Salvatore: a Dark Mafia Romance(54)

“She was frantic, as you can imagine.”

“Did they find him?”

I nodded. “It was Dominic, I’m certain. He’d dropped him off at her parent’s house but only after a couple of hours.”

“Is Jacob okay?”

“He’s fine now. He’s only a year and a half, so he couldn’t tell us much. Dropped off with an armful of toys and an ice-cream cone that had melted all over him. He apparently ran into his grandmother’s arms and sobbed, calling for his mom.”

“Why would Dominic do that?”

“To show he could.” That’s what pissed me off the most. This was the one thing that could terrorize Natalie.

“I can’t imagine what Natalie must have felt.”

I nodded. I’d never seen her like I did today, not even when she’d learned Sergio had been killed.

“I’m the only person she trusts, Lucia. I couldn’t abandon her or my nephew.”

“You should have told me.”

“I know.”

“I assumed… I thought she was your... That you were having an affair.” She lowered her lashes, her face growing pink with embarrassment.

“I told you I wouldn’t do that. The contract—”

“It doesn’t say anything about that.”

“I’m not interested in anyone or anything else at the moment, Lucia.” The words at the moment made me pause. I wondered if she noticed them. “Don’t worry. I will still release you from the contract when the time comes.”

She grew quieter. “I’m tired.”

I pulled her tight against my chest and rested my chin on top of her head. “Go to sleep.”



Lucia still slept deeply when I woke early the next morning. Kissing her softly on her forehead, I climbed out of bed and tucked her back in, then left a note, and drove to Dominic’s house. He lived about forty-five minutes away. When I got there, I saw my father’s sedan in the circular driveway. I wondered what he was doing here. If he was meeting with Dominic about the Luke DeMarco situation.

Stop being so fucking paranoid.

If it wasn’t for Lucia, would I give a fuck if Dominic became the next boss? Would I care? Or would I take the opportunity and walk away? Although walking away wasn’t really an option. Nothing in this life came that easy.

I shook it off. I needed to focus. Parking my car behind my father’s, I walked to the front door, my anger from yesterday coming back white-hot as I approached. Lucia had tempered it. She’d cooled the anger, turned it into something else. She’d awakened a different side of me, one I’d tried to keep buried for a very long time. I’d always thought that part of me weak, but it was actually the opposite.

I rang the doorbell. A woman I’d only seen here twice before answered. As soon as she recognized me, I saw the momentary note of panic on her face.

“Mr. Benedetti, was Dominic expecting you?”

“No, it’s a surprise visit.” She seemed nervous and stood blocking the doorway.

“He’s in a meeting, sir, and he said no interruptions.”

“Did he?” I glanced behind her. A woman vacuumed the living room, but apart from that, the house stood still. “Well, I need to see him, so please step aside.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, sir.”

“What’s your name?”

“Patricia, sir.”

“Patricia, I need to see my brother. I need you to step aside.”

“Sir,” she glanced behind her, clearly uncertain what to do. “I’m not supposed to…”

I smiled as wide as I could, feeling the gesture crinkle the corners of my eyes. “I’ll take full responsibility, Patricia. Don’t worry.”

She hesitated, and I took advantage, nudging her out of my way as I entered the house. I went straight for Dominic’s study located around back. A man stood at the door, but my presence clearly surprised him. I just grinned and walked right past him. I’d put my hand on the doorknob before I felt his hand fall on my shoulder.

I gave it a sideways glance, eyebrows raised, before meeting his gaze.

His eyes went wide, and the weight of his hand lessened.

He knew who I was. Good.

“Sir—” he started.

“Step back.”

It took him a moment, and I didn’t wait for him to decide. Instead, I turned the handle and pushed the door open to find Dominic, Roman, and my father sitting around the circular table inside.

They all turned at the interruption, my father and Roman surprised, Dominic furious.

“Isn’t this cozy,” I said, narrowing my eyes on Roman, the man I trusted most out of the three.

“I told you nobody!” Dominic roared to the man who’d stood guard and rose to his feet.