The Next day
Antonio
My arm is wrapped around my woman's waist when we stride into Dominic’s the next day, I feel content for the first time in a long time. I would rather have stayed in bed all morning, hmmm, the things I could have done to my lady, but I have to talk to Dom about the Chinese fucker in prison. So much has happened, it slipped my mind. Now things have settled down, and my girl is safe, we need to get this shit sorted out. Kat and I pause in the entry when we hear Dom’s raised voice. He sounds pissed. Who the fuck is he yelling at?
We hurry toward where the voice is coming from in the kitchen, and stop at the doorway. Brooklyn is standing behind the kitchen bench with her arms folded over her chest, and Dom is pacing in front of her.
“Brooklyn, you will tell me what the fuck I want to know. NOW!" Dom shouts.
“Don't you fucking shout at me, Dominic Grasso." Brooklyn slams her hands on the kitchen bench and leans forward as far as her belly will allow.
“Did she just full name him?" Kat whispers in shock.
I nod, and I’m also in shock.
Dom stops pacing, slams his hands down on the bench, and leans toward his fiancé. Their noses are almost touching. “Brooklyn, I will find out. Tomorrow I'm going to pick my daughter up from school…”
Brooklyn cuts him off. “Dom, you’re overreacting, it was just a little kiss."
Whoa! What the fuck? Did some figlia di madre kiss the boss’s woman? No wonder he’s fucking pissed.
“I don’t give a fuck. No-one, and I mean, no-one touches what’s mine!”
I hear footsteps on the stairs, and look over my shoulder to see a smiling Evie.
“Zio,"(uncle) she says as she runs to me. She started calling me uncle not long after I was shot, and I love hearing it. Picking her up, I sit her on my hip.
“Aunty Kat, Daddy is really mad.”
“I can tell, Dollface.”
“Princess, come give your papa a hug." Dom holds out his arms, I set her on the ground, and she runs to her papa.
Dom pushes stray curls off her face and kisses her forehead. “Princess, you tell that boy, if he kisses you or touches you again, your dad…"
That sets me back on my heels. Some little punk kissed our Evie. I clear my throat before adding, “and, uncle Antonio will come to your school with your papa."
Brooklyn shakes her head, and bites her lip. She's trying hard not to laugh. I scowl, Evie being kissed is no laughing matter. I glance down at Kat and see she is doing the same thing. I give her a squeeze and when she looks up, I frown. I don’t think there is anything fucking funny about this at all.
“Dominic, seriously she's in preschool. You can’t go threaten little kids."
“You think? Just watch me, Angel. Nobody, and I mean nobody, touches my Principessa.”
Brooklyn throws her arms in the air. “There is absolutely no talking to you, I don’t know why I told you in the first place. I should have known you would react this way." Brooklyn turns away. Dom puts Evie down, and she runs off to play. He rounds the bench and gathers his fiancé to him. “Angel, don’t be angry at me." Dom's voice is low, but not low enough that we don’t hear him. Brooklyn turns in his arms and places her hands against his chest.
“Big Man, it was only a sweet little kiss between two small children. There is no need to get all caveman about it. They're just kids."
“That’s no fucking excuse," I growl.
Brooklyn narrows her eyes at me, and if looks could kill, I'd be six feet under by the end of the day.
“Not helping, Stud." Kat nudges me in the side with her elbow causing me to grunt. I lick my lips, and my dick twitches, when she swings those fucking hips as she walks away. She settles herself on the floor with Evie.
Dom’s voice has me looking back toward him and Brooklyn. “I have to deal with some business, this conversation isn’t over Angel." Dom bends forward, and takes Brooklyn in a deep kiss.
“That’s what you think, Big Man. The matter is so closed, the door is nailed shut." Brooklyn laughs as she steps from Dom's arms.
He walks away, cursing in Italian.
“Babydoll, do you have a boyfriend?" Kat asks Evie, while they color in.
“Kat." Dom warns as he storms over to me.
The tone of his voice with my woman is to get my back up, but I notice the look on my Kitten’s face, I realize she is trying to get a rise out of Dom.
It's Dom's turn to throw his hands in the air. “Antonio, we have shit to do. Follow me."
I nod, follow him from the room and head toward his office.
The girl's laughter floats through the air as it follows
“What the fuck is going on Boss?" I take a seat in front of his desk while he closes the door behind him.
“I can't believe some punk kid kissed my daughter. I overheard Brooklyn talking with Evie before you guys turned up. I swear to Christ, they are trying to kill me, brother. Fanculo," he growls. He pulls a folder from his desk drawer and flips it open.
“Some shit went down while you were inside."
I nod. "I remember you mentioning something was happening when we spoke on the phone while I was locked up."
"Yeah, it was no use giving you details while you were in there. The ghost shadows got the shipment, which we were already aware of, but apparently, it was short. We need to work out why. Theo and Nico looked into it, and came up with a name."
He slides the folder across the desk to me. I look down to see a photo of the piece of shit cop who Kat killed. “Okay, so he's dead. Problem solved." Dom is shaking his head, so I wait for him to continue.
“That cop was dirty as fuck, but he had connections. He was working with the Ghost Shadows, until he ripped them off."
“It’s not our fucking problem, they had the piece of shit on retainer.”
“Si, but it does affect us when someone takes from us. Billy Boy wasn’t working alone, and we need to find whoever his partner was. I believe the girl you saved in the warehouse may be in danger."
“How is she doing?”
“Sergio, said she is getting there, but she's scared shitless and refuses to talk about anything. He has her at the safe house. We need to work out who that piece of shit’s partner was, and fast.”
“What about his cop buddy who put the cuffs on me?”.
“No. He was the first one we thought of. Theo did a complete background check, but he comes up clean”
“Fuck, that would have been too easy.”
“Si, Theo is investigating every lead he can find, and Nico is tracking down anybody who had contact with Billy. They are also trying to find out who else knew about the fucking shipment.”
“One of the Ghost Shadow pricks in jail, warned you better watch your back. I’m going to get Alfio to search why he got locked up, and see when he’s getting out. I'll pay him a visit, no-one threatens my brother.”
“Si, how’s your arm?”
“Bene, Boss”
“Anything else we need to discuss?”
“Si, Katherine’s father. Everything that has happened to our women, appears to link back to him. I think we need to pay him a visit.”
“Si, I believe so too. Brooklyn has mentioned he was an asshole." Dom nods and I notice him flexing his hands into fists.
Yeah, my feelings exactly. I think he's overdue for some man on man talk. Karma’s a bitch, especially coming from us.
Katherine
When the guys leave the room, I stand, walk over to Brooklyn in the kitchen, and lean against the bench. “Dollface, I can't believe you full named him. A fucking mafia boss!" I laugh.
“He's overreacting. For fuck sake, it was one little kiss. The little boy chased her around the playground, and when he caught her, he kissed her cheek. I think it's cute." She rubs her baby bump, and I reach over and give it a little rub too.
“So how are you holding up?" Brooklyn asks as she heads to the fridge.
“I’m doing a lot better. Antonio and I have talked for hours about everything that’s happened. I still feel guilty, but I know she was sick, and instead of getting help, she decided to do what she did." I glance over my shoulder, and make sure Evie is still playing before turning back to my best friend and continuing. “I can’t believe what my father did, and I don’t understand why mom didn’t call the police.”
“Did he touch you?" Her voice is barely a whisper, I know it's a question she didn't want to ask.
“No, he didn’t. I think when Ashley showed mom the pictures, he was forced to leave before it could happen. In her own sick, and twisted way, she saved me from him. Not that saving me would have crossed her mind considering everything she did afterward."
“Honey, none of it was your fault.”
“I know." I sniff back the tears as she wraps her arms around me.
“You can't blame yourself, it will push you back into the darkness. I couldn't bear to lose you, I love you."
I nod into her shoulder and step away, brushing the tears from my face. Brooklyn pours orange juice into three glasses and passes me one.
“Enough about me, how’s the girl they found in the warehouse?”
“Sergio borrowed some clothes from me, but he didn’t say much. Dom said Sergio is taking care of her and Doc has been to check on her.”
“Wasn’t she staying here?”
“Yeah, at first. I’m not sure what happened, but Dom had her moved to a safe house. I don’t know why, Dom’s being pretty tight lipped about it. I feel bad, she looked as if she had been through so much, and needed a friend. I hope they figure out what happened to her and keep her safe.”
“Yeah, me too. God only knows what happened to her if that piece of shit cop had anything to do with it." I blow out a breath before going on. “I know I have asked you before but how did you feel when you shot Janet?”
Brooklyn checks on Evie before she speaks. “I thought I should feel sad, but I didn’t. I finally felt like I was taking control of my life again, does that make sense? For such a long time, I have blamed myself for what happened with Darren. I should have taken control, and left him sooner. When Janet threatened Dom, I knew I would never allow anyone to ruin my life again. It was her, or the man I love. I didn't hesitate and I have no regrets. I need to look to the future now, and leave the past behind. I have a great man who loves me unconditionally, a beautiful daughter, who is the happiest I have ever seen her, and possibly two precious babies on the way. I had two choices, I could either keep rerunning the past, and let it tear me down, or I could open my eyes and live in the now. I chose to let the past go and I couldn't be happier.”
I think about what she's said, and I know she’s right. There is no point in delving into the past, wondering 'what if', when I have everything I have ever dreamed of in front of me.
“Good point, Dollface.”
“Kitten, we need to go home.”
Antonio’s voice interrupts us and I turn to watch him and Dominic enter the room. Fuck my man is sexy. Ever since he opened up to me about his mom last night, the shadows living behind his eyes have vanished. It feels good to have been able to help him.
“Why, Stud?" I’m confused, I thought we were staying for lunch
“We have plans." He looks me up and down, and I feel the lust deep into my bones.
Again, I shoot him a confused look. He winks at me with a sexy as sin smirk on his lips. My toes curl, and I know exactly what plans he has in mind.