Dominic: The Protectors Trilogy - Book one

by Anne Marck

  Mournful cries come from the north part of the house. It sounds like a cry for help. Hell, it can’t be…

  I start to run along the bordering fence.

  “Help!”

  That’s Luna, dammit!

  Seeing everything is dark in the front, I run as if my life depends on it until I reach a complex. The screams are more audible as I approach.

  “Let me out of here!”

  My chest is in a frenzy, fast breaths dragging out of me. I have to get to her. I have to.

  The closer I get, the louder her cries are. Finally, I can tell which door it’s coming from.

  The low chorus of her cries cuts deeply into my heart and locks my muscles. An animal comes to the surface. Like a bull, I throw my shoulder into the door twice, with more strength than I knew was possible. It opens.

  “Baby,” I whisper, not recognizing the pain in my own voice.

  “Dominic?” she whispers, sounding haunted.

  “Yeah, baby, it’s me. Let’s get out of here.”

  I can’t see her in the pitch dark, but I know Luna is cowering and shaking.

  “Come on, baby,” I demand softly.

  Her fast breathing isn’t a good sign.

  “You have to leave, Dominic. Frank will be back any moment. Please go,” she begs, driving me crazy.

  “Come on, Luna,” I say firmly, ignoring her insistence.

  She hesitates before moving.

  Cutting the rest of the distance, I pull her into my arms and breathe at last.

  “You have to go, Dominic. Frank is dangerous,” she murmurs, her face pressed against my chest. Then she circles her small arms around my waist, and I squeeze her more tightly.

  “Don’t be silly, baby. I’d never leave you,” I mutter, smelling her strawberry-scented hair. Then I grab her hand and drag her out of this sinister place.

  “A friend of yours?” a hateful voice comes from behind me.

  I quickly turn to face the asshole and find a gun pointed at my head.

  “Frank, no!” Luna shouts desperately from behind me. She tries to step in front of me, but I firmly hold her hand, forcing her back behind me.

  “Are you the son of a bitch who locked her up?” I growl like an animal about to tear its enemy apart.

  The man laughs mockingly. “Yes. I’m also the guy with a gun pointed at your head, about to shoot your brains out.”

  I step forward, blinded by fury, and the guy cocks the gun.

  “Don’t worry; after I do what I have in mind with this little bitch, she’ll join you.”

  “Call her that one more time, and the next thing you’ll see is your fucking dick buried inside your mouth, you fucker.”

  “I could let you watch our party, but I don’t like voyeurs,” the guy says coldly.

  “What a pity … I’d love to watch.” Damien surprises us all, pressing a gun against Frank’s head.

  Son of a bitch. I can’t believe it. I asked if he had a gun in his apartment and the fucking liar denied it.

  “Another friend, Luna?” Frank grumbles.

  “No, no,” my brother replies humorously, seemingly amused by the situation. “I’m no friend of that brat’s. Far from it. I’m just a nice guy, so I’ll give you two seconds to lower your gun, or the only head that’s gonna get fucked up here will be yours.” His words make the guy’s face contract. “And then I’ll watch my brother cut your limp cock off and stuff it in your dirty mouth. After all, I am a voyeur.”

  “You don’t know what you’re getting into—”

  “One …” Damien begins. When it looks like Frank doesn’t intend to yield, Damien cocks the gun. “Two—”

  Frank drops his arm, and then Damien quickly hits the asshole’s head with the butt of his gun. The blow is so loud that it echoes.

  “You son of a bitch!” I roar. “I asked you if you had a fucking gun, and you told me no!”

  He shrugs. “You were too nervous to be handling one.”

  “Is he dead?” Luna’s frightened voice reminds me that she’s here.

  I take a deep breath and turn toward her. “No, but you’re in a hell of a lot of damn trouble.”

  Her eyes widen, and her lips quiver. At least the girl shows some fear.

  “Let’s get out of here,” I snap.

  “Wait, Dominic.” She snatches my arm. “I came here to get …” She looks at the ground, where Frank seems to be in a deep sleep. “I came to get proof against Vincent.”

  I stare at her, assessing her sanity.

  “Too late. We need to leave,” Damien warns as the sound of cars and a glare of lights invades the front gates.

  “Come on, Luna,” I demand, grabbing her hand.

  “No … I-I have to get—”

  “If we stay here, they’ll kill us,” Damien cuts her off, his gaze capable of reducing her to dust.

  Without giving her time to think, we lead the way through the shadows and into the neighbor’s yard.

  Damien

  If Dominic weren’t in the car, I would certainly smack this girl and throw her out the window. Fucking brat. My brother had a gun pointed at him because of her, and I have a feeling the problems have just begun.

  Dominic drives expressionlessly. I know him well enough to know the shit that’s going through his head, though. I’ve seen it way too many times not to recognize it. For a few years, I was an expert at making him like this.

  The devil looks out the window, her eyes filled with tears.

  “What the fuck were you thinking going there?” I ask, staring at her in the rearview mirror.

  I feel Dominic stiffen and clench the steering wheel.

  Luna finds my eyes in the mirror. I see her stubborn pout. Crap, now I understand what Dominic sees in this damn girl.

  I arch a brow and narrow my eyes, warning her that I’m not my brother.

  “I had to get evidence against Vincent,” she mutters.

  Deep breath. “Oh, yes. And you probably had a good plan,” I mock, wanting to throw her out the window even more now.

  Her jaw quivers, and Dominic casts a glance at me.

  “If I do nothing, he’ll get away with it.” She turns her mournful face toward the window again. “Tonight, Vincent is heading for the Senate.”

  Hell, I read about it in the papers this morning. I even understand her motives for hating the guy after a brief summary of the story, but her attitude is still monumentally silly. And worse, it’s putting Dominic’s life at risk.

  While I’m curious how this little girl thinks she can bring down a powerful guy, Wine will soon be a senator.

  “What were you looking for in that house?” I pry, giving in to my shameless interest.

  “Damien …” my brother warns.

  I snort. “Don’t, Dominic. If I risked my life because of her, I deserve to know the whole story.”

  My words affect the girl, judging by the ashamed way she shrinks.

  “I accidentally recorded a conversation he had”—her chest rises and falls in short breaths—“with the guy who cut the brakes on my mother’s car.”

  Oh shit. That’s really serious.

  I whistle. “Damn.”

  Dominic stares at her in the mirror. His expression doesn’t change, but I see the feeling he has for her passing quickly through his eyes. His heart will be his ruin. And if I don’t take care of my own, mine will end up the same way.

  Dominic

  I let Luna in the house then open a bottle of whiskey that I’ve had for a while. I don’t want to talk to her right now.

  In the living room, I hold my head in my hands, rubbing the throbbing pain in my temples. After leaving Damien in front of his apartment, I didn’t exchange a single word with her all the way here, afraid I would lose the thread of control I have left.

  Maybe I’m responding inappropriately to all this. Somehow, I let Luna change the focus of my life and take over. I’ve just been moving around her, while she doesn’t care about anything that I fucking th
ink. She lied when I asked her several times if everything was all right. After we left the store, something changed, and she chose not to tell the truth. She probably saw something about Wine and, without any regard for my opinion, made a decision and acted upon it.

  I could justify her actions by saying she’s young, but the truth is that Luna knows damn well what she’s doing. And I’m not part of her plans. The worst thing is that her problems get bigger with each of my requests that she ignores.

  Dirty is in some corner, plotting revenge. And, by now, Vincent knows Luna went home.

  I only have one certainty now: her desire for revenge is greater than any feelings she has for me.

  Luna

  He’s so distracted that he doesn’t even notice my approach. His shoulders are tense, a glass in his hand, and he’s staring off distantly.

  I know my idea of solving things by myself didn’t go down well. And I know I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for him. “Can we talk?” I ask.

  He looks up at me. “Not a good time, Luna.” The dark look in his eyes frightens me. It’s like he’s giving up on us.

  I swallow the bitter sensation and kneel at his feet, wanting to see him up close, and because my legs are wobbly at the idea of Dominic leaving me. “I didn’t think about what I was doing … I know I was being a selfish idiot …” I murmur. “You’re right to be upset with me.”

  No word, but I have his attention.

  Nervously, I bring my trembling hands up to his. “I’d like you to understand my motives. That man killed my mother … and almost killed me, too.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me, Luna?” It isn’t an accusation, but the hurt in his voice is unmistakable.

  “I thought I could go there alone. And if something went wrong, I didn’t want to risk you getting hurt …” I take a deep breath. “I was angry,” I confess.

  Dominic takes a deep breath then drops my hands, sliding his through his hair. The rate of his heartbeat in his carotid contrasts his countenance.

  I lost him. Shit, Dominic is giving up on me.

  “Listen, Luna, I don’t have the mindset to talk tonight, and you’ve been through a lot …” Even though his voice doesn’t betray any feelings he may have, his eyes drift from mine in a clear sign that the conversation is over. “Go lie down and rest awhile.”

  I rub my eyes to hold back the tears and acquiesce.

  Dragging my body away, I slowly disintegrate.

  Luna

  I spend one of the worst nights of my life feeling my heart crushed, not knowing what to do to change the situation. Dominic doesn’t even sleep with me.

  Things I’d like to say are spinning in whirlwinds through my mind as I stare at the dark ceiling. I had no intention of lying or going behind his back; I just wanted to spare him from danger, to protect him … It’s as they say: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

  Unmasking my monster of a stepfather and sending him to jail seemed so right. I was too naïve and stupid to think it would be simple. I didn’t count on what could happen. I can’t imagine what Frank would have done if Dominic and Damien hadn’t shown up.

  God, the image of him with a gun pointed at Dominic kills me.

  The fact is that I can’t and will not give up taking back what Vincent stole from us. I owe it to my family. Nevertheless, if I want to keep Dominic in my life, I have to include him in my plans, or I will lose him forever.

  The clock reads just after five in the morning. Like a zombie, I go into the bathroom and shower. Tears mingle with the lukewarm water.

  I close my eyes. Lord, don’t let me lose him.

  After my shower, I wrap one of his sweaters around me and creep silently into the living room, where Dominic is sitting with his head resting on the back of the sofa. In the dark, I can’t tell if his eyes are closed or if he’s staring at the ceiling.

  Step by step, I do what my heart tells me and lie on the couch, resting my head on his lap and curling my body up in a ball. I feel the muscles in his thighs stiffen.

  “I love you,” I whisper as a silent tear trickles down my cheek. “My actions may not always show it, and I know I’ve been wrong sometimes, like not listening to you”—I wipe my face with the sleeve of my sweater—“but will you try to understand my motives?”

  He doesn’t respond.

  “Since I left the hospital, I’ve been planning to make Vincent pay for his sins. I hate that man.” Regret chokes me. “But I’m also aware, firsthand, of how far he is capable of going. I couldn’t get you involved in that.” I bite my lip in an attempt to subdue the anger burning in my heart.

  Dominic’s heavier breaths motivate me to continue. If he’s still listening, that’s good.

  “When you were paying for the groceries, I saw Vincent with my mother’s best friend, Del, on the cover of a magazine.” I take a deep breath, but a sob still escapes me. “And it became clear that those two plotted against us. Do you understand what that means?”

  He gently puts his hand on the top of my head but remains silent, letting me speak.

  “They betrayed us … I-I can’t give up fighting. My mother deserves justice. I know that going there was stupid, but I could only think of exposing that asshole.”

  His hoarse voice cuts through the remorseful atmosphere. “You could have talked to me, Luna.”

  I lift myself up from Dominic’s lap and lean forward to face him. I almost lose my breath at the sight of the darkness in his eyes.

  He’s going to leave me. God, he’s going to leave me.

  Tearing up, I touch his face. “Don’t give up on me, Dominic, please. I love you. I love you so very, very much,” I choke out.

  His jaw muscles pulsate, and his darkened eyes remain composed. “I won’t give up on you. I thought about it all night. I’ll help you.”

  His words throw me off. Though supportive, why do they seem out of place?

  “You’re going to help me?” I whisper, trying to figure out what’s wrong.

  “Yes.” The response doesn’t soothe the feeling that I’m missing something.

  “How?”

  “Tell me what you have against Wine, where the camera is, and I’ll help you pick it up and take it to the police.”

  I stare at his face for a sign of reassurance that everything between us is okay, but all I see is a growing abyss. “How are you going to do that?” I ask in amazement.

  “I know some people who can help.”

  I nod, feeling lost. Then I tell him what happened and that the proof of Vincent’s guilt is in the library.

  “Luna, I need you to promise me that you’re going to let me do this, and you will not interfere.” His request, along with his intensity, draws a defeated breath from my chest.

  “I promise,” I say honestly.

  This time, I won’t do anything. I will trust Dominic, as I should have from the beginning.

  Despite the feeling that things with Vincent are going to be resolved, a painful question pounds loudly in my head. I don’t want to ask, too afraid of the answer, but the need to end the unbearable pain in my chest is greater.

  “And then, Dominic?”

  “One thing at a time, Luna.”

  Shit. He didn’t call me baby in that way that penetrates my soul, nor did he leave any hope about us.

  I’m losing the love of my life.

  I swallow the taste of defeat and press my hand against my chest to ease the pain as I nod.

  • • •

  Dominic left, saying he needed to go to work and sort things out. He didn’t even have breakfast with me. I don’t know what’s going on in his head right now, and I’m using every minute to think about how to fix things.

  Gabrielle.

  That’s it.

  She can help me. She’ll know what to do.

  Dominic

  I’d like to tell Luna that things are going to be fine between us, but I don’t know if that’s true. Dammit, if she knew what she meant to me, how much sh
e burrowed her way into my heart … Hell, I haven’t thought of anything but her since the day I laid eyes on her, losing myself along the way.

  I can’t let my feelings blind me to what matters. If I continue to ignore her actions, I will be accepting her recklessness, and I can’t sit back and watch her die, which is what’s going to happen.

  Luna has already proven she does whatever she wants, regardless of the consequences. When she left my house sick and malnourished, she didn’t even think about how it could worsen her condition. When she attacked Dirty, she had just ignored my request to never go back there, causing a big problem for both her and Jasmine. This Frank could have killed her or, God forbid, worse, and all because she can’t think about anyone but herself.

  The life I chose demands a lot of attention for others. A lot of people depend on me and my choices. I can’t spend all my time fearing for her and getting involved in her damn problems. And that’s all I’ve done.

  I’ll sort out the mess with Wine, help her put that bastard in prison, and then Luna and I will sort out our problems. Hell, I hope I’m strong enough to wait until that day and make the right decision when it’s time.

  Luna

  I look for Gabrielle’s phone number, rehearsing what to say. Should I get her involved? Gabrielle said she would help, and I believe her.

  The phone rings a few times before an excited voice answers.

  “Gabrielle?” I ask timidly.

  “Yes. Who is this?”

  “It’s me, Luna.” I bite my lip.

  “Luna! So glad you called! I was about to get your number from Dominic. How are you?” The sincerity in her voice touches me.

  “Well … actually, I lost my cell phone. This is Dominic’s house number. And, how are you?” I strangely feel ashamed.

  “Wonderful!” A laugh accompanies the phrase.

  “That’s good,” I say, smiling, and then I’m embarrassed by my next step. “If … Do you have time to talk?”