by Rumer Raines
Am I ready for this? Can I do this? I am about to help the Mafia kill a man. Granted, it’s a man I never liked, but taking a life is still taking a life, isn’t it? I can’t think about that right now. He stole from me. What’s worse is he stole from Dominic. I wonder if he would have taken it if he knew who he was really stealing from?
A few hours later, Tank knocks on the door and hands Dominic a file. It contains everything there is to know about Ted. The file has his parents’ address, former jobs, every address the man has ever lived, where to find his friends, and a list of places he frequents. Dominic doesn’t waste any time as we head to the most recent address.
His eyes bleed red as he watches the brand-new red sports car, with the sticker still in the window, speed into the driveway. A tall, lanky man with dirty blond hair gets out, slamming the door.
“Can I help you?” His sneaky green eyes look me over as he returns his focus to Dominic.
“We are friends of Ted…” he replies but is cut off before he finishes.
“Haven’t seen him. Get lost.”
That was the wrong thing to say to a man like Dominic.
The man turns his back and walks into the house, slamming the door.
“What are we going to do now?” I ask.
Dominic turns toward me, and I notice him glancing around at the other homes. “We are going inside to question him a little more.”
He turns in a quick circle one more time before walking up the steps and kicking the door in. Making sure no one saw him, I quickly follow when I realize the coast is clear. Dominic has the man pinned against a wall with his gun held up to his temple.
“I really wanted to be nice today,” he warns the man who is now crying.
“I said I don’t know where he is,” he cries.
“That’s a nice car you’ve got. It looks expensive, and I hate to mention it, but it looks like it cost more than this house.”
“It was a gift.”
Dominic laughs as if sincerely amused. “A gift?” He slams him into the wall.
“A gift from whom?”
“A friend! A fucking friend, okay!”
Dominic’s laugh turns scornful, and I have had enough. This man doesn’t know anything.
“Dominic, can we please leave? He said he doesn’t know where Ted is. I believe him!”
His eyes come up to study my face.
“Say ‘thank you, ma’am’,” He loosens his hold around the man’s throat.
“Thank you, ma’am,” the man whispers.
“She just fucking saved your life,” Dominic whispers as he pistol-whips the man and drops him to the ground.
I should be afraid of what I just witnessed. I should want to go home and sign up for witness protection. Watching Dominic kick in the door and manhandle this asshole has me feeling a little more powerful. It makes me feel like I am with a man who won’t take anyone’s shit. I cross my legs as I watch Dominic handle the wheel, and I want him now more than ever.
“Is this what you do all day?” I ask Dominic.
“It’s not. I don’t do any of this shit, usually. Tank does.”
“If he normally does it, then why are we doing it?” I ask.
“I said you were going to help, and there is no way in hell I am letting you spend the day with him.” He captures my eyes with his.
“Which one of us don’t you trust?” I question.
“It’s not a matter of trust. I won’t let another man take care of what’s mine.”
I blink, feeling lightheaded.
I am his.
31
“DON’T… STOP,” I moan as Dominic holds my legs open and pounds into me.
My legs tremble and try to close as he pushes and thickens inside me. I have had at least four orgasms, and he feels like he is just starting.
“You. Are. Mine,” he grunts between thrusts. “Say…” Thrust. “It…” Thrust.
“I…” He thrusts harder. “Am…” Thrust. I nearly lose my breath after that one but manage to say the last word. “Yours.” One final thrust before he comes and collapses on top of me.
We’re both dripping with sweat as I wonder how strange life can be. I lived the honest, good life, and I was unhappy. I was unfulfilled and bored. I am now living a life surrounded by what my mother considers sin, and I am basically happy. I have a good man who has questionable traits. Why am I saying I am basically happy?
Dominic’s phone snaps me out of my thoughts, and he rolls over to answer it.
“I have to go,” he tells me, sounding irritated.
“It’s three in the morning. Where do you have to go?”
He closes his eyes, and when he reopens them, they flash a gentle but firm warning. “It’s Ted.” His mercurial black eyes sharpen.
“What about him?”
“Tank found him.”
Dominic is not happy as I quickly get dressed to go with him. He says my job is done. I helped with the search, but now, my part was over. I disagree and want to help finish the job. He drives in silence, clutching the wheel so hard, I’m afraid he might break his wrist.
“Where are we going?” I ask. It looks like we’re heading outside the city limits.
“Warehouse,” he whispers.
I don’t ask any other questions. I know enough about the Mafia to know they always own some off the map building where dirty dealings are done. One hour later, we pull up outside a warehouse in the middle of nowhere. There are two cars parked, which I assume belong to Nico and Tank.
“I don’t like you being here, Steph,” Dominic whispers after he pulls his key out of the ignition.
“Dom…”
“Steph! You are going to see shit you shouldn’t see. You’ll see things you won’t forget. Every fucking time you look at me after walking into that building, it’s the only thing you’ll remember.” Two lines of worry appear between his eyes.
“I already see who you are, Dominic. I still choose you. I am not choosing you because of what you do, but for who you are.”
“What I am is a killer.”
“What you are is a man who offered to help me. A man who gave me a shit ton of money when he thought I needed it. A man who tried to talk me out of committing a crime because he thought I wouldn’t be able to live with it. A man who is afraid of what I will think of him if I see the truth.”
Dominic leans over to kiss me but is interrupted by a tap on the window.
“Excuse me, Luke and Laura? Is this fucking General Hospital? Can you please get your asses out of the damn car? I had pussy at home, too!” Nico yells.
“How bad is it?” Dominic questions as we stand outside the door.
“Are you kidding? It’s not rated G. You might want to have her wait in the car.”
Dominic’s eyes darken with emotion, and I shake my head. I’m not going to wait outside. Reason one being that we’re in the middle of nowhere, and it’s dark it’s scary. Reason two being I want to know what is going on with Ted.
“She’ll come in,” Dominic says.
He grabs my hand as we slowly walk through the building into a small room. The only light is a dim glow coming from a single flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling. Ted is lying in the middle of the floor with Anthony and Tank standing above him. Blood splatters all over the floor and walls each time they give him another kick. Ted’s wearing a t-shirt soaked in blood, and his jeans are torn. He looks like they’ve been beating him for hours.
When the door slams shut, they stop and turn to look at us. I can see the shock on Anthony’s face when he spots me. Tank’s eyes never leave Ted’s body.
“He’s still alive, boss. He wouldn’t tell us shit,” Tank snarls.
Dominic takes a step toward him, but I grab him by the elbow. “Let me talk to him, please,” I beg.
His gaze lowers as does his voice. “Okay.”
I slowly walk over to Ted, trying not to slip in the blood. Tank yanks his head by the hair and forces him to look at me.
For a moment, he studies me intently. I think for a minute he understands and will start talking. Amusement flicks in the eyes that meet mine. I’m too stunned to cry when he lifts his head and spits in my face.
My mouth drops open. I stand there, blank, amazed, and very shaken as Dominic attacks. He kicks him repeatedly until Anthony pulls him off, yelling that he’s had enough. Dominic drops to his knees and punches him in the face as Nico helps Anthony restrain him. Shock causes the words to wedge in my throat.
I didn’t know if I should ask about Ted or Dominic. I follow them out as Tank checks on a bloody Ted.
“This is exactly why she shouldn’t be involved,” Nico states.
Dominic wipes his hands on a handkerchief while Anthony nods
“He’s right, Dom. You need to take her and get out of here.”
Dominic’s lips pucker with annoyance as he looks at me. “I’m not leaving. Take her home.” He turns to Anthony who closes his eyes after looking at me.
“Dom,” he whispers.
“Take. Her. Home.” His vexation is evident.
I don’t get the opportunity to protest as Anthony grabs me by the arm and leads me to his black Suburban.
32
TO MY SURPRISE, when Anthony takes me home, it isn’t to my home. He drives directly to the house he shares with Nico, Monique, and Dominic. He drives in silence, giving me a look that screams for me to keep my mouth shut.
I rush to Dominic’s bedroom and collapse. I can’t believe anything that has happened tonight. I wait hours for Dominic, but eventually fall asleep.
The next morning, I sit across from him while he drinks his coffee as if nothing happened.
He refuses to talk about it. “This no longer concerns you.”
“How can you even say that?” I ask.
He retains his affability, but there is a distinct hardening of his eyes. “Steph, leave It alone.” He grits his teeth.
“Is he alive?”
A suggestion of annoyance hovered in his eyes. “Would it matter to you if he was?” he asks with unwelcome frankness.
I bite down hard on my lower lip. He has every right to ask the question. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.
“Is that a no?”
He levels me with a dark look. “What that means is that this is no longer your concern. Nico was right. You should have never been involved. Hell, maybe Anthony was right, too. Maybe I should have walked away. It wasn’t that much money.” He glares at me, frowning.
We stare at each other across a sudden ringing silence. This is what I wanted. A man who takes control of everything.
“I have a surprise for you.” His fingers curl under my chin.
“What Is it?”
“You will be working with Monique at the bar. You start today.”
The tensing of my jaw betrays my deep frustrations. I didn’t apply for a job at the bar. Who in the hell is he to say where I will be working?
“I don’t recall applying,” I manage to reply through stiff lips.
“You didn’t apply. The good news is that you don’t have to. I own the place and you want a job.”
“I think I can manage with my parties.”
Amusement flickers in the eyes that meet mine. “Fuck the parties. You’re done with those. No woman of mine is selling fake dicks. Besides, it’s no longer safe for you to do that shit.”
“Dominic…”
He puts his lips on mine to quiet me. “Steph just work in the bar. You will get paid good money, and I know you’ll be safe.”
“Is this what my life will be like with you? I get bossed around and dictated to?”
“Your life will be very comfortable. I will give you things that you can only dream about. You will want for nothing. Your days will be full of luxury, and your nights will be full of me.” He smiles.
“Dominic…” His large hand cups my face and holds it gently.
“Steph, please, just do this for me. Tonight, I’ll do things for you.”
My heart hammers foolishly as I give him a nod.
Several hours later, I am behind the bar with a quiet Monique. I can feel her eyes on me whenever she thinks I am not looking.
I throw back my head and place my hands on my hips, facing her. “Go ahead and say it, Monique! Why are you acting like you hate me suddenly?”
Monique throws down her dish rag and glances around the bar before coming inches away from me. “I don’t hate you. I just don’t think you should be involved with Dominic. He’ll hurt you, Stephanie.”
“Because he’s the Mafia and kills people?”
Her eyes widen as she scans the room again. “I can see you are definitely the right person for the lifestyle.” She turns away before I grab her.
“You know, maybe Dominic and I are wrong for each other. People get involved with the wrong people all the time, Monique. All I know is how I feel today, and I love him. I think he feels the same way about me. What happens between us is between us, and the last thing we need is you trying to throw a wrench in things because you don’t approve. We both know what he does, and unless you know the perfect woman for this kind of lifestyle, I hardly think he’s going to live the life of a monk to make you happy.”
Monique tosses her hair over her shoulder and closes her eyes. “You’re right. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“Do you honestly think he would hurt me?”
“Not intentionally, but you are in danger just by being around him.”
“Which is probably why he is making me work here. The only thing I know is that I won’t give him up, Monique.”
She takes a deep breath and shakes her head. “Okay, I just hope you know what you’re getting into.”
A few hours later, I hope for the same.
I sit in the passenger seat as Monique questions how I talked her into coming with me. We pull in front of the warehouse, the same warehouse where Ted was being beaten within an inch of his life. He’s either still being tortured or he’s gone, which would mean he’s dead and most likely buried.
“I don’t know how the hell you talked me into this,” Monique whines.
I can be very convincing when I need to be. Hours after giving me the silent treatment and questioning if I was ready to be involved with Dominic, I challenged her. I want to see how bad it could really be.
It’s dark and there are unmistakable smells of vomit and piss which made me gag. We peak in several of the rooms before we find him handcuffed to a pole in the middle of the dark room. He moans as he lifts his head to look at me.
“Ted?” I whisper.
I don’t attempt to get too close to him, remembering what happened the last time.
He drops his head and looks away.
“Ted, I want to help you.”
He doesn’t respond.
“This is a bad idea. We need to leave now,” Monique advises.
“Can you give me a few minutes alone with him?”
“Are you kidding?”
“No, he’ll talk if it’s just the two of us. Please, Monique?”
She closes her eyes and slowly backs out of the room.
“Ted, she’s gone. Please, let me help you.”
“Help… me?” he groans.
“Yes. Where is the money? They’ll let you go if you just tell me.”
“I will tell you the same thing I told them. I don’t have that fucking money.”
“Ted, you quit your job, and you have that expensive new car,” I remind him.
“I won the lottery,” he whispers.
“You didn’t win the lottery. You took that money out of my apartment!”
He laughs and lifts his eyes to look at me. “I didn’t take any money out of your apartment. I won the lottery.”
“Do you realize they will fucking kill you?” I answer in a rush of words.
His mouth takes an unpleasant twist. “You are so damn stupid.�
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I feel my flesh redden.
“Do you honestly think, if I found five hundred grand, I would have stuck around? You don’t think I would have taken it and left town?” His expression is tight with strain.
“You took it, Ted.”
“No! I didn’t take shit. I won the fucking lottery! Here is the part of the story your stupid ass doesn’t understand. I didn’t buy a fucking ticket. I fucked my lucky number. She wanted it so bad that when I couldn’t pay for it, she promised she would get the cash. My lucky number would even steal from her best friend. She knew where the spare key was kept.”
I refuse to believe it. She would never steal from me. She wouldn’t. I watch his cold eyes, but he doesn’t flinch. He gives no signs that he’s making the story up. Monica stole the money, and I drove her to the airport. This can’t be true. I won’t let him deceive me. I know my best friend. She would never do this to me.
“You’re lying,” I whisper. My pride won’t let me think any differently.
His expressive face changes to almost somber. “What would be the point of me lying? I’m going to die. Your fucking boyfriend is going to kill me. You have hated me from the day you met me, and I am going to die for something I didn’t even do. I guess you win.” His face is now a mask of stone.
Leaning against the door for a moment, I try to gather strength before walking outside to meet Monique.
Ted is telling the truth. With a pulse-pounding certainty, I know.
I have no other choice. I can let the man I hate die for something he didn’t do, or I can send the Mafia after my best friend.
33
“HOW MUCH LONGER DOES HE HAVE?”
Our bodies are naked and still sweaty from our lovemaking. He pulls me against him, and I can feel his cock already thickening again.
“How much longer does who have?” he asks.
“Ted,” I reply, and I he groans as his fingers move gently down my arm.
“My dick is nudging your ass, and you want to talk about Ted?” His hands begin a lust-arousing exploration of my body.
“Dom…”
He thrusts three fingers inside me and I gasp.
“I… need… to…” I moan softly as I start to lose my focus.