Page 66 of The Don's Hidden Heir

I’m silent. I don’t know what to say. I’ve been so self-absorbed I didn’t realize before now that I don’t know much about Dominic. I don’t know what made him the way he is, and what has caused him pain.

Vincent looks at his watch. It’s a white Patek Phillipe watch, limited edition. “Got to run now. See you later.” He stands up and saunters towards his car.

Time flies quickly as I think of Dominic and the trauma he had to endure, seeing his parents’ bodies, after being killed in their home.

It must’ve hurt him so much.

When he comes home later that evening, I’m lying on his bed chatting with Moira on the phone as I wait for him. I end the call and run my eyes over the man who fathered my child.

“Hey.” He places his gun on the nightstand and unbuttons his shirt. “You’re up.”

“Haven’t been able to sleep, to be honest.” I climb from the bed and go over to help him out of his clothes. “Had a bad day?”

“No.” He tosses his shirt on the floor. “Today was surprisingly calm. Where’s Lucas?”

“Asleep. He stayed up waiting for you until eight.”

Dominic rubs his temple and groans. His eyes are gloomy and he looks exhausted. “I should spend more time with him, but I’m barely home. I’m sorry.”

I curl my arms around his neck. The heat from his body seeps into mine. “It’s fine. You can spend more time with him when all of this is over.”

He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Sure. I can.” He kisses me softly on the forehead. “I’ll take a shower and join you.”

“How about dinner?”

“I’m not hungry. I just need a hot shower and a good sleep.” He pulls away and strides to the bathroom. I put his clothes in the laundry basket, then I return to the bed and slip under the cover.

I’m drifting off to sleep when Dominic enters the room from the shower, filling the air with the scent of sandalwood. He walks butt naked to the closet and when he returns, he’s wearing just his briefs.

The bed dips when he climbs in and presses his chest to my back. His body is cool after the shower, still, he manages to warm me up when he wraps an arm around me.

I turn to face him. He doesn’t look as exhausted as he did minutes ago, but the darkness in his eyes hasn’t faded completely. “Can I ask you something?”

He gives me a slight nod. “Go ahead.”

“Your parents. How did they die?”

His breath hitches, he uncurls his arm from me and tries to turn away before I grab his shoulder. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. I don’t mean to be pushy.”

He holds my gaze for a moment, his blue eyes piercing my soul. “They were both shot dead in their home, on their anniversary,” he says quietly. “I’ve seen many dead men in my life, Elena, but the image of their lifeless bodies never leaves my mind. It feels like I’ve been cursed to never forget. It’s like a price I have to pay for my cruelty, and is a driving force for my ruthlessness.”

Pain bleeds into his eyes and it’s the first time I’ve seen a sad expression on Dominic’s face. His sadness is all it takes for my heart to squeeze in my chest. “I’m sorry, Dominic. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you.”

My heart was ripped into a thousand pieces when my mother died, but she’d died from cancer. She’d fought hard and we had time to prepare for her final moments. Still, it hurts whenever I think of her.

I want to assure Dominic I understand how he feels, but I imagine it’s a different level of pain knowing his parents didn’t die naturally, their lives were snatched from them.

“If you’re sorry, then you have to protect yourself, Elena. I can’t lose you too.”

I move closer to him and rest my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Now I understand why he has always been so protective of me and Lucas. I feel so sorry for not understanding him better earlier. “I will. I won’t get involved again. I promise, but Peterson, he’ll expect me to come over for dinner.”

“He will, but no one is going to step into the enemy’s territory just to prove a point. Leave my uncle to me.”

I nod my head. “You have to make me a promise, too.”

He tucks my hair behind my ear. “What is it?”

“Promise me you won’t get hurt, Dominic. I don’t want Lucas to grow without his father. He needs you.”We both need you.

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