DOM: Alliance Series Book Three (21)

Savannah texts back, confirming the time, and I add in the obligatory what should I bring? even though they have a cook that lives on their property. You know, like people do.

My desktop computer signals the arrival of the email I’ve been waiting for, so I turn back to my screen.

I’m reading through the email when my phone buzzes with Savannah’s reply.

My hands go to my keyboard to type up the reply, but then I remember the text and glance down.

Big Guy: Did you have a nice day, Shorty?





Not Savannah.

My cheeks are hot.

Why are my cheeks hot?

Me: Pretty normal. How about you?





Send.

Big Guy: Mine was pretty normal, too. But I couldn’t stop thinking about this knockout I met at the airport this week.





Knockout?

Swoon.

Me: Oh yeah? I bet she was super funny and brilliant.





Send.

I groan.

Why am I so weird?

Big Guy: You think I would settle for anything less?





Gah, he’s so perfect.

Me: Of course not. I’ve seen your face.





Send.

I groan again.

I’ve seen your face?

Me: I don’t mean that in a serial killer way.





Send.

Me: I meant that I’ve seen how handsome your face is.





Send.

Me: And that obviously you wouldn’t have to settle since you look the way you do.





Send.

Me: Reimplementing the blocking request. See text from two days ago.





Send.

I turn my head to my second computer monitor, which is currently off, and stare at my reflection on the black surface.

This is why you’re single.

My phone buzzes.

Big Guy: I deeply regret not texting you yesterday. Clearly, you’re the cure for changing a normal day into a good day.





How many times can a person swoon in one text conversation?

Me: If you message me again tomorrow, I’ll do my best to make your normal day good.





Send.

Wow, that sounded stupid.

I set the phone down and sit on my hands.

He knows what I mean. I don’t need to clarify.

Big Guy: I’m going to hold you to that. Until tomorrow, Angel.





I pick my phone back up and stare at the screen, wondering if it would be strange to kiss it.

Yes, it would.

Me: Bye, Dom.





Send.





24 hours later

Big Guy: Evening, Angel. Did you use your backpack today?





Me: I did not. But it’s sitting in the middle of my living room, so I saw it.





Big Guy: Close enough. I have to jump on a call but wanted some Valentine goodness first.





Me: Goodnight, Mr. Workaholic. I’m already in my pajamas.





Big Guy: Goodnight, sleepy girl.





My half brother’s chef clears away the dinner plates, and no matter how many times I eat here, it’s still a little strange to be waited on like we’re in a restaurant.

Brother. I’m trying to remember to just call King and Aspen my brother and sister and drop the half, even if I’m only saying it in my head. I don’t want to have that divide between us forever.

King’s housekeeper steps into the room, helping the chef with the dishes, and I’m reminded that nothing is ever normal around here—in this giant mansion with guard dogs, a manned gate, and round-the-clock armed security. But since King is some sort of mafia person, I suppose normal is relative.

Is The Alliance mafia?

I honestly don’t know the difference between the mafia and regular organized crime. If there even is a difference. And it’s not like I can just google it. Well, I could. But I know enough about the whole Alliance thing to know that King has some major computer skills. And I don’t really want to be detained by his men for googling “what is the mafia.”

It doesn’t really matter anyway. Except for the driver that King makes me use, for my own safety, I’m not involved. I doubt the Vass siblings would have told me about it if they could have gotten away with it. And I don’t really know what, if anything, Aspen does for The Alliance, but I know she knows more than me.

Either way, giving me a bodyguard is probably a sign that they actually like me and it hasn’t just been some act. If they didn’t care about me, they wouldn’t mind if I got abducted by some enemy.

My mouth pulls into a frown as I remember the man who tried to kill Savannah not that long ago. In this very house.

“You okay?” Savannah asks me from her spot across the table.

I realize something must have shown on my face, so I quickly smile. “Yeah, good! Sorry, just zoned out there.”

“Probably working too much. Seems to run in the family.” She snorts.

King shakes his head as he stands from his seat next to her. “Quit spreading lies, Honey. You work more than I do.”