Page 25 of Ruined

A shadow stretched over me. “A personal call while you’re onmytime?”

I didn’t have the patience for Dominic’s bullshit. I ended the call with a grunt.

“Consider it business,” I said. “Certainly wasn’t pleasure.”

“Can’t have that without me.”

My jaw tightened. “Pleasure? You’re nothing but a pain in my ass.”

“And one day you might love that ache.”

I hated how easily he got under my skin, like he’d been given a blueprint of every weak spot and pushed on each one until it cracked. I almost shattered the stack of chips on the table.

I glanced around us. “Jesus, anybody could hear you.”

“So what?”

“I don’t want anybody toeverknow what happened. Alright?”

His smile broadened. “Which part of that night do you want to forget the most?”

All of it. “Attempting to kill my captain.”

“You didn’t even come close to killing me,sweetheart,” he shot back, his tone razor-sharp. “I can tell when someone’s out of their depth. Hell, I think you wanted to get caught.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

“Would you rather be captured by the Bratva or imprisoned by me? One of us would kill you. The other would make it worth your while.”

I fought to keep my face blank. I wouldn’t let him see me break, not here. He didn’t stop me when I got off the stool and stepped past him.

I pushed forward, but his words sank into every place I wanted to keep closed. I sure as hell didn’t want to talk tohim.

I threw open the door to the parking lot.

Dominic followed, his footsteps raising the hairs on my neck. I turned around. He stood too close, his hostile glare daring me to walk away.

“You’re spooked, and it’s not just me. What happened?”

I hated that he read me so well. “Do you ever mind your own business?”

He stepped in front of me. “Not when it’s my problem, too.”

“I’ve got it under control.”

“Don’t give me that shit. You’ve never had control over any part of your life. That’s the problem. You’ve got a taste of freedom, and you’re running fucking blind.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“Sure. You know how to hide, how to bow, scrape, and slink around the shadows. But if I give you an inch, you’ll try to deep throat all of it.”

I had enough threats in my life without dealing with sexual harassment. I ignored his smirk.

“I didn’t expect you to give me a chance,” I said. “But I’m more useful to this family than you believe. Thantheybelieve. I’m trying to do right by them.”

Dominic’s jaw tightened. “But the Costas aren’t buying it.”

I didn’t answer, but my heart pounded.

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