Page 25 of A Seed Of Peril

“Uh-oh,” he joked.

“Oh, hush,” I playfully spoke. A low laugh rumbled in his chest.

Using his arms for support, Dominic lifted his body, giving me his full attention.

“Go on.”

I cleared my throat, trying to find my words. “As our son grows up… What if he doesn’t want to follow in your footsteps?” I watched Dominic for any sign of what he was thinking. It was no use; he was unreadable. “What if he doesn’t want to deal with this life and instead wants to venture off and do his own thing? Would he have that choice?”

“Lilith, I’ll always support our son, but he’ll be my heir. This life is what he will know and what I will train him for. I don’t want the Rosini legacy to die when I do.”

My throat tightened at the thought of Dominic dying, but I blew a breath and pushed that aside, not surprised by his answer. I could see training our son to fight, to protect himself. He should know self-defense. Hell, I’d even help Dominic teach him about finances and accounting. But the killing… That was a hard line in the sand for me. Yeah, I killed a man, but that man was Fabio, and he needed to be put in the ground. Taking lives under the guise of an oath or as a means to silence someone left an uneasy weight in the pit of my stomach, and Dominic knew this. He grew up desensitized to shit like that, to those dark, gritty layers of life and the horrors of it. I wanted our son to be as happy as he could be and to be safe and prosper to the fullest. I didn’t want him to grow up regretting his choices.

“But what if he wants to do his own thing and go his own path? Would you let him?”

Dominic sighed, moving out from beneath me and sitting on the edge of the bed. Resting his elbows on his knees, he leaned forward, pushing his hands through his hair. I pulled myself up higher against the pillows, rolling onto my side. He kept his head in his hands.

“Lilith, I know if you had your way, we’d live in a quiet neighborhood like this but with a white picket fence, and we would never have to look over our shoulders, but that’s not the life we live, and it’s not the life our son will live. You need to accept that.”

“But why? Why can’t he make his own name for himself out from under your shadow?”

Sighing louder, Dominic sat up straight and tipped his head back, shaking it as he looked back down at his arms now on his knees. I realized my words were probably sort of harsh, but we needed to talk about this. Hash this out now and get on the same page.

“If he wants his own side gig, then whatever, but as I said, my name won’t die with me.”

I couldn’t stop my next words from pouring out.

“God forbid he has a mind of his own. I’d think after the way Hector forced your hand, you wouldn’t do the same to your son.”

Instantly, I regretted saying what should’ve stayed in my head. When Dominic turned enough so he could look at me, the venom in his eyes made my heart race. I sat up slowly, my arm holding me up. Lips pressed in a hard line, he glared, his chest rising and falling. My breaths struggled in my throat. My voice went small.

“Dominic, wait?—”

“I willneverbe like that bastard, and to insinuate that I wouldfathomsuch a hell for my son isn’t a hill you want to climb. This kid’s role is already assigned, and that’s final. I won’t turn him, but Iwillsee to it he stands with me and with this family, upholding our oath and honor.”

“But—”

“You won’t win this one, Lilith.” He turned his back to me, staring ahead. “This conversation is over.” He stood up and walked into the bathroom, grabbing its door handle and slamming the door shut. A minute later, I heard the running of the shower.

I dropped back against the mattress, staring at his pillow, eventually hugging it, burying my nose in it and inhaling his scent. Tears lingered in my eyes. I needed him to understand. Damnit, I needed him to see how forcing his son into a corner could backfire and make our son resent him. Maybe even hate him. What I hated most… I chose to stay here. Dominic told me after we destroyed Fabio that if I desired, I could leave and go back to my old life. I stayed, knowing good and well that the mafia wasn’t for the weak and the scared. And from what I saw in movies and read in books, sons carried on the ways of their fathers and kept the family going. I knew when a boy was born, their future was already written for them. I was naïve to think the rules would change with us.

Just because Dominic wouldn’t allow our son the choice to break free didn’t mean I wouldn’t make it my mission as he got older to fight for him to obtain any semblance of his own individuality.

I quietly shed tears into his pillow, hugging it tighter. My boy kicked, and I smiled into the pillow, bringing my right leg up a little, knee bent.

“I love you,” I whispered, voice shaky.

The shower stopped running, and minutes later, Dominic opened the door and walked around to his side of the bed, getting something off his nightstand. I recognized the thud of his pack of smokes against the wood as he tossed it back on the nightstand. I didn’t hear him move after that, sensing him staring at me.

“Lilith, look at me.” Quietly, I sniffed. “Lilith.”

I shook my head, not wanting him to see me in yet another moment of weakness. Hearing Dominic set down his cigarette and lighter, the mattress dipped, and his presence crept closer. We played tug of war with his pillow, him ultimately winning and reclaiming it. I turned my head to hide my face in my pillow, but he grabbed my chin and forced me to show my tears.

“You constantly challenge me, and I like that, but don’t think I don’t care about our son’s happiness.”

I held onto his wrist. “I’m sorry I said that.” I kept my voice small.

He let go of my chin and swept stray hairs off my face and over my shoulder.

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