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DOMINIC

Dominic didn't realize he was asleep until he awoke later that night.

When he opened his eyes, all of his senses came to life. As he breathed in, the smell of Claudia rushed over him. Watermelon. He developed a sweet tooth—and a desire for her.

He went to see how she was doing in the middle of the night and ended up sleeping next to her. After watching Matteo and his brother for a while, Dominic didn't want her to leave his sight. This time, they didn't do anything interesting, so he decided to call it a night and go home.

Claudia had turned over onto her other side, her body curving into his as he thought about her going back to her apartment. Her beautiful, curvy rear was against his groin.

It didn't take long for his manhood to spring to life.

He anticipated that, and the way he arranged his arm around her waist and held her tight surprised him. Unless she snatched it and curled his arm around her in the dark, it was his fault that they were in this position.

Well, shit.

The fact that he liked to snuggle with her made things even worse. They were cuddling again? Did we kiss earlier? He couldn't remember, but he knew this wasn't going to work out.

To be more specific, they were spooning.

That was something he hadn't done in days with her.

He was in the middle of an embrace and didn't see any reason to pull away. The fact that Claudia intended to leave him hurt the warm cells in his body. The sheer magnitude of this idea nearly overwhelmed him.

He lifted an arm, ran his fingers through his hair, and slowly sat up. He scratched his ankle and looked around the pitch-black room without any sense of direction. Then he heard it—his cell phone ringing all the way downstairs.

Dominic muttered a curse under his breath and slowly got out of bed. He bent and slid his jeans on while being careful not to wake Claudia. Assuming it wasn't Giovanni, there were only two possible explanations.

Either Vinny or Alessandro, whom he did not want to see. Like ever.

Even though his brother had no way to find out where Gio was, Dominic's worry grew quickly. He groaned as he took his cell phone from his office and looked at the number.

"Do I even want to know why you are calling me at . . ." He turned and looked at the clock on the wall. "Four in the morning?"

There was a brief pause before Rocco, his father's bodyguard, spoke into the receiver. "We're parked at the gate."

Dominic became quiet and still. "Thanks for the heads up."

Before he hung up, Rocco didn't say anything. Dominic looked at the phone quietly for a few seconds. There was a cold-blooded deal established.

The men could only have come this late for one reason.

It had something to do with Claudia.

There was going to be a confrontation, and it was likely going to be an unpleasant one.

Dominic calmly placed his phone on the desk and looked around the room. It was mostly empty, like the rest of his house. One sofa. A TV with a screen that isn't as big. Shelves full of books about history, which most people find boring. Stacks of wooden figurines stood high.

When did he first move in?

Since he was twenty-two—for the last twelve years this has been home.

He walked out of the room, locked the door behind him, and headed toward the foyer. He didn't wait for the guards to rap on the door before waking up Claudia.

She would be better off sleeping than listening to this.

The cold he felt in the office started to spread out like a sheet of ice.

When he left his father's house the other day, he knew that nobody would leave his scheme alone, so a part of him was not completely taken aback by this visit. He figured it would come back to harm him where it hurt the most: the ass.

He let the guards in while holding the door open. "You couldn't have waited until I had breakfast first?"

The younger of the two, Alfonso, gave Rocco a look that Dominic did not like at all. He always got along with Alfonso.

Dominic liked him more than the other guards, but this guard was uncomfortable. The air around them almost oozed suspicion.

"Have there been any issues with Ms. Marcello?" asked Rocco.

Dominic said, "Define 'issues'," and Alfonso's eyes widened in response. However, Rocco was the one to respond.

"Since this scheme of yours is now out in the open, has Claudia Marcello shown any reason she is a threat?"

"No." The response was blunt but honest. He understood the importance of their concerns about her. She promised that she wouldn't go to the authorities and tell them anything private. And he was sure she wouldn't because he persuaded her not to.

Dominic peered over his shoulder at Alfonso as they entered the kitchen.

The pockmarked bastard was becoming a problem. "Why right now when neither of you have been in contact with me since I got home?"

Rocco took a quick peek down the hallway. "We thought you would have taken care of her by now." He looked at Dominic with sharp eyes. "Is she reliable?"

Dominic folded his arms. "Are you implying that she would share her knowledge with the world?"

The guard nodded.

Dominic shook his head as he remembered how much Claudia loved reality TV but rarely checked her social media accounts. "She doesn't know anything that could be incriminating."

"So, you're sure Ms. Marcello will not discuss all that she has seen?" Alfonso inquired.

Dominic sucked in a deep breath and let it out forcibly. "No. Claudia didn't just sign a contract to pretend we were together; she'd also signed an NDA. She is trustworthy."

Rocco responded, "Good. That's what we were hoping for. Your father has realized that there is still time to get things back in order, whatever it is she has learned since you two began your little charade."

This was bad. Nothing good. Dominic wouldn't have it any other way; neither of them would touch Claudia's head. It was time to stop making small talk. "I'm assuming he sent you guys here to deal with her?"

"Yes." Rocco's eyes widened as they landed on the stack of filthy dishes in the sink. "She is to be taken care of. Those are our orders."

Dominic stood in the hallway leading up to the stairs, blocking the door to the living room. And to Claudia. "So, how does this plan work?"

He thought Alfonso's anxious pacing and his eyes darting around the room resembled those of a terrified squirrel. "Even if your father doesn't approve of what you did, he has met with Lorenzo Guarini, and an arrangement has been reached."

"Just like that?"

Rocco smiled tightly.

It seemed that the man's graying temple had grown since Dominic had last seen him. "Even though Ms. Marcello doesn't pose a big security risk right now, the Mafia can't let any information get out to the public."

Dominic said, "Huh," and the room grew cooler as the word spread to every part of his body. "So you've decided to let a rival family silence her? Why bother coming all this way if everyone knows she's with me? I am as cold-blooded as they come."

Alfonso visibly swallowed. "Don't you have feelings for this woman? Both Giovanni and Alessandro believe that you're in love with her."

Dominic declared evenly, "That is true," giving each man a cold, deliberate gaze. "But that doesn't mean I can't kill her by myself if I need to."

"You love her." Alfonso's words came out as a shock.

Dominic didn't have to think too much about his response. "Indeed." And that is when he realized he loved her and wasn't just telling them what they wanted.

"Your emotions are too high, Nicco," Rocco said, his cheeks becoming darker. "You should let somebody else handle her."

"That wouldn't change the significance she holds for me. I would still love Claudia even after her death. My dad probably just wants to ensure the secrecy of what we're doing."

Rocco narrowed his gaze. "Well, you brought her into this world."

Dominic smirked. "But I never thought it would come to this."

"Are you sure about that?" Alfonso questioned. "She knew what she was doing when she signed your contract."

Dominic glared viciously at them. "Let's get right to the point. Is that why you're here, to kill her?"

"Yes," answered Rocco.

"That is quite messed up, wouldn't you agree?"

"It's funny that you should say that since it is ironic." Alfonso's chin tilted upward. "Don't you want to protect your family from outside threats?"

Dominic stretched his arms out and nodded slowly.

"Or are you going to finish her off?" Alfonso sneered. "I know how attached you are to her. We witnessed it firsthand. Perhaps you want to have one last fling with her." His disgusted gaze did nothing for Dominic. "If that's the case, then get it over with."

"I appreciate the suggestion."

Rocco cleared his throat. "It's not personal. In any event, she won't experience anything. Her family will learn of her terrible death before she can react."

"And killing her will guarantee that the truth of the underworld remains a secret, and blah, blah bullshit?" Dominic snickered. "You guys have no idea. People from all over have heard of us. There is no way around that."

"Enough of this."

Alfonso's hand went to his hip—to his service gun.

Despite being fast and quick-witted, Dominic could take out their weapons before they could even blink. But he had to think carefully about what to do next to avoid having a bullet get through and hurt Claudia.

"Tell us where she is," Rocco ordered, his eyes glaring at him.

Dominic imagined her in the guest room, sleeping peacefully in one of his shirts with her hair spread out on the covers. She had no idea that her fate had already been decided. No one was left to guard her now.

He smiled and slid to one side.

Casting a look at Rocco, the man stepped forward, keeping his eyes trained on Dominic. He made no such reservation. Dominic had already decided what he would do while he was in the office. Perhaps he'd known before then. This was a moot point.

He acted before Rocco could even think about it.

Behind him, Dominic reached out and grabbed Rocco's arm, turning him around so that his back was to the other man. He rammed his knee into Rocco's back while grabbing a handful of his hair.

The loud noise echoed around the kitchen.

Alfonso's grunt of surprise and pain was drowned out by the sound of the gun hitting the floor.

With a quick jerk of his arm, Dominic captured Rocco's neck. The bodyguard fell to the ground. No muscle twitching happened. Because of his tolerance, the man died quickly.

Dominic's eyes met Alfonso's.

He was in for a painfully drawn-out end.

Alfonso's hand shook as he raised the service gun to fire, but Dominic darted out of the way. As he retreated, he continued to fire. Dominic dove and charged forward, swiping his arm broadly to knock the gun out of Alfonso's hand.

Without a gun, Dominic was defenseless. But he certainly wasn't dangerous without a firearm. Alfonso, cornered, crashed against the counter.

His voice cracked, and his arrogant stance gave way to raw terror. "Don't. Please."

"I'm sorry. I mean no disrespect. You won't even notice it's happening." Dominic paused. "And I'm pretty sure the news of your untimely death will travel faster than a gossiping grandma."

His hand slithered out, and Alfonso's mouth opened wide. The man's scream faded to gurgling as Dominic crushed his windpipe under his palm. He let go and watched as Alfonso slipped off the counter, his hands clutching at his throat and his eyes wide.

Dominic knelt, stepping over the man's twisted legs. "I may have embellished the truth a bit. Your inevitable demise won't be quick. And it will hurt like hell."

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