Page 63 of Twisted Knight

DOM

I checked my travel bag one more time, making sure I took everything I needed for this weekend.

I had wanted to take India to the mountains—I really did—but with the crazy notes of my stalker and the rat we were no closer to find, I was completely stressed out.

But Luca convinced me to move on with India, that she deserved more than half-baked promises.

Of course she did. Fuck, the woman plain and simple saved me from the purgatory I’d been living in, and she didn’t know it.

Luca was right. Being with me was her choice, but I needed to make my commitment clear, let her know that against all odds I’d found the one I never thought I’d find, and if she wanted to leave me, I would let her go, not showing the depth of the despair she would leave me in.

When we came back from New York, I went to her room to ask her to go away for the weekend when I heard her shout and my heart stopped. I wanted to kill whoever had been causing her that much distress.

Jake Warner…When she told me his name, giving me the approval to go after him, this man was as good as dead.

I had not lied to India; he was not going to die. Death was too sweet for a man like him, but he was going to suffer. He was going to be the prey for once and never again would he ever be the predator hurting women.

I had wanted to take care of him myself; it was personal. He’d hurt my girl. The fact that it happened before she was mine didn’t matter. He’d touched something precious and he needed to pay.

All women were precious, and men like him were the scum of humanity.

But I had to put India first, our relationship, or rather what I wanted our relationship to become, and if I went to Calgary, I would never have been back for the weekend, so I called our Canadian famiglia and explained to him in great detail how I wanted him to take care of this abuser.

Come on, Jake Warner, try hitting women with two shattered hands and two replacement knees… I dare you.

I grabbed my bag and stopped by Luca’s office. I rapped softly on the slightly ajar door and opened it to find Luca on his chair, looking lovingly at Arabella.

I looked at him for a second, so happy for my friend and what his life had become.

Luca looked up and quickly glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Aren’t you supposed to be gone?” he whispered, rocking her in his arms softly.

“I’m on my way down. Isn’t she a bit young to learn about the family business?”

“Cassie is taking a nap and Marco is sleeping. This little one didn’t feel like sleeping and I didn’t want her to wake up the whole house.” He looked back down at his daughter and brushed his lips against her forehead. “Plus, it’s never too early to learn. My girl is going to be the most majestic and feared Mafia princess in all of North America,” he said reverently.

I believed him and I’d help him get her there.

“I just wanted to check if you needed anything before we left.”

Luca rolled his eyes. “I can survive a weekend without you, Domenico. We discussed this before. When you can put her first, do it. These moments are rare, but when you have the chance, don’t hesitate. You always had my back, brother; let me have yours.”

I nodded, putting the bag on my shoulder.

“Get into the car, turn off your damn phone until Monday, and work on what makes you happy.”

“Okay, I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Si, In bocca al lupo!”

I snorted but didn’t reply, I sure needed all the luck I could get.

When I made it downstairs, India was already waiting for me by the door, her small black suitcase by her feet.

She was dressed in simple black skinny jeans with a red thermal shirt, her thick lustrous hair in a braid falling over her shoulder. She was absolutely stunning.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were already waiting.” I leaned down to peck her lips, and once again I marveled at how easily I touched her and how she responded to me.

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