Page 76 of Queen Of Dark Money

“You’rea bit of a brat, you know that?”Hissmile was genuine and soft, andIfound myself smiling back at him, some of the tension left over from the day before melting away.

“I’ma switch, actually,”Iadmitted, flicking him in the nose with my free hand. “Butyou’re a dom through and through.Couldtell the minute you walked into that room.”

Theatmosphere around us changed with that last uttered sentence, and he shifted me on his lap, moving the tray away sohe could set me atop his desk and meet me eye to eye.Goodlord, he was tall.

“I’mkeeping you here with me until we can find the bastard who tried to shoot you and make sure you’re safe.”

Iblinked away the mesmerizing look in his chocolate brown eyes, fighting back tears at the thought thatI’dnever again be safe.Theremight very well never be a normal for me again, as long asEddySinclairwas alive and breathing. “Whoknows how long that will be?Ican’t stay here that long, that could be the rest of my life–”

Ispun my head around, taking in the openness of the room, but still, somehow, the walls felt like they were closing in on me.Imagesof my mother in that hospital bed, weak and still smiling for my benefit, raced across my mind.Theyhaunted me, and asIgasped for air, fighting the threat of drowning in another panic attack,Domset to work, grabbing for my hands to ground me.

“Hey,Kenz, breathe, come back to me, you’re fine–”

Icould hear him, but making my body answer his demands was almost beyond reach.Ifelt likeIwas spiraling, and the foodI’djust eaten threatened to come right back up the way it’d gone down.

“I’mgoing to be sick,”Iwhispered, and without a second to spare,Dominicklifted me off the desk and sprinted to a nearby door, kicking it closed asIrealized we were now in a bathroom.Buthe didn’t set me in front of the toilet.

Heset me on the rim of the clawfoot tub and turned on the water.Withinseconds, he was lifting me again, setting me in the tub in front of him as he lowered us both into the frigid water pouring from the faucet.

Theshock of the cold woke my whole body up, and instead of feeling sick,Isquealed at the temperature, wriggling to get free of his arms and failing miserably.Heheld me tight, refusing to release me untilIfinally stopped fighting him.Ishivered, andhe used his toe to nudge the temperature up to a manageable warmth, just enough to take the edge off the cold.

“Breathe,” he demanded, his hands crossed over my chest, holding my own at my sides. “Comeon, you can do it.In, out, breathe with me.”

Itried to do as he asked, closing my eyes to feel his chest rising and falling, forcing my own body to match his.Soon,Iwas breathing with him, in and out, and he relaxed his hold, shoving my wet hair out of my eyes as he whispered soothing reassurances in my ear.

“That’sa good girl; you’re doing so well.In, out, just like that, don’t stop.”Oneof his hands curled around my stomach, and the other swirled the water beside me as he grabbed my hand, laid his beneath mine, and twined our fingers together.

Itook in a breath and sighed, letting the stress out of my body with the air. “IthinkI’mgood,”Iwhispered, leaning back into his warmth. “Thiswater is fucking cold.”

“Ah, there you are,” he muttered, resting his chin on my head. “Gladto have you back with me.”

“Whyare you doing this for me?”Ididn’t mind the help, or the concern, because, for once, it felt good not to be the only one watching out for me.ButIwas still confused as to why he cared so much about a person he’d just met hours ago.

Hisshrug felt unconvincing. “Ijust feel like you need protected.Andthat speaks to a side of meIhaven’t paid attention to in a long while.”

Igot the feeling he didn’t want to talk about it, soIlet it slide, changing the topic to keep my anxiety from spiking. “Who’sthe kid in the pictures in your office?”

Hepaused for a hot minute, saying nothing as he breathed in and out, my body instinctively breathing with him, until he opened his mouth and gave me the only answerIdidn’t expect.

“He’smy son.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

DOMINICK

“H

e’smy son.”

Usually, when women found outIhad a kid, they went running for the hills.Mostof the ladiesIentertained didn’t enjoy kids, or the idea of having any in the future.ButIwasn’t sure how she’d react since she was the one asking the question.

Obviously,Iwas old enough to have grown kids, so that couldn’t have been the shock.Sowhy had she suddenly frozen up, holding her breath, whenIgave her the answer she’d requested?

“Youokay, sweetheart?”

Sheshook herself a bit, staring straight ahead. “Yourson?”

“Mmm, yeah, he’s grown now, but–”

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