Page 84 of Vicious Vows

"No, not let him go but maybe we show the rest of the leaders in our world exactly what happens to those who try and get one over on you, and on Dominic. Something as monumental as the death of the great Antonio Lochley should be witnessed by everyone."

A smile slithered up Kumar's face, "I agree, and what a great way to solidify our ongoing business together. What do you say, Dominic, you think you'll be able to throw an event together for us?"

I nodded my head once before looking back at my father who was now being led away by one of Kumar's men.

This would be one of the last times I'd see him, the next time I'd be among an audience waiting for his death.

CHAPTER 34

Dominic

The drive back to the house was thick with tension, at least on my part. Lionel was beyond excited. In fact, no one would ever guess that he'd just played a major part in having his father set up to be murdered. I knew this was the end of what my plans would come to, but still, the reality of the entire situation had me uneasy.

This was really happening; I was about to take over my father's empire. All I had to do was make sure the party went over without a hitch.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You look like your dog just died." Lionel reached over and pushed my shoulder, breaking me out of my daydreams.

"I don't see how he could've done it. I just can't understand why our father would have taken the chance of you seeing him just to steal from Kumar. In his world, Kumar is low-level. What did he get out of it?" My mind raced a million miles a minute as I tried to put together my father's motives.

"What does it matter what he was thinking? All that you need to worry about is he didn't get away with it. Soon enough, everyone is going to see who really runs our family, and it's not our father." Lionel looked me deep in my eyes, and for the first time since I saw him out of the hospital, I could see the drive burning behind his. If there was anyone who'd known just how much getting into my father's seat meant to me, it was my brother. I should be grateful that I have someone like him on my team. Instead, all I can do is question it.

"You're right; it's over now anyway. Kumar will end his life at the party; no one will have the chance to question his motives." I nodded my head once and settled back deeper into the leather seats of my luxury sedan.

"That's what I want to see. Just let me take care of it. Let me work this like I always do." Lionel smacked my thigh before pulling his hand up and coughing into his palm.

"You need to get yourself back to the hospital before you keel over." I shook my head.

"The hell I will; I'm not missing this to sit up in some hospital. In fact, I'm going to find a way to celebrate." He chuckled.

"Let me guess, you've got a sweet girl waiting somewhere to help you with that celebration." I joked with Lionel, but I'm surprised to see his face drop instead of laughing along with me.

"No, we all can't be you, Dominic. I don't have my woman waiting in bed for me."

"You know any one of the women at the house would be more than happy to spend some time with you."

"Yeah, but those are your women; they do it because you tell them to. If I'm going to have a woman, I want her to be my own. I'm not worried about it though; I've got more than enough time. Don't worry, I'm sure I'm going to have the one girl everyone wants; it's already written in the stars." He throws his head back and sighs dramatically.

I ride back the rest of the way to the house in silence.

At least outwardly. Instead of talking more with my brother about what I was thinking, I just let the worries and anxiety build up inside of me until it felt like I was about to burst.

I barely recognized my own home when Yuri pulled to a stop in front of it.

"You good?" I quickly asked Lionel, desperate to get out of the confined space.

"Yeah, I'm straight. Go on back to Faye; I'm sure she's waiting up for you." Lionel nodded.

I was out of the car without so much as a grunt in his direction. He was right; I wanted to be near Faye again. If everything went as planned, this would be the end of her having to put on a show as well. The only person we had to play our parts for was my father; if he were dead, she'd be off the hook.

Dread pooled in my gut as I made my way through the wide marble hallways toward my room. If she found out that I didn't need her any longer, would she try to leave? Could I let her go?

I pushed open the door to my room to find Faye sitting in my chair with her feet curled up under her body and a book in her hands, looking like she absolutely belonged there.

"Dominic?" She questioned as I beelined straight for her.

Just hearing her call out for me was enough to siphon some of the anxiety out of my body. Peace, she was my peace.

I quickly stripped out of my jacket and shirt before I picked her up from the chair. She dropped the book on the ground and wrapped her legs around me.

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