Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“You’re okay,” he says gently. “I’m going to take a look around, okay? Just stay right there.”
I nod and swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry.
He steps in front of me then slowly picks his way through the apartment, more careful in the places where the dishes are smashed. Even so, I can hear the sickening crunch underneath his shoes.
“The bedroom and bathroom are clear,” he tells me a moment later.
“What would you have done if someone had been here?” I ask in a hollow voice. “You don’t even have a gun.”
“Well, not on my person,” he answers.
Not ten seconds later, our driver, Bradley, comes running through the door, a gun held low at his waist.
“It’s clear,” Dominic repeats to him. “But I need to get a team here immediately to sweep the place. There’s no sign of forced entry, so I need to pull any and all cameras in the neighborhood. Get the night crew to canvass the neighbors for doorbell cameras. Somebody had to have seen the son of a bitch who did this.”
Of course, none of this is said to me. Once again, he’s making decisions that don’t include me at all. And I haven’t forgotten we’re fighting.
“Please don’t bother my neighbors tonight,” I say, because it’s the only thing he said that I can focus on. “They already gossip about me as it is.”
Dominic fixes me with a hard stare, like he can’t believe that’s what I’m worried about. I don’t shy away from his gaze. Maybe it’s a test to see if he’s capable of listening to me. All I know is, I’m desperate for him to grant this one small request.
Eventually he nods.
“Fine.” He sighs. “The search can wait until tomorrow, but you can’t stay here tonight.”
I don’t even argue. There’s no way in hell I would anyway. If he hadn’t been here, I’d probably go to Maya’s or my dad’s.
“Is the offer to stay at your place still on the table?” I ask weakly.
The corners of his mouth twitch, but he doesn’t fully smile. “Pack a bag.”
The drive to his penthouse is silent. I lean my head against the cool glass and try to collect my thoughts. Somebody broke into my apartment. In the five minutes Dominic gave me to grab my things, I didn’t notice anything missing. Then again, my brain was in full panic mode, so it’s not like I was taking careful inventory.
It felt oddly violent, like the person who did it wanted me to see what they were capable of. The thought sends a horrible wave of nausea through me. I pull my knees up to my chest and close my eyes, shutting myself off from anything or anyone who would try to bring me harm.
Dominic shakes me gently when we arrive. I jerk upright, not realizing I’d started to doze off. Groggy, I look around and see we’re idling outside a very expensive building. When I get out, Bradley is already holding my bag. Dominic takes it from him and walks me inside.
His doorman says hello and Dominic’s hand moves to my lower back. It’s oddly comforting. Less so are the armed security guards standing outside the elevator. I try not to stare at them, and fail miserably. Neither of them looks at me or Dominic, but I can tell they’re watching everything and everyone.
“Do your neighbors not care that you have your own security guards in the building?” I whisper to him.
He chuckles. “I own the building,” he responds. “And the only people who live here are my men. So, no, they don’t care.”
I nod as the elevator doors open. We step inside, and I glance up into the corner to find a security camera staring down at me. Christ, this place is like Fort Knox. The elevator rushes us to the top floor, where it opens onto the penthouse. Two more guards stand on the other side, still as soldiers.
As we enter the penthouse, a freaking supermodel gracefully descends the stairs. She’s got to be at least six feet tall with long, brown hair cascading in perfect waves that I have often tried and failed to create in my own hair. Her makeup is flawless, like she’s just come from a photoshoot. My first instinct would normally be jealousy, but she so obviously looks like Dominic, I know immediately they must be related.
“Dom,” she calls. “You didn’t tell me we were having company.”
She smiles warmly and holds her hand out to me. I take it stiffly.
“I’m Chiara, Dom’s sister,” she tells me. “
“This is my assistant, Sofia,” Dominic tells her. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”
His voice is stiff, and I realize I don’t like the way he’s introduced me. Technically, he hasn’t said anything wrong. I am his assistant. I’m also the mother of his future child, but I guess it’s too soon to tell her that.