Page 65 of Domination

A man standing at the doorway to the house looks our way, and I wince when Gracie’s distraught expression comes into view. I drag a hand through my hair. Shit, this is going to be harder than I anticipated.

“Good luck,” Massio grunts as I step out of the SUV and head toward them.

My anger dissipates with the tears streaming down my girl’s cheeks. Her chest rises rapidly, and she looks two seconds away from having a full-blown panic attack.

A strangled wail leaves her throat, and her eyes widen on my approach. Bonnie cries out for me, lifting her arms in my direction as she tries to scramble out of Gracie’s arms, and that does something to me. Seeing my girls in such anguish has me wanting to right the world of every damn wrong ever committed.

“What’s the problem?” I turn toward the man holding onto the door like it’s his lifeline.

“She won’t leave,” he grunts.

“Vi-Vinny, I have the papers. I have papers for the ranch, it’s mine.” Gracie sobs uncontrollably.

“Lady, I told you before and I’ll tell you again, this isn’t your damn ranch. I purchased it over a year ago.”

Another wail erupts from her.

“Papa!” Bonnie cries as she wrestles to get out of Gracie’s arms.

I step forward and hold my arms out for Bonnie, and she shocks the shit out of me by lunging forward, causing Gracie to stumble. I grip her arm to right her, and the devastation swimming in her eyes has me wanting toprofess my undying love for her. I want her to tell me she chooses me, she wants me, Mafia life be damned.

But as the sounds of the nature filter through my senses, I know the chances of her choosing the life I can offer are slim. Am I really prepared to pull her away from everything she’s ever wanted? How will she truly ever be happy? Satisfied with me. Will she always crave the freedom she so desperately needs?

“I have the papers,” she whispers, and I snatch them from her hand, pissed she chose this before me. Took my daughter from me. Lied to me. Betrayed me.

I turn them over somehow while rocking Bonnie from side to side with hopes to settle her.

My eyes scan over the paperwork, and I don’t know what the fuck Gracie thinks this is, but all I see are her signatures signing the property deeds over to her father.

A heavy huff leaves me, and I turn my attention toward the prick in the doorway. “Can you give us five?”

“Sure.” He slams the door, and I hear the lock engage.

Great.

Gracie falls to the floor in a heap, her sobs are barely contained as she tucks her knees under her, the action making her appear smaller than ever. I lower myself to the floor and sit on the porch step.

“Come.” My tone somehow remains calm, and I pat my lap. With Bonnie resting on my hip, Gracie crawls into my lap, and my arm bands around her to hold her in place.

“I’m going to ask you some questions, and you’re going to tell me the truth, Gracie.”

I breathe in her peach scent, the realization that I may never have smelled her again causes a crushing feeling inside my chest.

“I promise,” she whispers, sniffling.

“You lied to me.”

“I’m sorry.” Her shoulders bunch as she cries deeper into my chest, clinging to my shirt. “I’m so sorry.”

“You kept my baby from me, Gracie.”

“I didn’t want to. I swear it.”

“But you fucking did,” I snipe out, unable to help myself.

Bonnie presses her finger to my mouth, and my rage there a second ago is eradicated by her soft touch to my lips. “Papa,” she mumbles, and her head falls to my shoulder and her eyes close. I place a kiss on my little girl’s forehead.

“You didn’t think I was worthy.” I keep my tone low despite wanting to shout.

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