Chapter 36
Emily
Ienter the lounge room and find Dominic on his recliner, with Lil’ Peach perched on his lap, watching a Disney movie.
I can clearly see by the look on his face that it’s painful for him, but I admire him nevertheless.
This is the side of him that calls to me the most. The man who will do anything to make that little girl happy.
I’ve managed to avoid him for most of the morning, deciding to hide out in my room.
I took my time getting ready, spending way longer in the shower than necessary.
I was stalling. I even put a few soft curls in my long hair after blow drying it, and applied a light dusting of makeup before getting dressed.
I saw him earlier at breakfast, but we didn’t speak the entire time. When I stood to take my plate back to the kitchen, he reached for my elbow. “Have you got a minute?” he asked, but instead of giving him what he wanted, I shrugged out of his hold and kept walking.
“I need to shower,” was my curt reply.
The time to talk was last night before he left me high and dry. I spent the entire night going over that moment in my head, and I’m still feeling angry, confused but mostly humiliated.
Besides, I’m not interested in what he has to say. It’s obvious these feelings don’t run both ways, which only confuses me more. I can’t make him like me, but I’m also not a plaything he can toy with whenever it suits him.
All he wanted to do was give me a foot massage, why did I have to spread my legs for him like some desperate hoe? I’ve thrown myself at him twice now. I can only imagine what he thinks of me. Did he go down on me out of sympathy?
I swear this man hurts my head at times.
My chest tightens as soon as he glances away from the screen. His dark eyes peruse the length of my body before resting on my face. “You going somewhere?” he asks with a frown.
“Yes.”
He sits up straighter in his seat and lifts Lil’ Peach off his lap. “Where?”
I don’t owe him anything. Not my time, not my attention, nor my forgiveness. He’s not my keeper, my boyfriend, and after last night, I’m not even sure if I could call him a friend. “Out.”
“With who?”
“The girls.”
“What girls?”
“My friends.”
“Names, Emily,” he growls. The arsehole tone in his voice makes me not want to answer, but that stupid submissive side of me won’t allow it.
I lift my chin and inhale a sharp breath of air through my nose before replying, “Lucia and Arabella.”
“Hmm,” he hums, reaching for his phone and starting to type what I can only assume is a message. To whom, I have no clue.
Does he not believe me? Or is he putting plans in place to stop me from leaving the house? He better not.
I’ll always be grateful for him getting me out from under Mick’s hold and giving me somewhere safe to stay, but I think it’s time I started looking for a place of my own. I’m not sure I can stay here much longer.
Dominic’s phone dings a second later, and his frown deepens as he glances at the screen. I don’t stick around to see if he has anything more to say, taking it as my cue to leave.
I pause briefly before leaving the room, but don’t bother turning around. “I’ve made sandwiches, they’re on a plate in the fridge.”
With that, I head for the front door. I’ll wait outside for the girls to arrive.
I’d like to claim I don’t know why I made them lunch, but despite how I’m feeling, looking after Peach and Dominic is one of my favourite things to do.
My sandals crunch softly over the grass as I cross the front lawn and open the back door of the sleek black limousine when it pulls up to the kerb. It’s crazy that people get around like this, but I guess Arabella is the wife of the Don.
I glance to the side of me when a second car stops behind it. Two men step out before the engine has even properly died. They scan the street like we’re in some action movie. Their hands are tucked neatly inside their jackets, eyes skimming over every window and parked car.
The fact that they’re clearly guards should calm me, but their presence does the opposite. Seeing them up close is a reminder of the kind of life these people actually live, the kind where danger is expected and planned for.
It reminds me of the day Mick’s bikie mates came into La Riviera and threatened me, and that’s enough to send a chill down my spine.
I’ve been living in a safe little bubble here with Dominic, but the reality is he and his organisation are far more dangerous than the Steel Reapers ever were.
I duck my head as I slip into the back of the limo and take a seat. Arabella is sitting across from me, perfectly composed, like this whole circus is just another normal day for her.
I give her a small wave before my attention shifts to the burly guy beside her, with his arms crossed over his chest. His scowl might be intimidating to most people, but after living with Dominic for the past month, it barely even registers.
I turn in my seat and smile at Lucia beside me as I sink back into the leather, trying not to stare at everything like a newbie who’s never seen the inside of a limo, let alone ridden in one.
The car smells like expensive cologne and new leather. Everything is polished to a pristine shine, and it’s so quiet in here that it feels like we’re sealed off from the world outside. I wonder if the windows are bulletproof.
“You look super cute, Em,” Lucia says, pinching the colourful fabric of my loose harem pants between her fingers. “I like these.”
“Thanks,” I reply, forcing a smile as I glance out through the tinted window. As the driver pulls away I’m left wondering if Dominic is inside watching us. Not that I should care, but for some reason, I do. Walking away from him and Lil’ Peach wasn’t easy, but it needed to be done.
“How are you feeling today, chicka?” Lucia asks, as if reading my thoughts.
I lift one shoulder as my eyes move from her to the Italian brute sitting beside her sister. I don’t want to have this conversation in front of him. My sex life, or lack thereof, is none of his business, and besides, since he’s part of the Famiglia, he’s probably friends with Dominic.
“Confused,” I admit, but that’s all I’m going to give her right now.
I called her last night after Dominic abandoned me on the sofa. I’m not even sure why I did, but I needed to talk to someone. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend close enough to share things with.
It’s not like I can call my mum and talk about what happened. We’re not as close as we once were, and although I’ve opened up to her about things in the past, my sex life is definitely not something I’m comfortable discussing with her.
Lucia’s hand moves back to my leg and gives it a small squeeze. “We can talk about it over lunch after a few wines.”
“That’s not fair,” Arabella chimes in, rubbing her small baby belly.
“Sucks to be you, Bell-Bell,” Lucia shoots back.
Arabella sticks out her tongue, and Lucia and I both laugh. I love the relationship these two have. I always wanted a sibling. Well, technically, I have two half-siblings living overseas with my dad.
Two little people that share some of my DNA that I’ve never met, which makes me so sad, and sometimes I wonder if they even know I exist.
Over the years, my father has gone to great lengths to stop me from flying over to meet them, always coming up with excuses that held no merit. Does his new family even know he had a wife and a child before they came along?
“I’ll drink enough for both of us,” Lucia says, nudging me with her elbow.
I give her a small smile, because as much as I’d love to drink a glass of wine or twenty, alcohol will probably only amplify all the shitty things that have happened since I’ve returned to this stupid town, and then I’ll humiliate myself further by getting upset.
“Did you know Dominic messaged me a few minutes ago?” Lucia asks.
“He did?” I reply as my mood sours instantly. I was right. He didn’t believe me. This is Mick all over again.
“He wanted to make sure there’d be security with us today, and made me promise I’d keep you safe.”
I hate how that knowledge makes my heart rate kick up a beat.
“Oh,” I say as my eyes widen.
“I know you think he doesn’t care about you, babe,” Lucia says gently, “but you’re wrong.”
Her words have me feeling even more puzzled, because until last night, I thought I meant something to that man, but now I’m not so sure.
Despite swearing I wouldn’t drink, I’m already on my second glass of wine, and that warm, fuzzy buzz is starting to settle in.
We’ve caught Arabella up on the shitshow that has become my life, and the way she winced when I told her about Dominic walking away and slamming his bedroom door said more than words ever could.
Lucia, however, remains adamant, insisting his reaction has more to do with him than it does with me.
There could be some truth to her words, even though I’m still not convinced.
It was obvious Dominic had issues from the second we met.
What those issues are, I’m not really sure.
It could be any number of things. His childhood.
His sister. Growing up in foster care. Or even his job.
Surely hurting people for a living would take its toll on a person.
“Believe me, Em, that man is into you.”
I lift a shoulder, pretending to be indifferent to the whole situation. Thankfully, there’s a welcome interruption to our conversation when the waitresses arrive with our first course.
It’s bittersweet being back at La Riviera. I miss this place and the people I used to work with. It was obvious they felt the same by the greeting I received upon our arrival.
“Massimo made all your favourites,” Sonia says, giving me a cheeky wink as she places the dishes in the centre of the table.
“Tell him I said thank you,” I say with a gentle smile.
“I think he’s trying to bribe you to come back.”
“I’d come back in a heartbeat if I could,” I admit, but I’m not about to go against the Don’s orders.
“You should go back to work,” Lucia chimes in. “I think it would be good for you.”
“I’ve been told I’m not allowed to.”
“By Dominic?” Lucia growls.
“No … umm.” My gaze shifts to Arabella as the rest of my words die off.
Lucia waves her hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about my brother-in-law. I’ll talk to him for you.”
“It’s okay,” I say, shifting in my seat. The last thing I want is to cause trouble for Dominic—or myself—with the Cosa Nostra. I might not be planning on sticking around much longer, but he’s bound to the Famiglia for life.
“It’s as good as sorted,” Lucia replies. “I’ll tell Massimo to put you back on the roster before we leave.”
Arabella raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say a word. She probably already knows her sister is a force to be reckoned with, and that’s one of the things I love most about her.
I wish I were as straightforward and feisty as she is. Brave enough to speak my mind instead of being a timid little mouse living in constant fear of my own shadow.
Once the three of us are left alone, we start dishing food onto our plates. I’m not even hungry, but if Lucia is going to continue to top up my wine glass every time I take a sip, I’m going to need to eat.
“I’ve seen the way Dominic inhales his food,” Lucia says as I lift my glass to my mouth, taking a sip of wine. “I can only presume he ravished your pussy when he ate you out.”
Arabella gasps, and I take a breath so sharp the liquid in my mouth goes down the wrong pipe. I start coughing, and my eyes water as I try to recover.
“I can’t believe you said that,” Arabella scolds. Her little sister shrugs, all coy smiles like she’s proud of herself.
I’ve come to learn that Lucia has no filter. I wish I had her confidence to say what she thinks and feels, no matter how inappropriate.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never looked at that big hunk of man beef and wondered the same thing, Bell-Bell.”
Arabella clutches her nonexistent pearls. “Never. No offence, Emily,” she adds, flicking a quick glance at me.
“Oh, I forgot you’re a prude.”
“I am not,” Arabella snaps, sitting up straighter.
Lucia rolls her eyes, then looks straight at me. “Have you ever looked at a man and thought, I wonder what he’s like between the sheets?”
I grimace because I’m with Arabella on this one. “No,” I admit, maybe a little too quickly. “Not like that.”
Lucia’s smile sharpens. “Not even with Dominic?”
Heat creeps up my neck. “That’s not what I said.”
“Ha, I knew it,” she gloats, pointing the fork she’s holding in my direction. “I don’t need details, but he’s a filthy animal, right? In the best way, obviously.”
“He left marks on my inner thighs,” I find myself admitting.
“Oh, Dirty Dom, I like it.”
Thankfully, the grilling stops as we start to eat, but the quiet doesn’t last long.
“You know what we need?” Lucia says, raising the oyster shell to her lips and tossing it back like it’s a shot of alcohol.
Arabella makes a face. “Give the poor girl a break.”
Lucia swallows and smiles like the cat that got the canary. “Operation Takedown.”
“Operation Takedown?” I ask, frowning. “Who are we taking down?”
“Dominic.”
“What?” My eyes widen. “I may be upset about what happened last night, but I don’t want him hurt because of it.”
Lucia laughs. “Relax. I don’t want to take him down. I want to take down his heart, like I did with Romeo.” She leans forward and lowers her voice, “Sometimes these men of ours need to be reminded they’re not the ones in control.”
Arabella narrows her eyes. “I don’t like where this is going.”
Lucia ignores her, looking straight at me. “You’re too nice to him. That’s your problem.”
“I’m not,” I say, even though it comes out weaker than I’d like.
She raises a brow. “Emily.”
I look down at my plate, pushing my food around. I hate that she might be right.
Lucia softens just a fraction. “I’m not saying be cruel, just make him work for you. Show him what he’s missing.”
Arabella crosses her arms. “Or here is a wild idea, we could all just act like normal people.”
Lucia snorts. “Where’s the fun in that?”