DOM: Alliance Series Book Three (47)

Great. The man I married knows how to drug people. How comforting.

“And you can’t tattoo me again,” I tell him.

“I don’t have any plans to do either.”

My hands drop. “Dom, that’s not an answer.”

“I prefer you calling me Dominic.”

“I prefer you when you aren’t drugging me and scratching your name into my skin.”

Dominic’s jaw ticks, then he tries to change the topic. “I moved your clothes into the closet.”

“Dom.” I stomp my bare foot. “I don’t want your name tattooed on my finger.”

“Little late for that, Angel.” He turns and heads for the door. “Go get ready. And put on something black.”

“Dom—”

Before he steps through, he looks at me over his shoulder. “We’re going to a funeral.”

His words stop my tirade.

A funeral?





CHAPTER 23





Dom





I close my eyes as the line of matching black SUVs makes its way through morning Chicago traffic.

This isn’t the time for me to worry about Valentine.

I don’t have space right now to think about the way her face paled when I told her we were going to a funeral.

There’s no point in asking her if she’s okay.

She’s not.

I inhale, filling my lungs.

This is a family affair, but when I step out of this vehicle, I’m the Boss.

I’m untouchable.

Invincible.

I’m out for blood.

I breathe until I feel the vehicle slow, then I open my eyes.

We’re here.

Val is sitting in the back seat with me, staring up at the cathedral. Trembling.

I place my hand over hers on the seat between us, causing her to tense. “I know you don’t want to be here, but you’re coming in as my wife. Everyone knows who you are, so you won’t need to introduce yourself. They know our marriage was quick, but they believe it was a whirlwind romance.”

She turns her head, finally meeting my gaze. “So did I.”

Her eyes have always been so alive. From the first time I ever saw her, one look at those golden-brown eyes and I could see she was full of life and energy.

But not today.

Today they’re dull.

And if the heart inside my chest hadn’t already been turned into a diamond through decades of pressure, the expression on her face would break it.





CHAPTER 24





Val





My hands are shaking so badly I don’t even protest when Dom helps me out of the vehicle.

Anything but a funeral.

Literally anything but this.

My throat feels tight, and I have to focus on breathing as Dom interlocks his fingers with mine. The sore skin of my ring finger protests, but the slight ache gives me something to focus on.

I need anything else to focus on.

We start forward across the sidewalk.

Dominic is dressed in uninterrupted black. And the look on his face reminds me that I don’t really know him at all. Because for the first time, I see what Savannah meant.

He looks a little scary.

We lift our feet at the same time and climb the steps leading to the massive front doors.

Men line the stairs, all looking like they’re ready for a war.

My black ballet flats are silent on the concrete, and I’m glad I wore these shoes.

My belted long-sleeve shirt dress might be a bit short for a funeral, but it was the first black dress I could find. And the single nod Dominic gave me when I came down from our room told me it was suitable.

The doors are opened before us, and everything inside me goes cold.

I hate funerals.

I hate them so much.

My fingers squeeze Dominic’s.

He might be my enemy in this battle I didn’t know we were fighting, but he’s also the closest thing I have to a friend here.

And if he makes me sit alone…

I tug on his hand.

Dom tips his face down to me. He doesn’t say anything. And his intensity almost keeps me quiet. But my anxiety is nearing phobia levels.

“Will…” My lips tremble, and I press them together for a second. “Will you sit with me?”

When he doesn’t answer me, my eyes fill with tears.

I blink and look anywhere but at him, trying to avoid the eyes of the men still surrounding us.

“Angel.” His voice is soft. The voice I used to know. A thumb brushes across my cheek. “You’ll always be seated at my side.”

He cups the side of my face with his warm hand, holding me still as he presses his lips against my forehead.

I want to hate him.

“You can be sad in there. You can let people see your beautiful heart. Let them love you.” Dom brushes another tear away. “But we’re walking in with our shoulders back. Because those people in there need to believe in us. And we’re stronger together.”

I want to hate him so badly.

I straighten my shoulders and use my free hand to brush my hair back from my face.

When I look up to meet Dom’s bright blue gaze, I see that familiarity I heard a moment ago.