I agree wholeheartedly.
“I’m going to warn you now. You will encounter many men tonight. None of them is allowed to touch you for longer than a very brief hug. No one touches you but me. Do you understand?”
At first I think he must be joking; the smoke in his voice warns me he is not. I don’t even bother to argue, simply nod. I’m a freak, a weirdo, for the wet heat his words induce. His possessiveness should make me scream at him that I belong to no one. I would be lying. I’ve belonged to him since the moment I first laid eyes on him.
Those blue eyes darken with satisfaction. “Such a good girl.”
Taking my hand, he leads me into the elevator. Pressing the button, he squeezes my hand. My nerves disappear at the way Dominic is looking at me.
As I enter the club behind Dominic, my eyes go big trying to take everything in. Wow, it’s...just wow. When Dominic had told me members paid over thirty thousand dollars a year for their membership, I figured it was to pay for a serious gambling addiction. As I look around, I see it’s not just for gambling.
A pretty dark-haired woman is watching me and smiling. “Right? Do you know he once called it a bar? This is not a bar. Hi, I’m Bethany. I totally understand why Dominic has been keeping you all to himself. You are soo freaking pretty. And tall, wow.”
Then without another word, she hugs me. I’m not usually a hugger. I don’t hesitate to return it, though. I’m afraid to offend, and it’s a nice hug.
In succession, I’m introduced to Alicia, who is Bethany’s sister and married to Cesare, the oldest Sabatini. Then Chloe, who is married to Enzo. Despite what Dominic said about being able to hug his cousins, the first time Dante, Bethany’s husband, put a hand on my arm, before he even tried to hug me a growl came out of Dominic. Dante simply chuckled, punched Dominic in the shoulder and teased him about how it wasn’t so funny now, was it?
After that, it’s a nod only to Enzo and Cesare. They all look so like Dominic it’s spooky. There are differences, of course, yet a casual glance would tell anyone they were all family. Then Tony is there. His hair isn’t gray—no, that would be too boring—it’s silver that glints through his ink-black hair and beard.
He hugs me tight, whispering, “At last, the daughter I always longed for. So beautiful. My son is the luckiest man in Chicago.”
It’s a strong, sweet hug, I have no idea why it brings tears to my eyes. “Thank you.” I barely manage to get the words out around the lump in my throat.
***
Regina
Tony, Dominic and his cousins are taking their leave. It’s been more than two hours, yet it passed in a flash of laughter and welcoming chatter. Made men are arriving and being guided downstairs. Dominic leaves with a press of his lips to my temple.
Watching him walk away, I wonder what exactly is going to happen downstairs.
“Don’t worry, Dominic was adamant it’s just them drinking, smoking cigars, and some gambling and playing poker. Nothing bad,” Alicia reassures me.
It would be great if I could stop blushing like a little girl.
Bethany pats my hand. “You’re an easy read. Also, who knew strippers are a hard no for mafia guys. Ever since I met Tony and Dominic, it’s killed a lot of myths. Kind of disappointing, kind of reassuring. I almost forgot, Lydia can’t make the wedding tomorrow. She had cutie Ethan a few days ago. It was a cesarean so she’s healing at home. Man is she upset.”
“Lydia said you were perfect for Dominic. I’m so glad it’s you. When Tony mentioned Dominic coming back with a wife, I almost fell over. Enzo couldn’t believe it either. Dominic has always acted as if marriage was for men too stupid to get out of it. I think we were worried you would be some lady killer with legs up to her neck. Neither of us could really imagine who could get him to change his mind.” Tilting her head, she smiles as I can’t help but blush again.
“You are so nice and sweet, then I saw you give him a glare a few times, which means you aren’t going to let him get away with much. You really are perfect for him. I’m going to admit, when I met Dominic, I totally hated him. It’s annoying that now he’s sometimes my favorite Sabatini when Tony is getting on my nerves, after my husband, of course.” Chloe sighs.
Oh god, she saw that? It was when Dante was teasing him about how his life was going to change after having a wife and Dominic laughed it off, more than once. “Why did you hate him?”
She rolls her eyes. “Because he’s too damn honest and sees far too much. The bastard yanked me hard out of my lane. I deserved it, it probably saved me from screwing up with Enzo. At the time it hurt like hell though. Dominic’s thing is he’s honest to the point of brutal. He won’t feed you any bullshit, he won’t allow you to try it on him either. You never have to wonder where you stand with him. Then again, if you’ve won his loyalty you will have it for life.
“He’s not mean though. He could have gone harder on me. I know he didn’t because I’m younger. Although I’m glad he doesn’t treat me like a little kid anymore,” Bethany adds defensively.
I can’t help but wonder if she ever liked Dominic like that. There’s something in the way she defends him.
Her eyes go wide and she laughs. “For like two minutes. Literally, two minutes, then I came to my senses. Don’t hate me, he’s gorgeous.”
Alicia slaps her sister on the arm, I’m glad a little. “You never told me that.”
“Oh my god, I swear to god, enough with the abuse. It was literally two minutes of ‘holy shit he is so fucking hot. I wonder what he looks like out of that suit.’ Then I came to my senses because he’s also scary hot, like he’ll totally wreck your entire life because you’ll fall in love slash obsession, and he’ll have already moved onto the next thot.”
Bethany’s eyes go wide with pleading. “I swear, that one time, the first time I met him, then never again. He made it clear I was the little sister he never wanted and kinda still didn’t, but since I was there he wasn’t going to be mean to me.”
What she says is so true, it hurts. I knew it before I even knew it was happening. Falling in love with him promised nothing but pain. I’m willing to try, hoping somewhere in the next twenty-five years he’ll fall in love with me too. She is so earnest and honest the laughter comes out of me unchecked. “I understand completely. He um, has his moments.”