Page 7 of Domination

Being bad doesn’t have to be your entirety.

In a world of darkness, you can be someone’s light and lead them to a better life.

That’s what I will tell myself to get over her absence.

I set her free when I could have caged her.

Chapter One

Vinny

Eighteen months later …

Annoyance pounds inside my chest at the spiel coming from my stepson’s mouth. My oldest son, Rafael, rolls his eyes in my direction, and I pull my lips into a tight line to refrain from smirking.

“I’ve tried, Vinny. I swear. I just need a little help,” he drones on. “This time is different.” Of course it fucking is. Like the last time… and the time before that.

Rafael shifts in his chair, so I know he’s becoming agitated. My son has zero patience where Robert is concerned, but I refuse to cut him off. His mother, Nancy, was a good woman, and it was her dying wish for me to look out for him despite knowing he was a lost cause.

Rafael sits forward, and his gaze slices toward Robert. “How much?”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Robert splutters.

“How much money do you want from my father this time? My family.” Rafael’s voice is deadly, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end, and I couldn’t be prouder.

Using my finger, I stroke my bottom lip and sit back in my chair, watching this play out.

“I-it’s not like that.” Robert’s eyes implore me. “This time I want it to work. I need it to work.” His hands ball into fists on his lap.

“What’s so different this time, Robert?” I say deadpan, trying to keep the amusement from my tone.

“My daughter, Gracie. She has a little girl.” He gulps.

Rafael rears back, but I don’t give away my emotion so easily, masking the shock of my stepson having a granddaughter.

How was I not made aware of this?

“She-she’s dependent on me. They both are, and I need to be the best man I can for them.” He holds eye contact, but I narrow my eyes, then he looks away, unable to hold the intensity of my glower. Sly little fucker.

I hadn’t realized Robert’s daughter was old enough to have a child. Jesus, how old does that make me? I drag my hand through my hair, and the coarse tips of the silver between my fingers is so unlike the silky locks of my lost little pet.

Rafael shifts in his chair, bringing my attention back to the here and now. My son has been desperate to take over for a while now, and though he’s capable, I just don’twant the responsibility resting completely on him and his young family. Besides, there’s plenty of life left in me yet.

“My granddaughter deserves the best in life,” he states.

Does that make me the kid’s great-grandfather? Fuck! Another responsibility.

“Where’s the fucking father to this child?” Rafael bites out, and I know his mind is solely on Robert trying to push someone else’s responsibility onto us.

But we are, after all, this girl’s family.

“H-he’s a loser. Gracie met him at church.” Church? Rafael releases a patronizing chuckle, and I can’t fault him. Fucking church, of all places.

Robert probably steals from the congregation while claiming his repentance.

“Pl-please.” He chokes on his tears and swipes at the snot dripping from his nose as his body shakes.

Good fucking god, the man is a wreck. I want to tell him to stop blubbering and sit up straight, to face me like a real man, but it’s clear he’s having withdrawals, and he’s desperate, very fucking desperate. He sits up straighter. “I-I told him if he couldn’t man up, then I would. He’s not been around since.” His spine goes ramrod straight, and his tears clear like he’s suddenly a new person, one proud of his words.

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