Page 46 of Domination

I nod.

“She had horses there, and she seems to think her father is caring for them?” Her eyes are full of hope. Hope I’m about to crumble.

I shake my head, and her shoulders sag. “He sold the horses a couple of years ago. He offered some to me. If I’d known…” I leave my words open, and she tilts her head.

Then she straightens her shoulders. “I’ve been thinking, maybe she could join my local church.” A cruel laugh erupts from me, and Hazel’s eyes narrow. A fucking church?

“Vincent Marino, don’t be so rude.” Her stern, hurt voice drains the humor from me.

Hazel has been good to my family over the years, andwith the way she scowls at me now, I know I’ve hurt her. I clear my throat. “My apologies.”

She lifts her chin. “We have a church group that runs tomorrow evening. There’s only a dozen of us, and you know I’d look after her, we organize food parcels for the underprivileged.”

I strum my fingers on the desk while I contemplate it.

“We do charitable work, Vinny, nothing nefarious.”

I balk at her comment. “And what is it you expect me to get out of this?” I snipe.

She rolls her lip, then meets my eyes. “Maybe if you showed her she wasn’t just another one of your pets, she might like to stay around longer.” She glares at me, and I narrow my eyes. Her words are like a warning going off in my head, and my pulse rushes, causing my temple to pulsate.

I lean forward in my seat, my body on high alert. The thought of her planning to leave me has my blood pumping furiously. “Has she said something?”

“No. Only that she misses home. She talks about it a lot.”

I scoff; there’s no way in hell she’s missing that prick.

“Her real home, the one where she grew up with her mother,” Hazel states, in such a way, I question if she’s hearing my thoughts.

“I’ll think about it.”

Her eyes gleam with triumph, and I roll mine. “I said I’d think about it, Hazel,” I bite out, hoping she understands.

With the excitement in her eyes, and the way shejumps up, I know she doesn’t. Fantastic, I’m about to destroy an old woman’s spirit.

“You’re a good man, Vincent.” She pats my hand, and I open my mouth to clarify my words, but she’s out the door before I can utter a single one.

“Fuck,” I groan, dragging a hand through my hair, knowing I need to use Massio’s second-in-command, Felix, to escort them to fucking church.

The horn to my SUV beeps, and I glance at my watch. Yeah, Massio is ready to leave, because the fucker wants to get back for the game this afternoon.

Pushing back on my chair, I head toward the door and into the day ahead. A day of spoiling my little pet.

Another new experience for me.

With my feet crossed at the ankles, I lean back against the blacked-out SUV and wait for her. The moment she comes into view, every nerve on my body comes alive with a silly flutter I thought was reserved solely for young love.

She smiles in my direction, and our eyes remain locked with each step she takes, but her footing wavers when she glances toward Massio. My body locks up tight, and I drop my feet to the floor as envy rushes through my veins like a rampant drug, stealing the joy from within me and replacing it with venom.

My jaw clenches, and her eyes narrow in on the action. Then I throw open the SUV door and hold out my hand for her to climb inside, ignoring the way hereyes flick over my face with concern. Tucking her safely into her seat, I pull the seatbelt over her slender waist, straightening it at her shoulder and clicking it in place.

“Th-thank you.” Her innocent voice breezes over me, washing away the anger from only moments ago.

I let out a breath and stroke her hair with the tenderness I reserve solely for her.

When I step back and shut the door, Massio is watching me with knitted brows. “You’re so fucked.” He grins, earning him the middle finger as I round the vehicle.

Slipping in beside her, I waste no time moving the hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear, then I lean further in. “I don’t like your attention on other men, Little Pet.” She flinches and stiffens, then opens her mouth to speak, but I shake my head, and she snaps her mouth shut. “You don’t look at them unless it’s to speak to them, do you hear me?” I toy with her collar before tugging on it, reminding her of who her owner is.

---