My brows furrowed; it wasn't adding up. Why would Don leave before he had the chance to reconcile with his daughter? Coming here made no sense. Reading my question, he said, “Mary is pregnant. I need to be with her now, and Rosa… I have a feeling she won’t want anyone’s company for a while. I’ll be staying at the Marriott hotel in New Arbat.” So he wasn't leaving the country, just preferred to live quietly with his woman. He slapped me on the back, hugging me close, and whispered for my ears only, “She needs you.” Grabbing the jacket from Igor, he exited into the night, leaving me with hectic thoughts and a body that hurt like a motherfucker.
Rosa
The loud rustling wind blowing into the room and swaying the curtains woke me. My eyes snapped open, and for a second, I scanned the room, disoriented.
Where the hell was I?
The moonlight shone brightly in the wide room with only a single mattress where I lay. It was surprisingly comfortable, as it molded to my every curve. Canvases and paintings were scattered on the floor, against the wall, everywhere. Some of them tarnished, as if someone broke them with a fist right in the middle.
And then I remembered.
Dominic.
I was in his apartment wing after the eventful day that finally opened my eyes to what had really been going on in my life.
“Hey, darling. Nice to have you back.” Michael startled me, and I noticed him in the doorway holding a bottle of water in his hand while the shower ran in the bathroom. Despite the cooling breeze on my skin, my body felt hot all over. Sweat ran down my back, soaked the sheets, and made the hair on my neck damp. Removing the blanket, I rose up on my knees and took Michael’s offering, because my throat seemed too dry to speak. The warm liquid soothed me, and licking my dry lips, I smiled at Michael.
“Hello, stranger.” He grinned, kneeled next to me, and hugged me closer. Wrapping my arms around him, I enjoyed it, because it felt like having one piece of my life back. “Finally, you’re back.”
Resting my chin on his shoulder, I asked, “Who is in the shower?”
“Dominic.” His voice sounded off, and it bothered me.
“What are you not telling me?”
He exhaled a heavy breath right as Vitya walked in and frowned. “Sneaky siren, already up on my man?”
Rolling my eyes at his teasing, I addressed him. “What’s going on with Dom?” Why the hell did my possessive man leave me with his two close friends and take a shower? My expectation was that he’d lie next to me and hold me in his arms during my nightmares. Instead, he seemed unaffected by my presence here.
As weird as it sounded, getting my identity back was like the last piece of the puzzle clicking into place, and I had my feelings and personality back. Where shyness and uncertainty were before… confidence and annoyance came back. I probably could have sat and lost my shit over the past year all over again, and repeated the hysterics, but honestly, what was the point? The family where I ended up were nice folks and never harmed me. Guilt struck though, knowing Oliver had really loved Angelica. But they brought me back to health and took good care of me. Being angry solved nothing, and I simply refused to lose any more time at gaining my life back.
No more freaking tears in my life anymore!
“He got drunk and then had a fight with Radmir.” Probably seeing my blank expression at the name, Vitya elaborated. “Sovietnik of the Bratva. He had been in prison.” Oh yes, Dominic told me about his story. My heart ached for the guy who went to prison for a crime he didn't commit and then his woman married another. “Your father left as well.”
That surprised me, and I rubbed my forehead, wondering why he wouldn't wait to talk to me. Although I could understand his hesitation, he probably didn't want to overwhelm me at once. “Okay, thanks.” I got up and squealed as my body was only covered in a sheer white nightgown.
Vitya cursed, spinning around so fast he probably had whiplash, while Michael whistled. “Hot.”
Blushing, I folded my arms, so at least my breasts were invisible. Geez! Gays or not, my girls didn't need to be flashed at anyone but Dom.
“Michael, fucking stop looking!” Vitya demanded, while Michael sighed in exasperation.
“Those are boobs, babe. What the hell would I do with them anyway? But nice ones, if the magazines the guys have scattered around the headquarters are anything to go by.” A giggle escaped me, and he winked, clearly trying to ease my embarrassment. “Be proud, babe.”
“That’s it!” His man wasn't known for his patience; he grabbed him by the nape, pushed back on his chest, and whispered something in his ear. Michael flushed instantly, his breathing speeding up.
With a smug grin, Vitya dragged him outside, but not before calling to me over his shoulder, “It’s like last time, Rosa.”
Sinking on my butt, I understood his meaning at once. We had a similar scene before Damian’s wedding, when he came in all beat up and hid from me in the shower. Back then, I joined him and we talked.
But my instincts screamed at me that talking wasn't what he needed in this moment. The idea appeared in my mind so suddenly I didn't even pause to think about it, just jumped up and proceeded to make it true.
Dominic
Stepping outside the shower stall, I wiped myself dry while studying my reflection in the mirror, wincing at the black eye and several bruises left from Radmir’s punches. My stomach hurt like a motherfucker, but oddly, I welcomed the pain as it sobered me up. The last thing Rosa needed was my drunken ass crying, or worse, making advances on her body.
I wrapped the towel around my waist, ran my fingers through my messy hair so I wouldn't wake up with a halo above my head, and went into the bedroom, as my insides screamed at me to join my woman in bed.
