Page 4 of DOM: The Miami King

“Still the wildest, cutest meet in history,” Tone said, laughin’ always playin’ and shit. “Two shooters, one bodega, and a bond forged in gun smoke and fuckery.”

I smirked, tossin’ him the rest of the blunt. “So, what, you regret linkin’ up with me? What you sayin’?”

Tone shrugged. “Regret? Hell nah. You a mastermind, changed my whole fuckin’ life. I got a penthouse view, and I wear Rolexes to piss off my probation officer. Besides, somebody gotta keep yo’ paranoid ass alive.”

I looked out at the city again. “This Victoria shit different.”

Tone’s voice got low. “You think it’s a setup?”

“I think she’s either bait or a bomb.”

He cracked his knuckles. “Either way, we handle it.”

I nodded with a focused mind. He knew he ain’t have to tell me that ‘cause I stayed ready and so did he. That’s why Tone’s my brother, it wasn’t just loyalty, its war tested. Shit, we bled together, we killed together, and we’d do the shit over a million times if we have to. I looked up at the night sky.

“Shit’s movin’ Tone, real fast.” I told him ready to make a move. I didn’t like waitin’ for the unknown and the sooner I got to her ass the better.

He grinned and sipped his liquor. “Let it move, we built for speed.”

“Damn right.”

On the way out we grabbed all the shit we needed ready to go get Victoria Blanca. I also called Carmen to brief her because if I ended up in any kind of trouble, she’d be the one getting my ass out if it. When she answered the facetime call, she was drenched in sweat on the treadmill inside of the gym and was locked in. Headphones in, and powder blue Alo Yoga set graced her body showing off her curves, painted on like a second skin. It was cut high on the hips and low across the chest. The matchin’ headband she wore, held up her ponytail as it swayed, at a steady pace and her bronze skin was glistening under the lights. Her eyes were focused like she was runnin’ from something and runnin’ toward it at the same time.

Usually, she wore a sweatshirt and sweatpants to the gym, so this was the first time I’d seen her ass showing skin and I didn’t know how I felt about it. I felt my jaws clenching.Why did I even give a fuck?This shit wasn’t real, but as long as my name was attached to hers, another man bet not have ever touched what belonged to me. I ain’t say nothin’ at first. I just stared.

“You wearin’ that toanygym?” I asked. “Or just the one the thirsty muhfuckas at?”

She smirked. “You’re the only one calling me Dom, so clearly nobody is pressed enough.”

That shit made my jaw clench. Since I married her, ain’t no man touched her. Yet, she out here lookin’ likeshe tryna get some attention and I was stuck dealin’ with cartel business and ‘bout to be keepin’ tabs on some spoiled ass lil Blanca bloodline. She kept runnin’ with her eyes forward, not sweating the heat she was throwin’ at all. That was just Carmen though, she never had to try too hard, shit… she was just like that.

“You tryna kill me from across the city?” I asked, which was my way of complimenting her while adjusting my chain. “Can’t even think straight.”

“You calledme,” she said once again in a sarcastic tone, still not missin’ a beat.

“I needed to update you.”

She tapped her screen to pull me into the full screen position as she slowed the treadmill down finally ready to listen. “I’m listening.”

I exhaled slow, lookin’ down for a second before meetin’ her eyes again. “El Blanca made a call… said I gotta keep watch over his niece Victoria.”

I ain’t like the flicker in her eyes. It was quick, but I saw that shit. That small shift in her jaw always told a story. “Victoria,” she repeated in a cool tone. She knew exactly who I was talkin’ about too.

“Yeah.”

“What does that mean, Dom?” she asked, with a towel in her hand now dabbing her wet face. “Like… watch her from a distance? Or she’s sleeping under the same roof, or in one of your other penthouses?”

I didn’t blink. “I don’t know yet.”

“Uh huh.” She replied, tight lipped waiting for me to say somethin’ else but I didn’t. Carmen laughed but it wasn’t the kind that had humor in it. “That long-ass pause told me everything I needed to know.”

“I ain’t actin’ on nothin’,” I said quick. “She may not even be my type.”

“You sure?”

My dark eyes were locked on the screen. “Look… I married you for a reason. I did it for you to stay in the States, and for business too but no matter what’s on paper, you a fuckin’ Royal… Mrs. Dominic Royal, and ain’t no bitch takin’ yo’ place. Same as you bet not ever be thinkin’ bout nobody tryna take mine.”

She wiped the sweat off her neck with one brow raised. “You say that like it still means something Dom, it’s either you love me, or you don’t.”

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