Chapter 29
Lily
“So, you’re getting married.” Holly’s words pull me from my thoughts, and I glance from her to the large diamond ring on my finger.
How did this even happen? One minute, I was having an orgasm, screaming out in ecstasy. The next minute, I was on this jet, on my way to Italy to get married. To the Don of the Mafia.
As much as I explained that my ‘yes’ was an expression of my state of orgasmic bliss, Dominico was hearing none of it, except a ‘yes’ to his proposal. It was like talking to a brick wall. A delicious six-foot-four panty-soaking brick wall.
I was confused because I didn’t know what angle he was playing here.
There must be some hidden agenda, an unknown benefit he would receive by marrying me.
I just couldn’t figure out what it was. I have no money, except for the bounty on my head.
Even my stash of floorboard money is nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps it was left there when Matteo moved my things.
Even if I did have it, it would be too meagre to entice Dominico.
So what else could it be? Perhaps he knew my secret and thought that by marrying me I would reveal it.
I now know it would help him. But why not just torture it out of me?
That would be easier than marrying me. Ugh, I hated not knowing.
It made me feel on edge and in the dark.
Once again, everything is out of my control.
“Earth to Lily,” Holly says, smiling as she hands me a glass of champagne—the second one. Everyone is celebrating our upcoming nuptials. Everyone but me. I feel like a pawn, and I need to figure out my purpose.
“Sorry, I’m still in shock.” I try to smile, but it comes out more like a grimace, so I give up and sip my drink instead.
The light glints off the ring on my finger, reminding me of the situation I find myself in, so I swap hands and shove my hand and the offending object under my thigh.
If I’m being honest, there’s nothing offensive about it.
It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.
But I can’t help wishing it symbolized something more than a shackle.
Holly, who joined me at the back of the jet moments ago, leans into the aisle, clearly searching for someone.
Nero. He was a magnet, and she was trying to resist. He was somewhere in the front with Dominico and Dante, probably discussing me as leverage for whatever plan I was unaware of, I think bitterly.
“What’s the story with the two of you?” I ask, eager to change the topic.
“What? Who?” She looks guilty as she pretends she doesn’t have a giant lady boner for the clearly smitten underboss. I noticed how she reacted when he smacked her ass earlier. Holly looks at me as if I am the one who has said something bizarre.
“You and Nero. There is clearly something going on.” Her eyes widen, and her red cheeks contradict her overly rambunctious denial .
“You must be kidding me. That Viking wannabe drives me nuts. The way he thinks he can just boss people around. It’s ridiculous.”
I laugh, and she turns a shade redder.
“They are all like that. I was having the best orgasm of my life when Dominico slid a proposal in there, my shouts of positive affirmation taken as acceptance. I mean, who even does that? It's insane.”
It’s her turn to laugh, and I can’t help but join in. Perhaps I was having a delirious panic attack, as this shouldn't be as funny as it is. Maybe it's the alcohol. Whatever it is, it breaks the ice between us, and after another two glasses of champagne, we feel tipsy and laugh at everything.
“Oh my god. I need to pee. Where is the bathroom on this tin can?” I joke, getting up and stumbling down a passage. Holly shouts for me to be careful, but, in her drunken state, doesn’t even bother to get up and help me.
I locate the bathroom, if it can even be called that. This is a luxurious private jet, and the bathrooms spare no extravagance. There is even a shower in here. After I relieve myself, I stand by the basin, leaning forward as I take in the woman staring back at me. Who is she?
I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and my brown hair is tied in a high ponytail. Rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes stare back at me.
“Wow, you look pretty good for a captive,” I mumble to my reflection before splashing some water on my face. As I dry off, the large ring catches my attention.
I hold my hand up, taking in the piece that looks like it belongs on royalty.
“It was my mother's ring.” I nearly jump out of my skin as Dominico steps into the bathroom, which now feels much too small.
"Your mother's ring?" I repeat, holding my hand up again and wondering why he would give a pawn such a precious heirloom.
It didn't make sense. But the alternative also didn't make sense.
So once again, I am confused. I drop my hand, my eyes finding his as he pushes away from the doorframe he is leaning against and slowly approaches me.
It is a struggle to stay rooted to the spot. Not to retreat. But I do, my neck craning as he stands before me.
"What is going on in that head of yours?
" His gaze searches my face, and I avert mine when I feel the telltale prickle of tears threatening to join the party.
I want to blame it on the alcohol, but it is fear.
I am afraid that all I am is a means to an end I cannot see, that I mean nothing to him.
Because he means something to me. I have become emotionally attached to a man who probably does not feel the same way. Stupid Lily!
We remain like this for a while until, finally, he takes my hand and leads me out of the bathroom and towards a door further down the passage into a large room.
I am glad he doesn't press me for a reason for my mood, which I'm sure is pretty obvious.
Dominico is very attuned to my emotions, which I despise and love.
“I need to change.” He opens a concealed wardrobe, pulling out jeans and a T-shirt—a drastic change from his suit.
I turn around to face the other wall. The last thing I need is for my already addled brain to turn to mush at the sight of his body.
We saw what happened when I let my guard down in that regard. Engaged.
His words from moments ago echo in my mind, and I once again hold up my hand, gazing at the ring with renewed admiration. It was a family heirloom he gave to me. Why?
“You gave me your mother's ring…” I say quietly, trying to understand.
“Yes. You will be my wife. This will remain in the family and be given to our son or daughter.” I spin around, shocked at his words spoken so casually, needing to confront him.
Damn. He looks so fucking hot. My mouth dries as my gaze devours him.
Stop. Lily. Focus, I rebuke, looking abruptly away and causing him to chuckle.
“Our son or daughter?” I squeak as heat creeps up my traitorous body. Thoughts of my belly being full with our babies are as appealing as how that would come to be. My willing pussy full of his seed.
“Or both. I want a big family, il mio fiorellino .” He circles the bed and pulls me against him as we fall onto it. With my head on his chest, I can hear the steady thump of his heartbeat. Mine races in overdrive, while his reflects a calm I envy. Does nothing affect him?
“Why are you doing this to me? What do you want with me?” Emotion that I thought I had kept at bay suddenly bubbles up due to my inebriated state, causing my words to come out choked. The sound of my vulnerability pulls tears from my eyes, soaking his shirt.
“I-I’m sick of being used. I just want…” I hiccup, but the words are more coherent than I expected.
“What do you want, Lily?” Dominico asks, his question shocking me. No one ever asked me what I wanted.
“I want…I want…” What did I want? I didn’t even know. The fact that I don’t know makes me sadder as the tears fall harder. While I couldn’t think of the big things I wanted related to me, I could at least focus on the man cradling me and rubbing my back reassuringly.
“I want to know you, Dominico.”
There is a long silence before he finally speaks.
“You know me better than anyone, il mio fiorellino .”
If that was indeed the truth, I felt terrible for him.
“It’s not enough,” I say honestly. My lack of confidence in how well I knew him left all of his actions open to a plethora of explanations, most of which did not bode well for me.
“Then we will remedy that. ”
The alcohol swimming in my system, combined with his gentle strokes on my back, creates a drowsy concoction that I attempt to resist but cannot, ultimately failing as his words become lost in the darkness.
I don’t know how long I sleep, but when I wake, I still lie enclosed in Dominico’s strong arms. My eyes flare when I realize I have drooled on his shirt, the wet patch large and unsightly.
“Fuck,” I whisper, that word expressing both my discomfort at having my saliva drip out of my mouth willy-nilly and at the headache that pounds when I move.
How much champagne did I drink?
“Here, take these.” Dominico sits up and hands me two tablets and some water.
“I drooled on your shirt,” I state, pointing at it as if its coolness against his skin doesn’t give it away.
I’m blushing so hard that I can't turn any redder when he casually gets up, removes his shirt, and puts on another.
“Have we landed?” I ask when I realize the feeling of flying is no longer there.
“Yes. Hours ago. I was waiting for you to wake up.”
I splutter on the sip of water, so much so that Dominico gently taps me on the back.
“W-what? Why didn’t you wake me up?” I feel mortified. He has been waiting for me to wake up. Has everyone else just been hanging around?
“The shadows under your eyes have disappeared since we first met. I assume it’s because you are finally getting some sleep. I’m not going to interfere in that.” His words are spoken so matter-of-factly that my mouth hangs open as I process what he says.
“Wait,” I shake my head, the action costing me dearly as my temple throbs .
I stand up, feeling like being on the bed puts me at a disadvantage, probably like Lorenzo felt cupping his dick in the office at Mirra.
“What is happening here, Dominico? I don’t understand anything.
You took me from my home, my job with Basilio, to do what with?
What is the end game here? I’m not adept at seeing the game being played as easily as everyone else seems to be.
It’s not for fortune, clearly. It’s not to claim the bounty; otherwise, you would have done that ages ago.
So what are you doing with me? Why are you marrying me? ”
His silver-grey eyes hold mine as he waits for me to calm down.
My heart skips a beat as I answer these questions with the response I want, their importance weighing on me like a ton of bricks. Deep down, I secretly wish this man wanted me because he feels the same way I do about him.
I am falling in love with him.
It was as clear as the feelings between Nero and Holly. But there was no clarity with Dominico.
“Because you are mine, Lily.”
I nod and break eye contact, hoping he doesn’t see the disappointment in my eyes.
Mine. The word that once made me feel special now fills me with dread as I realize my feelings for him are edging into a realm where I could be destroyed. Still, it tells me everything I need to know. He has revealed my use.
An object. A trophy. Just like I was to Johnathan. And so I will be precisely that. Resolute, I begin reconstructing the walls I had started to tear down, which have kept me safe thus far.
No one will get in, not even Dominico.