‘Good morning gorgeous,’ he murmurs.
I smile. ‘How did you know I was awake?’
‘I just knew.’ He squeezes me closer against him. ‘Now, Mrs Kincaid, we have a flight to catch, but first, I need breakfast. Lie on your back and open your legs. It’s not a request.’
39
AOIFE
Outside the Shelbourne, Dominic pauses on the steps. His gaze drifts along the street to Rory Kavanagh’s house.
The sight makes my stomach twist.
‘Come on,’ Dominic says, guiding me towards the BMW waiting for us. Lewis and James are standing beside it. He helps me in, then slides in beside me.
‘Where are we going?’ I ask, twisting to look at him. I still can’t believe this big, beautiful, dangerous man is my husband. My eyes roam over the dark stubble dusting his jawline, then dip to his torso. He’s wearing dark jeans and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His tattoo peeps out from the top of his open shirt buttons. His inky eyes glint, framed by those thick black-rimmed glasses.
‘It’s a surprise,’ he reaches for my hand. He hasn’t stopped touching me since the second I let him. After feeling lonely for my entire life, it gives me comfort I didn’t realise I craved. ‘Do you trust me?’
‘You know I do.’ I glance down at myself, smoothing thesundress Sheila packed in my overnight bag. ‘Where are our cases?’
‘In the boot.’ He squeezes my hand. ‘Sheila told me to tell you she’s got you covered.’
A laugh slips out of me. ‘That’s what worries me.’
When we reach the airport, Lewis and James drop us at a private terminal.
‘Aren’t they coming with us?’
Dominic shakes his head. ‘No, sweetheart. They’re needed here.’ His voice is sombre. It hits me then—the enormity of what our marriage means. We’ve started a war.
My mind drifts to Ciaran, my favourite of Dom’s brothers. Admittedly, I don’t know him well yet, but his sense of humour is addictive. Even Abby was laughing by the time he’d finished dancing with her.
I can only pray none of The Syndicate members die because of me. The thought twists my stomach, but I force myself to think of all the women that Rory trafficked. All the innocents who will be saved if he’s taken out.
‘You’ll be safe with me. No one knows where we’re going. Not even my brothers. It’s better that way. By the time we get back, things should be more settled.’ He pulls me against his chest. ‘Trust The Syndicate to do what we do best.’
A shiver rips over my spine. I drag myself back to the present, suck in a deep breath, and blow it out slowly.
We pass through private security, with blacked-out glass, where we’re met by a limousine that transports us the short drive across the tarmac to a jet. My eyes widen as I take it in. Dominic watches my reaction with a small smirk. ‘Wow.’ I exhale heavily. ‘You’re really pulling out the stops.’
‘Wedding present,’ he says. ‘From Sean Beckett.’
‘Shut. The. Front. Door.’
‘Just to borrow, of course.’ He helps me out of the limo,then guides me to the narrow steps leading up to the jet’s open door, his palm remaining reassuringly on the small of my back.
‘Why wasn’t he at the wedding yesterday?’
‘Our friendship isn’t well known.’ His lips tip up. ‘The Syndicate provides security for his club because his family knows nothing about it—and that’s the way it has to stay. I know he looks like a respectable businessman, and he is, but he’s also one hell of a kinky, depraved fucker.’
‘Will you take me back to the club soon?’ My breath catches, pulse spiking at the memory of all those eyes on us.
‘That’s a given.’ His smile grows into a wolfish grin.
I swallow thickly, eyeing the jet. How is this my life? A couple of months ago, I was working three jobs to make ends meet; now I’m boarding a private plane to God knows where, but knowing my husband, it’ll be lavish. ‘Where are we going?’ I’m utterly in awe. ‘Tell me, please.’
‘Milan for five nights,’ he finally drawls. ‘Then on to a cottage in Lake Como.’
