Page 50 of Raging Inferno

“That’s probably a good idea.”

“I have a decent security system, so it makes sense for you to stay here. There’s plenty of room for your associate when they arrive.”

After an extremely long pause, Presley sighed. “Okay.”

“Good. That’s the last time we’re having that discussion. Now, I need to make some calls. We’d love for you to join us in watching television. It’s one of Gia’s favorite shows. She needs it so she doesn’t go to bed thinking about what happened earlier.” Yeah, he was playing dirty.

“Okay. I have calls to make as well. It won’t take long.”

Presley disappeared into her room as Gia returned with Major bounding beside her.

“Why don’t you make popcorn for the show?” Dom suggested. “Enough for three. I’ll be back soon.”

“Yay!”

Gia disappeared into the walk-in pantry, where they kept the old-fashioned machine that cranked out movie-style popcorn, her favorite treat. Dom headed to his office and closed the door.

His first call was to Elaine Chang, Gia’s best friend Tracey’s single mother. Gia had slept overnight there many times, just not so many days in a row. He explained he had important business to take care of and needed a place for Gia to stay, and he wasn’t sure how long it would be. Elaine instantly offered to keep her. She would drive them to school and pick them up after practice. She even offered to let Major stay with them. That was a massive weight off his shoulders.

Next, he called George, one of his lieutenants, to let him know he would be taking a few days off but would be on call if needed. He asked to be notified if there were any structure fires.

The scent of hot, buttery popcorn drifted toward him, and he went to talk to his daughter. Gia loved staying with Tracey, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t want to leave while Presley was here. She’d grown attached to her in a short period of time.

He’d been right.

Gia cried and pleaded with him. She was his weakness, and when she bawled, he felt like sobbing with her. Then he pictured what might’ve happened if the car had successfully run them off the road, and he hardened his heart. He was protecting her.

When Presley appeared, Gia leaped off the couch and hugged her. Presley’s questioning eyes met his, and he cleared his throat.

“Gia will be staying with her best friend for a few days.”

Presley’s shoulders visibly slumped in relief.

“I don’t want to go, Presley,” Gia wailed. “I want to stay with you. What if I don’t get to see you before you leave?”

Presley crouched down and grabbed her arms. “We’ll keep in touch. We can text and email. Tell you what. If it’s okay with your dad, you can come visit me. You’d love it. There are a bunch of kids your age and so many things to do. You can meet Kai Costa, the kid with a thousand jokes.”

Gia’s head swung to him. “Can I, Daddy?” she pleaded.

How could anyone deny that precious face anything? “Sure.”

That cheered her up. She turned on the show, and they were soon engrossed in the antics of Bear Grylls as they scarfed down buttery popcorn.

Because they were having such a good time, Dom let her play a second show. By the end, Gia’s eyes drooped.

“I’ll take Major out while you get ready for bed,” Dom told his daughter.

“Presley, you want to help me pack?”

“Sure.”

Dom opened the door, and Major bounded off the deck and into the yard to do his business. He knew he wasn’t wrong about sending Gia away. He needed her safe more than anything in the world. But that meant he would be alone in the house with the most desirable woman he’d ever met, and he possessed no resistance to her.

Chapter Twelve

Presley helped Gia pack her pink suitcase, which was decorated with sparkly unicorns, to stay with her friend. The girl didn’t want to go and tried to convince her that she didn’t need to, but Presley refused to budge. If anything happened to Gia, it would wreck her. She couldn’t even imagine what it would do to Dominic.

Once Gia crawled into bed, Major jumped in with her, circled a few times, and plopped down with a doggy sigh. Presley bid her goodnight and closed the door. She turned and gasped when she found Dominic behind her.

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