Chapter Twenty-Four
Dominic
Parking outside my parents' house, I grab my phone from the centre console of my car and power it off, fed up of the incessant buzzing it's been producing for the last twenty minutes.
Usually, my phone is relatively silent, and when it starts vibrating like crazy, I know something important needs to be tended to, but this time, it's just my sister, threatening me and calling me a crazy bastard because she found my newly wedded wife handcuffed to my bed.
After reading her first two messages, I put my phone face down and chose to ignore it, then decided to drive over here before word could reach my mother.
I'm aware my actions have made me seem slightly unhinged, but Alicia does something to me that has me acting out of character.
Her defiance is infuriating, and I have no idea how to deal with it.
I thought it was a logical decision to lock her up because then I knew where she was. I knew she couldn't get up to any mischief or cause any trouble. And I knew she was by herself, not potentially flirting up a storm with Leo, like I had assumed.
This marriage may be just a business deal to us both, but that doesn't mean I'll allow any disrespect from her.
She is my wife, and she needs to understand that.
Swiping my hands down my face, I get out of the car and walk into my parents' house, hoping that speaking to either one of them will help me clear my head and get an understanding on how to deal with the little viper that's currently got my mind in a twist.
"Mr Dominic, I wasn't expecting you to be here today," Greta, my parents' housekeeper, says as she walks into the foyer. "There is plenty of food if you'd like to stay for lunch, though."
"I'm fine, thank you. Do you happen to know where either one of my parents are?"
"Your mother is in the kitchen, as usual, and I think your father just went into his office. I believe he received a call from Mr Leo."
Frowning, I thank her and move towards my father's office, wondering why he and Leo would be on a call without my knowledge.
When I reach the mahogany door, I knock loudly and open it before he can reply.
His narrowed eyes meet mine, and he shakes his head as I walk into his space, closing the door behind me.
"When you knock, you're also meant to wait for permission before you let yourself in."
I shrug in response to his chastising and seat myself opposite him, running my eyes across the documents on his desk.
"What's all that for?"
He hands one of the sheets of paper over to me. "Brody has sent over paperwork to do with the clubs we'll be opening over in New York. He thinks he can also get us a deal to open some in a few other cities, like Philadelphia and Boston, maybe even New Jersey."
"And what exactly will we need to do to secure these deals?" I ask, knowing there must be a catch.
"Nothing. Brody has said he's figuring things out on his end. Something to do with his other daughter, and also the other families involved in their syndicate."
"So, realistically, he wants to propose a deal to them anyway, and he's going to use our clubs as an extra bargaining chip," I state.
He shakes his head and chuckles.
"For someone who gave me control of this side of the business, you seem awfully interested in what's going on with it."
"I gave you control of it because it should be Jericho's job, not mine, and besides, I have everything else to deal with.
I need to be focused on the shipments we've got coming up, and I need to make sure Jericho did as he said and got rid of all his father's rats.
I can't have anyone screwing anything up.
I can't handle any other distractions at the moment. "
He watches me intently before gathering the papers in front of him, stacking them into a neat pile.
Placing his pen on top of the stack, he pushes his chair back and walks over to the bar cart by the window behind him, grabbing two crystal glasses and a bottle of whiskey.
"You seem stressed," he says, pouring the amber liquid into the tumblers, his assessing eyes burning into mine. "And you've mentioned not needing distractions…"
I shrug, accepting the glass he holds out to me and knocking back the liquor in one gulp, enjoying the way it burns a path down my throat.
"You want to tell me what's on your mind, Dom?"
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger, shaking my head.
"If I had to guess, it's because of Alicia, am I right?"
Rubbing my fingers along my scratchy beard, I subtly nod my head.
"Am I going to have to keep making guesses, or are you going to remember how to speak and tell me what's going on?" he asks, cocking a brow as he sits on the edge of his desk, gulping down his own glass of whiskey before refilling them both.
"Everything about her is infuriating," I tell him, accepting the refilled glass and then slumping back into the leather chair, scratching at my beard again.
"I knew I'd have to adjust to having someone else in my space, but I'm not sure I can.
She brought a bloody dog with her, so there's now fur covering pretty much everything in my apartment.
I also tripped over some stupid little pink steps she's put in my living room so the little rat can get up on my armchair.
Then there's the fact her stuff is all over my bathroom, and although it's not a mess, it's unusual, and it's a constant reminder for me that she's in my life now, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it. "
Sighing, I take a sip of the whiskey, cringing at the burn this time.
"I can't go twenty minutes without thinking about her because she's invaded my space.
She's a distraction. One I can't afford to have at the moment.
Plus, she doesn't listen. I told her to stay in the apartment while I was at the office, because then I wouldn't be thinking about her while I was gone, but she somehow managed to convince Leo to take her out, and then I had Jaylen in my ear spouting shit, and I just saw red, completely lost my mind. "
He hums thoughtfully, but doesn't say anything, and I scoff in frustration.
"I'm telling you all of this because I'm hoping for you to give me a solution."
He shrugs. "I'm not sure I can give you a solution, kid.
It seems to me you're more interested in her than you thought you'd be, and it seems like you're struggling to deal with that.
We all knew you'd struggle with this arrangement because of your…
control issues, but unfortunately, you can't control what she does, Dom. "
"I didn't expect her to be so defiant," I state, rolling my eyes.
He chuckles, standing up and clasping me on the shoulder.
"Trust me, I've been where you are," he says, walking around his desk and taking his seat again.
"My only advice is to allow things to play out as they are, and to stop being so uptight.
Let her do what she needs to do, maybe try to dial down the grouchiness, and pay attention to how you really feel about her. You may find it'll help."