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DOMINIC

What the fuck could be happening now?

Dominic believed he saw other people outside before Claudia's horrified cry pierced his soul and ignited his wicked impulses. When he killed the guards in the kitchen, that part awakened, fueling his need to dominate, destroy, and protect what was his.

To protect what was mine.

Damn right.

He threw the door open in a panic. Dominic examined the darkness. Claudia wasn't there, but her bags were on the bench next to it. And there were others—two in the yard, one down the road, which one was Vinny, and somebody else in the woods.

A silhouette scuttled across the driveway and stopped at the foot of the steps.

The streetlight illuminated the visitor in the twilight.

In a matter of seconds, a tall woman emerged. Her thick golden hair fell over her shoulders. Her strapless halter revealed her toned abdomen and curved cleavage.

He has hated Irene.

She swayed. Her hemline continued to rise until a sliver of white lace between her thighs caught his eye.

"Nicco," Irene purred as her red lips parted and her tongue twisted. "I believe the time has come to give our families what they want and marry."

"You're joking, right?" Dominic said, disgusted by her remark. "I see you've brought company."

She gave a vapid smile. "Of course, baby. Miss me?"

"Hell no."

She frowned. "That's harsh."

"I don't care." Dominic locked his gaze on her. He was taller than Irene, but they weren't as close as Claudia and him. "Why are you here?"

"Isn't it obvious? I came to see if you changed your mind about me," she said, peering over his shoulder. "I'm sure you've thought about how we'd be if we were together. Your pathetic contract with Claudia ended."

Dominic squinted and snorted. "I'm not looking for a relationship with you. For what you did, you deserve to burn in hell forever."

"Ouch," she moaned, touching her chest. "I can't believe you haven't moved on from that incident. It was more than ten years ago."

"You came onto me after Amelia died. I'll never forgive you for rubbing your filthy hands on me before I buried her. It's one reason I hate you."

Irene smirked. "Well, at least our arranged marriage wasn't up to you, and our families will finally make you understand."

"I like watching them waste their time because I know they will fail. I'd never marry someone like you." He inhaled and tightened his palms as he surveyed the yard. "So, who are you here with?"

"My brother. Matteo."

Dominic paused as the revelation hit him.

"He's busy, so it's just us two," she went on.

"And whoever is in the woods," he noted, referring to the person she had left out.

Irene ran her hand down the crease between her breasts and stomach. "That's Edoardo. Our other brother enjoys watching."

"Good." Dominic scanned her as she walked toward the center column. "I have something to show everybody."

"You do?" She slithered up to him. "I'm excited about where this is going."

Dominic gripped Irene's neck. The woman cracked a broad grin and whispered, "I like it rough."

"Great, because things are about to get very rough. And really painful."

Irene's eyes widened. He spun around and launched her over his car. The woman was initially frightened, but she quickly got up after smacking the Mercedes hood.

Grasping the column, Dominic stopped next to Irene. He lowered his chin as she gasped on her knees.

A man emerged from behind the parked SUV and struck Dominic.

He ran forward and pulled the car's grille apart.

Dominic turned to avoid his attacker, tossing the grille over his shoulder.

Matteo fell once Dominic leaped to his feet. Gravel showered the air.

"I don't have time for this," he remarked, tightening his grasp on his just-terminated and soon-to-be-dead guard.

He whacked Matteo in the center of his chest.

Matteo's mouth and eyes opened. A gurgling of water escaped.

Dominic smiled and withdrew his arm. Moonlight illuminated the silver handle and deep red blade around the opponent's neck. "A pocketknife."

Matteo's body shook like the waves of an ocean. When Dominic took a step back, his opponent's chain fell off his neck, and he opened the knife.

He stabbed Matteo in the side, making him bleed excessively.

"You bastard!"

"Fuck you!" Dominic snarled. "I found my mole."

Matteo snickered at him stupidly. "You thought I was the only one? I'm honored."

"I have you all now, you piece of shit!" Dominic grabbed Matteo by the collar and hurled him toward a large boulder, hitting the back of his head. "Where is Claudia?"

Matteo gasped. "You think I'll tell you? Is that really what you want to know? You pathetic son of a bitch! I'll end you!"

Dominic saw Irene slowly moving while muttering, "Until you beg us to let you live, we're going to slice your balls off and give them to your ass, Nicco. We'll give your dick to that whore, then—"

Dominic instantly snapped her brother's neck and turned to throw the dagger at Irene. It pierced the air like a bullet and landed on its target. The knife slammed into her chest, ending her rant. Her shrieks hurt his ears. She joined Matteo in the afterlife after plunging.

He grabbed the knife from her chest and secured it around his neck. It hurt to wear, but not as much as what he planned to do to the other one who trespassed on his property.

Dominic wandered into the forest.

His anger was quickly aroused when he found the other lowlife. Edoardo pinned Claudia. Her feet sank as she pounded his sides.

He seized the douche and flung him away, sending Edoardo's back crashing into a tree. Dominic first noticed her big eyes and wounded face, then her torn shirt and loose jeans.

As Dominic comprehended what Edoardo was doing, his emotions surged.

He turned to face his assailant, eager to kill him.

He choked Edoardo, then threw him into a nearby gutter.

The loud crack scared the birds into flight.

Dominic smacked Edoardo, but Edoardo got up and pushed him away. As dust fell off Edoardo's shoulders, the shape of his body became less clear. When he came at him like a rocket, Dominic jumped, letting his dark side take over.

Dominic spun, arms lifted, body tensing, and his wrath swelling and expanding.

Death was coming.

The light breeze swayed and stretched the branches toward them, and then Edoardo stepped forward. The two landed into sharp shrubs.

Like competitors in a cage match, they both went down on the ground and stared at each other while throwing fists. Killing Edoardo wasn't the only motivation.

For touching Claudia, it was about destroying him.

Dominic seethed with rage.

His fist hit Edoardo's jaw, snapping his head back. He instantly regained his balance. He charged toward Dominic again, but Dominic grabbed him and led them to the opposite bank of trees. Then Edoardo twisted at the last second, and they both flew toward Claudia's direction.

Dominic stood still as Claudia fell onto her back, scooping up muck and twigs. He was hit full force.

The air thickened as dirt fell from above. They stopped after digging several feet of trenches.

"Oh, you're going to get it," Edoardo said. "When I'm finished with you, I'll wrap up what I started with that beautiful piece of ass over there. With Claudia."

Edoardo jumped off of Dominic and ran toward her. Dominic got up to go after him, but Vinny ran out of the woods and struck the man on the right side.

Vinny led Edoardo across the clearing and impaled him on a lamppost.

However, comprehending this, he stopped. Perhaps that was just a natural part of their character. Vinny left Edoardo for Dominic to handle.

Dominic beamed as he made a beeline for them. He paused, confronting Edoardo.

He shook and screamed.

Dominic pierced him with the blade like lightning. His fist slammed into Edoardo's chest, cutting through the muscle that was keeping the man alive.

His curled arm revealed a long, red bone. Dominic yanked Edoardo's spine out and watched him fall like a piece of folded tissue. He shuddered and stopped moving within a second, breathing slower than usual.

Dominic stepped back in silence, his body throbbing from the fight and the yearning that always seemed to follow. Sex. He didn't need or want it like he usually did.

He needed Claudia, who was much more important to him.

When he turned around to look at her, lover hit him harder than anything Edoardo could throw at him. Getting to her was all he could think about.

"Slow down, boss." Vinny's voice was hardly loud.

Dominic either didn't understand Vinny or didn't care as he went closer to Claudia. He was about to—Claudia stepped back, her hands trembling over her tattered shirt. She panicked as he neared. She stumbled by them, looking from Vinny to Dominic, and he remembered he was still carrying a bloodied knife, scaring her.

A wish to console her swiftly replaced the desire to kiss her. As if it were too late, she ran toward the mansion.

He nodded toward Vinny and went after her.

Dominic, cursing himself, quickly traced Claudia, finding her on her knees near the edge of the trees. Street lamps flickered around thick limbs.

He stopped and backed away. "Dia?"

She exhaled, still shaken. "I think I might have lost a little piece of my mind back there," she said.

Dominic lowered himself, almost touching her but not touching. "I understand."

"But that's who you are," she continued. "You handle threats."

"Yeah." His limbs jerked as he moved closer. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Claudia leaned back and stretched her legs. "Outlaws." She laughed. "It's finally sinking in. You're a criminal."

"I prefer the term hitman," Vinny said behind them. "But any name works. Nobody wants to mess with us."

"Because we take them down," Dominic proclaimed.

Claudia stumbled.

Vinny grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up before she hurt herself.

"My guard won't hurt you." Dominic's voice was unusually calm as he released her shoulders. "He's only trying to help you."

She relaxed but said nothing.

Vinny put his hands in his jeans pockets and leaned on the soles of his feet. "Outlaw also sounds good."

"Yeah," she said quietly, then loudly, "you guys are like the friendly neighborhood mafia watch around here."

Vinny laughed.

Dominic said, "No. We're the opposite."

She stared at both of them. "This is what I signed up for three weeks ago? Alright, then."

"Our way of life isn't so bad," Vinny remarked, looking her in the eye. "You've got Mr. Beretta. The boss will take good care of you."

Dominic's eyes narrowed as he turned to face her. "Remember when I said things were about to get crazier? It did, but this is not what I was referring to."

"That's fucked up," she mumbled.

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Dominic said, laughing lightly.

Claudia's composure surprised him. He was clearly underestimating her. As they slowly wandered back to the estate, she was strangely calm. He half-expected her to panic and run again. He watched her, and with her arms around her body, making her look smaller and weaker than she was, Claudia made him want to bring her closer despite his better judgment.

He took in what Vinny had brought them in front of the house. "Didn't I tell you something a little more... discreet?"

Vinny laughed as he ran his palm across the hood of a silver BMW.

"You needed something fast. This is the quickest I have. No hidden sensors, either." He gently touched the car. "Hurt my baby, and you'll feel my anger."

"Your car will be fine." Dominic glanced at Claudia.

She stood close to the vehicle and cast occasional glances its way. From her head tilt, Dominic could see her cheek bruise and lower lip swelling in the low light.

He returned his attention to Vinny. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

He veered around and headed inside once Vinny nodded. After quickly securing the items he needed, Dominic returned to find everything in its original state.

But his guard's expression seemed odd.

Dominic asked, "What?"

Vinny whispered, "She hadn't said anything."

"I seriously doubt that will last." Dominic motioned to the Mercedes and the SUV. "Destroy them and burn all of the bodies. I've taken care of everything else."

"Sure thing, boss." Vinny reached out. "Should I meet you somewhere?"

Dominic hesitantly shook Vinny's hand. "Just watch my property and keep my family from following us. I'll get back to you in a few days."

"Sure thing."

Dominic threw the suitcase into the trunk.

When he closed the door, Vinny was there to talk to him. "I don't know what you plan to do with Claudia but keep in mind that she's fragile, Mr. Beretta. She's different from your previous lovers. No one else cared how the Mafia opperates, but she does."

Dominic coughed, then glanced at his guard in understanding. "Did you ever worry about hurting the women you're with?"

Vinny's eyes mirrored his own in the darkness. "Every single day, sir."

"Why bother dating?"

Vinny placed a palm over his heart. "Love keeps me from hurting my partner. And I keep them from being in harm's way."

"You're speaking of romance." Dominic shook his head. "It's incredibly foolish to put one's survival in the hands of trivial emotions."

"But it is naive to think that mafia men have no capacity for emotion," Vinny countered. Then he began his slow walk inside.

Dominic waited.

Had he ever had a chat like this with him? Never. But it did feel good.

Dominic peeked at Claudia after turning. Her hair formed a moonlit cloud around her bowed head.

He carefully neared her. Even at that close range, he could see the dark, reddish bruise across her cheek and the dried blood under her lip.

Shit.

He wanted to murder Edoardo a second time.

She flinched when he reached around her. "I'm just opening the door. That's all."

Dominic let her in, and she huddled in the front seat. He imagined he had a good idea of what he was doing. He only wanted their visas and passports, and then what? It was up to fate.

He mostly hoped he wasn't prolonging her misery.

Dominic gently entered the driver's seat. They needed to go somewhere safe. He looked at Claudia to evaluate her injuries. She needed sleep. His mind was full of "she needs" sentiments.

The car screeched in reverse, kicking up pebbles.

Thankfully, Vinny wasn't there to see it. He faced Claudia once they were on the access road. "You should fasten your seatbelt."

She gradually loosened her arms and fiddled with the seatbelt until it snapped.

"Are you okay? Edoardo..." He hesitated because he was about to explode with anger over what the man had done to her.

Claudia nodded.

She kept quiet as they emerged from the deep forest onto a large highway.

"Where are we going?" she mumbled.

Dominic shifted as he saw her staring at him. "Somewhere we can lie low." He checked the dashboard and saw they had one hour before sunrise.

"Then what?" Her voice grew stronger.

He laughed. "I'm hoping to figure that out eventually."

Claudia returned her attention to the dark road.

Her fists clenched and unclenched. He doubted she knew what she was doing. Her left hand looked severely injured. Broken, chipped, and soiled, the nails had seen better days.

He hated thinking about her condition. Dominic never gave a crap about other women's worries or the dangers they faced daily, but he did care about Claudia. Fuck. He kept speculating how she felt.

He held the steering wheel with one hand as he came upon a pitch-black street. Reaching over, Dominic gently curled his fingers around her hand, careful not to hurt her.

Claudia stayed firm.

She grasped his hand.

He felt the pressure and returned the favor as he drove in silence, waiting to see what the next day brought.

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