26. Dom
26
DOM
S econds passed before I realized the pounding wasn’t in my head. Someone was at the door. Once again, I’d slept like the dead, lying next to Corey. He was on his back, and my arm lay over his chest. Our naked bodies were pressed together.
I nearly jumped away from him as fear raced through me. Then I remembered the way he’d touched my body as he slowly removed my clothes, the way he’d washed me so carefully in the shower. I was safe with him.
“Mr. Marchesi, are you in there?”
Fuck, it was Beatrice. I could tell by the amount of light outside that I’d slept far later than usual, but I didn’t think there was any need for her alarm.
“What’s going on? Why are you waking me up?” I yelled.
“Corey isn’t in his room. I don’t know where he is, and your sons are here wanting to see you.”
This was not how I wanted to start the day. “Corey is fine.”
“He is?”
I scowled at the door even though she couldn’t see me. “Yes, he’s right here with me, as I’m sure you could have guessed.”
“I didn’t think. I mean?—”
“He’s here. Now leave me alone.”
A moment passed, but I didn’t hear her walk away. “What should I tell your sons?”
“Tell them to mind their own goddamned business.”
“They said it was urgent that they speak to you. They seemed…alarmed.”
“Jesus Christ, what time is it?”
Corey had stirred, and he was looking up at me, worry on his face. I brushed his hair from his forehead and smiled at him.
“It’s eleven o’clock, sir.”
Wow. I really had slept late. Of course, Corey and I hadn’t fallen asleep until maybe five. “Tell Val and Vito that I will be there in half an hour.”
“Yes, sir. Would you like breakfast then?”
I glanced at Corey, and he nodded. “Yes.”
“I’ll prepare a tray for you and Corey.”
I waited until I heard her retreating footsteps, then I rolled over on top of Corey. His eyes widened as the full length of our bodies pressed together, then he smiled.
“You only gave us half an hour.”
“You aren’t too sore this morning? You want more?”
He chewed his lower lip. “I don’t know. I… Every time you touch me, I want more.”
“I want more every time I look at you. How are you so fucking tempting?”
Color rose in his cheeks. I was amazed that he could blush around me after what we’d done last night. But I loved it. “I don’t know.”
I could tell he wanted to ask something. “What is it?”
“Do you mind that Val and Vito might realize I was with you?”
I didn’t even have to think about my answer. “No. I don’t intend to discuss it with them, but if they figure it out, then so be it. I’m not supposed to be fucking a man who is under my protection, but they can’t argue with that because they’ve done the same thing with the men they are with now.”
“But what about the fact that you’re ‘straight’?”
“I’m obviously not, and they will accept that easily, even if they do feel the need to tease me. I won’t let them bother you.”
“Oh…no, I’m not worried about them. I just didn’t know…I mean, this is temporary, right?”
I sighed. “Let’s not talk about that now, not when we have such a short time left to stay in bed.”
“Okay.”
I could tell he wanted to talk more, but as soon as I lowered my lips to his, he was consumed with kissing me and working his hand between our bodies.
We were twenty minutes late, and while they wouldn’t dare complain to my face, I could tell Val and Vito were fuming when we stepped into the living room, both of us freshly washed, our hair still damp.
Val looked from me to Corey and raised his brows.
I ignored his unspoken question. “What did you need to talk to me about?”
If they said anything about Corey, I would send them away. I wasn’t discussing anything about our relationship until I was ready. Relationship? Was I really thinking of it like that? I’d lost my mind. Our hooking up. No. That didn’t sound right either.
“We told you we wanted to be included when you made plans to go after Lisa, and now we hear you’re ready to make a move, and you haven’t told us anything.”
I glanced back at Corey. He now looked as angry as my sons. Fuck. What had I done?
“You told me your plan wasn’t worked out yet.” Corey’s eyes were colder than I’d ever seen them.
“It’s not. I’m still waiting on some data from X.”
“You’re planning to go after her tonight.”
“Who told you that?”
“Never mind how we heard. Is it true?”
“It’s an option I’ve discussed.”
“No bullshit,” Vito said. “Are you going after Lisa tonight?”
“If X can arrange things, then yes.”
“What?” I’d never heard Corey sound so furious. “Tonight? You never said anything. Were you just going to disappear?”
“No. I would never leave you unprotected.”
“Then who is helping you, and why isn’t it us?” Val asked.
“I just told you, X is making arrangements.” Why was Val trying to make this worse? “Who did you hear this from?”
He and Vito looked at each other.
“That doesn’t matter,” Val said.
“Yes, it does. This is my business. I would have told you when I was ready.”
“You mean after your plan either worked or after you were dead?” I stared at him. What was I supposed to say? “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speechless, Pops.”
“You’re going after her alone, aren’t you?” Corey asked. I hated the pain in his voice.
“Not exactly.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” he snapped.
Vito’s eyes widened as he looked from Corey to me, and Val tried to signal to Corey to tone it down.
Did they think I would hurt him for talking to me like that when I deserved it? I’d gone against what he’d asked. I’d set myself up as bait, but it was to save him.
“What do you plan to do?” Val asked.
“I’m arranging a meeting with Lisa. When she shows up, I’m going to kill her.”
“What the fuck?” Corey’s face was pale. Vito took his arm and led him to a chair. “You’re going to put yourself in front of her with no fucking backup and give her the chance to finish what she started?”
“No. I’m going in prepared. I won’t hesitate.”
“And you think she’ll show up alone? You think she’ll let this be a fair fight?”
Of course I didn’t but I’d take care of things. “It’s not a fight, it’s an execution.”
“Then set up from a sniper position.”
“No. I want her to see my face.”
Corey growled. “That’s fucking stupid.”
The room went dead silent. Corey glared at me while Val and Vito stared at him in awe. “Corey, it’s my job to protect you. I am the one who determines how to do that.”
“No. You can’t risk yourself like that. You need someone with you. You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to make yourself a target.”
“I can handle this.”
“And X agrees?” Val asked.
“X has accepted my plan.”
“We’re going with you,” Vito said.
“No.” I’d had enough. It had been a mistake to touch Corey. I’d known that, but now, I couldn’t think straight about protecting him. I didn’t want to disappoint him, but I had to end this the fastest way possible, and confronting Lisa would bring her out in the open. She was so fucking arrogant. She’d think I would hold back like I had before. She still thought she had power over me, but she was wrong.
“You’re not coming with me. I don’t need you watching over me. I don’t need your help or anyone else’s.”
Obviously, that wasn’t true, but I wouldn’t correct myself. I was in control here. I was the one who got to call the shots, and I wasn’t going to forget that again.
Even if it means you end up alone?
That was how it was always going to end.
“We’re worried about you,” Vito said.
“That’s not necessary.”
Corey huffed.
“What if seeing her triggers another migraine?” Vito asked. His eyes went wide as if he knew he shouldn’t have asked. Val glared at him.
“How do you know about that?” I cut my gaze to Corey. His face was red, and he looked terrified.
“Pops, don’t?—”
“You told them, didn’t you? You promised me you wouldn’t, but you went behind my back and called them.”
“He’s worried about you too,” Val said. “He knows you need help. What’s going to happen once he’s not here?”
“I’ll be on my own like I’ve always been,” I yelled, my words echoing in the large room.
Corey shook his head. “Dom, they needed to know.”
“That wasn’t your decision to make.” Tears stung my eyes, and I could barely breathe. Corey didn’t actually trust me to take care of him, and he was right, and it was more than I could deal with. His betrayal was too much. I was seconds from breaking down.
I pointed to the door. “Get out.”
Vito stood. “Pops, please. Let us?—”
Val must have sensed how on the edge I was. He grabbed Vito’s arm and started pulling him toward the door. “We’ll talk to him later.”
“You too,” I said, scowling at Corey.
“I did it to help you.”
I shook my head. I couldn’t listen to him now. I was too angry, too hurt. I picked up a vase and hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, making Corey jump.
“Get out.”
“You want me to leave?”
“I want you to go to your room. I need to be alone. I told you I like my privacy. You’ve invaded it enough.”
Corey’s mouth dropped open. Then he clapped his hand over it and ran.
I’d told him I was a monster. Why the hell hadn’t he listened?