Page 69 of The Dominator

My face must’ve said, “Duh, what?” because a familiar voice chimed in, Tommy’s father, coming into the kitchen.

“Ah, my little dove, that wasn’t common knowledge yet.”

“Oh?” Lisa blushed. “Sorry.” She smiled at her husband and shrugged.

He leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head.

“Good morning, Athena,” he greeted.

He was dressed in a suit, as per what seemed to be the usual. He poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Mornin’,” I said and my voice came out hoarse.

He smiled at me and sat down at the large bistro style table with us.

“Everyone, leave me and Athena for a moment,” he said and everyone left the room, including Nino and Nita who lifted her pan onto another burner and then abandoned the stove.

He put his hand over mine. “Are you okay, dear?”

I nodded, ignoring the urge to yank my hand back.

“Dario tells me you threatened him and Nino with a knife.” He had light in his eyes, a playfulness very much like what I sometimes saw in Tommy’s eyes.

I tried to crack a smile, but I don’t think it looked very genuine.

“Tommy tells me you’re perfect. I can see that. You seem calm and together right now despite probably wanting to run for the hills, screaming.”

If only I could. I thought this, but didn’t speak it.

“You’re a spitfire. Beating up my son, pulling a knife on a guard. I think you’ll fit in here just fine. Dario’s been calling you Tia Tyson. You are a fighter.” He tapped my hand gently and then stood up. “My boy has demons. I think you could be the one to exorcise them.” He smiled expectantly. I didn’t know what to say.

“And your father tells me you can cook like nobody’s business. That’s always a good quality in a wife.” He winked at me.

I opened my mouth, wanting to speak but his eyes narrowed just slightly, and I decided against it. I clamped my mouth shut. He looked pleased. It was almost as if I’d just passed a test. I frowned. What a bizarre thing to say right now and what…the …heck?

He stood. “Your husband-to-be should be here any minute. We’ll all have breakfast.”

He left the room.

A moment later Nino returned, saying, “If you’d like to get dressed I can escort you to a guest room.”

I followed him, carrying the bag he’d brought me, mulling over the fact that my father must’ve had a conversation recently with Thomas Ferrano, one where he talked about me at length in a way that would result in my dad talking about my hobbies, my talents. That sort of conversation didn’t typically come into play when someone was threatening you – no, that sort of conversation came with bargaining with someone, trying to sales pitch them. Did my father sales pitch me to Thomas Ferrano?

I couldn’t think about this right now; I had to go back out there and try to act normal around these people. I had to try to act normal because I wasn’t allowed to talk about what had happened this morning, to act as freaked out as I felt. It came crashing down on me, then, that I couldn’t ever confide in anyone about my life without breaking his rules.

I loved my friends, I loved our sessions where we sat and shared information, gossiped, talked hopes, dreams, and uncertainties. How could I not ever share my innermost feelings and what was happening in my life with anyone else? I also thought about Dad and wondered again if he’d had any idea what’d happened to me after I didn’t meet him at the food court in the mall.

It was weird that Nino stood outside the room door while I changed. I reached into my purse and found the basics. I put my hair it in a ponytail, put on some lip gloss, mascara, and eyeliner, and then put my sleeping clothes into the bag and popped the iPhone into the jean skirt pocket and followed him back to the kitchen. There was laughter from a room nearby.

Nino took my bag for me, telling me he’d put it in Tommy’s car, and motioned for me to go ahead through an arched doorway into a dining room.

Tommy was sitting at a large dining room table with Lisa, his father, and Dario. They were all laughing. Platters sat in the middle of the large table filled with breakfast foods. There was enough food to feed ten, rather than five of us.

Tommy’s eyes sparkled as I entered the room and he motioned for me to sit in the empty chair beside him. He looked completely composed, was dressed in a collared dark gray shirt and pair of dark distressed button fly jeans, black motorcycle boots, and he was eating a piece of bacon. I sat beside him and his lips touched my cheek. “You good, baby?” he asked me.

I nodded while shrugging at the same time. “You?”

“Peachy,” he said and wiggled his eyebrows. Then he leaned over and passed me the plate of waffles. He smelled freshly showered and I felt drawn to him, I wanted to climb into his lap, tuck my head under his chin and hold on tight. Of course I didn’t.

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