Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 163(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
5
DOMINIC
Damn it all. I didn't mean for it to go that far. At all.
I had it in my mind to kiss her, just to show her my intent, but she responded to me so eagerly that there was no way I could have stopped myself. Something about Daisy makes me a fool, and in every other circumstance, that would piss me off. Not with her, though. I'll be a fool if it means I get to taste that sweet mouth and even sweeter pussy.
I all but have to carry her out of the restaurant down to the car, and she moves like her limbs are exceedingly heavy as she folds herself into the car. Her expression, though, is content. Relaxed, even. I wonder if Daisy has allowed herself to relax at all since this shit with Carlo started. God, she's so sweet, so beautiful, how could anyone wish her ill?
"Here." I hand her my suit jacket, and she covers up with it like a blanket in the passenger seat, the jacket swallowing her. "Rest. It's a long drive, and I think I've worn you out."
It's impossible to keep the note of pride out of my voice, but she doesn't seem to mind.
The drive is long, and Daisy dozes off as I expected. I don't even turn on the radio, content to listen to the sounds of the tires on the asphalt and her breathing beside me. This woman does something to my heart that I can't even begin to explain.
Once we're back home, I gently shake her awake and move around the car to open the door for her. The nap seems to have brought her back to her senses, and Daisy keeps glancing at me with a mix of awe and panic, like she can't believe what we just did back at the restaurant. It's cute because she has no idea how much more I have in store for her.
For the rest of the night, I plan to take a long bath with her, make her come at least two more times—one with my fingers and one with my mouth—before going to bed with her beside me. Un-fucking-fortunately, my life rarely goes to plan.
Ashton is waiting for me right inside the foyer, his hands clasped behind his back and his shoulders stiff.
"What is it, Ashton?"
"I've got news about your son, sir." His eyes flicker over to Daisy. "Should we…ah…talk in private?"
I shake my head once. "Daisy is the one in danger. She should hear everything, too."
To Ashton's credit, he doesn't even hesitate at my declaration and launches into the speech about what they've managed to find. "Of course, sir. We finally found out which family was helping Carlo out. It's the Cirilo family, sir."
Fuck. Instinctively, my arm goes around Daisy's shoulders, pulling her closer to me, as if she needs protecting right here and now. The Cirilos are young wannabes, but that inexperience is more often than not more dangerous than the old families. They have little to lose and no interest in making allies. Shoot-first-ask-questions-later types.
Ashton continues, "Our informant tells us that Carlo offered, once he becomes the head of the family, to share the wealth if they agreed to kill Ms. Linden."
Daisy trembles next to me, her hand coming up and clutching my shirt. It makes my heart squeeze.
"Carlo has decided that since you have no intention of allowing him to take over the family, he’ll need backup.”
"What can we do?" Daisy's voice is so quiet that I'm half-certain I imagined it. She sounds so small and helpless, and the part of me that is still the beast from my youth wants to rip Carlo's heart from his chest with my bare hands. It might kill me to hurt my son, but Carlo is so far gone from the boy I raised, I can barely reconcile the two.
"But why go through all this trouble to hurt me?" Daisy asks, voice tremulous. "I didn't steal from him. I didn't!"
"Of course not, Ms. Linden, but it appears that Carlo owes the Cirilo family a significant amount of gambling debt, and they bought his story about you stealing all his money hook, line, and sinker. I don't know what he thinks will happen if they find you and discover that he lied and that he's actually broke, but it seems like Carlo is panicking. He's in the mindset where he's just worried about surviving day to day. It makes him erratic and dangerous. Reckless."
"Thank you, Ashton," I tell my right hand, who nods curtly. "Keep searching for him. He's hiding somewhere, and we will find him."
Ashton nods again and leaves Daisy and me alone. It's impossible not to feel her trembling, and I tighten my grip on her shoulders, turning her to face me. "You're safe, sweet girl. There are plenty of men here guarding the estate, and no one gets in and out of here unnoticed. Carlo is not getting within an inch of you."