DOM: Alliance Series Book Three (73)

“Which I know sounds ridiculous, because seventy thousand for a pan of noodles is insane. But it’s nothing to him.” She shrugs her shoulders. “And my parents only stopped paying for my college because they wanted me to use my first degree and didn’t think I needed to get my master’s. Which is dumb because they always told me school was important.” She places her hand on her forehead. “Oh my god, sorry, I’m rambling. The whole point is that I should’ve seen through the ruse.”

Her energy is so fun and happy I have to laugh. “Well, I hope he held up his end of the bargain, because that lasagna was delicious.”

“Thank you.” She beams. “I can’t wait to tell my mom that. I’m Miranda, by the way.” She offers me her hand.

I shake it. “Valentine.”

“Duh.” She laughs, then takes a sip of her drink.

Wanting the courage, I try my own and hum with appreciation.

“Good?” Miranda asks.

“Really good.” I take another drink.

She shrugs. “Since Dom started you out with a whiskey shot, I figured an old-fashioned would be a safe choice for my bribe.”

“Bribe?”

“A friendship bribe.” She says it like it’s just a silly gesture. But it’s not. It’s more appreciated than she could ever know.

“Well, it worked.” I try to keep my tone light. “So, um, what did you get your master’s in?”

“Art therapy.”

My brows raise. “That sounds cool.”

“It is.”

We continue to drink as Miranda tells me all about art therapy and what she plans to do with her degrees. And for a bit, I’m able to forget how overwhelmed I am.

The old-fashioned disappears, and a server shows up to take my empty glass as I swallow the last bit.

“Another?” they ask with a dip of their head.

I shake mine. “Not yet, thank you.”

With my hands free, I undo the belt of my jacket and start to pull it off. The alcohol and the packed restaurant have made me a little too warm.

Miranda whistles. “Love the dress.”

“Thanks. Dominic always reminds me of blue.” I lift a shoulder, not sure why I admitted that.

“Such a good wife.” Dom’s voice sounds from right behind me, startling me. “You should always dress with me in mind.” Not waiting for me to reply to his absurd statement, Dominic takes the coat from my hands and passes it off to someone else. “Glad to see you two are friends now,” he says to us, but his eyes are on me.

“I like her,” I tell Dom, then turn to Miranda. “My sister-in-law is a painter. I don’t know if you want to know more people in the art world, but I’d be happy to introduce you sometime.”

Her eyes widen. “Really? Are you talking about Savannah Oates? Or I guess it’s Vass now. I’d love to meet her.”

My mouth opens.

She knows about Savannah?

Miranda must see something in my expression because her face falls. “Oh shit, sorry. Was that weird? I don’t mean it in a creepy way or anything. It’s just, well…” She shrugs her shoulders. “She did marry King, co-leader of The Alliance. So obviously, I was going to look her up online. And her work is top shit.”

“Miranda.” Dominic sighs. “You’re making it weird.”

I reach up and gently smack his chest with the back of my hand. “No, she’s not.”

Miranda lets out a sort of startled sound, and I follow her eyes to where Dominic caught my hand against his body.

The way Miranda is looking at us makes me wonder if I shouldn’t have done that.

Should I not have hit the head Boss?

A few of the closest conversations have quieted.

My eyes widen, and I look up at Dom. “I’m sorry. I was just… playing around.”

I don’t know why my voice cracks at the end, but everyone has been so nice to me. I don’t want to be the one who ruins tonight.

“Shorty.” The side of Dominic’s mouth pulls up, and I swear he knows to use that nickname whenever I’m starting to spiral. “I like you playing around. Alright?”

“Alright,” I whisper, fighting away the panic.

He lifts my hand and presses a kiss to the inside of my wrist as his eyes trail down the length of my body, taking in all the bare skin.

“You look amazing tonight.”

“Aww!” Miranda’s voice cuts through the moment.

I bite down on my smile.

Dom shakes his head, then lets out a loud whistle.

All voices stop, and all heads turn toward my husband.

His chin lifts. “Let’s eat.”





CHAPTER 48





Dom





Valentine lowers herself into the chair I’ve pulled out for her, and I take the spot next to her.

There’s no assigned seating, but our table is spoken for. Two of my uncles and my aunt Dina, who hugged Val at the funeral, are already seated, but I wait for my mom to settle in across from Val before I start introductions.

I start with the uncles, and then I watch Valentine squeeze her hands together in her lap when I introduce her to my aunt. So by the time I get to my mom, I place my hand over Val’s on her thigh, hoping to help calm her down.