Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
“Is she fighting you?” he questions, smiling widely at me. He loves when Aria gives him lip.
“I don’t know. We were having a good moment and then I left to take the call regarding Gordon and all the information Enrico and Vinnie pulled. When I came back, she’d gone back to reminding me how she’s a prisoner.”
“Did you kiss her? It helps when they get moody,” he offers up his advice as a married man.
“Oh really?” Aria says, stepping into the room with her arms crossed and brow raised.
Dom pales and stammers out, “That’s not what I meant.” He’s the man people cower down to when he enters a room, but she has that power over him that only she can possess.
“Bullshit, Domani. Own it. Anyway, I’m moody and yes, your kisses help because I love you. They are just meeting. It might take a while for her to tolerate his shit. So what did you say when you said you had to leave?” She has one hand on her hip and the other is pointing a finger at me.
“I said to hurry up and eat because I had to leave.” I run my hands through my hair because as the words leave my mouth I know why she’s pissed.
“Well, fuck. I could have told you that was stupid,” Domani says, shaking his head.
“My wise, all-knowing key to women is right. You were essentially dismissing her from your presence, so no wonder she iced you out.”
“What the fuck am I supposed to do? I don’t trust that she won’t leave if I let her and yet, I know it’s fucking wrong to hold her captive like that.”
“Tomorrow I’ll be going over there.” She puts her hand on Dom’s mouth, silencing any objection he was going to toss out. “I am. She needs some girl time to discuss what an asshat you are.”
“How is bashing me going to help?”
“Oh, feeble man. You can butcher men, get in their heads before you kill them, but you can’t figure out something so simple.”
“Simple? Ha. Women—simple?” Dom barks out, chuckling.
“I’d choose your next words wisely, husband.”
“I love you, my queen.” He winks at me as he kisses her cheek, but she’s wise to him and slaps his chest.
“Nice try. Now, I’ll let you guys talk shop, but I’m deadly serious about tomorrow. Someone’s got to save your dumbass from making a fool of yourself.” She kisses Dom’s cheek and leaves the room after stealing my piece of cake. Strangely, my stomach hurts too much to care.
“I’ll cut you another slice.”
“I’m good. Let’s deal with this prick. So he’s a huge cokehead, but that’s nothing. He operates a strip club and there are hookers running around. Many of them are reportedly not there voluntarily.”
“Are you serious?”
“Deadly. The fucker needs to go down. I went to her apartment last night and the shit had been turned inside out. The place was completely ransacked.”
“So we deal with him, but we need to be careful. He’s kept out of trouble with his hands in these pots because he more than likely has people on the take, and I’m not just talking about the police; maybe a councilman or two who turn their heads, officials from other states. It could be anyone.”
“He’s hell-bent on getting a hold of Mariana. I refuse to let that happen, but I’m gonna need help.”
“Of course. You’re like my brother. We’re blood, and if you truly believe she’s the one, then I got your back.”
I frown and tilt my head before asking a question I already know the answer to. “How long did it take you to decide Aria was yours?”
“One look.”
“Exactly.”
He nods, confirming my answer and respecting it. “We’ll go to war with Gordon, but I’d prefer if we just got rid of the problem from behind the scenes. The less mess and attention for us, the better.”
“I agree. His club is just between the two Southside families on the outskirts of the city, so there’s a chance that they’re backing him.”
“I’ll contact them and see what they know about that little bitch and how much they want to dismantle his shitty club.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. The only problem is when the girls team up against us.”
“Thank fuck you had a boy and have another on the way.”
“Damn right. Now go home and we’ll handle this shit first thing in the morning. I’ll send Aria over for a breakfast chit-chat while we deal with business. With her guards and a few extra, both ladies will be safe.”
I nod, and we hug before parting ways. The second I’m in my truck, I feel a fuck ton better knowing that Domani has my back. A huge part of me already knew that, but there’s something powerful about hearing it from his mouth. I drive back to the house with a feeling of comfort. Entering my property, I quietly climb the stairs and notice that her bedroom light is off.