“What about Zevon? The other guy you saw?”
“I didn’t see him out tonight,” Wyatt answered. “If I had, I’d have just handed this one over. Mr. Vicci didn’t want me to draw attention to myself.”
“How about we wait in the kitchen, then?” Collin asked.
“Sure.”
“No funny business. I know how to shoot ya in the ass if you make one wrong move.”
“Got it,” Wyatt said. His tone didn’t seem like he was at all threatened by that fact. He was more pleased to see that no one was letting their guard down.
“Keep an eye on him, princess?”
“Yeah,” I said, lifting my head to meet Collin.
“Come find me if anything changes.”
With that, the two men left, leaving me alone with Dominic. After a moment, I laid down beside him, using my arm as a pillow.
“Scarlett,” he muttered, turning his head towards me. “Hi.”
“Hi,” I replied.
His eyes fought to stay open, but he was one determined man. I had to give him credit for that, I guess.
“You’re sooooo pretty,” he slurred.
I gave him a small smile.
“I like you,” he went on. It took him a lot of effort, but he slowly reached a hand out and grasped mine. His hand was colder than I was expecting. “Too much. I think I could fall in love with you.”
“You scared me,” I confessed. I closed my eyes, trying to stop the tears from falling. He’d have no clue how just how much he was scaring me right now. I wasn’t used to seeing the people I cared so much about be anything but strong. I wasn’t strong enough to deal with it.
“I’m fine,” he sighed, letting his eyes close one more time before sleep took him away.
I lay there for a while, just watching him breathe in and out. I was too wound up in panic to sleep.
The bedroom door was left open, letting the voices in every once in a while.
“Don’t ever leave me, Dominic,” I whispered brokenly. I knew he wouldn’t hear me, and that was the only reason I was even telling him. “If something were to happen to you, or Zevon, or Collin…” I trailed off.
Just as the sun began to rise, I pulled myself away from Dominic. He was snoring, none the wiser to the torment going through my mind. My heart ached for him. My soul cried out, wanting more of him, which wasn’t going to be allowed. I couldn’t allow it.
I was already growing too close to these people, and I knew it would be what would end me.
I wasn’t strong enough to handle this. Dominic being harmed was just a way to get to me. I had to put my guesses on it being Alan. He had to be behind it. Why else go after him?
Rubbing my tired eyes, I stumbled into the kitchen. Collin sat at the table, a cup of coffee in front of him, along with his computer. Zevon sat beside him, head on the table and dozing off and on. I hadn’t heard him come back, but I guess I was in my head for hours as I watched over Dominic.
“How’s he doing?” Zevon asked, sitting up more.
“Sleeping.”
“Why aren’t you? You look dead on your feet, hon,” he said.
I shrugged. I leaned against the counter, facing the window that looked out over the backyard, lost in thought once again.
I couldn’t shake the image of Dominic laying so still, so out of it, from my mind.
