_Dominic_"What the fuck?" I opened the car door and jumped out."Wait!" I heard Joseph's voice from a distance, but I was already halfway there, and Isabella had turned to look at the commotion behind them.When she saw me, her face paled."Dominic, what are you doing here?" She walked towards me, but I didn't pay her any attention. Instead, I brushed past her and went straight for the blonde man.When he realized I was coming for him, I had already landed a fist on his jaw.He fell backward on the pavement and groaned in pain."What the hell, man?" he yelled while clasping onto his bleeding mouth."Have you gone crazy?" Isabella shouted from behind me. I stopped and turned to her, an inch from her face."You want to see crazy?" I asked, and she cowered away like the little rat she was."Are you screwing him?" I shouted at her, and she shook her head violently."No, it's not like that.""Leave her alone, man. It's not what you think," Blondie said, but Isabella cut in between us."Sh
_Isabella_Dominic's words that we would finish the conversation later left shivers on my skin. There were not shivers from fear, but of what awaited ahead that had resulted from the spanking when he was carrying me. I threw myself on the bed and giggled. Maybe I should have wiggled more, just to get him ruffled up enough. Damn, I could feel my face flush at the thought of being spanked again. No, no, no. I needed to get a hold of my horses. I needed to accept that my relationship with Dominic might never be a real one. Yes, there were times when emotions ran out of control, but that was about it. A few moments of weakness. Which meant he had been right when he said I was there to repay his money and nothing else. But I could have sworn that sometimes he looked at me like I was good enough to eat. I looked at the watch on my wrist. He had been gone for over an hour and, I have to admit
_Isabella_"How do you know about Cesare?" I asked him, but soon remembered. Jason must have told him."What did you do to him for him to tell you about Cesare?"He smiled...under the circumstances."Why, didn't you want me to find out that I have a son?"A what? The conversation was moving like a runaway train."Wait, where did you get that crazy idea from?" I asked, shocked that he would have jumped to that conclusion."You can no longer deny me my son, Isabella.""I never denied you anything.""Then why not tell me about him?""Because it was none of your business.""None of my business? The fact that I have a son is none of my business?""Cesare is not your son, Dominic. You would have known this if you had just asked for once and stopped assuming things.""I... I" he was actually out of words. I felt sorry for him, but he needed to hear the truth."How is that even possible if he's four years old?" he asked."It's a long story," I exhaled.He sat quietly for a second, then laughed
_Isabella_My wails quieted down into silent sobs.Then it was all silent again.The minutes painfully dragged on as the light outside faded away to give way to the blackness, which matched my mood perfectly.Dominic finally moved from his chair and stood above me."Let's go," he said."Where to?" I asked, anxiety coiling in my insides."To fetch your son."He turned and walked towards the door. Instantly, I jumped out of bed and walked behind him."Do you mean that?" I said, wiping my face with my hands.He stopped abruptly, and I bumped into him."Would you rather he continued to live in that run-down house when we have a home for him?""No," I answered, guilt eating me up.He looked down at my feet."Don't tell me you're coming with me barefoot."I turned and found my shoes at the foot of the bed. We descended the stairs in awkward silence, which was broken by Joseph appearing from the lounge area with a solemn expression on his face. "Shit." I hear Dominic hissed under his breat
_DominicIsabella hesitated to tell me but I kept quiet and didn't push her. I knew it without her saying a word. He must have threatened her and Cesare. What a bloody coward. I will kill him for this. I could feel my blood begin to boil. I could not believe that my brother, Eric could have been capable of doing what Isabella was accusing him of. But what reason did she have for lying about him of all people? What angered me the most was that the bastard had been inside my house, drinking my liquor and laughing like he had no care in the world. "Are you okay?" I heard Isabella say next to me. "I'm fine, tell me about the letter you found," I said, my mind the farthest thing from the letter. I was already calculating my next move and how I was going to punish him. Brother or no brother. "It's not important," she said and I looked at her for a long time. "If you say so." I got up and rearranged my clothes, knowing full well that the conversation was not over. But at least she
_DominicSomething was off. That was the only reason I could hear my burner phone vibrating through my pants, just as I was about to make a last turn and enter my parent's estate. I let the phone ring on, but I couldn't shake the lingering feeling that it could be an emergency. The burner vibrated again, and I parked off the road and took it out.“Yes?”“There's been a breach at the house.” Joseph's voice said. “What? I just left the house about fifteen minutes ago. I'm on my way back." "You don't have to come here, we can handle it."“I'm coming,” I said, pressed the ignition button, and made a turn. I hit the steering wheel with my fist. Fuck.Joseph was my right hand, but this was some shit even for him. Someone with balls the size of the Atlantic walked into my home and started shooting at everyone right under their noses. I dialed his number, but there was no answer. I pressed hard on the gas pedal. If there was any police patrol tonight, I would have a hard time explain
_IsabellaThe door opened and I risked a glance up. If I was going to die, at least I should see the face of the man who was going to do it. I deserved that much. Joseph appeared from the door with a puzzled look, I don't think I had ever been that excited and relieved to see him. He moved slowly inside the room, checking behind the door, and indicated for me to stand from the tub. I must have zoned out from the situation because I was brought back to reality by the snapping of his fingers in front of my face. Like a damsel caught in the headlights, I came alive, and the dread of the situation that we were in. "Okay," I said and stood up. Joseph looked at Cesare, who was still hunched inside the bathtub threw a black cloth at me, and nodded towards Cesare. Another cloth. His boss must have them stocked up, as I remembered my encounter with the black cloth when I was taken to my wedding. I covered Cesare's head and got out of the tub, picked him up, and he in turn responded by
_DominicThe first rays of the sun cut through the tall buildings. I walked Yuri to the door of the apartment. The atmosphere was somber. Once Yuri was gone. I headed to the small kitchen and poured myself a cup of the terrible brew I had found in there. One sip and I couldn't stand the taste. To hell with it. I threw the paper cup in the sink took my keys and left the building.The situation had taken a more sinister turn. I jumped inside the car and moved it from its stationary position. I was going to finish what I had started and maybe, just maybe, I might understand a few things. "Dominic?" My mother screamed from behind me as I went from room to room, looking for her son."Where's he?" I asked. If he was not home. She was the first person to know where he could be hiding his sorry behind. "Who? Dominic, are you drunk, who are you looking for?"She tightened her silky bathrobe against her slim frame. Sleep was still visible through her not-yet-pampered face. The wrinkles be
_Isabella As Kate got dressed and modelled out of the room, I folded my arms and stared at Dominic. “What the hell is going on here?” I asked, we were both surprised at my tone. “It's nothing you should concern yourself about. There is nothing between me and her. I don't know how she got in here.” That was saying a lot for someone who seemed to know everything all the time. “You're right, you don't seem to know anything lately.” I blindly threw my weapon, and it seemed to land on its mark as he blinked twice before looking at me again. Maybe he had been right all along. Dominic was losing focus, and this was no place to raise kids. Everyone did as they pleased, any time. “The stress is unhealthy for the baby. You've had a long night and need some rest. IL sort this out.” He said as he recovered from his mini shock. Even though I didn't believe that he was thinking about the baby at that instant, I got worried as well. I felt my cheeks getting heated. I was embarras
_Isabella The mansion felt strange after my time in the cabin. Although I hadn't been there long, the tension between Dominic and me was palpable. After he picked us up from Nick's truck, he'd only asked if we were hurt before retreating to his study. I spent time with the chef, who made me a delicious steak that I devoured in seconds. If anyone noticed the tension between Dominic and me, they were too polite to mention it. "Don't mind him, he's under a lot of pressure," Joseph said from nowhere, tension must have been written all over my body, as he was speaking from behind me. "I know." there was no point in pretending that I hadn't been thinking about him. Embarrassed that I'd been caught, I got up from my chair and headed to the sink to put my plate. "You bring warmth to this place," Joseph said, He was leaning against the wall. "I thought I brought trouble," I replied, taking my sit to sip on my juice. I realized with a pang that my dietary needs had been changed; the ch
_Isabella Nick took a sharp left, switched off the pickups lights, and then we zigzagged into a country road, before coming to a stop behind an overgrown hedge. I looked behind us and our pursuers were nowhere to be seen. “How do you know they won’t find us here?” now that the adrenaline was wearing off, I felt numb and shaken. “Because not many people know about this off-ramp, it has saved me many times before.” There was a story there, but maybe later. He turned off the engine and opened his door. “Where are you going?” I asked, wanting some fresh air myself. “To take a leak, that was close.” He shut his door with a bang. I opened the passenger door and jumped out. The night was still, without a leaf rustling out of place, but the midnight air still stung. I wrapped my arms around myself and stood against the body of the pick-up. “The stars look more bright from here than anywhere else.” I said, enjoying the gulps of the fresh air, making the most of the gift that
_Dominic Once everyone had settled, the drinks started flowing and so did the conversation. Even Ludo's speaking volume had gone up another annoying inch higher. When a waiter surfaced from the back to take out orders, I could tell Ludo was well on his way from the slap he gave the young woman's behind. "As I was saying, Montego, the shipments of girls is increasing..." I fet my body tense up at the mention of the flesh business, but I made a mental note to keep my body relaxed."Which means more money for us." I said enthusiastically and took my glass to wash off the bad taste in my mouth. "Yes, it's more money." He said with a more sombre mood than I expected from him."Then why do you sound worried?" I asked and Ludo leaned back on his chair with a worried expression on his face. "The quality of girls has been dropping in recent months, it seems like someone has been taking a dip into our business." into his business he meant. I didn't want my name tainted with such."Mm..."
_Dominic Everything was set, and the chef was already at the back preparing the meal of the evening, but Ludo was nowhere to be seen. “Where is that fat bastard?” I asked Joseph, who shrugged in response. I was getting agitated with each passing second. “He will be here, calm down. Everything is ready to go.” He finally said when he noticed that I was blowing air like an angry bull. Plus, I hated the fact that he was calm, while I felt like a boiling kettle. “Stop checking your watch, it will not make the time to move any faster.” He said looking at my wristwatch, I hadn't even been aware that I was checking it. We were at the restaurant that Ludo had picked. It was empty because we had booked the entire place for the night. And now the idiot was running late. The bell on the door ding donged, to signal that someone had arrived. I fought the edge to turn my head and look, but once the door closed, I heard the sound of a women's shoes clicking against the floor. Now I had
_IsabellaNick's truck was as reliable as him. The pickup drove steadily out of the woods and towards the city.Although I watched the woods slowly fade away and the scenery change into a flat road that stretched on for miles, my mind was a few miles ahead of us, playing different scenes of what sort of outcome was going to come out from the trip. Nick kept on stealing glances in my direction, and I was very much aware of his glances, but I kept quiet. In the short while that I had known him, I knew he wanted to say something, maybe ask about the money. So I thought I would make it easier on him.“You must be wondering where I got all that money?” I said, my voice feeling croaky. “No.” he answered softly. I sat up straighter and looked at him. “What do you mean, no, I've seen the way you have been looking at me since we left the cabin.”“I'm worried about you, Isabella.” He said, looking at me before focusing on the road again. “Why?” I asked, and as soon as the words left my mo
_Isabella After Dominic and his entourage left the cabin. I prepared Cesare for his bath and sat In the lounge long after he had gone to bed. I still hadn't said anything to Dominic about Nick. And I was starting to worry that I should have said something. The way he ran out when he saw that I had a visitor was suspicious. I went into the bed and opened the only closet in the room. The bag of money was still where I had left it. If someone knew about the money…if the wrong person knew, I would be in deep trouble. Was Nick the wrong person? What if he was an investigator who knew about Dominic's extra activities on the side? I was getting tired of the uncertainties, I was going to get answers. I pulled the closest sweater and looked around the room. There was still the bag that came with my change of clothes. I took the clothes out and stacked money inside the bag before putting some clothes back. But that didn't seem like a wise idea, so I took the clothes and money out a
_Dominic"What are you planning?" Joseph asked me the minute we were safely alone in the car."Nothing fancy, just dinner with Ludo. I might even get dessert depending on my mood later on.""The only problem is that you hate the man." he pointed out the obvious."Yes, I do. It's just dinner, I'm not asking him to be my life partner." at the mention of his name my phone beeped, and I showed Joseph the message."Prepare for dinner, I need you looking your best sharp self tonight." I typed some keys on my phone, dinner plans were already in motion."Any particular plan I should be made aware of? I don't want to embarrass you in front of polite company." He looked at me with a slight smile.I liked this side of Joseph, the other sides were debatable."You catch on fast. The usual plan will be fine." I said and he nodded. "You need to get the chef in town on time, tell him he has a gig, only his best steak will do for tonight.""What about his mashed potatoes?" Joseph asked and we both sta
_DominicWe were back at the house and Joseph was standing by the doorway and wouldn’t stop looking at me. “How long are you going to play this game? Just tell her the full story.” He said softly.I paused and gave him my full attention,“I can't dump everything on her, not until I have tied up all the loose ends”. I stood up to put away the files I’d been using.When he didn’t say anything, I added, “If you have anything else, please, I have a meeting and you are welcome to join me.” I winked at him.“She seemed preoccupied, like she was expecting anyone but me.” He finally spoke up.A chuckle passed my lips at his words.“She is in a cabin in the woods, who can she possibly be meeting, the rabbits and foxes?” I asked him.“Are you going to leave her without protection all alone with your son?”“She has protection.” I sighed, Joseph was not going to let this one go until he got whatever he came for.“Not from what I saw and what Vini told me.”“Vini? what does Vini have anything to d