Power and Possession(107)

As he swung the car back out into the street, he had a quick twinge of alarm.

What if he had to collect Rosie from a place like this someday?

Jesus fuck.

He shot a glance at Nicole sleeping peacefully and softly sighed. Who would have thought?

Not that he’d given a flying fuck about the time he’d spent in clubs like Raoul’s. Of course, he hadn’t given a flying fuck about much of anything in those days. Conversely, he had to admit to a rare sense of prudery when it came to Nicole. Maybe it was just that he knew his sister wouldn’t approve, not to mention her husband would probably kill the little rat bastard in bed with her. Bottom line though, Nicole hadn’t lived the life he had; she’d had a normal childhood. Raoul’s club was way the hell too hard core for her.

She wasn’t ready for a place like that.

He drove slowly, so Nicole’s head wouldn’t slide off the head rest. He took the steep ramp into the underground garage beneath the apartment building even more slowly, to keep her from slipping down the seat. But the low roar of the powerful engine in the confined space echoed off the walls in a loud, pulsating rumble.

Nicole woke up. “Where are we?” she asked in a wispy voice, like she was a thousand miles away.

“Almost at the apartment. And don’t you dare raise your voice when we get there because the children are sleeping.” He pulled into his parking space.

“He’s like you, Nicky.” Her voice was husky, half asleep.

“Jeez, don’t say that.” Dominic turned off the ignition. “That’s the last thing I want to hear.”

She turned her head to look at him, her eyes the same blue as his, clearer now as though returning to the world was a possibility. “I don’t mean the sex club.” She raised her hand in a small dismissive gesture. “I mean Rafe is smart and funny and he’s good to me.”

Dominic took a deep breath. “Nicole, honey, you’re so damned young. You’ll find all kinds of guys who’ll be good to you. Pick someone else.” He reached over and unsnapped her seat belt. “Now, come on. I’m taking you upstairs.” Dominic owned the building on the Île Saint-Louis, his apartment the entire top floor, the view of Notre Dame stunning. “Katherine will find some pajamas for you. And no one has to know about this. I told Katherine it was a nightclub. You ripped your dress and one of the dancers found you a robe. Unless you can think of something better.”

She shook her head. “That’s fine. Kate won’t say anything to Mom, will she?”

“There’s nothing to say. That particular nightclub was too rough. I brought you home. End of story.”

“Thanks, Nicky. I mean for not telling anyone.”

“You better thank me for getting you out of that fucking bed. Your boyfriend is bad news. Take my word for it, Nicole. You don’t know. I do. Okay?”

“Okay, Nicky.” But she’d noticed the faint vibration of the ringer on her cell phone in her small embroidered purse that had slid off the console and lay next to her hip. She looked away and smiled.

It was Rafe calling.

She knew.


Rafe slipped his phone in his pants pocket and looked up.

Simon was standing in the doorway, flanked by two bouncers who, in turn, were flanked by two of Rafe’s men. Carlos wasn’t taking any chances.

“You saw?” Rafe asked.

“Yeah, I was parked across the street. You staying or going?”

Rafe grinned. “What do you think?”

“A week ago I would have said staying. Now?” Simon shrugged and smiled. “Even the bookies won’t give you odds.”

Rafe reached for his shoes. “We’ll see.”

Simon snorted. “Fucking dreamer.”

“Speaking of dreams, we have to wake up some people,” Rafe muttered, sliding his shoes on. “I need a slew of presents by morning.”





Chapter 25


Once Nicole was in bed, Dominic kissed Kate and said, “I have a few calls to make. Go back to sleep. I’ll be in shortly.”

“You’re not calling Melanie are you?”

“No. There’s no reason for her to know about this. It was a stupid mistake”—Dominic rolled his eyes—“one of many for Nicole. I don’t want my sister upset. She thinks her children are sweet, innocent, and can do no wrong.”

“Like you with our children.”

“Yeah, well, ours are.” He smiled. “You made them for me, why wouldn’t they be perfect?”

“Sure, butter me up, but someday,” Kate said with a sliver of a nod, “you’re going to have to stop giving them everything they want.”