Page 61 of Nocturnal Sins
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Santana
Standing across the hall from Dom made me feel like I was just as much a volcano as I was a man. I wanted to let the anger erupt from me in thick floods of lava that burned him to the core. I hated the way he laughed off Pop’s request. It was disrespectful.
“What is it, Santana? You wanna flex your big brother muscles with me, huh?” His eyes narrowed and a part of his mask slipped and I saw the disloyal piece of shit he really was hiding beneath. Suddenly, I felt the weight of my gun resting in the waistband of my jeans.
I had no problem shooting first and asking questions later. There was no doubt in that at such close range I would kill Dom. In my mind, that wasn’t such a bad thing. His energy made my hackles stand at attention.
“I want to know if you have a problem keeping your hands to yourself. Every time you and Sammie are in the same room lately, you’re all over her. You’re touching her or staring at her and that shit is inappropriate.” I stood waiting to hear his explanation but honestly, I knew it wouldn’t make a bit of difference to me.
Dom was on my shit list and there was no getting off.
“She’s beautiful, what can I say? I’m not blind. Seems like you’re not blind to it either. You’re stepping to me as more than a big brother it seems. Anything you want to tell me, son?” An icy smirk lifted one side of his mouth and I felt my hands itching to pull out my gun.
“Don’t call me son. You might be Pop’s right-hand man but you ain’t shit to me, Dom. If it weren’t for Pop I’d probably lay your ass out right here. I understand loyalty though.”
“Still didn’t answer my question, Santana. Something you need to tell me about Sam?”
“I don’t have a fucking thing to tell you about her except that you need to keep your hands off her. I see past your bullshit and my loyalty isn’t to you Remember that.” I didn’t give Dom another second to respond. I headed back into Pop’s office. Two pairs of green eyes met me. Silence stretched across the room and I sliced through it with a single breath.
“I didn’t shoot him,” I shrugged. Both Pop and Sammie still eyed me curiously. “I didn’t hit him either,” I finished with a laugh. On cue, Dom poked his head in Pop’s office and shot me a glare that I didn’t miss. I didn’t give a fuck about it either.
“Chris, I’ll talk to you later once things aren’t so tense around here. We need to straighten some things out.” Pop grunted in response and we all watched as Dom left, closing the door behind him.
“Dom has to be severed from the business,” Pop said. His words were heavy and solemn. I was glad to hear him come to his senses though. If he wanted to keep growing, he couldn’t have a man like Dom in his ranks.
“I agree,” I said with a nod.
“It’s not an easy decision, Santana. We’ve been friends for decades.”
“I feel fucked up that this is happening because of me,” Sammie frowned. Her plump lips turned downward and even though she was torn and tangled in different emotions, I wanted to suck on those lips and make her forget about everything for a few minutes. I tore my eyes away from her mouth and looked at Pop.
“It’s not just you, Sammie,” I pointed out. “It’s the fact that he’s letting his mask slip. That means he’s been disloyal for a long fucking time and now it’s starting to show through. He can’t hide it.” I sucked in a quick breath and said, “Pop, you know what you have to do.”
“I’m not going to kill Dom, Santana. There are other ways.” I saw the dilemma swirling around him like a tornado and I hated it. He was clouded by his friendship.
“The only way to deal with someone like him is to eliminate him and you know it, Pop. I know he’s your friend but he’s disrespectful and…”
“I know, Santana! Let me handle this. I don’t want you doing anything. Understand me? You’ve done enough.” He didn’t have to tell me I was dismissed. His squared shoulders and tense expression let me know everything.
I started for the door and waited for Sammie to materialize at my side. “Sam, I like your plans for the guys on the east side. I’ll roll it out tomorrow.” His demeanor softened when he looked at her. I understood fully why. I softened every time I looked at her too but for completely different reasons.
“Thank you, Papa,” she beamed. Golden light poured from her when she hugged Pop.
“You two get out of here and steer clear of Dom. Santana, I mean it. Until I get him fully out of the business, don’t let him see you two together…like that.” Even though he was trying to accept our relationship, he still didn’t want anyone else knowing about us.
If I was being truthful, I didn’t know how everyone else would handle seeing Sammie and me together as a couple. A bigger part of me didn’t give a fuck though. She was mine and I was happier than I’d ever been when I was with her.
Everyone else would have to deal with it.
I nodded my head in response to Pop and held out my hand for my golden ray of sunshine. She grabbed on and we blew out of Pop’s like nothing in the world mattered.
“I can’t believe Papa is going to actually listen to my plan.” Sam wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed tight. My heart squeezed too.
“Why wouldn’t he?” I quizzed, opening the passenger door for her. “You’re fucking brilliant and I think you’re cut out for this shit. Pop isn’t ready to accept it but he will be soon enough.” Once we were in the car, we shared a slow kiss that made my cock ache for her.
“You always believe in me, Santana. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” She nearly whispered against my lips.
