Page 52 of Mistletoe in the Mafia

“I’m scared, Dom,” Carly says, surprising me. “You’re finally starting to open up. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I soften. Carly’s gotten me through dark periods in my life and I’ve extended her the same courtesy. She’s the closest thing I have to a sister.

“I can take care of myself,” I assure her.

“But you’ll take care of her first.”

My lips thin when I realize what she’s trying to say. “I don’t have much of a choice in that regard. I owe it to her.”

“Why do you owe her?”

As much as Carly and Joshua know about me, there’s also so much more that they don’t know. My life in the mafia is something I’ve made sure to keep apart from them. I’m not about to start telling her anything now.

“Don’t worry about it, Queens. I’ll see you later.”

Her expression turns resigned. “Alright, fine. See you later, Dom. Don’t forget my Christmas party next week. Bring Maddie if you can.”

Yeah, that’s probably not happening.

She blows me a quick kiss and I watch to make sure she’s safely inside before driving off. Madelyn doesn’t even stir until we’re in front of my apartment building. I know I said I’d take her home, but I can’t exactly do that when she’s fast asleep and unable to give me her address.

Never mind the fact that I already know exactly where she lives and how to get there.

As soon as my car is parked in the garage, I turn to look at her. Her expression isn’t soft or relaxed in her sleep. Troubled is the word I’d use. I remember her saying she doesn’t sleep much and I realize that, unlike me, she’s constantly plagued by the demons she chooses to hide from the rest of the world while in that state.

My chest practically caves in on itself as I watch her becoming even more restless in her sleep.

“Madelyn,” I call softly.

She doesn’t wake up, though, not even when I carefully tap her cheek. She’s still sleeping deeply despite her nightmares. Seeing no other choice, I step out of my car. I round the other side and, after unbuckling the seat belt, manage to lift her fromthe seat and into my arms. Once she’s safely there, I make my way toward the elevator that’ll take us to my house.

I fully expected her to wake up during the transport but she doesn’t, not even when I place her in the middle of my bed. I hate that her nightmares have such a hold on her, one she can’t seem to break.

After placing her in my bed, I remain unmoving at the side, staring at the woman who clearly has scars that are painfully similar to mine. I want to find whoever is making her hurt and destroy them.

Actually, scratch that—Iwillfind them. But first I need to get her to open up to me about the truth. Because today when I left work, I thought I’d be able to find it on my own, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that Madelyn’s the only one that can tell me what happened with her. She’s a challenge I need to solve with everything in me. My personal challenge.

I only look away from Madelyn when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I take it out, knowing there could be only one person texting me this late.

Nicholas: We need to talk.

He’s even attached a location for the meeting. I roll my eyes. He has the worst timing. Still, he’s my Don and he made a request. Before I leave, I consider the fact Madelyn could wake up while I’m gone. I could send her a text to ensure she knows my whereabouts, but what’s the fun in that?

I hunt down the note she wrote me a couple of weeks ago, the bright pink one I’d stored in one of my drawers. With a smirk, I hurriedly scribble some words of my own on the back.

I had to step out for a quick errand, but I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere. Sincerely, your one-night stand, Dominic.

I grin as I place the note where she’ll find it. Once that’s settled, I leave the apartment, heading back to my car.

I arrive at the location Nicolas gave me in under twenty minutes. It’s one of the buildings owned by the organization, a hotel that’s a front for our illegal activities. I walk in without anyone checking me twice, heading for one of the meeting rooms.

Nicholas is already in there, and so is Adrian, which is surprising. He’s been underground for a while now. He looks okay, though, hollow cheeks and a distinctive lack of any light in his eyes aside. He even offers me a fake-ass smile as I approach them.

He didn’t get the war he probably thinks he rightly deserved. I voted against it, and so did the rest of the table. My reasoning was a little selfish, though. I can’t very well focus on things with Madelyn when there’s war brewing right under my nose.

The Russians and the Italians need to learn to co-exist. One way or the other.

“Dominic, so glad you could join us,” Nicholas states, gesturing for me to take a seat on the couch opposite him.

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