Chapter 35 #2
Every pore of my body bubbled with this overwhelming need to hold him in my arms and never let go.
I wanted him. And he wanted me. And it was time to stop fighting myself.
I’d spent every single day of the past thirteen years fighting and killing and surviving.
I wanted to start living and loving my life, my dreams. I had a man who was laying the world at my feet, and it was time to take a step forward.
I kissed Dominic and whispered against his lips. “Alright.”
He kept talking. “Because I’m telling you, Maira. I’m not living a single day…” His eyes widened, and he stopped his tirade. “Did you just agree?”
My lips stretched into a smile so wide my cheeks hurt. “Yes, Dom.”
He whooped, and he looked ridiculous and adorable for a thirty-eight-year-old man. “We’re gonna live together.”
I dissolved into laughter and hugged him. “I can’t wait.”
We spent the next two days at the hospital as Dominic recovered, to his utter dismay. For the life of me, I couldn’t leave his side. We were watching a mindless fighting movie on his television when all four of my girls barged into the hospital room.
They each greeted me with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Sloane handed me a big thermos container, and when I opened it, I found it filled with chai. I jumped on her and pulled her back into my arms. “Thank you.”
Lena and Tara chuckled, whereas Naomi teased, “Now you look happy, Sami.”
My eyes met Dominic’s, and he raised his eyebrows, silently giving me the go-ahead to share my new living arrangements.
I still hadn’t talked to the girls about Dominic’s ridiculously ostentatious surprise for us all.
But I could share the most important bit.
“Um…Dominic and I have decided to move in together.”
All four of them shrieked and jumped on me, pulling me into a hug. Arms wrapped around me, and I was enveloped in a cocoon of so much love and warmth and acceptance and celebration, I felt like my heart was about to burst out of my chest.
Naomi quickly started to drag us toward the bed where Dominic sat. “We gotta welcome the new member of the Wildcats into the group hug, ladies. Make some room for the first ever boy member.”
I giggled at the comical expression on Dominic’s face as all five of us huddled around him and pulled him into a hug. “Umm, I’d prefer to be called a man member, not that it sounds any better.”
“We’ll call you a man member after you beat Sami in a sparring match,” Tara piped in .
Once the hugs were done, the girls took a seat around the bed, while I climbed in to sit beside Dominic.
Lena opened her small notepad and looked at the two of us.
“So after we all came to the hospital with Dominic, Naomi stayed hidden at the warehouse until the cops came.
Like we imagined, they got all the women out.
She also obtained basic information on all the women, just so we could check in and see if the cops had successfully sent them back home.
“It was a much bigger bust for them than they anticipated. The Russian man who had threatened Dominic was a big name in the criminal world for illegal smuggling of drugs, guns, and women. We actually shut down their New York operations when we shot down all their men. But…” She paused and sighed.
And I realized what had happened. “But now the cops are wondering who took them out.”
Lena nodded. “I have a man on the inside. And the NYPD thinks it could be a rival gang who wanted to take the Russians out. They’ve got theories it could be a local vigilante group. Nobody suspects five women of managing to take down the entire base of operations of the Russian mob.”
She then looked at Dominic. “There will be cops here to question you about the events.” She looked at her watch, and her eyes met his as she continued, “In about fifteen minutes.”
She handed him a stack of notes. “Here’s the entire story on what you’ll say. It’s only going to be you and Samaira when the cops arrive. The four of us will go and grab some lunch in the meantime.”
She got up along with the rest of the ladies and pointed at the notes. “It’s not much. Read up.”
Before they could all leave, Dominic cleared his throat, turning everyone’s attention to him. He looked at all four of my girls and said, “I wanted to thank you all for coming to save me. You didn’t have to do that. You’re under no obligation to save my life. But I’m really grateful that you did. ”
Lena shrugged and glanced at me before turning back to Dominic. “Samaira loves you. That's reason enough.”
Dominic held my hand and gave it a quick kiss. “I also truly appreciate you all being okay with me dating Samaira. I know how much she values each of your opinions. I’m glad we have your support.”
My eyes misted, and I pulled him into a kiss. “I love you,” I whispered against his lips, capturing his smile on my tongue.
“I love you too, Maira.” His eyes shone with so much love, I could eat him up.
“Eww, stop it, you two. No need to make the single ladies jealous.” Sloane slumped over Tara in an overly defeated expression that had us all cackling and Dominic sighing softly, even though he had the biggest smile on his face. “So this is my new life, huh?”
I pressed a soft kiss to his lips again, gaining more cheers and protests from the girls, and met his warm eyes. “Welcome to the Wildcats.”
With that, they left the room, taking away all their cheers and chaos, leaving Dominic and me with Lena’s meticulous notes.
By the time the door to Dominic’s room opened, we were prepared. Dominic’s doctor stepped in with two cops in NYPD uniforms in tow. The doctor picked up a chart from Dominic’s side table and asked, “How do you feel, Mr. Park?”
Dominic gave him a polite smile and shrugged. “I feel fine. Just waiting to be out of here, honestly.”
Dominic turned his head around the doctor and gave the two officers a nod. “Officers.”
The man in front stepped forward to stand in front of Dominic. “Mr. Park. I’m Lieutenant Knox Steele. This, here, is Officer Brandon Sharpe.”
Lieutenant Steele was a huge motherfucker with the coldest eyes I’d ever seen.
Eyes that I didn’t trust. At all. He was as tall as Dominic, maybe an inch or so shorter, but the man’s biceps were as thick as tree trunks.
His hair was cut short on the sides but slightly longer on top.
His eyes moved between me and Dominic with a heavy dose of suspicion.
Dominic didn’t get even slightly intimidated by his presence. He simply gave the lieutenant a nod. “Lieutenant. Pleased to meet you,” he said and introduced me. “Please meet my girlfriend, Samaira.”
Lieutenant Steele’s eyes narrowed. “The doctor here mentioned that she’s your fiancée.”
Before I could interject, Dominic gave a relaxed smile with a shrug. “A little white lie to give her access to my condition. I’m sure you can understand.”
Lieutenant Steele hummed. “If you don’t mind, we have some questions for you and Ms. Samaira regarding your accident.”
The doctor moved to the side, as if he couldn’t stand the intensity and tension flooding the room. Dominic kept his cool and gave the lieutenant a nod. “Of course.”
“How did you end up in the warehouse that belongs to the Russian mob?” he asked, his eyes accusatory. I did not like how he looked at us. It was as if he’d already made up his mind about us.
Dominic, following Lena’s notes, said, “As you might know, or not, my sister was raped by three masked men about four months ago. Like any brother would do, I’ve been hunting for them for a while now with no success.
I fear I might’ve gotten too close to the culprit. At least, that’s what I believe.”
“Did the officers on your sister’s case not find any suspects?”
I guess these cops didn’t know everything about everyone. Dominic sighed and shook his head in defeat. “Unfortunately not. They declared it a cold case. So I’ve been working on my own to find the culprits. ”
“And you think it’s the Russian mob?” Lieutenant Steele’s eyes were full of suspicion.
Dominic shrugged as if he were confused himself.
“I don’t know, lieutenant. I had just dropped Samaira at home and was on my way to work when four cars screeched around my car, shot my driver, and kidnapped me.
This leads me to believe that I was getting close.
What other reason could they possibly have for kidnapping me? ”
Lieutenant Steele’s eyes were narrowed on Dominic as he grunted. “What other reason, indeed.”
“And how did you end up in a hospital with an injured leg? Who brought you here?”
Dominic, being the fantastic actor that he was—truly deserving of an Oscar—shrugged.
“I have no idea, Lieutenant Steele. The last thing I remembered was being shot in the leg while tied to a chair, the Russian mob screaming at me for interfering in their business. I was dizzy and could barely make out my surroundings with the loss of blood, but I remember there being some sort of attack. There were a lot of gunshots and screaming and fighting. I don’t recollect what exactly happened, but maybe somebody decided to spare me. ”
Before Lieutenant Steele could further question Dominic, I interjected, “Umm…Lieutenant Steele, if I may interrupt?”
The man’s gaze slammed into me, and the power in his eyes had me straightening in my seat.
The man exuded pure alpha energy, his eyes as dark and dead as a monster.
And all my years of experience had trained me to never show weakness to a monster.
“I was hanging out with my friends when I got a call that Dominic was shot, followed by a location pin.”
Lieutenant Steele’s eyes narrowed at me, but I continued, “I rushed with my friends and found Dominic’s unconscious body around the corner from where the Russian mob’s warehouse was attacked.
Maybe someone was looking out for Dominic.
Or maybe whoever attacked the mob didn’t have any animosity toward Dominic and chose to spare him. ”
I hiccuped a sob and ran my fingers through Dominic’s hair. “I’m just glad I found him alive. We rushed him to the hospital, and I’ve been here with him ever since.”
Dominic clutched my hand in his and pressed his lips to my knuckles. “Hush now, baby. I’m right here. I’m alright. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
I bit my lip and squeezed out a tear from my eye, all for Lieutenant Steele. “I’m worried you’ll be lost to me forever if you keep trying to find Sophie’s rapists. Clearly, it’s someone very powerful.”
Dominic sighed and turned to the lieutenant. “Lieutenant Steele, the officers assigned to our case didn’t do shit. But if it’s not too much to ask, I would love your help in finding my sister’s rapists.”
Lieutenant Steele gave him a polite smile. He was faking it. His eyes didn’t soften at all and churned with that empty darkness that sent shivers up my spine. This man could be trouble. “Mr. Park. We will look into your sister’s case. And if we can help out in any way, we will.”
“Thank you, lieutenant. I appreciate it. Now, if you don't have any further questions, I’d like to rest up a bit.”
His eyes sharpened, but he nodded. “Of course, Mr. Park. Please take care. I’ll be in touch if I have any questions.”
“Of course, Lieutenant Steele.”
With another nod, both cops walked out the door with the doctor tagging behind them.
We both stared at the closed door in shocked silence.
I heard Dominic gulp when he asked, “How’d you think that went? Think he believed us?”
My eyes were stuck on the closed door, almost afraid that the lieutenant would come back. I could only shake my head. “I have no fucking idea.”
Our eyes turned to each other, and Dominic shrugged. “Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it together.”
“Together.”