Page 45 of A Seed Of Peril

“Do you have enemies in Russia?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

Seriously, Dominic.

“Yeah, that’s reassuring.”

“I promise, Lilith, no foreign enemies are on our radar. Like I said, until I hear from my contacts, it’s a waiting game.” He brought my hand to his lips, kissing it. “I’m sorry I lied to you, and I’m sorry for what happened today. Whoever they are, we’re ontheirradar, and I’ll find out why. They made a grave mistake today.”

“Did Hector have foreign enemies?”

He kissed my hand again, exhaustion in his eyes, but it wasn’t the tired kind. Hector hid Fabio from them until he struck.Was it the same in this case with the shooting? Those two strangers? Were those guys connected to the shooters?Thoughts swirled.

“We’re exhausting that avenue, too.”

“I don’t suppose you could let me in on those findings, too?” His eyes flitted down to the bed as he breathed in through his nose, his chest expanding before he released his tense breath. “Dominic, look at me.” When he did, I pulled his hand toward me, giving him a pointed look. “It’s clear to me you don’t want me as your consigliere, but I am carrying our child, and because of that, I don’t expect to be a spectator on the sidelines anymore and definitely not after being fucking shot at. I was ready to go to war then, and I’m ready now because it wasn’t just mine and our son’s lives on the line.” I blew out a short, steadied breath at the memory. “You didn’t see and hear how scared Katrina was. The panic in our brothers’ eyes, no matter how much they fought to hide it.” I hardened my stare. “No one pulls shit like that against us, against me and our son, and gets to go back home and drink and laugh about it at the fucking round table.”

Dominic took me in for a few heartbeats before asking, “When did you turn from a mouse to a lion,Bellissima?”

I freed my hand from his and rested it on Katrina’s sleeping form.

“When you gave my life purpose.” I looked down at Katrina, her arms around me, one of her hands on my belly. My son moved against that spot. I smiled, growing more tired.

Dominic rolled over, fixing the sheets and comforter to his liking. A peaceful silence took over until his low, gravelly voice hugged me in its warmth and seduction in the darkness.

“For the record,amore mia, I never said no.”

I lifted my head and looked up at him. His eyes were closed.

“You’ll be sworn in from your acting position as consigliere after our son is born. I want him there to witness it.”

A small, breathy chuckle escaped me. “Dominic, he won’t remember that.”

“I’ll have security save the footage.”

I smiled cheekily. “Of course.”

He smiled smugly.

“Goodnight,amore mio.”

“Goodnight,amore mia.”

I waited two heartbeats.

“What was the vote?”

Dominic waited two heartbeats.

“It was unanimous.”

Thursday, February 9, 2017

My son letme sleep in this morning, and after him going wild in my belly last night, I took full advantage.

Everyone’s fear and anxiety over the firefight three days ago disappeared. Now, a lot of us were outright livid—mainly Dominic. He expected either a call back from Andre, Guido, or even both of them sometime this week, hoping for the rest of the puzzle pieces for this mess. He wanted all the pieces before bringing me into the fold, and I guessed I was okay with that, but I still expected to be given more than mere breadcrumbs. Dominic still refused to let me all the way into the business. I knew it wasn’t to be cruel or secretive and that women weren’t normally included so deep into that side of this life to begin with, but Iwascarrying our son, and with all the risks endured involving both of us, I was irritated by the walls still in my way.

I finished lathering my hair with conditioner and stood under the shower head, rinsing my hair. The warm water soothed my aching back, hips, and breasts. With each week that passed, pain developed in new places, and increased aches possessed me everywhere else. It was worth it, though.

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