22. Cassandra
Cassandra
Dominic, Leo, and the rest of the men . . .
Don’t. Know. Where. We. Are.
Unlocking Sadie’s phone, I quickly type in Dominic’s number.
I suck my lip between my teeth as I wait for an answer.
“I don’t know who the fuck is calling me right now,” Dominic growls, “but you better not fuck with me, because I’ve got a need for blood, and I’m ready to take it out on the next person I see.”
“Hey, honey,” I coo, squeezing one eye shut. “How’s the trip going?”
“Cassandra.” The way Dominic says my name, dark and low, as if he’s ready to throw me over his lap and teach me a lesson I won’t forget, has my core tightening and inappropriate thoughts running through my head.
I have problems.
Inconvenient because his mother is watching worriedly from a few feet away.
“Where the fuck are you?” he not so much asks as demands.
“I’m at the hospital,” I blurt without thinking about how that sounds. “Not for me!” I amend. “For Sadie, she’s in labor. Natalie and your mom are here, too.”
“Natalie is safe with Cassandra,” Dominic says. In the background, I hear Leo thank God. “How did you get to the hospital?” he asks, tone still threatening. It’s clear he’s on the verge of losing control.
“We drove?” My answer comes out in a squeak.
“Give me the phone,” Cecilia says, grabbing it from my hand. She puts it on speaker and huffs. “Dominic, I know you aren’t scolding Cassandra for helping her friend in a time of need.”
Dominic scoffs but backs off as he speaks to his mother. “From what I understand, the four of you left the house in the middle of an attack and were followed. Apparently, on your way to a hospital with a woman in labor?”
“Yes,” Cecilia states matter-of-factly. “And I would do it again.”
“Mom, you can’t be fucking serious?” he snaps. Marco laughs in the background.
“Language,” Cecilia scolds. “And I have been driving under precarious circumstances since before you were born.”
“You drove?” Dominic asks in disbelief.
Cecilia lets out a delicate snort. “Who else do you think is capable of handling that drive?”
“I don’t know. Maybe my driver? Sam?”
Natalie, Cecilia, and I share a grim look.
“Dominic,” I say. “Adam was shot, and when we left, Sam was up against the two men who hit Adam. We don’t know what happened to him.”
Dominic curses. “We knew about Adam. I don’t know Sam’s status, but we lost a few men.”
Silence stretches on both ends of the line.
“For now, stay at the hospital,” Dominic instructs. “If my soldiers aren’t already there to protect you, they will be soon. We’re headed to the airport to fly back.”
“No, we aren’t,” Leo quips in the background.
“Oh, really?” Dominic retorts.
I can’t see them, but I can imagine the glares they are sending each other’s way.
“Dominic, we can’t risk you being spotted after . . .” Leo trails off, and I can only imagine what devious activities he is referring to. “We need to leave through private methods. We have to go back to the docks.”
“We’re traveling under aliases,” Dominic counters.
“Guys,” a familiar voice chimes in, and I realize Dominic’s cousin, Nico, is with them. “You know the women are safe. It’s doubtful they’ll be targeted while they’re at the hospital. Dominic, it’s smarter to leave by boat, especially after . . .”
“After what?” Natalie asks.
“Dominic,” Cecilia sighs. “What did you boys do?”
A chorus of “nothing” breaks out from the four men on the other side of the call.
I roll my eyes. I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
“Nico is right,” Cecilia says. “We are safe for now. Dominic, I am sure your father is on the way. Obviously, Lucas is, too.”
“I’d guess so.” Leo laughs. “He’s called me ten times since we’ve been talking.”
Marco snorts. “You really put the fear of God into him with that threat, Dom.”
“Shut up.” We hear a smack and a curse from Marco.
“Fine,” Dominic says. “None of you leave the hospital, understand?”
“Yes,” I say along with Natalie.
Cecilia taunts him with, “We’ll see.”
“We’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Cecilia ends the call and huffs. “Cassandra, I don’t know how you put up with my son. He’s such a pushy ass.”
In astonishment, Natalie and my mouths drop. Only Cecilia Tarriello would be allowed to speak of Dominic that way.
“Now, let’s go check on Sadie. I’m sure she could use our support.”
Cecilia leads the way as the three of us venture to find our friend.