Forty-Two
Dominic
S he had me fucked up in my head. Not that I hadn’t always been a headcase, but ever since she’d said she loved me, my brain had been frazzled. I knew some nasty shit was trickling down, and I was going to have to act one way or another.
There were two things I knew. One, I really didn’t want to hurt her—whatever the hell that meant since it wasn’t in my nature to feel anything for someone who wasn’t Levin or Vincent. And two, I’d kill her if she fucked Fallon Vasiliev.
Those two facts warred inside my head. It wasn’t pleasant. I was pretty sure I was going to go insane.
But the burst of butterflies I felt in my chest were even more concerning as I watched her smile up at Vincent, him holding her lunch tray for her as she reached for an apple juice.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to answer it.
“De Santis,” I grunted, my gaze still on Vincent and Bianca.
He tweaked her nose, making her laugh. They looked like a damn ad for how much fun could be had at Bolten.
“We need to talk,” my father’s deep voice greeted my ears in our native tongue.
The last thing I felt like doing was going to see him. My guts clenched at the possibility of what he might want.
Someone was going to die. Whenever we needed to talk , it meant he needed someone to be dealt with.
I sent up a silent prayer it wasn’t what I thought it was.
“I’ll be there shortly,” I said.
He hung up without a goodbye. I didn’t get up right away. Instead, I sat on the tabletop in the courtyard and watched as Vincent dipped his head and pressed his lips to Bianca’s. She curled into him like a kitten.
I exhaled loudly, knowing I needed to learn to control my anger and jealousy. I glanced across the courtyard to find Vasiliev watching them, a look of sadness sweeping over his face. He caught my eye, holding my stare without any fear.
“Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes,” I said softly.
Ivanov got Fallon’s attention, which broke off his staring contest with me.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Bianca’s sweet voice called out to me.
I turned to see her and Vincent had finally made it to me. Levin was a few feet behind them.
“No.” I got to my feet and peered down at her, wanting to kiss her like Vincent got to.
But I didn’t play games like that. I wasn’t a sweet guy, willing to drop shit for girls. But Bianca D’Angelou had seemingly cast a spell on me that I was getting tired of fighting.
“Your father?” Levin asked, stopping next to Vincent.
I nodded tightly, tearing my eyes from Bianca.
Levin’s Adam’s apple visibly bobbed, and Vincent shuffled, agitated.
“Is everything OK?” Bianca released Vincent’s hand and took mine.
When I returned my focus to her, my emotions warred inside me.
What the fuck was I going to do if I had to kill her?
It hadn’t been a big deal when this whole game started.
But that was before I started feeling shit.
Now? The thought made me sick. This was why my father had warned me to not ever get attached.
This was why he’d physically beat the lesson into me.
Never get attached. Never love anyone more than you love yourself. Never choose between your life and theirs.
“No, I don’t think it is,” I said softly, staring into her big, blue eyes. I reached out and ran my knuckles along her cheek.
She closed the space between us and rested her hand on my chest.
“We’ll be here when you get back. The dance is tonight. We’ll have some fun. You’re up for homecoming king.”
I let out a soft laugh. “I already have a crown. I just need my queen.”
She bit her bottom lip before surging forward and pressing her lips to mine in a deep kiss that both shocked me and turned me on. I kissed her back like I’d never taste her again.
And who knew? I might not.
* * *
The black limo crunched along the gravel as I stared out the window at the passing trees.
Once I’d gotten to my father’s, he’d urged me into a car with Levin’s father and another of my father’s men who they affectionally called the Cleaver.
He was as mean as he was ugly. And big. Mother fucker was huge.
He was the guy my father called on when he wanted the world to see his power and his enemy’s blood. Cleaver was good at it too. Too good.
And then there was Klaus, Levin’s father.
Nearly as big and just as intimidating. Quiet.
Deadly. Wicked. Just like my father. The three were the best of friends.
Vincent’s father wasn’t there, but if he were, their little fucked up circle of insanity would be complete.
It reminded me a lot of me and my guys. Till the end.
That was our motto. It seemed like that end may be fast approaching as of late.
“The Ivanovs and D’Angelous have set a date for Mikhail’s wedding. My insider said it was originally set for the summer but has been moved to next month.” Father leveled his dark-eyed gaze on me.
I nodded once and didn’t say anything.
“As you know, we cannot let that happen.” He leaned forward and grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him. “Tonight. Midnight. Kill the D’Angelou girl on my call. Understand.”
I swallowed, my stomach heaving. It wasn’t like she’d be my first kill, but she was my first love.
There. I said it. I fucking loved her. Or something. It didn’t matter. I had feelings for her.
I nodded because it was expected of me.
He gripped my face harder and shook it, his face a mask of anger and power.
“Say it.”
“ Sí , Father. Midnight. Kill the D’Angelou girl on your word.” My words were clipped venom as I tried to control myself.
Father narrowed his eyes at me for a moment before releasing my face.
“Tonight my inside man is supposed to be delivering her to me. If he fails, you’ll have to kill her. And then I’ll have you and your men tend to my inside guy and the Vasiliev girl.”
My father wouldn’t kill Bianca himself, so why did he want her brought to him if possible? “I thought your inside man was going to kill her?” The change of plans had me confused.
Father gave me a sinister smile. “I decided I have other plans for her if he can get her to me. No big deal if he can’t. Either way, she’ll suffer.”
“What plans?” I tried to keep my voice even as I stared back at the monster before me.
I caught Cleaver smirking out of the corner of my eye, the jagged scar over his eye crinkling with the effort as he adjusted his dick in his pants. Klaus remained the cool, collected copy of his son as he continued to watch me.
“That’s why we’re here. I’m going to show you our newest endeavor. One I’d like you to run after you graduate.”
The limo stopped, and a moment later, the driver opened the door.
I followed the men out and stared up at a mansion that rivaled the one we lived in.
Towers. Turrets. Guards. Stone and metal, all pulled together to make an impenetrable prison for some poor souls. At least that was my first impression.
Bile burned my throat as we walked inside. It wasn’t set up like a home. Not really. A woman met us at the door, wearing an elegant black dress.
“This is Haley,” Father said, kissing the girl on both cheeks. “She’s the first person people see after the guards when they enter. Isn’t she something?” Father looked at me for my approval.
I nodded tightly. Haley was hot. Big tits. Long legs. Blonde hair cut in a sharp bob. But her face… While beautiful, I could see the sadness and fear in her wavering smile and the slight bob of her throat.
“Her tits are real,” Father said, backing away. “Show Dominic.”
Her eyes widened.
“That won’t be necessary,” I said.
Father shot me a warning look and grabbed Haley roughly by her arm.
“I said, show Dominic your tits.”
With shaking hands, she pulled the top of her dress down, her bottom lip wobbling as she stared at me. I swallowed and glanced away.
Bad idea.
Father released Haley and clasped my face harshly.
“When I tell you to do something, you do it,” he snarled in my ear. “Now, touch her tits,”
He released me. It took everything in me to not punch him in the face.
I’d never been close with my father. The man was as wicked as they came and twice as deadly.
We had an agreement. I was the heir to his empire.
I did what I was told. I was dark, tough, and in charge of my own men.
But when Father barked a command, I submitted. Always.
I reached out and cradled one of Haley’s heavy breasts in my palm.
“She’s yours whenever you need relief,” Father said. “I have a room ready for you. Consider her a gift for all your hard work. What do you say, Son?”
“Thank you, Father,” I said evenly, dropping my hand from Haley’s breast.
“Good. Now, I’ll show you your soon-to-be kingdom.” He turned, his guys flanking him, and strode away.
Haley cast me a worried look, her breasts back in her dress. I kept my features schooled and followed my father deeper into the mansion.
I studied everything as we went. Each room seemed to either be a spacious place for gathering or was closed off with a guard outside it.
When we descended the stairs to the basement, dread filled me.
The soft sounds of girls sobbing filled my ears as my feet hit the black, glossy tiled floor at the bottom of the steps.
The lights were dim, but I could easily make out cages. Many of them housing weeping women, clinging to one another.
“What is this?” I demanded, letting my anger show.
Father turned to me, grinning. “Your kingdom.”
I spun around, taking in the crying women. Some of them were naked or nearly naked. The ones who weren’t, would be. That much I knew.
“We’ve launched a new business. Women.” Father stepped forward and held his arms out to show me everything. “There’s quite a lucrative market for beautiful women that can be forced into doing whatever you want.”