12. Dom
Dom
I lean back in my chair, fingers steepled, staring at the monitor in front of me. The tracker lights up, showing Amara’s Audi gliding along the beach road, heading home.
I switch my focus to a new camera as her car pulls into the driveway.
My heart sinks as she emerges from her car, tears streaming down her cheeks, which she wipes away with the back of her hand.
My fists clench at my sides as something foreign twists inside my chest—an ache that sharpens as I watch her face.
I should have protected her better. I can’t shake off the blame that weighs heavily on my shoulders like an anchor dragging me down.
I made promises—to keep her safe, to guard her against all harm. Yet here she is, hurting in ways I can’t comprehend.
I need to deal with Mateo Conti.
The door swings open, and she steps inside. Soon, it will be just me and her alone in this house.
And then I need to deal with Caleb…
I flip through the footage from earlier. It shows Amara against the wall in the dining room as my best friend lowers himself to his knees before her. Her legs spread wide, eyes fluttering closed in a moment that should’ve belonged only to me.
I grip the edge of my desk as rage boils beneath my skin, searing hot and primal.
How could Caleb do this?
My jaw tightens; every muscle in my body screams for release.
No! She’s not some pawn for his pleasure; she’s mine to protect.
But there’s something else mixed within that anger—a sickening wave of desire floods through me at the sight of her lost in pleasure.
My blood runs cold as I realize how deeply this confuses me.
I stand abruptly, pacing the small confines of my office as my mind races with thoughts too dark to fully grasp.
Each second ticks by like an eternity as I contemplate what to do about Caleb and imagine her curled up on that sofa, crying alone with no one to comfort her but me.
The need to fix her festers inside me—yet fear gnaws at its edges. But she shouldn’t have to endure this pain alone.
Twenty minutes later, there’s a knock on my office door that interrupts my viewing.
“Come in.”
Milly strolls in, her bright energy filling the room. “Hey, Dom! Just wanted to say goodbye before I head out to Dad’s.”
“Don’t let him spoil you too much,” I reply, forcing a smile despite the weight on my chest.
“Like he ever does,” she laughs, rolling her eyes. “Seriously though, keep an eye on Amara for me. I’m worried about her.”
“I will.” My gaze drifts back to another monitor, now showing Amara by the pool, leaning against the edge. “She’s back if you want to say more goodbyes.”
“Already?”
I smile as Milly walks toward the door but pauses, glancing back. “Thanks, Dom.”
As she leaves, my phone buzzes insistently on my desk.
“Antonio,” I answer, keeping my eyes glued to the feed.
“Dominic,” his voice is smooth but laced with urgency. “The coroner confirmed it—Leonardo’s death was poison. And the weapon was the cigar found in his pocket? Not his cigar. It was Eduardo’s brand—and there’s only one place where he leaves his cigars.”
“Angels and Sinners…” I lean forward in my chair. “You think it was her?”
A grin creeps into Antonio’s voice as he continues. “She already killed Giuseppe at Xander and Amara’s birthday party. I believe the cigar was meant for Eduardo; he’s next on her list.”
My stomach twists at the implications of his words.
“And then it’s me and you,” he adds, like he thinks I’m going to lie down and let it happen. “And I think it’s soon.”
“She’s injured. She’ll wait until she’s at full strength,” I tell him.
Antonio laughs. “She’s angry, Dom. She wants revenge.”
“And you’re going to let her have it?”
“Whatever she chooses, I’ll let her have it.”
“You’ll let her kill you?” I ask, shocked.
“If it helps her understand what I did.”
As I think about that, my focus drifts to Amara again. She watches Milly leave the pool area before shifting onto her back, staring upward, lost in thought as she floats on top of the pool.
“Dante advised me he is going to kill Eduardo’s hitman,” I tell Antonio.
“I know why.” Antonio’s feet can be heard striding over his marble floor, and he shuts a door. His voice lowers as he whispers, “Lia is pregnant. Dante tried to shut the information down. Threatened to kill anyone in the hospital if the news was leaked, but I have my trusted sources.”
“I’m sure you do, but pregnant—Lia is going to want her revenge sooner than later. That’s why the killings have started so quickly after her returning from England.”
“Exactly. Now we have a meeting with the Russians on Saturday in the club, but tomorrow evening we will meet here. We need to discuss what I tell Lia before she kills me.”
“She might not want to,” I say, hopeful. Caleb is my best friend outside of my mafia life, but Antonio is my lifelong friend and the man I trust most in the world.
“She will. But I have to get Romeo and Con out of the house. I don’t want my sons being caught up in the crossfire or killing her.”
Then I remember what Dante told me.
“Did Con tell you he killed an undercover detective about six months ago?” I ask Antonio.
“No, he fucking didn’t!”
“And the detective had Amara’s name and birthday on a piece of paper.” I smile, letting that little piece of information sink in. Because it's the same night Lia started her revenge.
“Does Amara know who her sister is? Does she know who she is?”
Does Amara know what her sister is up to?
“I don’t know. But—” She is asking a lot of questions lately.
Are the questions she is asking so I fall into Lia’s plan? Is Amara trying to set me up?
“But what?” Antonio asks.
“I know she’s been threatened by Con and it could be something to do with the detective. I thought I’d let you know before I spoke to him.”
Antonio knows exactly what I mean.
“He threatened your stepdaughter without my permission… Let me deal with Con.”
“We’ll speak again tomorrow evening.”
Now to find out if Amara knows anything about her sister Lia’s plans.
After getting changed into swimming trunks, I make my way to the pool. Amara is now sunbathing on a floater, sunglasses over her eyes and lost in thought.
“Can I join you?”
The sun blares down, hot against my shoulders as I step into the pool. It’s not my usual time for a swim, but today is different.
“Of course. It’s your pool. Come in,” she says, glancing over at me.
I dive into the pool and glide through the water until I reach Amara, who floats lazily on her back, sunglasses shielding her eyes.
“Nice day for a swim,” I comment, watching her smooth movements.
The cool water contrasts sharply with the heat radiating from above.
“It’s perfect.” She lifts her chin, letting the sun kiss her tanned skin. “But you rarely swim during the day.”
I lean against the wall of the pool, arms crossed as I study her. “I prefer night swims.”
“Why? Scared of something?” Her tone is teasing, but I sense an edge beneath it.
“I’m not scared of anything,” I reply sharply.
“You are mafia.” Her gaze narrows as she uses her hands in the water to wade closer. “What happens at Angels and Sinners? Is that where all the mafia leaders meet?”
Suspicion flares in my chest. “Why are you asking about that?”
She shrugs, feigning innocence but unable to hide the curiosity dancing in her blue eyes that I can see despite the darkness of her sunglasses. “Just wondering if I should be worried that you’ll ever bring that kind of danger to the house.”
“I never bring work home—only paperwork,” I say curtly, grabbing the end of the floater.
Her eyes widen as I tip her into the water.
She splutters as she reaches for me. “What did you do that for?”
“For being nosy. Now tell me something. Did someone ask you to get information on me?”
A ripple runs down her throat. “No.”
“Liar.” I grab her and spin her around until her back presses against the pool wall. “Now talk to me. Did someone ask you to get information on me?”
She nods. Tears lace her eyes. “Sorry.”
“Is it your sister?”
“Milly?”
“Lia,” I tell her.
“No, why?” Her voice changes and at least now I know when she’s being truthful.
I press against her in the water—her breasts brushing against my chest—and my cock throbs in response.
Our eyes lock as the heat between us simmers just below the surface.
“Then who?”
She sighs. “I don’t know. Someone contacted me.”
I nod my head slowly. “Do they have something on you to threaten you?”
She doesn’t answer as she wraps her legs around my waist.
“What are you up to?” I ask, catching her gaze as it flickers to my lips.
“I could ask you the same question,” she replies as her center presses over my hard cock.
“Amara. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I do.”
I take her hands, hold them against the pool wall, and press my body against her. “You don’t. Now, unless you seriously want me to fuck you, I suggest you talk.”
She tilts her head back slightly, looking surprised by my directness. “I am interested in you! About what you do.”
“I’m your stepfather, Amara.”
“Apparently you’re not.” Her legs tighten around my waist, and if it wasn’t for the fabric between us, I would be balls deep in her right now. “What went on with you and Helena? How come you were never married?”
Her directness surprises me and sends a jolt of interest in me.
“It’ll all come out in the end—the why.”
Her nod carries a hint of understanding. “You offered her three million. I’m surprised she wants more.”
“I just upped it to five million, yet she still wants more.”
“Wow.”
“Exactly,” I say through clenched teeth as I try to hold myself together. I can’t have Amara getting the upper hand in this situation. “Can you find out what she’ll settle for?”
“Twenty-five million is what she told me.” She grinds over my cock.
I glance to where we almost meet and hiss through clenched teeth. “I advise you to unwrap those gorgeous legs or I will fuck you in this pool.”
Her eyes land on mine. A hint of defiance in her steely gaze. “Do it.”
I laugh—a bitter sound filled with disbelief. “No fucking way.” My expression turns serious again as I hold her gaze steady, pretending what is happening to my cock is natural. It would happen to anyone. “So please find out what Helena wants. It’ll save anything unfortunate happening to her.”
Amara’s eyes widen at that suggestion. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would. And another thing, Amara. Have you let Caleb touch you?” The question slips from my lips before I can stop it.
She gasps at my boldness and presses back against me slightly—an involuntary reaction or an invitation? Then, like she knows, she loosens her grip, dropping her legs into the pool.
“No.”
“I want the truth. I can find out everything.”
Her eyes lock on mine. “If I say yes,” she challenges breathlessly, “will you hurt him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
This fucking girl. “Why do you think?”
She bites her bottom lip as she thinks about her answer, and then she smiles. “Because you want me?”