Chapter Thirty-Five #2
The door opened and before I could gather myself, Drew was stepping out and offering me his hand again. I took it automatically, because in that moment I didn’t trust my legs.
Wealth didn’t impress me. I’d grown up around it. This was different. There was nothing subtle about the security scattered about. Or the obvious cameras. Whoever lived here wasn’t just powerful, he was prepped for battle.
People didn’t live like that unless they had as many enemies as they had friends.
We walked toward the entrance, Drew’s hand steady around mine. I tried not to look like I was overwhelmed. But I was.
This wasn’t old money. Or new money.
This was . . . power.
With a dash of paranoia.
Drew leaned closer as we stepped inside. We moved through a wide entry hall into a sitting room filled with light and clean lines and classic, but modern art.
And then I saw him—Dominic Corisi.
I stopped short. Dark hair, sharp suit, expression calm enough to be dangerous.
The United States didn’t have royalty, but if we did, the Corisis would have been ours.
The Corisi name was an unspoken element considered during board meetings, headlines and urban legends.
How much was true and how much was hype?
That was the unknown that kept the name both relevant and unspoken.
Some people said he had so many enemies that he required the level of security I’d just witnessed.
Some said his level of security was for show because behind the scenes his network ensured he had no enemies.
Either way, meeting him in person was daunting.
His wife, the infamous teacher who’d tamed the tiger, noted our arrival and said something quietly to her husband. His face transformed with warmth and the two walked toward us.
“You must be Bella,” the woman said with a bright, genuine smile. Dressed in a simple sweater and slacks, hair pulled back casually, she was approachable in a way I hadn’t expected her to be. “I’m Abby and this is my husband, Dominic.”
I loved that she introduced him like I might not know who he was. He didn’t seem at all put off by it. As I shook her hand, I thought, she felt safe and stable like someone you’d want to sit next to on a plane.
“Welcome to our home.” Dominic said in a deep voice. In his dark gray eyes, I met the apex predator people whispered about.
I forced a smile. “Mr. Corisi.”
Dominic’s mouth curved faintly, like he found that amusing.
“Dominic,” Abby corrected cheerfully, her smile widening. “Please. If anyone calls him Mr. Corisi, he starts thinking he’s in charge.”
Dominic didn’t even blink. “I am in charge.”
Abby smiled up at him. “Of course you are, honey.”
When Dominic shook my hand, he seemed to be assessing me.
Not my appearance, but my character. This man’s trust was something that needed to be earned.
Meeting his gaze confidently, I shook his hand firmly and silently assured him I was equally cautious when it came to putting faith in others.
He cocked an eyebrow as if the message had been received.
“Dominic,” Drew said, his hand leaving its supportive placement on my lower back to shake the hand of his friend.
It was during that exchange that I glimpsed something likeable about Dominic. His expression softened with Drew and his smile reached his eyes. Whatever else Dominic might be or might have done, he cared about Drew and that held weight with me.
Abby stepped forward then, linking her arm through mine like we were old friends. “Come sit,” she said warmly. “Coffee? Tea? Something stronger? I promised myself I wouldn’t have sweets before dinner, but Dominic always ruins my personal growth.”
Dominic’s mouth curved. “And yet you stay with me.”
“Someone has to keep you in check,” she teased as she led me toward the sofa.
It could have been the tension she felt in my arm, but she lowered her voice and said, “Bella, I know what people say about Dominic, but as someone who’s been married to him for over twenty years, I can assure you, he’s a softie under all the growl.
And he adores Drew. Just don’t be offended if he offers you a million dollars to stop dating him. ”
We sat side by side on the couch, far enough away from the men for me to feel that my question wouldn’t be overheard. “Why would he do that?”
Abby sighed. “Because Dominic tends to get overly protective about the people he cares about.”
I glanced back at Drew. He was watching me. “I can assure you that I would easily refuse such an offer.”
Abby gave my arm a pat. “I know. I only mentioned it so if it happens you won’t take offense. It doesn’t mean he doubts you, it just means . . .”
“He doesn’t blindly trust.” I nodded then met her gaze. “I respect that.”
Relief shone in her eyes. “Exactly. I speak ‘Dominic’ fluently now. So, I understand that what I might have labeled a test before meeting him, I’ve begun to understand he sees as a question.”
I liked her. Immediately. Not because she was married to Dominic Corisi, but because she saw people clearly and still chose kindness.
Events, like dots, began to connect in my head. “Did he, by any chance, help Drew design an escape room experience for me?”
Abby wrinkled her nose. “He played a role in that, but I believe the mastermind who created it is our friend and security guru, Alethea. Did you . . . did you enjoy it?”
I gave the question consideration before answering.
She wasn’t asking about the design of it, at least that was my guess.
So I gave her the truth I hoped she was looking for, “I’ve known Drew my entire life and never considered that we might be able to work together in any real capacity.
That experience stripped away everything I thought stood between us.
I feel that it did the same for Drew. So, I suppose you could you say that your husband helped us ask each other questions we normally wouldn’t have. ”
Abby’s expression lit up. “Do you love him?”
“You husband?” My eyes rounded.
With a laugh, Abby said, “Drew.”
“Oh.” Of course she meant Drew. What is wrong with my brain? “I—We’re—”
With a supportive smile, Abby sat back. “I shouldn’t have asked. That first stage of a relationship is so stressful. All the unknowns. But, if it helps, you’re the only person Drew has ever brought here to meet us.”
It did help. And matter. “When he invited me here he described you two as friends who were becoming family.”
Abby blinked a few times quickly. “I hope he tells Dominic that, it’ll mean the world to him.” After a moment, Abby added, “Dominic had a complicated relationship with his parents.”
That hit me to my core and in a tight voice, I said, “I get that.”
She met my gaze. “It took creating his own family for Dominic to truly feel free to love on his terms. And it’s a process.”
My attention skittered over to Drew, who seemed to sense my thoughts had turned to him and looked over. “My father hates that I’m seeing Drew and his father is equally distraught about Drew seeing me.”
“Would you like a bit of advice from an older woman?”
I nodded, my gaze still locked with Drew’s.
Abby continued, “Let them be angry or disappointed. Let them think what they will. You can’t change what’s in a person’s heart, at least not with words.
Be strong and kind. Realize you can’t be everything for everyone.
All you can be is yourself. And you’re allowed to love who you love.
No guilt. No regret. Your fathers will either come around and accept your choice, or they won’t. Let them decide.”
I turned back toward Abby and in that moment saw a woman who meant every word she said.
She’d chosen life with a controversial and powerful man.
From the outside, due to her level of wealth and influence, one might assume her life was easy or perfect.
But in that moment, she allowed me to see that every choice came with consequences, but she’d made peace with hers.
Taking her hand in mine, I said, “Thank you. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that. ”
A tray appeared—as if summoned—carried by someone quiet and professional. Coffee, small pastries, fruit. Drew and Dominic came to join us. Abby moved over to sit beside her husband. Drew settled onto the couch with me.
We chatted about the trip and the differences between Boston and New York, then Abby asked, “Okay, I do have a question about Firebrook Valley.”
Both Drew and I exchanged a look. “Shoot,” he said.
She waved a hand in the air as if half dismissing her own words. “I only know what Alethea has been telling me about it, but is there really a local healer slash psychic who lives in the woods?”
“Evie,” Drew and I said in unison.
I rushed to add, “Firebrook Valley is a little backward.”
With amusement shining in his eyes, Dominic said, “Are we into psychics now?”
Abby smiled up at him. “Only the ones who intrigue Alethea.”
Dominic’s eyebrows rose, then he nodded at Drew. “That does make her worth looking into. Should I fly her here?”
I shook my head. “I doubt she’d agree to come. As far as I know, she hasn’t left her property in decades. It’s up in the mountains. She moved there with her husband and stayed there after he died.”
“That’s so sad,” Abby murmured. “All alone?”
Drew interjected, “She has a daughter, Hope, who moved away as soon as she was old enough. People do visit her, but I’ve also never heard of her leaving her property.
” He grimaced. “She supports herself by selling tonics . . . special ice teas and lemonades that people say have helped them feel better over the years. A lot of locals go to her for advice.” His expression tightened. “She and my mother were friends.”
No one spoke for a moment, then I gently said, “I didn’t realize you know Evie.”
He shook his head. “I don’t. My father thought she was a quack and my mother never invited us to go with her when she visited her.” He shrugged as if rejecting the weight of a memory. “None of that matters now.”
I took his hand in mine and gave it a squeeze. It did matter, but not because Evie did. Drew wasn’t saying it, but his mother had likely been on her way to see Evie the day she died. It would be easy to resent a woman your mother chose to spend time with over you and your family.
Breaking the heavy silence, Dominic said, “I’m hungry.”
Drew gave my hand a squeeze and said, “Me too.”
I nodded. “Starving.”
Dominic stood smoothly. “Good,” he said. “Then go freshen up and we’ll head out in thirty minutes.”
As Dominic moved toward the door, Abby leaned closer and murmured to me, conspiratorial, “He likes you.”
I couldn’t help it, I laughed. “So, no test?”
She chuckled, shrugged, then walked out of the room with her husband.
“What do you think of my friends?” Drew asked as he pulled me to his side.
I took a moment to consider the entire experience. “I think . . . I’m glad they like me.”