Page 6 of Ruined

“So, how’s it going with Dom?”

Fuck. I couldn’t get away from the prick. Dominic controlled every aspect of my life, and now I could feel his body. Why hadn’t I punched him? He’d deserved it. The feeling of his hard forearm on my neck wouldn’t leave me alone.

I knew better than to disparage my superior. Didn’t have the rank in the business or the trust of the family for that. I shrugged. “I can do more than run errands. I could help the family more if I wasn’t getting coffee and dry cleaning.”

Santino wasn’t swayed. “Gotta pay your dues.”

“Hard to play gopher when it’s getting me nowhere. I’d like a little respect.”

“Respect is earned.”

Not like the Costas ever gave me the chance. The Russians had grabbed me when I was just a kid. Raised me up in hiding. Groomed me fortheirsuccess. Blood was thicker than water, but the Costas ran ice in their veins. My kidnapping wastheirmistake, yet I was the one who’d have to atone for a stolen life.

“I’m asking for a chance to prove myself,” I said.

“And we gave it to you.” Santino sipped his cocktail. “Dom’s a captain. He plays rough. You think you’re the first he’s shoved around?”

Am I the first he’s flirted with?

I couldn’t bringthatup. I seized an empty glass and a bottle behind the bar. The family drank wine. Always wine. Red wines, white wines, blush wines. A bottle for every meal and one for after.

I hated the shit.

But I hated even more how they all snickered when I poured myself the vodka. I drank it anyway.

“I spent years under the Bratva’s thumb, Sonny.Yearsof waiting for the right moment to get my life back. I’m not about to let some prick make me his puppet.”

“Is this about him being gay?” he asked.

I stiffened. “Jesus. What?”

Santino stared at me. “You heard me.”

The background noise dwindled into a murmur. His question gnawed at me. “That’s got nothing to do with it.”

“You’ve got a problem with him.”

“Not because he’s gay.”

He raised a brow. “You sure?”

“Yes. It’s not about that.”

Santino frowned.

Ididn’thate him for his sexuality. He was demeaning. He paraded his power over me, knowing he could push my buttons and get away with it. The smug expression on his face when he barked out an order. Worse, Dominichadcrossed a line. I couldn’t tell anyone about it without risking my reputation.

“Dom knows myhistory.” I swallowed a mouthful of vodka. “Doesn’t even try to give me work. He sends me on stupid errands that mean absolutely nothing to the family.”

“Are you following his orders?”

Fuck me. “I do what he says.”

“Then you’re serving the family.” Santino tapped the table. “And that’sveryvaluable right now. You hear me? The more you push back, the worse it looks for you.”

“To who?”

“Everyone.”

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