Chapter 16 – Dominic
“Idon’t care what you have to do or who you have to bribe. I want her out now.”
Mari’s growl echoed through the police station, and I took note of the few officers who looked far too giddy to hear it. More than one of them had their hands on their weapons, and Greyson and I were constantly scanning the room to make sure no one got suicidal and pulled one on our girl.
“Maybe we should keep our voices down, just in case these aren’t our type of cops,” Lewis Donnaghal, lead lawyer from Donnaghal and Sons, suggested. When I turned to glare at him—because, really, how fucking stupid did he think we were—he blanched and turned away.
The man was a bland-made human, with everything about him lackluster and dull. He seemed competent enough, but with Shara in jail, we needed a fire-starter. We needed a powerhouse. Lewis Donnaghal didn’t feel like the man we needed.
“I’ve called his father. Ronan should be here any minute, and when he arrives, Lewis will be lucky to see the inside of a courtroom for a year,” Grey mentioned quietly as Mari slowly turned and took up Donnaghal’s breathing space. He looked like he was going to pass out as she leaned in. How the fuck the man made partner without meeting her before was beyond me.
Mari took a breath, obviously trying to keep herself calm. Anyone could see it wasn’t working, and I didn’t blame her. Shara was inside alone. No protection, no way out. It was enough to make anyone antsy. Mari’s voice was razor-sharp. “My sister is inside that hellhole. I don’t give a fuck who hears me, Lewis. I want her out. Now. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because I pay you, you’re in charge.”
I was struggling with how to help. Not because I didn’t know what to do, but because I was pissed.
She’d snuck out again. Put herself in danger, and for what?
I needed to do something.
That was what she’d said when we’d cornered her outside the police station thirty minutes ago.
No explanation about what it was or where she’d been. Just I needed to do something,and the fact that she wouldn’t meet our eyes.
I’d been unmoored since Nate’s treachery, struggling to straighten myself after he left us reeling, but this? This was too fucking much, and her bullshit answer was just that—bullshit.
I thought we’d turned a corner recently, thought we’d finally gotten back to the point where she trusted us. But obviously not, and honestly, Grey and I deserved better.
We were here, waiting for her to come to us, waiting for her to lean on us, and Mari refused to let us in. She wasn’t being a good partner.
The empathetic part of me piped up with a reminder, she just had her heart ripped out a week ago.
Maybe, but she was ripping out ours every day. Something had to give, or Nate was going to break more than just them; he’d break us too.
The sound of a car door slamming tore my focus from the quiet man nearly wetting himself in front of my girl. He looked like a quivering dog, and I was once again surprised he’d been allowed to meet us without a fucking chaperone.
“Puppies,” Mari muttered, turning away to watch the new arrival.
The man power walking down the sidewalk was the polar opposite of Lewis. Where the younger man was a wet blanket, this man had authority and substance. His suit was a perfect fit, tailored within an inch of its life so it sat like it was molded to him, his briefcase was clean and new, but it was his eyes that told the story I wanted. They were whip-sharp and cold as ice.
This was a man who could get shit done, a man who wouldn’t cower in front of Mari. He was a powerhouse.
“Ms. Marcosa, sorry for the wait. Greyson.” He shook their hands before turning to me. “You must be the new underboss, Dominic Marcosa. I’m Ronan Donnaghal, founder of Donnaghal and Sons.”
I shook his hand, pleased at the instant respect he gave all of us, only to smother a laugh when he turned a furious gaze on his son. “What are you doing here?”
“Ms. Marcosa called about her friend, so I came down and?—”
“I’m aware of her call. My question is, why are you standing here gabbing, instead of inside getting her sister out of lockup?”
The clarification didn’t go unnoticed, and I could see Lewis’s pulse jump in his throat. “The-the police said we needed to wait to talk to the commissioner?—”
“On your mother’s tits, I swear you’re as useless as a third nipple.”
Ronan made it three steps before turning back with a practiced, impassive look. “Apologies for the delay, Ms. Marcosa. If you’ll wait outside, I’ll get this sorted for you. In the future, you’ll be meeting with my daughter, Laidan. She’s my pride and joy and is much more like her Da than this one.” He jerked a thumb toward Lewis’s red face and sighed, though it was obvious he was going to rake his son over the coals before this was over. “How they shared a womb, I’ll never know.”
I thought Mari would decline, but she must’ve realized that the officers wouldn’t give us Shara with her inside.
“Text me the second you have news.”
“Of course.” Ronan turned away, barking over his shoulder, “Get a move on, lad. Seems I need to teach you how to get things done.”
With another glance at the hallway where we knew Shara was being held, Mari led us out the door and into the chilly night.
Habit had Grey and me boxing Mari in until we could get her somewhere mostly protected.
“I don’t like being out here. It’s too open.”
“We don’t have a choice,” Mari snapped. “I’m not leaving her.”
“I didn’t say you would.” Frustration welled inside me, and even though I knew it was because of Shara and Mari’s disappearing act, I couldn’t stop it. I took a breath, ready to open up the can of worms right there, but Grey’s hand on my arm stopped me.
I looked over, frowning when he carefully shook his head. Not here. Not the time.
No shit, it wasn’t the time, but fuck, I wished it were. Deep breaths weren’t cutting it, so I finally just reeled Mari into my chest. Even if I was annoyed at her, I needed that closeness.
“Still mad?”
“Yep.”
“Okay.” The faint sound of vibration had everyone tensing as Mari looked at the text. “Shara will be out in a minute.”
Her shoulders drooped, and she leaned into me, full of relief.
I wasn’t much better. Not only because I could get Shara out, but because it meant I could force Mari back behind the Celestine’s walls. I wasn’t a controlling man by nature, but waking up to find her gone had taken ten years off my life and nearly all of my fucking patience. “Good. Grey and I will drive you both home.”
“Not necessary. I have my car.” She stepped away, idly tapping at her phone as she responded to Ronan.
“I don’t care. You’ll come with us.” Her head snapped up, and I saw the urge to argue before I stepped forward and dropped my voice. “Don’t even think about it, mariposa. You snuck out without a fucking note, and now I’m not letting you out of my sight. Moore can come back for your car later.”
She would have fought me if Shara hadn’t stepped out the station doors with a saccharine smile and a middle finger in the air. “See you never, assholes.”
Lewis frowned next to her as they made their way toward us. “Maybe it would be best not to antagonize the police.”
“Maybe they should’ve used their brains before arresting me in the first place,” Shara retorted with a cheeky grin, though one look at Mari wiped it away. “You look like shit.”
“Gee, I wonder why.” The two hugged and whispered to each other quietly before Mari pulled back. “Where’s Ronan?”
“My father is finishing with paperwork and threats.” Lewis fidgeted with his sleeves. “Apparently, he’s going to prove that they planted the evidence and take their badges.”
“If anyone could, it would be him,” Grey agreed before turning to get his own Shara hug.
“What—”
“Not here.” Mari’s pointed glance at Lewis was obvious to everyone, and the man paled again. Good lord, he was not fit to be around us.
Mari seemed to agree as she nodded toward the car. “You can leave, Lewis. Tell your sister I look forward to meeting her.”
“I’m sure my father was joking, Ms. Marcosa.”
“I’m sure he wasn’t, but if he was, I’ll fix it. Have a nice night.”
Dismissed, Lewis shuffled away and out of sight.
“That boy is too fucking innocent for this life,” Shara said.
“That boy was supposed to get you out. Thank god his father is much better equipped to handle this.” Mari linked her arm with Shara’s and pulled her forward. “Come on, the boys are bodyguarding us.”
“You wouldn’t need a bodyguard if you would stop acting out,” Greyson murmured, though he glared right back when Mari turned furious eyes on him. “We’re right, and you know it.”
Her eyes narrowed. “We can talk about this later.”
Which meant we were right and she didn’t want to admit it.
Another beep came as we were almost at the car, and Mari frowned at her phone.
“According to Ronan, they dropped the charges. He’s positive he can expunge your record fully, though it was made clear they’re not going to stop poking into Marcosa business.”
Of course not. Cash had found a weak spot in our defenses, and he was using the pigs to dig at it. Pathetic.
“What does he suggest?”
When Mari didn’t answer, Shara snatched the phone out of her hand and laughed. “Stick to the straight and narrow for a while. Keep your nose clean. Does he know who he’s talking to?”
Shara didn’t seem to care one way or another, skipping ahead to slide into the car with a grin. “Can we stop for burgers? I’m starving.”
“We’ll order in,” Grey said firmly. Neither of us wanted to be out longer than necessary tonight. There was a reason Cash had targeted Shara, and it wasn’t just because the women were friends.
What better way to assassinate Mari then to get her out of her fortress?
Thankfully, the ladies seemed to realize the danger, and Mari quickly slid in, shutting the door behind her. Greyson sent a food order to a local Marcosa-owned-and-run place nearby for delivery as I climbed into the driver’s seat and sent a text to Moore.
Pickup needed, SPD.
Cop or car.
Car for now.
Got it, boss.
Mari’s patience lasted until we were locked in the car, doors barred from the rest of the world.
“Are you okay?” she asked Shara.
For her part, Shara seemed unfazed. “I’m alive.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
“It’s what I’m telling you.” The women stared at each other, both waiting for the other to yield. Normally, I’d bet on Shara—I’d learned since meeting her that she was a force to be reckoned with, and Mari coddled her more than any other person in her life—but this was family business. If there was something to know, Mari needed answers.
“I have a few badges to add to your shit list,” Shara finally admitted. She rattled off four names, curling in on herself with a wince.
The car’s atmosphere chilled dramatically as Mari cataloged every move Shara made. “Did they touch you?”
“No. They had no qualms about the others doing it, though.”
Mari’s growl ripped through the car, and she leaned forward to whisper in Grey’s ear, “Take care of it.”
He nodded, pulling his phone back out and sending a few more texts.
As I started the car and pulled away, I knew we’d have four more bodies on our tally sheet soon enough.
The ride was relatively silent, with Mari and Shara murmuring to each other occasionally, but not much else. It seemed like none of us relaxed until we made it back to the Celestine.
I got out and opened the door for Shara while Greyson did the same for Mari. Thankfully, Shara didn’t seem to mind that Mari wasn’t letting her go home. Mari was in full overprotective bear mode, and the only way Shara was leaving her sight was to shower.
It wasn’t until we were in the elevator that she poked Mari in the side. “Did you read the journal?”
“No.”
“Chicken.”
“You’re right.” We all turned to her in shock, but she just shrugged. “I’ve been letting my fear rule my life since Rey died, and it’s made it too easy for things to go wrong. It got you arrested and Aislynn nearly killed. I can’t afford to let it happen any longer.”
“So, book club after dinner?”
“Yeah, book club.”
The food arrived just as we did, so we trudged up to the penthouse, surrounded by the scent of greasy food and milkshakes. We ate quickly, and only when Shara sat back with a happy sigh, slurping her milkshake while I cleaned up the trash, did Mari tap back into the room again. When the surface was clear, we all stared at the journal in the center of the table.
“It’s Mario’s, right?” Grey asked, reaching for the book. He was the fastest reader—fucker taught himself to speed-read when they were kids—and Mari had decided he’d skim the pages to see if it was even worth a deeper look.
“Yeah,” Mari said, worrying her lip.
Shara leaned over, dropping her head to Mari’s shoulder. She melted at the touch and relaxed into the chair. The air was thick with quiet nerves as Greyson flipped through the pages. We didn’t know what we’d find or if it would even help. It could just be pages of Mario blowing smoke up his own ass, but my gut said we’d find something to help.
About halfway through, he stopped, flipped back a few pages, then moved forward again. He kept his fingers in place, not losing the spot. When he finished, he wiped his hands on his pants and nodded. “Cash is in here.”
“He is?” Mari leaned forward, staring at the journal as if she could read its secrets that way.
“Not much,” Grey warned. “A few mentions here and here.”
He laid the book out and tapped the pages so she could see, then he turned to me with a wince. “So is your mom.”
I winced too, not wanting to read anything Mario had to say about my mom. They might not have been married very long, but they’d been together for years. If I read an account of their sex life, I wasn’t going to be able to look her in the eyes ever again.
Mari flipped through the pages while I tried to decide whether it was necessary for me to look, her frown growing the longer she read. “This doesn’t make any sense. Do you remember Cash around your mom?”
“No.” I didn’t remember seeing his face before his appearance at Gilded months ago. My brows furrowed at the implication. “What does it say?”
“Read it yourself.” Mari slid the book to me and stood up to pace.
Lucia won’t tell me anything, but I see the way he looks at her. Covets her. I thought Cash was going for my throne, and I don’t blame him. If I was born to be a king, he was born to be a conqueror. But what if he’s gunning for my queen instead?
“So, he could’ve stalked her? Fixated on her like he has on you?” Grey suggested. My stomach lurched at the idea of that psychopath going after my mother. We weren’t close, but she was my mom. I didn’t want anything bad happening to her.
“There’s another option,” Shara said quietly, flipping through the pages now that Mari had given her the okay. “They could’ve had an affair.”
Everyone froze.
Marriage in the mafia world was patriarchal bullshit, with the men fucking whoever they wanted with relative impunity. But the women? If they were lucky enough to be married to a low-level man, maybe they’d get a divorce or run out of town. Some were beaten within an inch of their lives just for looking at another man.
But for the don’s wife? An affair was a death sentence. Plain and simple. Mario couldn’t afford for word to get out that his own wife was disrespecting him.
Yet my mother was still alive.
“We need more than this.” Grey motioned to the journal in irritation, his brain obviously trying to come up with answers when we didn’t have all of the puzzle pieces.
Mari hummed, turning back to the table with fierce eyes. “Then we go find it.”
“Where?”
“Chicago.”
My head whipped up, shocked. “You want to leave?”
“I think we need to talk to your mother, and I’d prefer we didn’t paint a target on her back if we can avoid it. We could always video chat?—”
Greyson was already shaking his head. “We could encode it, but with Nate’s insight into the system, I’m not so sure it’s a good idea right now.”
“It’s not safe to leave either,” I argued.
“Sure, it is.” Shara leaned forward, hands folded in front of her. The picture of innocence and a bald-faced lie. “Donnaghal said we all needed to lie low this weekend anyway. Make it seem like we’re holing up here for the weekend. I’ll stay and make it legit. You have room service, right?”
She winked and stretched out her legs, looking beyond comfortable in our home, and I could see the gears turning in Mari’s head. “If we plan the conversations with Shara’s new friends while we’re gone, it should look like we’re still here.”
“What about the airports? It’ll be impossible to hide if we go commercial. We’ll have to charter a plane.”
Mari snorted. “Or we can just use ours.”
“We have a plane?”
Her eyes glittered. “We do.”
The words Mile High Club whispered in my ear, and I grinned. “To Chicago, then.”
“To Chicago.”