Page 148 of The Dominator

I stared at the ceiling for a long time. After a little while I got up and washed my face and then plugged in the cell phone. As I did that, the house phone rang from my nightstand.

I let it ring three times in case Tommy was going to get it, but when the fourth ring started, I picked it up. “Hello?”

“Tia, Sweetpea?”

My dad.

“Dad?” How did he get this number?”

“You have to help me,” he whispered. “You have to tell the cops what you know about the Ferranos, about what they’ve done.”

“I know nothing, Dad. Nothing. What the hell did you do this for?”

“I needed to save you.”

He sounded like he was crying.

“You needed to save me? Save me? You needed to try to fucking save yourself, Dad. Like always!”

Tommy was coming into the room. His eyes burned with rage as he snatched the phone out of my hand.

“Fuck off, Greg. You’re done fucking with her life, you hear me?” He hung up and pulled me to him.

I was bawling.

He wrapped his arms around me. “Baby, he’s fucked.”

“I know,” I said.

“You don’t. Sit.”

I sat.

“I just got some info. He owed a lot of money to another crew, not one of ours. When he came here, he was hoping to work for me for Ferrano protection against that other crew. Figured if he got in good with us, he’d get off the hook with them. This witness protection bullshit has gotta be his last kick at the can to save his own ass. Pop won’t have to give any orders; Greg’ll be gone fast if he’s in gen-pop because of the shit he’s pulled with people that have zero to do with our family. He was determined to get into this life and he got in with someone else. In over his head.”

The iPhone started to ring and it was an unknown number. Tommy picked it up, listened for a second after saying Hello, then said, “Fuck off, O’Connor.” And ended the call.

“How did he get the stupid iPhone number?”

“That’s what I’d like to fuckin’ know. No one outside of my family has that number. Stupid iPhone?”

“I hate that phone.”

“Pick a new one. I’ll get it for you.”

I gave him a half a smile. Something seemingly insignificant amid a day that was total chaos, but it was sweet.

We polished off most of that extra-large pizza; I was totally starved, ate four pieces, poured another big glass of wine, but then I crashed.

* * *

I woke up alone. It was still night. The lamp was still on, the two wineglasses beside me (Tommy’s empty one and my full one). It was warm, but I drank a few sips of it anyway. I got up and saw his black t-shirt on the floor beside the pizza box. I threw it over my tank top and inhaled it deeply. I was wearing a pair of boy short underwear but the t-shirt covered my booty. I lifted the box to take it to the kitchen and went in search of my fiancé.

I found him sitting in the backyard by the pool in just his boxers, his feet in the water, smoking a joint. I frowned. I’d never seen him do that before.

“Hey.” He looked up at me and looked around, “Fuck, where are your pants? There are guys around.” He picked up his phone from the pavement beside him and dialed, then demanded, “Steer clear of the pool area till I tell you; tell the guys!” He practically barked those orders.

“Sorry.” I spun to head back in the house.

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