Page 35 of Long Live the King
“How can you get proof?” Dominic asks between chews. “And not some bullshit theory, but solid proof that I can take to the Commission.”
Tommy thinks on it for a second as he lifts his glass to sip his wine. As he raises it, I swear I can see him wince in pain, but he stops short of making it too obvious. He moves his arm slowly to his mouth and sips the golden liquid before placing the glass back on the table with way too much caution.
“I just need to get to Chicago and do some digging,” he finally says.
“No fucking way,” Dominic snips. “Victor’s gotta be pissed because I haven’t been answering his calls about the money we still owe, so if you go down there and get caught snooping, you’re dead. That’s the last thing I need.”
“There’s no other way,” Tommy replies with a shrug of his massive shoulders. “If I don’t get down there and look into this, it’s gonna be too late. For all we know, Victor has already put in a call to his pals in the Commission again. He sits on the Commission, and he could get his friends to sign off on anything. Hell, he might have a contract out on you already for not paying and settling the debt. Of course it’s your call, but the way I see it, the sooner we get evidence on Victor, the sooner we can hit them before they hit us again. I’m just sayin’.”
All the words flying around are hard to grasp and make use of, and it’s frustrating. I let out a loud exhale, half to grab Dominic’s attention, half because I’m really starting to feel like crap. I don’t know what it is—maybe it’s the smells from all the foods, maybe it’s all the stress from worrying—but I have a sudden rush of nausea wash over me, and I feel an urge to go get some fresh air. I think I’ve just had enough of all of this.
“Hey, you okay?” Dominic asks when he sees me close my eyes and rub my forehead.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Not feeling all that great,” I reply.
“Maybe it’s the wine,” Tommy says. “It fucks with me like that sometimes, too.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I reply in a hushed tone.
I lower my head and place my hand over my eyes to steady myself just as I hear Dominic’s cell phone ringing. He checks on me one more time before pulling the phone out of his pocket to answer it.
“Hey,” he says, then he listens, his eyes squinting as he receives new information from whoever’s on the other end. “Okay, I’m on my way.”
“Who was that?” I ask in confusion as Dominic stands up like he’s about to walk out right this minute. “What’s going on?”
“I gotta go,” he says.
“Yougotta go? You’re leaving me here?” I ask as the nausea and confusion swirl together.
“I’m sorry, babe, but this is something that requires my attention, and I gotta go alone,” he says, dropping two hundred-dollar bills on the table. “Tommy, take her home for me, okay. Call me when once you drop her off, and Alannah, you call me once you’re safely in the room.”
Dominic leans over and kisses me softly on the cheek, but he’s in a rush and I can tell something’s wrong. Something serious.
“I don’t understand why you have to go alone,” I plead. “Shouldn’t we be sticking together right now?”
“Wedoneed to stick together, but I gotta do this alone. The only other person I trust, besides you, is the one taking you home. After I get this done, we’ll be inseparable. Okay? I gotta go. I love you.”
Dominic kisses me again as Tommy stands up to give him a hug. As the two of them embrace, I see Tommy wince in pain again as he raises his arms to hug Dominic. I feel my eyes bulge at the sight, and as I stare, Tommy looks over Dominic’s shoulder and locks eyes with me. He catches me staring at him, and in that moment, I know I shouldn’t be alone with him, but it’s too late. Dominic rushes out the door and I’m left in Maggiano’s with a man I don’t trust for a second.
“I know you’re not feeling well, Alannah, so come on, I’ll take you home,” Tommy says, extending his hand to help me up.
I exhale to steady my nerves, and use his assistance to stand. He locks his gaze on me as I grab my purse off the floor and walk out of the restaurant—into the darkness of the night with Tommy “Two Nines” following closely behind me.
