Page 11 of The Viper

“You’ve just left my apartment open for anyone to waltz in there and take whatever they want.” He ducks down and throws me over his shoulder. “Are you insane?”

“You don’t want to come voluntarily, so I have to improvise.”

“By kidnapping me?”

“Yes, so I can feed you.”

“I have food back at my apartment, and I’m capable of making it.”

“That’s not food, that’s cardboard.” He walks down the one flight of stairs and waiting at the door are the same two guys from yesterday at the café. “Her apartment is open, secure it,” he orders one of the guys who takes off to do what he’s been told. The other guy opens the back door of his shiny black car, and Dominic places me to my feet and waits for me to slide in. “Hurry up.”

“I don’t like you,” I protest as I fold my arms in front of my chest.

“I’m heartbroken. Now get in.” The guy who took off reappears and waits while looking up and down the street. “I’m hungry, and you should be too.”

“No, I’m not.” I shake my head, refusing to get in the car.

“You can watch me eat then. Hurry up,” he repeats.

I screw my nose at him. “I’m not going to watch you eat.”

“Then get in the damn car so we can enjoy our dinner.”

“I hate you,” I say as I finally concede and slide into the back.

“No, you don’t. You like me, a lot.” He climbs in next to me and the other guy closes the door, while the other one settles behind the steering wheel. I don’t even know their names, only that they seem to be everywhere Dominic is.

I scoot over to the opposite side of the car, and try to make myself as small as possible. “Don’t touch me,” I warn.

“I can wait until you want me to.”

“Good, because you’ll be waiting for a damned long while.” I smile sweetly at him. “By the way, I’m not wearing shoes, and no restaurant is going to let me in without shoes.”

He looks to my feet and smirks. “You have cute toes.”

“Great, you have a foot fetish. Just what I need.” I look out the window, regretting my life choices.

“I don’t have a foot fetish, though yours are adorable.”

I rub my hand across my eyes and sigh. “Stop talking.” Thankfully, Dominic does shut up, at least until the car stops. I look around, attempting to gauge where we are. “Where are we?”

“I told you, I’m taking you to the Italian restaurant that has the best sauce in the state.” I move to open the door, but Dominic places his hand over mine. “No.”

“What?”

“When you’re with me, my men will do everything for you.”

I feel myself gawking at him in disgust. “How repressing.” I don’t wait for anyone, instead, I open the door and slide out of the car.

“Rosa,” Dominic calls as he makes his way around the car to where I am. “I told you, you wait for my men.”

“First.” I lift my hand and point my finger. “Call me Rosa again and I’ll walk home.” I extend a second finger. “Second, I don’t need to be waited on by anybody. I can open the door on my own.” I walk toward the restaurant, where his driver holds the door open.

“It’s not about if you can or can’t do these things, it’s about your safety.”

I swing around and place my hand on my hip. “My safety?” I ask, incredulous. Dominic nods. “The only person I need to be kept safe from is you.” I point to my feet. “I don’t even have shoes on, because you think it’s appropriate to barge into my home and kidnap me.”

“Kidnap you? You’ve got this all wrong,” he says with humor. “We’re merely having dinner.”

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