DOM: Alliance Series Book Three, page 21
Me: Go to sleep.
Send.
Big Guy: And a kiss.
I open the camera.
Me: *sends photo of my middle finger with the sleepy city in the background*
Big Guy: Rob told me you’re going to the grocery store today. You can order delivery if you want.
I shake my head and finish my work email before picking up my phone to reply.
Me: Husband, I do not want to rot away in this condo every day, morning to night.
Send.
Big Guy: So touchy. It’s okay. I know you’re grouchy because you miss me.
I set the phone back down.
I have work to do.
But my mind won’t let me focus on the site I’m in the middle of building because the fucker is right.
I shove away from my desk and stomp all the way downstairs.
I just need coffee. I don’t miss Dominic Gonzalez.
Big Guy: Valentine.
I reach out and pause the movie.
Me: What?
Send.
My phone vibrates, showing Dominic calling. No…
I groan.
It’s a video call.
I debate not answering for a long moment, but I know Dom enough to know he’ll just keep calling.
Sighing, I hit answer.
“Angel.” Dominic’s tone is scolding.
“What?”
“Valentine, pick the phone up.”
“I don’t want to,” I tell him.
I answered the call but left the phone lying on the bed next to me, camera aimed at the ceiling.
“Why not?” He sounds curious, not mad. And with all the security around here, it’s not like he’s afraid I’m in bed with a man.
“Because I’m not dressed for company.”
He groans. “Are you naked?”
“What? No.”
“Then show me your pretty face.”
I grit my teeth. Charming Dominic is so obnoxious.
“Fine.” I huff out a breath and pick up the phone.
I watch his handsome face as his eyes trail over mine.
This was supposed to be my night of pampering, but it’s turned into a night of Dom.
“That the same mask you used on Halloween?” Dominic asks, and his question slices through my chest.
I started my period the day he left, and my hormones have been all over the place. I’m a few days in, past the worst of it, but my heart still feels wrung out.
Before I realize it’s happening, a tear tracks down my cheek, leaving a trail in the clay mask I’m wearing.
Dominic pulls his phone closer. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and quickly dab at my cheek with a tissue so I don’t melt my mask.
“Did something happen?”
I shake my head again.
“Val.” His voice softens. “Talk to me.”
More tears drip from my eyes, but I don’t speak.
I try to blink through it, wanting to just hang up but knowing that won’t make anything better.
Dominic’s screen shifts as he starts walking. I can’t see much of the background, but it looks like a warehouse.
His screen goes dark as he walks into a new room, then Dom flips a light on, and his image comes back to life.
I can hear him shut a door before he turns and leans against it.
“Shorty. Tell me what’s going on.” A command this time.
And I can’t help myself.
“I miss you.” The sentence is cracked with emotion.
The side of his mouth pulls up. “I’ll be home in a few days.”
I shake my head as I admit, “I miss the you from before.”
The side of his mouth lowers. “What do you mean?”
“I want it to be like it was, Dom. I want—I want to feel special again. Like I did before. Like I did when I believed you wanted me.” I press my palm against my chest. “Just me. Not the stupid Alliance.”
“Angel.”
“Just let me say it,” I plead.
Dom slowly nods. “Okay.”
I look down, away from the phone. “Those weeks after we met, when we were messaging… They were special to me. And I want to keep them, the memory of them. But it feels like they’ve been poisoned. Because every time I’m reminded about one of our conversations, I feel… I feel so fucking stupid.” My breath hitches, and I give up on being careful and wipe away more tears. “Because each time, I was talking to someone I thought might fall in love with me. Someone I thought was so interested in me that he needed to hear from me every day.” I inhale deeply. “You would always tell me to make your day better. And each time you did that, you made me feel useful. Needed.” Another slow breath. “But when I sent you that picture of me wearing this face mask on Halloween, I was flirting. Or trying to. And all the while, you were sitting at home, stringing me along, so that someday you could trick me into marrying you.” I finally raise my eyes back up to look at him. “And it hurts, Dominic. It hurts a lot.”
“Val.” His tone is so soft. “I’m…” He won’t say he’s sorry.
I save both of us from the silence that would surely follow. “The worst part is that I believe you.” My shoulders sag. “You told me that you never lied about yourself in our conversations. And I believe you. But it was still fake. It was all just an illusion. And I’m having a hard time putting the two versions of you together in my head.” The tears I thought were done drip from my lashes again. “And I hate myself for wanting to accept it. Because you don’t deserve for me to accept it. But I deserve to be happy.” I breathe and say it again. “I deserve to be happy.”
Dom’s blue eyes are locked on mine. Filled with… something.
“So.” I sniffle. “I’m going to go wash my face, and then I’m going to finish watching this movie in bed. And I’m going to keep feeling sorry for myself until I fall asleep.”
“What movie are you watching?” He almost whispers the question.
“The Fugitive,” I whisper back.
“Valentine.” His throat moves on a swallow. “I can make you happy.”
I bite into my bottom lip. But I don’t want to hear any more promises.
“Goodnight, Dom.”
As I press the button to hang up the call, I hear a muffled pop. But I’m already touching the screen, and the call ends.
CHAPTER 45
Dom
One gunshot reverberates through the building, followed immediately by several others.
Then silence.
I slide my phone into my pocket.
Tonight did not go as planned. And the shouts breaking out in the warehouse behind me prove the point.
I called Valentine because I wanted to see her face. Because these days away from her have been frustrating and stressful, and I’ve gotten used to her presence in my daily life.
But instead of making her smile, I made her cry. And not just a single tear. My wife was sitting there alone in our bed, crying.
“Fuck.”
I turn around and jerk the door open.
My footsteps bounce off the rafters, and the arguing men quiet as I near them.
The large and growing pool of blood on the floor tells me our possible informant is dead.
I look over at Nick, the man I put in charge, but he points to another man, one of the locals we’re using for the week.
“Explain,” I demand.
The local bows his head. “He jumped out of the chair and grabbed Oz’s gun out of his holster, so I shot him.”
I glance at another local, Oz, then back to the first man. “He got Oz’s gun.” The man nods. “And then what?”
He finally looks at me. “What do you mean? Uh, sir.”
“I mean.” I step closer, avoiding the blood but putting the toe of my shoe against the dead man’s shoulders. “His hands are tied behind his fucking back. He might’ve gotten a gun off one of you girl scouts, but he’s not shooting up a building with his hands tied behind his fucking back!” Everyone flinches at my volume.
Oz shuffles his feet. “He, um, did get a shot off.”
“Takes one wild shot behind his back, with his feet also fucking tied together, and you decided to fill him with holes. Did you assholes come from the police academy?” They shake their heads like I was asking a serious question. I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Give me your guns.”
The two men start to pull their weapons free, and I hear the sound of my men aiming their guns at the locals.
I gesture to the other men from the local gang. “All of you.”
One man squares his shoulders, making me turn toward him.
My steps are slow, but I close the distance between us. “I’m not disarming you so I can kill you. I’m disarming you because you fucking imbeciles don’t deserve to carry weapons.” I take another step closer, invading his space. “But I’m in a bit of a mood right now. My wife is at home, crying because she misses me, and I’m here, wasting my fucking time. So please, do something stupid and give me an excuse to add your blood to the collection on the floor before we leave your filthy city.”
Anger blazes in the man’s eyes, and I almost wish he’d take a swing at me. But if he did, I’d kill him. And cooperation with these dummies has been useful, so it’s probably for the best that he lowers his gaze and hands me his gun.
I tuck it into the waistband of my pants, then direct a command to the gunless men. “Clean this up.” Then to my men. “Get your shit. We’re going to Phoenix.”
Done with this night, I walk out of the building.
Inhaling the evening air, I push away the guilt that talking to Valentine caused and focus on the important part.
She was wearing my sweatshirt.
CHAPTER 46
Val
Me: Was that a gunshot?
Delete.
Me: What happened?
Delete.
Me: Tell me you’re alive.
Send.
Big Guy: I’m alive.
Big Guy: Get some sleep, Wife. We’ll talk again tomorrow.
Me: You still alive?
Delete.
I roll over and scream into the pillow.
All night I tossed and turned. Dreams of witnessing Dominic getting riddled with bullets plagued my sleep. So now I’m tired and cranky and, worst of all, worried.
“Fuck you!” My shout is muffled. But it’s not like it matters. There’s no one here to hear me.
I flop back over and stare at the ceiling. I need a distraction.
With an idea in mind, I pick my phone back up.
Me: Can I have some friends over tonight?
Send.
I make a face. I sound like I’m asking if I can go outside to play.
Me: For dinner. I’ll order something.
Send.
Me: With my own money.
Send.
Me: Even though I’m sure your stubborn ass will insist I charge your card or account or whatever you have set up with the front desk.
Send.
I force myself to roll out of bed so I stop sending more texts. And it’s early enough that Dominic should still be asleep, so he probably won’t reply for a while.
I’m halfway to the bathroom when he replies.
Big Guy: Yes, your stubborn-ass husband will insist you use the payment I already have set up.
Big Guy: And yes, you can have your friends over any time you want. But Rob has a standing order to toss any men who try to visit you off the roof, so make sure your friends don’t bring anyone they don’t want dead.
I stare at my phone.
Me: Crazy much?
Send.
Big Guy: You seem to bring it out in me.
Big Guy: Have fun with your friends, Angel. We’re about to board a plane for Arizona. Be a few more days yet.
A suspicion niggles in my mind.
Me: Are you flying commercial?
Send.
Big Guy: No. I usually don’t.
Big Guy: Most of the time I use flights to catch up on sleep. But I can’t do that on a commercial plane because I don’t know who’s around. Who might want to kill me.
I hold my breath.
Me: You slept on our first plane ride together.
Send.
Big Guy: I know. It was a first.
Big Guy: Something about you made me feel safe.
I press the phone to my chest and swallow.
Me: I know the feeling.
Send.
Big Guy: Did you have fun last night?
Me: I did. The bouquet of flowers was a nice touch.
Send.
Big Guy: I can’t have your friends thinking poorly of me.
Me: Pretty sure the eight hundred dollars of sushi you had delivered took care of that.
Send.
Big Guy: I’m glad you had a good night, Angel.
Big Guy: Did you enjoy your dinner?
I look down at the mostly empty platters on the coffee table.
Me: I did. Thank you for ordering it.
Send.
Big Guy: Next year I’ll be home for Thanksgiving, and we can host some of my family if you’d like.
My eyes lock on the last bite of pumpkin pie.
I’ve never really cared about the holiday before, but the idea of celebrating it with Dominic twists something inside my chest.
Me: Okay.
Send.
Big Guy: How is it so fucking hot here?
Me: Baby.
Send
Me: But feel free to bring some of that warm weather back home with you.
Send.
Home.
Fuck.
Big Guy: Heading into Mexico. Should just be one more night.
Me: Surprised they let you in and out of the country.
Send.
Big Guy: Let me. Cute.
Me: How’s Mexico?
Send.
Big Guy: A waste of time. I’ll be home tomorrow. Keep your calendar open. We’re going to dinner.
CHAPTER 47
Val
“Ready?” Rob is standing next to the front door.
I blow out a breath and nod my head. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Rob chuckles, but my hands are shaking as I pull my jacket on over my dress.
It’s just dinner with my husband, but he was gone for over a week, and I’m unbelievably nervous about seeing him again.
We’ve texted every day and have even talked on the phone, and not just the major meltdown I had that one night. So it’s not like I haven’t heard from him since he left. It’s just…
I step into the elevator behind Rob and lean against the wall.
My ears pop as we descend, and privately, to myself, I can admit the biggest problem about today.
Today is my birthday.
I don’t think Dominic knows. He hasn’t said anything.
And I don’t need him to. Honestly, I usually do everything I can to forget my birthday, so I certainly won’t be bringing it up. But…
I glance down at my outfit and bite back a sigh.
Dom didn’t tell me anything about the restaurant, but he’s always dressed nicely, so I decided to try and match his vibe. And secretly, I dressed as though I’m going to a fancy birthday dinner. Because even if I’m the only one who knows, I can pretend that’s what we’re going out for. And I want to feel the part.
I’ll never admit I had Dom in mind when I selected this navy-blue dress. It’s a wrap dress, my favorite type, but the off-the-shoulder style is not my usual choice. My whole neck and chest are on display—accented with my small gold heart necklace and earrings—but the long sleeves make the dress feel modest. And instead of my usual wedges, I opted for knee-high brown boots—with a heel.
The boots are made of fake leather, which makes them comfortable and allows them to stretch over my calves.
I just did a high ponytail for my hair because not only could I not decide on a style, but curling my thick hair takes forever and I wasted all my time trying on every dress in the closet.
During our brief walk to the car waiting out front, I’m thankful I added my coat. The knee-length tan peacoat hides my dress completely, but it helps block out some of the chill.
They weren’t lying when they named this the Windy City. I don’t know if it’s the lake or what, but the air seems bitter cold today.
From the back seat of the SUV, I watch as the city passes my window. It’s not that late, but this time of year means the sun set hours ago. So it’s up to the streetlights and glowing signs to light the world around us.
November twenty-ninth. Just another day.
The driver steers to the right and stops at the curb in front of a small restaurant.
The establishment’s windows are tinted, so you can’t see in, but a dark red awning over the door proclaims it as Enzo’s.
