19. Corey
19
COREY
“ S it down and stop looming,” Dom ordered.
Vito was clearly trying not to laugh as he moved toward the sofa across from us. He sat down, but he looked too large and imposing for the delicate piece. The furniture fit Dom’s slimmer physique and personality. Vito hovered at the edge, like he was afraid the sofa might break.
No one spoke for a moment, then Vito huffed. “Are you seriously not going to tell me what’s going on here?”
For a moment, I tensed, thinking he meant what was happening between me and Dom, then I realized he must be referring to Lisa’s involvement.
“Where’s your brother?”
Vito frowned. “On his way.”
“I figured as much. We might as well wait for him. Would you like a drink?” He lifted his tumbler of whiskey to emphasize his meaning.
“What time is it?” Vito looked at his watch.
“Don’t ask,” Dom said.
“We’re not following the rules,” I said.
Vito grinned and looked between the two of us. “No, I don’t think you are.”
“More of that, and you’ll be escorted out,” Dom said.
Vito held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. We can sit around drinking breakfast whiskey until Valentino gets here, but we need to know what’s going on. We want to be part of this takedown.”
“I don’t need help. The more people who are involved, the more attention we will draw.”
Vito indicated the broken window. “Apparently, you’ve drawn quite enough attention as it is.”
“I suppose you already know about last night’s incident.”
“It would’ve been nice to hear about it from you.”
I felt Dom tense even though we weren’t touching. “You’re getting way too comfortable, son.”
Vito sighed. “Pops, we want you safe.”
I watched the tension drain from Dom. “I’m the one who should be protecting you, and that is why I want you to stay out of this.”
“No way in hell. That woman almost killed you once. We will not let that happen again.”
“I agree.” Dom looked at me like he couldn’t believe I’d spoken.
“You’re here to be protected, not to be part of this.”
“I am part of it because I need the protection, and it would be good to have more people helping.”
The look he gave me was as cold as he had ever been. “Not another word.”
I jumped at the harshness of his tone. It was as if the tender moments between us had never happened.
Was this what he meant about keeping a secret? That he was going to be an ass to me whenever anyone else was around? Or was he just going to be an ass to me no matter what?
What the hell had I been thinking, that things could work between us, even for a short time?
Dom poured Vito a drink, and a few moments later, Beatrice entered with a plate of fruit and pastries.
“I thought since all of you were up, you might need something to eat, especially considering your beverage choices. I could also bring a pot of coffee.”
“I’d appreciate that,” I said.
Valentino arrived just as she returned with coffee. His entrance was less dramatic than Vito’s, but the look on his face made it obvious he was also angry he hadn’t been told about Lisa.
“Did he talk to you?” he asked Vito.
Vito shook his head. “He insisted on waiting.”
“I don’t want to say this once, I’m certainly not going to say it twice,” Dom said. “The person Corey needs to testify against?—”
“The one behind the pediatric drugs scheme?”
“Yes, and don’t interrupt again,” Dom said. “Lisa has resurfaced. You’re right about that. You also need to know she’s the one behind the organization Corey’s bosses are working with.”
“What?” Vito’s eyes went wide, and he started to stand, but Val laid a hand on his shoulder as he glared at Dom. “How long have you known it was her?”
“From the beginning. How do you think Lucien and X coerced me into doing this babysitting job?”
I stared at him, offended. “I don’t need a babysitter.”
“You sure as hell do. You don’t know how deadly she is, and you have no idea how to protect yourself.”
“After last night—” Dom’s eyes widened. I realized he thought I was referring to the time we’d spent in bed, not the shattering of the window or the message being sent. “I realized how serious things are. She knows where I am, and…I was terrified, but I’m not a child. That’s why I insisted on staying for this conversation. I want to be part of whatever you do to stop her.”
Valentino shook his head. “You don’t have any training. You need to be somewhere safe.”
“I thought nowhere was safe now that she knows I’m here.”
“We should get you to a safe house,” Vito said. “We need to make other arrangements.”
Dom shook his head. “Corey is mine to protect. I’m not trusting him to anyone else.”
Valentino glanced at me. “That’s an interesting way to say it.”
“I’m the best equipped to protect him. I know Lisa, I know how she thinks.”
Vito scolded. “If you knew her so well, how did she ever?—”
Valentino laid a hand on his brother’s arm. “Don’t.”
Dom’s face was bright red, his jaw clenched. “Never question me about that night. Yes, she trapped me. She fooled me. But I know exactly how she set it up. I’ve studied her every move. Thought about it over and over for years. You think I would let that happen a second time?”
Vito held up his hands. “No, Pops. I never meant that. I just don’t want you hurt.”
“Don’t worry about me. It’s you who shouldn’t be hurt. I’m handling this.”
“How much support is X giving you?”
“He’s handling other aspects of it. I’m taking care of Corey until the trial.”
Val raised his brows. “You’re going to leave this up to the justice system? You’re going to let them be the ones to determine what happens to Lisa?”
The look on Dom’s face made that seem very unlikely. “Corey will be safe to testify against everyone involved. Lisa is not going to survive to the trial.”
He was scaring me. “Don’t go after her. Don’t take that kind of risk. If you’re doing that, then who’s going to look after me?”
“We will,” Valentino said.
“I’m not going to have to go after her. She’s going to come to me.”
Vito and Valentino looked at each other, and when Valentino looked back at his father, his eyes were hard, his jaw set. “What have you done?”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“You have a plan.”
“If I do, I won’t be sharing it with anyone.”
“If it involves me, then I hope you’ll share it with me,” I said.
“I need to talk to X and Lucien before I go through with anything.”
“Pops, we can’t lose you—not when things are finally good between us. I like you being around more.”
“Me too,” Valentino said. “And so do Liam and Zeke.”
“I don’t want you hurt either,” I said. For a split second I saw the hard shell he’d pulled around himself soften.
“Go home,” Dom told his sons.
“Will you promise to call us after you talk to X and Lucien?”
“No. I’ve explained how this will work. I would do anything to protect the two of you. You have other work to do. Go take care of it.”
“Pops, I can’t?—”
“Vito, I’m giving you an order. Go do the work you’ve been assigned, and let me handle this my way.”
Vito started to protest again, but Valentino caught his arm and escorted him toward the door. “Pops, we’re here if you change your mind.”
“I know that. Thank you.”
Valentino glanced at me, and I felt like he was trying to tell me something. I wasn’t sure what, other than maybe to keep his father safe. I had no idea how I was supposed to do that.
I’d promised not to hurt Dom and I wouldn’t, but I couldn’t protect him—not from Lisa or from himself.
When their footsteps had retreated down the hall, Dom turned to face me.
“I’ve got work to do.” He inclined his head toward the door, making it clear he wanted me to leave. I wanted to argue. I wanted to remind him that he could talk to me, but I was too afraid of being rejected even more pointedly, so I left without saying anything.