Something flashed through him, as his face became unreadable. “Stop while you can, Rosa.”
But it was too late to stop, wasn't it? My naivety allowed me to stay blind to the fact that Dad’s issues ran deeper than his desire to protect me from life and everyone around me. The belief that the situation with me taught him anything was stupid. You couldn't help a person until he or she wanted it too. We simply couldn't live together under one roof, no matter how much we tried.
“Mom is dead, Dad.” He stepped back, as if I slapped him. “Has been for a long time. This desire to make a museum out of our lives? It’s not going to bring her back. You seeing me as this”—I took the photo out of my purse and raised it to his grief-stricken face—“will lead our relationship nowhere.” His jaw ticked as his fist clenched while he struggled for his legendary control, but it failed him. So without further delay, I wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him tightly while he stood with his hands hanging low, not even moving to return it. “I love you, Daddy, but you have to let go. Otherwise, Mom won’t be the only person you lose.”
He finally hugged me back, almost squeezing all the air from me, and whispered into my hair, “You are my princess, Rosalinda.” Closing my eyes, I soaked all the love from this moment, knowing it was a changing point in our relationship. No matter how much I loved him, how much he loved me, the nest that was his house became a prison for me, and I longed to fly away and find my own place in the world. Parental love was one of the most precious things in this life, but not when it suffocated you.
“But I can’t be a Cosa Nostra princess anymore, Daddy,” I whispered back into his neck, while he froze, but then his heart started to beat rapidly as the impact of my statement settled in.
“If he is what you want,” he said firmly, with an edge to his voice.
Dominic inspired feelings inside me I couldn't describe: desire, protection, and safety… Was it possible to call it love? Probably not, but I understood deep into my soul no one would ever compare to him. So why resist it so much? Granted, my life was here, and I had my own dreams that I hoped to accomplish, but if anything, he proved he’d always stay by me and never rush me. How could I not trust him with my heart in this case?
“He is.”
He sighed in defeat, and with one last hug, he let go of me, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Lorenzo will take you?” After my nod, he picked up my luggage and circled his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go then.” While we strolled down, I noticed our lack of guests and raised my curious eyes to my dad. “I sent them home. Romeo pissed me off, and Allegro just doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut,” he answered grimly, and I chuckled, wholeheartedly agreeing with him.
Once we reached the car, he palmed my face, pressed a kiss to my forehead, and murmured, “When you have a child, you’ll understand me, but remember one thing, Rosalinda. There will never be a time when you won’t be a Cosa Nostra princess.” Tears slid down my cheeks. He wiped them away and helped me inside the vehicle. He barked at Lorenzo, “Keep her safe. Your job still stays the same.” And with those words, he closed the door, and the car slowly rode through the narrow arch to the entrance.
Lorenzo’s fingers kept switching the radio, clearly looking for some classical song, which my ears just couldn't take, when I blabbed, “Did you know people still think we are engaged and gonna have babies?”
He paused, and then his eyes met mine in the rearview mirror as horror ran through them. “What?” he asked, his voice colored with anger. “Are those people trying to get me killed?”
Frowning in confusion, I asked, “What do you mean?”
He grinned, as he waved a hand toward Salvador, our gardener, as he opened the gates. “The pakhan will have me burned alive for this. So please keep that information from him.”
Shit, that ship had sailed. “Yeah, about that…”
My apologetic voice got his attention. He slowed down then looked over his shoulder at me. “Please tell me you didn't share this nonsense with him? He is going to fucking kill me!” Hitting the steering wheel with his fist, he added, “I have a girlfriend.”
Laughing, I patted his shoulder. “Then we are on the same page, my friend.”
Winking, he begged, “Just make sure to let your man know about it.” Resting my head on the window, my eyes closed as I slowly was lulled to sleep with the knowledge that I became independent, and that freedom loosened the tight knots inside me that had been there for far too long.
Dominic
The doors flew open as I barged inside the hospital, menace written all over my face, with Vitya and Michael hot on my heels.
The nurse at reception greeted me with a hesitant smile, but I didn't even bother speaking to her on my way to the elevators. “Sir, you cannot go there before—”
Not having patience for her shit, I said through my teeth, “Michael.” He nodded and went to her, probably showing IDs and explaining the purpose of our visit. Clicking a few times in frustration on the button, the elevator finally settled on the first floor, and I entered with Vitya barely making it inside. Pressing the fifth floor button, I desperately tried not to lose my shit, although rage threatened to explode through my every pore.
“Dominic, calm down.”
My reaction was instant. Grabbing Vitya by the neck, I slammed him hard against the wall. “Know your place.” No emotion passed through his face. “Stop telling me what to do.” I let go in time for theding,so when the door opened, I flew outside, quickening my steps and finally reaching room 524.
My hands clenched into fists as my eyes scanned the body lying on the bed. Machines attached to his mouth, heart, hands, fucking everything, beeped around him.
Radmir’s head was wrapped in a white bandage. His chest rose and fell slightly, and a pulse indicator showed a slow but steady heartbeat. His face was yellow-green from all the beating. His chest had several knife wounds, while both his legs had casts.
Dima called me with the news that Radmir had been beaten up and stabbed—almost to death. Fortunately, one of the guards saved his ass just in time. I couldn't believe the fucking words. Immediately, I flew to Houston in my private plane with Vitya and Michael, who put my plan with Rosa on hold as long as Anton had eyes on her, making sure my woman stayed safe.
Spinning around, I came face-to-face with Dima and Vitya who stood outside waiting for me to speak. “Who did it? And how the fuck did this happen?” I addressed Dima, who winced.
“Nobody knows. He just got back from isolation. Everything was fine during the day, but then last night, he was attacked by five inmates, and as hard as he fought, he was powerless against their knives and baseball bats.”
Anger boiled like fucking lava through my veins. “Where the fuck were the guards? They had to have plenty of time to put him in this condition!”
