Page 43 of Domination

“I’m taking you shopping tomorrow,” he states, and I blink. Why on earth would he…

“You didn’t buy anything for yourself, and you know damn well I expected you to.” He raises an eyebrow, expecting me to argue.

“I can go by myself if you’re busy.”

“Absolutely. Fucking. Not. It killed me knowing you were out without me today.”

I giggle, but his face is deadly serious.Oh my.

His gaze is transfixed on me as he flicks his tongue over my nipple, and milk bubbles to the surface. I expect him to suck on me, but he laps at it, allowing me to see the milk being drawn onto his tongue. Jeez, that’s hot. I squirm and his lip curls. “We’re having dinner with our family tomorrow.”

Our family?

A coldness takes over me.

“The boys and their wives,” he tacks on.

“We are?”

“Yes, Gracie, we are.” His tone leaves no room for argument, so I don’t even attempt it.

“Why did you stiffen earlier when I called you Little Pet?”

My eyes widen, and my mouth falls open. How did he pick up on that?

A chuckle vibrates his chest. “I’m a Mafia don, I take notice of every movement.” Did I just voice my thoughts aloud? I give my head a shake.

“I don’t know what you mean.” The lie almost gets stuck in my throat, and I lift my chin slightly.

His eyes narrow, and his pupils darken with intent, then he shifts, raising up to his elbow to glare down at me. He looms over me, causing my breath to hitch, and wraps his hand around my throat and presses. “Don’t lie to me, Little Pet. Tell me.” Of course he saw right through me. Like he said, he’s been trained to. I need to be more careful and to continue with my plan, the one I’ve come to hate.

“It made me feel disposable.” Tears spring to my eyes, but I won’t allow them to fall. His eyebrows furrow, and he tilts my head to the side to access my jawline, where he peppers soft kisses down my face and over my neck, licking around my collar. “I could never replace you, Gracie. Nor do I ever want to.” My heart lurches in my chest, and a squeezing sensation causes my lungs to struggle to function. Yet he appears completely unaware and continues kissing down my body, bringing with it pleasure and pain blending into one. I finally allow the tears to fall, but I disguise the pain his words cause and throw my head back in passion.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Vinny

As the morning sun broke into the bedroom, I took delight in the fact that Gracie opened up to me last night, even after taking her ass so abruptly.

She lay on my chest all night, with my arm wrapped around her, and I dropped tender kisses on her head between whispering sweet gestures in her ear.

The idea of her growing up in anything other than a loving home makes me furious, and at hearing her restless sleep, I wonder what other secrets she hides.

Does she dream about the needles in her sleep? Is that what keeps her awake at night? I need to speak with Rafael and make him aware that I have no intention of letting her father live, not after discovering how poorly he treated his daughter. I’ll be damned if he ever gets the opportunity to be near either of my girls again. It’s not worth finishing with his treatment in rehab. It’s costing us a fortune, and ultimately, he’s going to die. Maybe Ishould just put the sorry sack of shit out of his misery now.

Thoughts of Nancy flash in the forefront of my mind, annoying the fuck out of me. I mean, I tried my best for her son, but I know the woman who raised him would not want her granddaughter and great-granddaughter to suffer in the way Gracie has and still does. Nope, I owe her that much; Robert is a lost cause, and it’s high time I accepted it.

“Gracie?”

She stirs groggily, and I smile at the way she lifts her head and stretches like a little cat. “Hmm?”

“I’m taking you to breakfast. No serving me under the table today,” I quip.

Her head rises, and she attempts to flatten her tousled hair. “You are?”

“Yes, baby, I am.”

Her bright-blue eyes flash with delight, and I love it. I want to see that look every damn day for the rest of my life. I rub over the pain in my chest, my heart hammering precariously fast at the thought of us having forever.

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