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Part Twenty-Two
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Bound by Blood Part Twenty-Three
Dominic stood in his bathroom, and shaved before getting dressed in another black suit. He’d sat vigil the whole night, remembering odd things about Conrad. They were mostly horrific memories but there were a few good ones, mostly after Hunter and Gage were born and then also Inara.Mist had descended over the countryside. There was no wind, and the mist hung like a bad omen. Dominic’s SUV drove behind the hearse towards the city and the church where the funeral mass would be held.Thunder cracked in the distance and Dominic wondered if it was heaven rejoicing at the death of his father or if it was hell, celebrating that he had finally joined their ranks. Conrad Vittori had breathed his last breath on Friday night.He was surrounded by a sea of grim faces, and he wished the mourners would come to an end so they could finally go inside and get the day over with. It was still early but he knew that he wouldn’t get much rest, not until he’d met with everyone that had a seat of power.“M
Bound by Blood Part Twenty-Four
The study’s door opened, and Eris sauntered inside followed closely by Faro. They both had dark hair but their eyes were more hazel than Dominic’s dark brown eyes. They were identical twins other than the small cut below Faro’s left eye.Faro had been twelve when he got that cut and Dominic had been fourteen. They’d always gone to private school and only the best was acceptable. The memory slammed into Dominic’s mind and he wondered what the significance of it was.**“Did your mommy think you’re an Egyptian pharaoh, huh, Faro?” He was being taunted by a group of 7th graders and Dominic had burst through the crowd of children gathered around them.“Don’t touch him.” Dominic’s growl could be heard as the crowd quieted.“And if it isn’t Faro’s older sister, Dominic,” the boy taunted again.He held Faro by the shirt with one hand and he pulled his other arm back and slammed his fist into Faro’s face. The golden pinky ring had cut the skin below Faro’s eye and a few droplets of blood ran d
Bound by Blood Part Twenty-Five
Faro followed Dominic back into his office and he looked at the almost identical scar on Faro’s eyebrow. It wasn’t identical anymore, not after Conrad’s beating in the warehouse. Faro rubbed over the scar absentmindedly and it took Dominic back in time.** Dominic had been summoned to the basement but this time Faro had joined him. His eye was slightly swollen, a blue tinge had appeared just above the cut. They each sat on a wooden chair and waited as Faro fidgeted.Dominic hated that his brother had been marked, that he’d been too late to step in. Dominic was the eldest and therefore he was their protector, their caretaker, and the one that would lead them one day.“Why does Father want us in the basement?” Faro’s eyes held no fear and Dominic wished that he could spare him this.“To talk,” Dominic assured him.Conrad arrived twenty minutes later and Faro straightened in his chair when Dominic did. He sat down in his own chair and watched the two boys closely. Dominic didn’t have a m
Bound by Blood Part Twenty-Six
Dominic sat in his study as the sun dipped below the horizon. He’d promised Isadora that he would see her after the funeral. On his desk was a letter, his name written on the front in Conrad’s handwriting.On Dominic’s eighteenth birthday, Conrad had gifted him a hotel. The hotel had been run down, bug infested and not in the best part of the city. It had been his only source of income since Conrad had denied him access to his trust fund until his twenty-first birthday.It was the only thing that had belonged only to him. Over the years, Dominic had diverted his interests to restaurants, night clubs, two investment firms and more hotels and had effectively created a blueprint for the legitimate side of the family businesses.Eris and Faro had also each received a hotel that they’d sold to Dominic and invested that money in their own businesses, namely tech and media firms. Gage had always been different. He didn’t give a fuck what their father wanted from him. He too had sold his hote
Bound by Blood Part Twenty-Seven
Two weeks went by far too quickly. Dominic spent a week with Isadora at VA, Vittori Advertising, formerly known as Winsome Ads. Isadora hadn’t mentioned their fight and Dominic kept his word, he wouldn’t call her a whore again.Working side by side with Isadora was easier than Dominic thought it would be. She had a lot of ideas, good ideas and he could see why she’d wanted to work in advertising so badly. It was the first time in his life that he’d spent that much time with a woman he was fucking.With Isadora things were different, he wasn’t just fucking her, he loved her and that caused more guilt on his side. His life with her was comfortable and the reality of his situation came crashing down on him when Lorenzo called and set a meeting for that Friday afternoon, two weeks after the funeral.“I’ll be late tonight,” Dominic said as he kissed Isadora’s shoulder. They were still in bed and the sun hadn’t even risen yet.“Famiglia business?” Isadora asked him as she pulled the covers
Bound by Blood Part Twenty-Eight
Dominic sat in his office with the blinds closed. He was browsing through pages and pages of engagement rings. It was harder than he thought it would be. He didn’t know the woman, hadn’t a clue as to what she liked or disliked.She’d have to wear the ring for the rest of her life and it would always represent the vows he’d make. Dominic didn’t do anything half-assed and this ring would be both beautiful and meaningful to him. He didn’t really care if she loved it or not.Every ring he saw he imagined on Isadora’s hand and finally he closed the laptop and rubbed his hands over his face. He couldn’t fucking do it. How the fuck was he supposed to choose a ring for another woman?Dominic picked up his phone from his desk and dialed a number. He sighed and closed his eyes as he leaned back against his seat and listened to the line ring.“Dominic,” she said.“I need your help,” Dominic said and shook his head. He knew she was smiling, enjoying the moment because he had never asked her help
Bound by Blood Part Twenty-Nine
Dominic was led into an interrogation room with a one-way mirror on one side and dirty light brown wall on the other side. The two agents sat down across from him with a standard issue brown folder with what he assumed was the Zhang murder case.He’d left Hudson waiting in the reception area along with Austin while Ethan and Cooper stayed with the SUV. He wasn’t planning on being there for longer than an hour but he’d humor the two agents.“This interview will be recorded as per our procedures,” Haverley said and switched the video camera on. “This is Special Agent Christopher Haverley and Special Agent Warren Halden conducting an interview with Dominic Rose Vittori, a person of interest in the homicide of Zhang Wei.”Haverley opened the folder and looked Dominic in the eye. “What was your relationship with Zhang Wei?”Dominic looked the agent in the eye, his expression stoic but he remained silent. The seconds ticked by but Dominic remained quiet and kept looking at the two agents.“
Bound by Blood Part Thirty
Rafaella closed her eyes, her hand holding the bow poised over the strings of the violin. She took a deep breath, and then the bow touched the strings and she lost herself in the music. Her fingers pressed against the strings as she let the bow rub against them. The melody was soulful, melancholic even.She felt the familiar stirring in her soul as the notes flew from the wood and string in her hands, and she swayed as she took another deep breath. The burden on her shoulders felt so heavy that she hadn’t been able to play anything light for days.As the final note died down, she opened her eyes and looked at her father standing in the doorway. He seemed pensive and almost apologetic. She knew what was coming. She probably shouldn’t have eavesdropped on him, but she had, and now she knew her fate.“You play beautifully, as always, Rafaella.”“Thank you, Father.”She placed her violin and bow back into its case and snapped the lid shut, locking it in place and turned back to look at he
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Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-Eight
The sniper teams had dealt with the men sent to the house so swiftly that Rafaella hadn’t even known it had happened. Hudson had given them the all clear and she’d asked about Dominic first.“He’s fine, Rafi, I spoke to Cooper, they’re all fine,” Hudson said.“Then this is the perfect time for us to leave,” she said.“You got what you need?” Hudson asked her.“Yes. Let’s go before they know we’re gone,” Rafaella said.Hudson led Rafaella out of the house and into the garage. He took the smaller SUV and they sped away from the house. The other men were busy dealing with the dead bodies and the women were all safely in their quarters.“You did everything I asked?”Hudson looked at Rafaella in the rearview mirror. “I did.” She nodded her head. “Are you sure you want to do this, Rafi?”“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life, Hudson,” she said as her hands cradled her pregnant stomach.“Dominic’s not going to be happy about this.” She knew Hudson was right. Dominic’s temper was lege
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-Seven
Twenty minutes later, Cooper slowed the SUV down and Gage looked at Dominic. “See you soon, brother.” The door opened and Gage was out of the car. Cooper sped up again the moment the door closed and Dominic could feel everything inside him settle.Tonight everything would end, one way or another.Cooper pulled the SUV up at the specified warehouse. Three men stood outside the door and watched them warily. Their hands reached for their weapons as the doors opened and Dominic climbed out.“Mr. Vittori is waiting inside,” one man said.The other two men stepped closer to them and started patting them down. Dominic had expected it and neither he nor Cooper were armed. Ethan had been somewhere on a rooftop since the sun set with his sniper rifle and he’d start taking the men out when Gage gave him the signal.Dominic walked into the warehouse first, Cooper following close behind him. He hadn’t liked the idea of bringing any of his men with him, but they’d argued and Cooper had told him tha
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-Six
Sniper teams were waiting at the compound, Agron’s house and Dominic’s country house. Each woman had three men with her and security at Dominic’s house had been doubled. Austin and Hudson were in strategic places on the ground floor of the house.Dominic sat in the rear while Cooper drove the SUV and Gage sat next to Dominic. He had his head resting on the headrest with his eyes closed and Dominic had no idea how he remained so impassive.The trip to the warehouse took them forty-five minutes and Dominic was itching for a fight. He wanted to feel his knuckles split open on Rocco’s face and see the fucking bastard bleed. He could even feel it in the tightening of his groin.“I get it now,” Dominic said.Gage opened his eyes and turned to look at him. “Get what?”Dominic chuckled. “I get why Hudson gets aroused by blood.”“Fuck,” Cooper muttered from the front and Gage laughed.“I’ve always been aroused by it. I just hide it better than Hudson,” Gage said.“There’s a difference between
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-Five
Gage’s eyes snapped open as a door opened on the far side of the building. He’d been in the ceiling for two days, waiting for the perfect moment. The plan was a fucking good one, even he could admit it.They’d spent three weeks going over the details. For the first time in their history, three crime families were working together to take out the godfather of la famiglia. Rocco Vittori had surrounded himself with soldiers.It was a good thing that he was afraid, because Gage was pissed off and his patience was wearing thin. He wanted Rocco’s blood so much that he could taste and smell it. The women were at the country house, being watched by their men.Dominic would take Cooper with him, Lev would take Sasha and Agron would have Granit with him. Gage worked alone, he didn’t need back-up, he was first in line, back-up and the middle man.Gage closed his eyes again and listened intently as footsteps neared the office. “All I’m saying is, tonight’s meeting with Dominic will end in blood.”
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-Four
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Dominic growled. The documents in front of him told the same story Faro just did, but he didn’t want to believe it. He was pissed that Eris kept his problems to himself.Dominic would have helped him, he’d always help all of them, blood was blood and they were bound by it. They all had the middle name ‘Rose’ for a reason. It was their mother’s maiden name and for them it was as strong as the blood that made them family.Faro sat in the chair in front of his desk, the proof spread out over his desk. Fucking Eris. “Sihana found it. She said he was broke, Dominic. He had a few grand in his account, the others were empty.”“Drugs. That’s the only explanation,” Dominic said, sounding a lot calmer. No matter how angry he felt now, Eris would always remain his brother, even in death. He should’ve seen the signs of Eris’s freefalling earlier, but he hadn’t, Faro had.He also blamed himself. If his relationship with Eris had been better, he might have bee
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-Three
Sihana woke up to light kisses on her bare shoulder. She shifted onto her back and looked at Faro’s face. His hair was tousled and she could see it was still dark out. “What’s wrong?” Her voice was thick from sleep and she cleared her throat.“Why did you leave?” Faro’s voice was soft but he sounded wide awake.“Because you were being an asshole and I wanted to sleep peacefully,” Sihana said and turned away from him.Faro moved up right against her. “You know how I feel about waking up without you. It’s our bed for a reason.”“Then don’t be an asshole to me right before you go to sleep,” she said.“I wasn’t being an asshole. I just disagreed with you,” Faro said.“The truth is still the truth, you’re not a bookkeeper, I am. Eris was skimming money from the strip clubs. I showed you the proof,” Sihana said. “You have to tell Dominic.”“Fuck, Sihana. Do you have any idea what that’s going to do to him?”Faro’s arm snaked over her hip and his hand cradled her stomach. She felt sorry for
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-Two
Inara clamped her hand over her mouth and retreated away from the kitchen. Her heart was thudding loudly in her chest. She’d woken up half an hour earlier and pulled on her robe, wondering where Agron was.He never left without waking her and she’d gone downstairs for some water when she’d overheard something that might get her killed. She took a deep breath and quietly made her way upstairs again and slid back into bed.By the time Agron joined her, she had her eyes closed and her heart had stopped betraying her. She tried not to stiffen when his arm encircled her waist and his mouth nuzzled her neck. She felt like an idiot. Agron had played her, had played her whole family and it was all her fault.She must have fallen asleep at some point because the sun’s rays woke her and Agron was still wrapped around her. She hated the fact that she’d given herself to him willingly. Hated that she’d fallen in love with him.She understood the saying better now, there really was a fine line betw
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty-One
The trial had dragged on for two more weeks and Dominic was glad that the end was in sight. The jury was deliberating the outcome but he wasn’t focused on that anymore. They were back in the city and headed to Rafaella’s gynecologist.Hudson had accompanied her to her other appointments while he was stuck in court and they’d decided to wait until he could be with her to find out the genders of their babies. Dominic couldn’t remember a time he’d been more excited about something.“Mrs. Vittori?” The nurse called out their name, and Dominic stood up to help Rafaella to her feet.Dominic had his hand on the small of Rafaella’s back as the nurse led them down a hallway and into an examination room. She took Rafaella’s blood pressure and made notes on the chart for the doctor.“You can get comfortable on the examination bed with your shirt up. Dr. Rehmeyer will be in shortly,” the nurse said and left the room.“After this trial, I think we should go away for a bit, someplace you can relax,
Bound by Blood Part One Hundred and Twenty
Isadora had taken the stand and sworn to tell the whole truth. Dominic’s rage flared up again the moment she opened her mouth and started lying. He knew Halden had coached her. The things she was testifying to hadn’t been made public knowledge and he’d never said a word to her about it.It took all his self-control not to lash out at her or call her a lying whore in front of the whole courtroom. She was a woman scorned but Dominic could see himself wrapping his hands around her neck and choking the life out of her. He could almost understand Hudson’s fascination with it.Mitchelson stood up with a stoic look on his face. “Miss Watkins, would you say that you were close to Mr. Vittori during your relationship?”“Yes,” Isadora said. “We were very close.”“Mr. Vittori shared things with you, personal things?”Isadora shifted in her seat. “Yes.”“Can you tell the court what the name of Vittori Ads’ sister company in Japan is named?”Isadora blinked and Dominic’s lips twitched but he fough
