“I’m not stupid, Dominick. I read the news, or at least I did until I was kidnapped by you.”
He exhaled and yanked the glass out of my hand. “I may be involved in criminal activity, but I refuse to allow anyone to die because of bad powder. There is someone who…” He huffed and looked away.
“Talk to me. I may be able to help, even if it’s only because of listening.”
“You’re going to be my wife, Caroline, not my business partner.”
“Ah, that means I’m supposed to be play dumb and simply open my legs for you. Right?” I laughed in his face, shifting my hips back and forth as I held the drink in a toast.
He gripped my wrist, pulling us both closer together. “Do you understand what happened tonight?”
“One of your goons shot a man who I suppose is or was your enemy.”
“Jesus. You didn’t exactly follow orders.”
“I was worried about you.”
Softening, he released his hold. “I didn’t mean to place you in harm’s way.”
“I know that, but you always will. There will never be a time we can enjoy an evening out without bodyguards or guns. I don’t want this life, Dominick. You have to know that. Whatever we’ve shared has been passionate, in some dark and demented fashion. I admit that, but I can’t be the little woman who sits on the sidelines pretending that everything is going to be all right, worrying if you’re going to come home.”
Dominick gritted his teeth, turning his back on me as he walked toward the bank of windows. “Why do you think I’ve never bothered to care about anyone before? Why do you think that I haven’t married or even considered an actual relationship? Because eventually the person I care about the most will be a target. All my protections and security advances won’t stop the inevitable.”
“Then you don’t care if something horrible happens to me.” I could tell the words stung by the way his shoulders heaved.
“I care very much.”
“Then let me go.”
“I can’t.”
“You mean you won’t.”
He huffed, shaking his head. “You don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand. I want to go home. I want to rent my apartment and paint in my studio. My studio. Not the one you provided simply to keep me quiet. Fuck my father and his bullshit. Whatever he owes you, I’m certain his minions can pay for and I honestly don’t give a crap whether or not his reputation is ruined. As you’ve already imagined, he’s not one of my favorite people but whatever he’s done isn’t remotely the horrible things that you have.”
The words hung in the air.
“I deserve more out of life.” He was still ignoring me. “If you have something on my father then prove it.”
He still hesitated.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he snorted.
“I think I do, and I deserve an answer!”
“You will not talk to me in that tone of voice!” he snapped.
Something was eating at him. “I’m a big girl, show me why you think my father is so terrible.”
Jerking in my direction, he stormed toward his desk, unlocking the very drawer I’d attempted to get into. “All right, Caroline, you should know the truth.” He riffled through his desk until he found what he was looking for.
As he tossed something across the surface, I cringed.
“If you really don’t care about this going public, then by all means, we’ll end this.” He snorted before taking a sip of his drink.
“What the hell is this?” I crept closer, still not able to glance at the photograph.
“This is your father. Not only does he have a serious gambling issue, Caroline, but he’s into some sick shit. If you think that taking you away from him isn’t a good idea, then by all means, let’s make certain we right this wrong.”
My hand shaking, I tentatively lifted the picture, fighting to focus as my brain homed in on what I was seeing. The horrible image of the girl and the… Oh. My. God. I was sick to my stomach.
“That’s what his life is about, Caroline. While he was engaging in this kind of activity, your mother was wallowing in a mental institution where you father placed her, no doubt making certain she’d never see the light of day again. Do you want to ask yourself why and can you really maintain any kind of loyalty to your father after seeing this? And trust me, sweetheart, there are many more where this came from.”
My entire world had been a complete lie. Everything I thought I knew or cared for had been shattered in that one single moment. The only thing that I could do was react, tossing the drink in his face a split second before I cracked my hand across his jaw. The ringing in my ears was only marginal in comparison to the horrible pounding in my heart. “Why would you do that to me? Why? Because you enjoy making me suffer? Obviously, you do given the deal you made, but to sink to this level means you’re truly an evil man and not just a bastard and a liar, Dominick Lugiano. And one day, I will have the pleasure of killing you.”
Dominick
Evil. I was the epitome of evil and up until this point had enjoyed the concept. Fuck. Fuck!
I slammed my hand on the desk, my eyes pinned on the photograph. I shouldn’t have shown her the disgusting blackmail piece, destroying what tenable hold she had on her previous reality. I’d gone over the edge, my emotions rolling all over the place. I’d been petrified leaving her behind in the garage, fighting to get back to her. If the assholes who’d invaded the casino had found out she was in the car, I had no doubt they would have taken her as leverage. Things were getting out of hand quickly.
And I still had no knowledge of who the fuck they were.
The asshole that Angelo had killed was nothing more than a street thug, cleaned up for the night’s adventure, but it was easy to tell. The only thing that continued to trouble me was the fact they’d been well organized, able to breach the security of the garage, which would have allowed them into the casino without any questions asked. An insider? Most likely and the entire staff would be questioned.
“Any more information on the assholes?” Bruno asked as he walked into my office.