He shot a look around me, although unable to see the table. “I don’t know, sir. I swear to God. I refilled her champagne and walked away to other customers. I’m sorry. I just didn’t think…” His pleading followed by a single whimper.
Control. I had to think about this. For anyone to come into the casino and be brazen enough to abduct Caroline with the amount of firepower in the building would be insane. I released him, running my hand through my hair. “See if you can find her and do so quietly. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. Yes. I will. I…”
I waved him off, turning and scanning the dining room. Bruno peered in from the hallway and within three seconds I had my hand wrapped around his throat. “What the fuck? You were supposed to be watching her.”
He opened his mouth, choking sounds pushing past his lips. “Boss… I came to…”
I jerked back, backhanding him. I heard several gasps and hissed at losing control. She had that kind of effect on me, which would easily be seen as a weakness. Still, there was no need for an apology. Bruno had broken my number one rule, at least since she entered my life. Her safety was paramount over every other aspect of business. If the head of some new regime was out to take down two crime families, they had balls the size of watermelons. They’d use whatever tactics necessary.
“I’m sorry, boss. She got away from me. I was coming to find you.” Bruno rubbed his face then stood to his full height, a conciliatory look on his face. “She asked if I could find the waiter for her. I was just gone two minutes. She must have bolted. There’s nobody here to worry about, not checked in to either the suites or private parties, and certainly not in the casino or dining room.”
Which meant she’d likely fled on her own. “Cunning.” I’d drawn enough of a crowd that I was no longer in the mood to celebrate in front of anyone. She would need to learn her lesson. “We find her. Now!”
“Yes, boss.”
There was an irrational level of fear, a chill racing into my system. She had no idea what kind of danger she was in. Whether I cared to acknowledge or not, I was falling hard for the stunning creature.
And if that was truly the case, she could very well mean my damnation.
Caroline
I’d followed him, the man I couldn’t figure out in the least, and I certainly didn’t care about whatever consequences there might be. Dominick had proven to be a jealous, nasty, vicious beast, and every time I’d caught a glimpse of his other side, he flipped the switch. I hovered in the hallway, realizing that the necklace had fallen off. I took several deep breaths, merely trying to calm my breathing. I’d heard nothing from behind the thick wooden door, but I gathered from what little Lorenzo had said and Dominick’s reaction to them that they weren’t friends.
There was an urgency about Dominick’s behavior, a need to parade me in front of the various celebrities in the room. They’d certainly been more than just curious, faking their approval, but I knew better, making my own assumptions. My relationship with Dominick would cause a roar throughout New York and beyond.
Hearing Dominick’s gruff voice, I peered over the railing, horrified that he’d struck Bruno. A moment of guilt slithered into my system, but only one. The bodyguard certainly enjoyed the world he lived in, no matter the constant threat of danger. I watched them, studying Dominick, struck by the change in his demeanor. Yes, he was still cocky as fuck, arrogant and nasty, but he’d lost control.
Of me.
His prize.
He wasn’t simply upset, he was petrified that something had happened to me. Did the man actually care about me on some unforeseen level? No, I couldn’t buy it. This was just a part of his elaborate game. He couldn’t lose. Ever.
I remained quiet, but within seconds, he seemed to sense my presence, tilting his head. Everything about his personality overshadowed his actions, authoritative in a way I’d never endured. Even my father had an off switch. Not this man. I could see his chest rising and falling, the hard thumping of the veins in his neck.
And his eyes.
They were rings of fire yet icy cold, obliterating everything else around him. There was no need to beckon me, he did so with his ravaging stare. I darted a look at Bruno, who stood stoically, only a slight shake of his head as admonishment. I’d broken what limited trust I’d developed with the man as well.
Oh, I should be so ashamed instead of giddy for finding ten minutes of peace without constant surveillance. I kept my grip firm as I walked down the stairs, pretending I didn’t have a care in the world. Was I frightened of Dominick and what he’d do? Perhaps. There was also the most ridiculous level of excitement given the outward danger, a truly blasphemous emotion I couldn’t explain to anyone. Maybe I was as sick as the man himself, reveling in the attention and adoration, the concoction of danger mind fucking.
Before I’d reached the bottom, Bruno had whispered into Dominick’s ear. I would assume the evening was over. Dominick held out his arm, ceasing his action. He never looked away or allowed me to see an emotion of any kind. This was unlike him.
Which finally terrified the hell out of me.
Dominick said nothing as he reached into his pocket, pulling out the lovely chain. I noticed a shimmer in his eyes registering my surprise and relief. He walked behind me, easing the chain around my neck, taking his time to clip the fastener.
My body betrayed me, quivering from the slight touch. The electricity was white hot as always, tingling every part of me, especially my aching pussy. I licked my lips as he slid his hands over my shoulders, his muscular and beautiful fingers clamping around my neck. There was no pressure, no need. I was well aware what he was capable of.
“You worried me, sweet Caroline. That can never happen again.” The huskiness of his tone, the way his hot breath trickled a long line down from the tip of my ear forced a strangled breath. He inhaled, allowing his fingers to slide just to the edge of the bodice of my dress. “I will do anything to keep you safe.”
He took my hand into his, clasping our fingers together tightly then motioned to Bruno. We headed for the entrance, Bruno securing my coat. I expected to walk out into the frigid air, giving me time and space to breath, but I was whisked through a locked door and down a long corridor and to what had to be a private elevator.
The door opened to a closed-in parking area, completely devoid of windows. Another perk for the various famous people, protecting their expensive toys. Dominick took purposeful strides toward the SUV, the blipping sounds as the vehicle was unlocked creating a jolt in my system.
“Wait outside the SUV,” Dominick instructed before guiding me inside then easing onto the soft leather, staring straight ahead while Bruno secured our privacy.
I crowded all the way against the other door, the anxiety suffocating. I heard nothing from him, no breathing sounds of admonishing and bitter words. I finally couldn’t stand the tension any longer and turned my head. “Say something.”
He exhaled after a few seconds. “What would you like me to say, Caroline?”
“Whatever you’re going to say. I know your mistreatment is coming.”
“Mistreatment?” The word incensed him. Finally, a hint of some emotion. “How have I mistreated you? I’ve given you a private room, your own studio, and complete freedom of the house. I wanted to enjoy a fabulous evening with you, devoid of any drama and made certain that you were treated like a queen. All I asked in return is that you followed the rules. You disrespected me in every manner you could.”
“You mean by dancing with your friend?”
Hissing, he fisted his temple, taking several deep breaths. “Lorenzo is the son of another kingpin and certainly not my friend, but I suspect he wouldn’t mind tasting you.”
The way he said the words left me with a hard knot in my stomach. “I’m not a whore, Dominick. Not for anyone or any reason.”
“And he wouldn’t care.”
The tension between us was wretched, driving a vise grip around my throat.
“I knew I was in a safe place. I simply wanted to look around. I didn’t see any harm in doing that.”