering how to turn this situation to his advantage, but with lack of sufficient intel, it was a difficult task. He’d have to rely on Jed and Dana.
Ryder also squeezed Dom’s hand, unpleasantly digging his finger between the soft flesh between Dom’s index finger and thumb. Domenico didn’t react and just nodded. Jed was first to leave, despite Dom imagining him to have the heaviest of hearts.
Dana gave Dom a glare as she sat on the back of Jed’s bike, but he just gave her a brotherly kiss on the forehead and made sure to make his It’ll be all right loud enough for everyone to hear. He eventually stepped back and regarded the bikers as they prepared to leave, eyeing him suspiciously. Ripper would have a lot to explain once they went back to their clubhouse.
Guns n' Boys: Swamp Blood (Book 3) (gay dark mafia erotic romance) Page 20