Page 32 of Murder & Mayhem
Dominic had left me a pair of boxer briefs, but they were going to be too big so I ignored them and put on my jeans. I’d never worn them like this before, but they would have to do. At some point, I’d need to find a way to get to my apartment to see what I could salvage. I couldn’t afford a whole new wardrobe. Even if it wasn’t safe to live there anymore, I wanted to get what I could.
I grabbed the hoodie. It didn’t smell as clean as the shirt. It didn’t stink or anything, but I was pretty sure it had been worn at least once without being washed. I glanced at thebedroom door, but I could hear Dominic doing something in the other room. Was this really what he’d meant to leave for me? My belly tightened pleasantly. There was something so possessive about the action. It felt like more than just borrowing clothes so I didn’t have to wear my dirty ones. I’d seen the man’s closet. He had plenty, but he'd chosen this for me, something that was so obviously his, and I couldn’t ignore how good it made me feel. I felt owned, but in all the best ways.
I put the hoodie on, and the socks he left me as well. I was about to walk out and see what was next, but I saw something out of the corner of my eye. The switchblade I was quickly considering mine was lying on the bed. He must have left it there for me on purpose, right? I barely hesitated before I snatched it and then ran out of the room, the blade held firmly in my hand.
I found Dominic in the kitchen. He had buttoned his shirt and was fiddling with the coffee maker when I walked in. I didn’t say anything and sat down on one of the barstools. I silently held up the knife to show him I still had it, raising an eyebrow in question.
“Keep it.” He cleared his throat. “Is there any way I can convince you to stay with Ari while Gid and I check this property out?”
My jaw dropped and I stared at him incredulously. “Abso-fucking-lutely not. I’m not staying behind while two strangers look for my brother!”
Dominic winced, but I didn’t take it back. I’d only known him for a day. Hewasa fucking stranger, and I didn’t know Gideon at all.
“Jamie, this place, there’s no way to sneak into it. It’s going to have security cameras, and there’s a really good chance that the Wraiths will see and recognize you. Chances are, Baileyisn’t even there, and you could be putting yourself in danger for no reason.”
“There is a reason! If you were positive Bailey wasn’t there, you wouldn’t be checking it. Besides, even if he isn’t, they may know something. I’m sorry, I know you might think I’m being stupid or reckless or whatever, and I probably am, but I don’t give a fuck. I am going!” I was pretty much screaming, but Dominic was cool, collected, and not taking the bait.
“It could be dangerous.”
“So fucking protect me! You keep saying that you will. If not, give me the fucking address and I’ll go myself.” I was acting like a brat, but I didn’t have it in me to care. My trust in Dominic might be growing, but not enough that I’d let him go on his own while I sat at home, twiddling my thumbs and waiting like a fucking princess stuck in a tower. I didn’t fucking think so.
Dominic sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. “Fine. But you need to stick by Gideon and me and listen to us. If we tell you to do something, you do it, understand?” I swallowed but nodded in agreement, some of my anger lessening. I might be acting foolish, but I didn’t have a death wish. I recognized when I was out of my depth. “Okay. Good. You need to be armed, and I take it from yesterday’s escapades that you don’t know how to shoot a gun?”
I glared at the sweet jerk. “Sorry, not all of us are in fuckingMission Impossible.”
Dominic grinned, looking sexy and cocky as fuck. “No need to apologize, beautiful. There’s no shame in not being familiar with weapons. Though, I will be teaching you if we get a chance. For now, hold onto that knife.” He poured coffee into a travel mug.
“Coffee?” I shook my head and wrinkled my nose. Gross. Dominiclaughed.
“Okay, but you need to eat something, at least. He opened the microwave, and I realized he had been heating something up in there. “Breakfast burritos. I premake them on the weekend and then freeze them so I have them for the week. We’ll take them with us. We can eat in the car on the way there.”
The burritos smelled good, but I honestly didn’t think I could eat. I had a feeling Dominic wouldn’t like that answer so I just replied with, “Thanks.”
A few minutes later, we were leaving Dominic’s apartment and in the elevator to head down to the lobby. The car was large, but I was standing so close to Dominic that his arm brushed up against mine. He looked down and smiled, his pinky grazing along the back of my hand. I leaned into his side a little, enjoying one last moment of Dominic’s security and warmth before I faced whatever was coming next.
The door chimed and opened, exposing us to the lobby. Was I imagining it, or did Dominic automatically stand slightly in front of me, blocking me from immediate view of whoever might be there? I chewed on my lip, trying to hide my smile.
Dominic exited first, and I followed quickly on his heels. There was a new person sitting at the front desk. “Good morning, Mr. Vecchio. You’re getting an early start today.”
Dominic smiled at the man. “Good morning, Larry. My brother is working on a project and needs some assistance.” He rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “You know how Gid is. Always taking on DIY projects that are more than he can chew on his own.”
Larry laughed. “Don’t I know it. Remind me not to introduce him to my wife.”
Dominic chuckled and rapped his fingers against the desk. “I’ll make a note of it. Alright, we best get going before he makes a mess of it. Have a good day, Larry.”
“You too, sir.”
Dominic placed a hand on my lower back and began to guide me out of the building. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”
I allowed him to lead me onto the street. “We should be safe on this side of the city. I have no reason to believe anyone knows you’re with me, but put your hood up just in case and try to keep your face down and out of direct CCTV focus or even tourists taking pictures for Snapchat. You never know how someone could see your face with the way social media is.”
I swallowed, throat dry, and desperately fought against the urge to panic and search for every possible camera in the area. I threw my hood up and focused on the ground in front of me. Dominic squeezed my hand reassuringly.
We walked at a regular pace, careful not to bring any attention to ourselves, until we were at the garage, where Dominic parked his SUV. He stopped me before I got in.
“Hang on. We should be good, but you can never be too careful.”
I didn’t get to ask him what he meant before he fiddled with his phone a bit and then was on his knees and ducking to check the undercarriage.
