44

DOMINIC
Fuck.
This is unnerving.
Just because I’ve been around these sort of men for most of my life, doesn’t make me any more comfortable right now.
Usually I’m in a man’s home because I’ve been hired for a job. I’m wanted. Needed even.
But this is different.
This is me in a man’s home because I’ve fallen in love with his daughter.
God, Dimitry isn’t going to be impressed, is he? No wonder he looks so mad. I’mwayolder than Isabella, and we didn’t exactly meet in a conventional way.
Worst of all, I’m a mercenary. A hired man for contracts, with no real loyalty to anyone.
I doubt the Genovese’s will like that.
But every time the nerves threaten to consume me, Isabella brings me back down to earth with her hand on my leg. She’s with me through all of this, so at least I’m not alone.
“So, you’re the big hero, right?”
A giant guy with the broadest shoulders I might have ever seen claps his hands down on my shoulders.
“Dominic, this is Cillian. My oldest brother.” Isabella rolls her eyes. “And this is Loch and Keegan, the twins, and Fionn too.”
The introductions are brief, but I do my best to make a good impression on Isabella’s family. Her brothers aren’t looking at me like they want to kill me, which is a good thing.
I hope.
“Did you really foil Vincenzo?” Fionn asks me with a playful smirk. “That asshole has been causing us issues forever. I can’t believe you outsmarted him. That’s unheard of.”
I kinda nod, because I don’t want to brag or anything. But I guess I did.
Mind you, I wouldn’t have done it, if it weren’t for Isabella.
If I didn’t fall for Isabella, this could have had a very different outcome.
“So, you took the Falesco’s down, huh?” Keegan laughs. “You really are a badass.”
“And killed Henry too, right?” Loch says proudly. “That was something else. I heard all about that. You definitely saved our sister from doing that.”
Okay, so it feels like her brothers don’t hate me, which is great. But I can still feel Dimitry’s hard eyes on me. He has a few things he wants to say to me, I’m sure.
He has a reputation for not being easily impressed anyway, and Isabella told me that he might take a while to come around, so I’m not going to get too panicked about it.
Even if I am freaking out a little bit.
“Yeah, well I had to make sure Isabella was okay, didn’t I? I couldn’t let a scum bag like Henry get anywhere near her. He was bad news.”
She holds my leg again under the dinner table as the compliments continue. I truly don’t know what I would do without her right now.
She really is keeping me going. I reach under the table and curl my hand around hers, squeezing her to let her know how truly grateful I am.
“Actually, Isabella, will you give me a hand in the kitchen?” Dimitry suddenly asks, which causes ice cold tension to flow through the room.
I don’t know why this causes everyone to fall into silence, but it definitely does.
Shit, is something about to happen here that I’m definitely not prepared for?
My spine stiffens.
“In the kitchen?” Isabella cocks her head to one side curiously. “Erm, sure.”
Her brows furrow as she follows her father into the hallway. I can see them from where I’m sitting.
They definitely aren’t going to the kitchen.
The chatter starts back up around me, and I can sense Isabella’s brothers trying to pull me back into a chat, and I do my best to give them what they want, while still keeping my eyes on them.
There’s tension between Isabella and her father. I don’t like the look of that.
I can see Dimitry’s shoulders are pretty much up around his ears.
I feel sick to my stomach; this might be the moment that everything goes all wrong.
I really wish I’d bugged Isabella, or that I could be a fly on the wall, just to give me a moment to overhear what’s being said. I would love to be prepared somehow…
But then everything changes.
I don’t knowwhatIsabella has said, but there’s a smile spreading across Dimitry’s face. She’s relaxed him, calmed him down, and now he’s embracing her.
Shit.
Relief flows through me as I see them looking happy.
I might be able to keep my head after all.
“All good,” Isabella whispers under her breath as she takes her seat back where she belongs, right beside me. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”
I wouldmuchrather hear everything now, but this is a family dinner.
What I want doesn’t matter.
I try to sneak a look at Dimitry, but he’s smiling right at me.
Okay, this is good.
Really good.
“Before the next course comes out, I would like to do a toast.” Dimitry surprises everyone as he rises to his feet. “It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together as a family, don’t you think? And it’s something I have missed out on, as I’m sure you all have.”
There’s a murmur of agreement around the table.
Much to my surprise, Isabella even seems in agreement.
I hope this means things are better with her family now, and better from here on out as well.
“I’m also grateful that my eyes have been opened to the Falesco’s and their plans. I was blindsided by the idea of a more peaceful life, and that allowed me to be blinded by those assholes. I let them trick me into thinking that things would be better with Isabella and Risty married, but that was a mistake.”
He mouths the word ‘sorry’ to Isabella, which brings tears to her eyes.
“I am so grateful that I didn’t send Isabella into the hands of those monsters. Not only have all ties been severed with them, but they will also pay. I willnotlet them get away with any of this. No way.”
He shakes his head, regret rolling off of him in waves.
He seems like a good man, much better than his reputation suggests.
I’m sure he cares a lot about his family, about his daughter, and that he just let greed and power get in the way for a little while.
But never again.
Or at least I hope never again.
“Family is the most important thing,” Dimitry continues, his voice cracking just a little. “Family, love, and loyalty. That’s all we need to focus on here. First and foremost.”
As Dimitry turns to me, my heart stops beating for just a moment.
Shit, where is this about to go?
“None of us need to worry about the Lucchese’s anymore. Debts have been settled, differences have been sorted, everything is fine on that front. We no longer need to worry.”
I have to admit, that loosens a knot that had tightened in my stomach.
I didn’t know what was going to happen with Vincenzo, but I definitely feared the worst.
“So, Dominic, you can calm down a little and maybe enjoy life.”
I try to smile, but I feel too anxious to really make that happen.
“Isabella, there are some things that I want to say to you.”
Isabella straightens up. Her spine stiffens. It’s her turn to panic. I squeeze her hand, trying to reassure her just like she has done me, but she seems too worried to receive that.
“You haven’t always done what I wanted you to do, but you have always done what’s right for you. I can see that now.” Dimitry smiles sweetly at his daughter. “Just like your mother. You remind me of her so much. She was stubborn, too, but she always knew that she was doing the right thing for her, which was the most important thing. Just like you.”
Dimitry moves around the table until his hand is on Isabella’s shoulder.
“Your mother would be proud of the independent woman you have become. Someone who puts others first and looks out for them. Caring and sweet, but strong headed too. It’s great to see. I might have tried to control the direction of your life a little, which I now realize I don’t need to do anymore. You are more than capable of looking after yourself and making the right choices for you. What I need to do is step back and let you grow. Watch you become the woman that you were always meant to become, the woman that your mother would be proud of every single day. But…”
There’s a collective holding of breath as we wait for what’s next. A ‘but’ is never good.
“I do need to make sure that you’re cared for, Isabella. Always. Which is why I want to hire a full time bodyguard for you.” Now his hand rests on my shoulder. “Dominic, what do you say about taking on that role?”
I nod happily, glancing over to Isabella, who also looks like she’s soaring higher than air. “I wouldn’t like it any other way. You know you can trust me with Isabella. I will do anything to keep her safe.”
Dimitry nods with satisfaction. “You have already proven yourself, Dominic. I know I can trust you. With my daughter’s life, and my grandchild’s too.”
I rest my hand on Isabella’s belly, grinning from ear to ear.
She smiles right back at me with love in her eyes. I can feel her gratitude rolling through the room because this meeting has gone so much better than either of us could have hoped. I’m not dead, and now it seems like I’m trusted too. Maybe even respected.
And if I’m working for the Genovese’s then I never need to take up dangerous stupid jobs for men like Vincenzo again. I can keep my family safe and happy. I can finally give Isabella the life I think she deserves. The life I have been wishing for her, but with me.
Who would have known that life could turn out so perfect?
And honestly, it feels like it’s only going to get better from here.