Page 11 of Sacrifice

The anger explodes inside me as I transfer everything to a new savings fund for her. Once that’s done, I wipe all traces of Carlos and Aribella Tremaine away. AribellaDomingoemerges from the dark web rich and able to care for herself.

Forging a fake marriage license, I smirk. Sure, it’s not real and won’t hold up in a court of law, but there won’t be a reason for any of that. Besides, I own this town. No one is going to fucking tellmeno.

Transferring half my money into the fund as well, I know that she will be taken care of if anything happens. Aribella may think I’m a beast, but I did her a favor. Her brother traded her to me for a debt. She’s better off without him.

“Miss Terrington, did you get everything needed for the animal in the basement?” I ask my housekeeper.

“Yes, Mr. Domingo. Espresso is well taken care of and Mossimo is feeding him now.” She raises an eyebrow at me as if to tell me she isn’t done.

“Ms. Tremaine’s medication is on the table with a glass of water.”

“It’s Mrs. Domingo, thank you.”

Miss Terrington laughs, but I ignore it. “Can you make her favorite dish, coq au vin?” Did I research every last thing about this woman? Bet your damn ass I did. Instagram is a beautiful thing. She had so many pictures of food but I found one with a heart around the dish with the caption stating, “my favorite dish in the whole world.”

“Of course I can. You finally give me something worthy of my talents.” She pats my shoulder and turns toward the pantry. “If your father knew that you insisted on eating out every night, he would turn over in his grave.”

If the old bat wasn’t loyal to me, I’d have killed her years ago for her smart mouth. Instead, I pay her an exuberant salary to stick around and cause me grief. Looking at the medicine, I wonder if Aribella is going to be difficult when I give it to her.

Looking up, I see Miss Terrington smiling at me. “Did you call the...”

With a wave of her hand, she dismisses me. “Son, I’ve been a housekeeper since before you were born. I know the duties. As far as the girl is concerned, I have a team coming to pamper her.” She rolls her eyes at me and I can’t help but laugh.

“The hairdresser will be here in twenty minutes. After that, the manicurist is coming to do her nails and toes.”

Miss Terrington looks at her watch and whistles. “We have a waxer and makeup artist coming in as well. Once they are done pamperingMs. Domingo, the stylist will take over. Is there anything else you’d like me to handle?”

I’ve irked my housekeeper, and I can’t help but find it a smidgen hilarious. She is usually easygoing, but she’s looking at me like I’d better say no to her question.

“Thank you,” is all I say before I grab the medicine and water.

“You’renotwelcome. Now get out of my kitchen.”

As I walk up the stairs, I debate with myself about how to approach Aribella about her medicine. When I get to the landing, I notice her door is ajar. What the fuck?

Walking into her bedroom, I put the medicine and water down on the bedside table before I canvass the room. It’s empty, but the windows are still locked. Besides, the alarm would have gone off if she had tried getting out of the house that way.

Pulling my cell phone out of my pants pocket, I pull up the security camera feed. Aribella is walking toward the door that leads downstairs. Sighing, I know exactly where she’s headed—the basement. Smart. She’s too damn smart and cunning for her own good. Hell, there are more words I could use, but I don’t have time to think about them.

I tap Mossimo’s name and send a text.

Me: Aribella is headed your way. Keep her out of the basement.

Shit, I don’t think Mossimo will let her in, but then again, Aribella isverycharming.

Mossimo: You got it, Sir.

Would he stop her physically? My gut churns at that idea.

Me: Don’t touch her.

Mossimo: Wouldn’t dream of it.

He knows I’ll kill him if he does. Fuck, I’m so damn turned on again by her boldness and tenacity to disobey me. I hold back a moan as I make my way down to the basement from the north side of the house.

Images of Aribella in the sex dungeon, tied to the wall as I fuck her, fill my mind. My dick throbs so hard, I stop mid-step. Raised voices cause the thought to vanish as I come around the corner.

Mossimo is standing in front of the door, arms crossed over his chest and towering over Aribella.Mi reinais pointing her finger at him, demanding to see her damn cat. Shit, she’s a damn fireball trying to knock down a ten-ton wall.

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