Chapter 16
Too long. That’s how long it had been since Dom had seen her face. He didn’t care to count the exact days, because whatever it was would equal too long. And even though he was mad at her, just seeing her stand in his doorway would be a balm to his aching soul. He had been intolerable since had she left. Even Gelato took to avoiding him unless it involved food. And he was too stubborn to reach out to her, even though his arms longed to hold her and his dick was begging to be inside her. He stood stiff as a statue while she poured her heart out to him. He was cautious and caution said not to let down his guard again.
He had other things to think about. Things he really needed to worry about, though his big head and little head were only focused on one thing.
Anna.
He was a bastard, a stubborn, cautious bastard, but a bastard nonetheless.
*****
By now, Anna knew the way to Domenico’s house. She knew each turn in the road as well as she knew the way to her own home. She drove the unpaved road slowly, making sure to take every turn with caution and tread lightly over any perceived ditches or gravel. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, and her heart was in her throat as she pulled up to the unmarked driveway and waited.
No time like the present.
With that, she swung open the door and forced herself to walk to the front door. One knock was sufficient – there was no doorbell, and the house wasn’t big enough for him to pretend he couldn’t hear her.
He didn’t bother with formalities.
“What do you want?”
That stung, but she continued on, albeit with hesitation.
“Hello, Domenico. I was hoping we could talk.”
“We’re doing that now.”
She winced. His tone, his guarded eyes, and his unsmiling face were too much like torture. What could she do to get the old him back?
“I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
“Okay,” he said, leaning against the doorframe, intentionally not inviting her inside. “You wanted to say sorry, so go ahead.”
“I am so sorry I abused your trust. I hope you can forgive me, and more importantly, I want to earn it back.”
“How can I know that I can trust you?”
She didn’t have an answer for that.
“This was all just a misunderstanding.”
It was more than a misunderstanding. It was a colossal fuck up of more epic proportions than she was willing to admit.
“Oh? Is it?” He crossed his arms over his broad chest. What she would do to lay her head on his chest again.
“If you would just listen.”
She just had to get him to listen.
“Okay. Fine then, explain it to me. What did I misunderstand?”
There were two ways out of this, and one was to lie. Lying was what got her there in the first place. She gulped and opted for option one.
The truth.
“I wasn’t on a date. I was with a previous client just to collect the money he owed me.”
“And why didn’t you tell me about him?”
“Because I didn’t want you to know.”
“Why?”
“Because.” She hesitated. “I was embarrassed and scared.”
“Why?”
She shrugged, frustrated and upset. “I don’t know! I don’t like doing any of this. If I had it my way, I would have a great paying job by now, but I don’t. Instead, I have debts, loans and a sugar daddy who gives me a monthly allowance.”
He didn’t say anything, so she continued.
“I do all kinds of weird odds and end jobs. I was only there to collect my money.”
“And what job did you do for him?”
Silence fell between them as she weighed the pros and cons of honesty again.
“He was a man who paid me to get to know you.”
He didn’t say anything for so long, she didn’t know what to think. But finally he moved aside; without saying a word, he invited her into the house and she followed him to the couch.
“What do you mean?”
“I meant what I said.” She wrung her hands in her lap, too nervous to stay sitting. “Just a guy who contacted me through arrangements. He told me where I could meet you and that my job was to meet you.”
“So the falling, hitting your head, me saving you, all that…was a lie?”
“No! That wasn’t a lie. It was some sort of weird coincidence. I really was just in the area taking pictures. I was planning to go to your house and say I got lost or something, and ask for directions, but I fell and hit my head. I didn’t know that you would find me. I didn’t know that I would be found at all. I could have been eaten by a bear!”
“And what? Liking me, making me fall for you? That was all made up, too?” The disbelief and fury were written all over his face.
“I was just a job to you?” he hissed, stepping closer with each word until they were face to face.
“No! None of that was planned. Honestly, Dom. I just fell for you.”
He shrugged and went to the kitchen to fix himself a drink. His face was passive and blank as he poured. She hated that she put that look on his face. “I don’t believe you.”
“I swear, Dom. It was nothing nefarious. All simple things. He only asked me to do three things. Meet this man. He had a picture of you. See if you can get him to trust you. I made sure you found my SB login from my browsing history so you'd have a way of contacting me again. And the last thing he had me do is find out if he’s Italian. Which you told me you are. Three questions. Three grand.”
She kept talking, so worried about saving her own butt that she didn’t catch how obviously shaken up he was.
He grabbed her arms, causing her to yelp in surprise. “Who asked you to do that, Anna?”
“Um?”
“What did he look like?”
“I thought you saw him,” she said dumbly.
“No. I only saw the back of his head.”
She stared at his face, as if memorizing it. “Well, he looked a lot like you, actually.’
“What was his name?”
She struggled to think, caught in emotion and the pressure Dom put on her arms. “Luca Roberto Costa.”
This time the panic in his eyes was visible.
“They’ve found me.”
He dropped her arms and ran to his room. “I’ve got to go.”
She followed him, watching from the doorway as he flung the little bit of clothes he cherished into a duffle bag.
“Dom, what’s happening? Talk to me, please. We can work this out.”
He paused, long enough to show her he was serious. “There is nothing for us to work out. I’m leaving, and you’re not coming with me. I’ve made enough bad decisions to last a lifetime.”
Her mouth hung open as he continued muttering to himself.
“Check the surveillance. Less than 24 hours. Send Gelato to Anita. “
It was as if he truly believed what he said had been enough, and ten minutes later when he looked up to find her still standing there, he frowned.
“Why are you still here?” His tone was enough to make her flinch… but not back down.
“We need to talk about this.”
“I told you to go home.”
“I’m not going anywhere! Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
His lips flattened into a straight line. “I don’t have to tell you anything.”
That was enough to push her over the age. “You talk about honesty and being straight-forward, but I’m not stupid. I can tell you’ve been keeping secrets of your own. What are you hiding from me, Dom? You promised me honesty, too. Or was that vow lip service?”
“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“Yes. I do! I want to be with you. I’m trying to work through this, and you’re not being helpful in the least bit.”
“You want to fucking know?! The mafia is coming to kill me.” He spoke without emotion, as if it all drained from his body. “Finally.”