Page 132 of The Dominator

“I’ve never seen you so angry.” He looked down.

“This? This is nothing! Let’s talk about how you tricked me on my high school graduation day to be your “marker” when you knew, you fucking knew what you were really doing! You basically sold me into slavery, Dad.”

Dad winced. Tommy was still seated on the conference table, arms folded while watching me with an unreadable expression.

“I was sold like a piece of chattel,” I continued, rage propelling my words. “I was treated like a piece of property to be pawned off. And then when I escaped because it was fucking unbearable…” I glanced at Tommy, but he made no moves, his expression didn’t change. “What did you do? Did you help me? Did you? No, you called Tommy and told him where to find me. Do you know what I had endured up to that point? Do you have any idea? Do you even care?”

Dad shook his head. “I had no choice. And you were obviously safer here than down in Mexico. Imagine what might’ve happened to you if I hadn’t told him where you were? If you’d gotten nabbed before he found you, maybe escaped a bit longer he wouldn’t have wanted to rescue you from Mexico. Maybe you should’ve just did what you were told and stayed put.”

“That’s enough,” Tommy spat.

My eyes were wide, I was shocked. What kind of twisted logic?

“Listen,” Dad drawled, smiling now, trying to salvage this, his eyes darting to and fro between Tommy and me. “I did what I thought I needed to do. I always did. I just wanted you safe. I was no match for the Ferranos. I knew you’d have a good life here. Tommy is a good man; he’s taking care of you. You’re happy. I never understood why Mom wanted away from this life. I tried to work my way up, but Tom wouldn’t let me in. I thought I was a dead man, that Tom would have me taken out after your mom. But he didn’t. Then when he came for you I thought through you, I dunno, maybe I’d know we were now safe and then I’d be a part of your life. Tommy, I’m available. I’m happy to start at the bottom, I–”

“Get out,” I interrupted.

Dad looked at Tommy beseechingly and stayed perfectly still. There was silence for a beat.

Finally, Tommy notched a brow and jerked his chin up. “You heard her. Nino will walk you out.”

“Uh,” Dad got to his feet, “Can I uh… can I get a lift back home? I don’t have cab fare, I…”

“Get the fuck outta here.” Tommy pointed toward the door. “Nino!” he hollered, making me jump a little.

The door flew open and Nino was in the room, looking ready to crush bones.

“Escort him out,” Tommy said.

Nino hauled my dad out of the room by the scruff while Tommy followed them out into the hall and shut the door.

I don’t think I was breathing.

Then Tommy was back. He shut the door and leaned against it and looked at me while I stared into space. Dad hadn’t even looked back at me on his way out the door. I looked up at Tommy finally, not sure what I’d see.

“Come here, baby,” Tommy said.

I stood slowly and fought the trembling that had started in my chin. No, no more tears. Not for my father. Tommy pulled me against him and kissed the top of my head and held me. The strength of his arms around me, the solidness of his chest, the smell of him, he smelled like home to me now.

He softly started to fill me in on the rest of the conversation he had with my father, and I kept dry eyes throughout the time he talked, my head just resting against his chest.

My father was a fuck up. My father was probably a rebound for my mother who was looking for a different life than what she’d grown up with, but my dad was the wrong choice. Tom Ferrano set out to ruin my dad, to show my mom what a loser he was so she’d come back to him. It didn’t work. It might’ve driven my mom to suicide. Tom Ferrano might have killed my uncle as he had been allegedly obsessed with my mother and the power my uncle wielded. Mom’s family were connected, even more than Tom Ferrano back in those days. I never knew. She told me nothing about her past.

Tommy didn’t have any proof that his father did anything to my mother directly, but Tommy had concerns that a lot of what my father had said was true because he said it fit his Pop’s MO. Tom Sr’s MO was get to someone anyway he could and often that was by hitting them where it hurt and making their life crumble around them.

With my Uncle Joe out of the way he had more power than ever. Tommy said he got off on the power, the control over peoples’ lives. Tommy said his pop loved being a puppet master and his eyes were filled with irony, apology, as he told me that.

“So, what now?” I asked, looking up at him and trying to ignore the way Tommy’s voice changed as he talked about his father’s love for control.

Tommy shook his head. “I’ll dig for more info. I have plans to talk to Bianca’s ma, she’s been an aunt to me. And to talk to Dario and the girls’ mother. Then I’ve got to decide what to do.”

“What do you mean what to do? What can you do?”

Tommy shrugged. “Let’s see where the truth takes us and then I’ll decide.”

I didn’t like the darkness in his eyes at that statement.

I heard a commotion outside the door. Tommy opened it. Nino and another guy I didn’t recognize were rushing toward the door.

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