Page 11 of Ringo

“Ah, hell.” Dom laced his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he looked up again, there was a soft expression on his face. One I’d never seen on the big bruiser before. If this is what having kids did to a man, I wasn’t really sure I wanted to go down that rabbit hole. Which, I knew, is where I was headed. “I’m sorry, Calista,” he said, sounding very contrite. “But I just can’t stand by and watch you date that one over there.” He nodded in my direction. “He’s fuckin’ Army.” He said that last word like it left a bitter taste in his mouth. “Now, if he were Navy, or even Marine, I might be able to tolerate the thought. Not sayin’ I’d let him date you, just that he might get to live if he tried. But a fuckin’ Bullet Catcher? Ain’t fuckin’ happenin’, baby.”

That really got the giggles from Calista.

“Hey,” I said. “We all know Joe’s are better’n Jarheads.”

The banter between me and Dom seemed to defuse most of the tension. At least, Calista’s shoulders were more relaxed, and she no longer looked like she was afraid of stepping a toe out of line.

“No one said I was dating anyone,” she said primly, but her gaze slid to mine and she ducked her head.

“You’re not old enough to date,” Dom groused. “You’re barely out of your teens.”

“Dad, I’m twenty-one.” Calista smiled but I could see the exact moment she realized she’d called Dom “Dad.” An unsure expression crossed her face before she shut it down, her face going blank.

I gave Dom a hard look, wondering if he’d pick up on it and call her out or simply roll with it. I wasn’t sure either one of those options were great.

To my surprise -- and one I’d gleefully relay to Lemon later -- Dom sucked in a breath, his eyes filling with tears. The big, bad sergeant at arms for one of the most feared group of men in the world, sank to his knees in front of Calista and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face into her abdomen and sobbed like his heart was breaking.

Chapter Six

Calista

No one was more startled than me when I called Dominic “Dad.” It was really only a matter of time before I slipped up anyway. My mother always referred to him as my dad, so I’d always thought of him that way. I’d tried not to let that little girl who desperately wanted a father figure to protect and love her out for anyone to see. Even my mother when she’d been alive. The last thing I’d ever wanted to do was make her feel like she’d failed at giving me something I needed. It was because we were in such a desperate situation that she’d taken up with Borris in the first place. He was much older than my mother and told her he needed a caregiver in his elder days and that in exchange for her being his wife, he’d make sure I had everything I needed. I was beginning to think the reality was something far different, but I wasn’t about to say so. If these men found confirmation of what I suspected, then I’d believe them. But I wasn’t throwing it out there.

Now, Dom was on his knees in front of me, sobbing like his heart was breaking. I wasn’t sure what to do. I threaded one hand through his hair and held him to me, while patting his shoulder with the other and just… let him get it all out. Truth be told, I was close to tears my own damn self.

It took a couple of minutes, but Dom cleared his throat and stood. Picking me up in his arms, he carried me to the chair next to the couch where Ringo still sat, cradling me in his lap. I wasn’t as comfortable with him as I was with Ringo, but I knew I could get there. I didn’t know this man. Had never even seen a picture of him. Mom had said it was for safety reasons. The thought that there was a picture of him and Mom in that compass and I hadn’t known -- that my mom might not have known -- was the thing I clung to. Dom had given her that compass never intending to come back to her, but not wanting her to forget him. Maybe? There were so many questions I had, and I wasn’t sure I was brave enough to ask them.

“This compound is full of men some people in the U.S. government would love to be rid of. Everyone here had done some things that might not have been sanctioned by the government at the time but ordered done just the same.”

“Are you talking about something like… I don’t know. Black Ops?”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I thought that was only in the movies. Like for real.”

Dom grinned down at his daughter. “No, honey. It’s not as glamorous as it is in the movies, but one thing they got right is that, if something goes wrong or they decide what they ordered you to do was wrong, you’re a liability. Not all of us’d be in trouble if anyone knew we were still alive and kickin’, but there are several who’d be hunted down and shot on sight.”

“And by telling me this, do I have to stay here now?”

Again, Dom grinned. “Nope. I’m tellin’ you this because I want you in my life. However I can have you. That means I have to give you my trust to earn yours. So there it is. I just gave you the key to bring us all down.”

I sucked in a breath, shaking my head. “I don’t want that.”

“I know, honey. I did it anyway. Because I’m all in with you. The way I should have been with your mother.”

“But you left her to keep her safe.” I could feel tears pricking my eyes. Only fitting since he’d cried in front of me when I’d have bet my life he wasn’t a man who ever cried in front of others. Hell, he probably didn’t let himself feel emotion strongly enough to have the need to cry.

“Yeah, but I should have known no one could keep her as safe as I could. It’s not a mistake I’m makin’ again. Not with you, Calista.” He glanced up at me, raising an eyebrow. “Which is why, if you stay, I want my enforcer here, Ringo, to claim you.”

I started, pushing away from him slightly. Dom didn’t try to hold me, but kept his arms loosely around me, as if reluctant to let me up. Shaking my head, I gasped out, “You can’t be serious.”

Dom looked from me to Ringo and back. “You tellin’ me you don’t want it to be him? You want to check out some of the other guys here? See if one fits?”

“I don’t need to be claimed by anyone.” It was a token protest at best, and I was woman enough to admit it. At least to myself. The thought of being thrown together with Ringo was more of a turn on than I wanted to admit. I already felt safe with him. Hell, I wanted to have him near more than I wanted Dom. Dom was my father, but the fact was, I’d known Ringo longer. Maybe only a couple minutes longer, but still!

Dom grinned at me. “Well, it’s the only way I’m lettin’ you be near him. He’s interested in you and I’m keeping him honest.”

“Huh?” I looked back at Ringo, who had the biggest shit-eating grin on his face I’d ever seen. “Are the two of you making fun of me?” Because if they were, I’d never forgive them. Or myself for such poor judgment.

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