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Regina
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After the dressmaker Marco drives me to the wedding planner, Sonya, who tells me the ceremony will take place at the major cathedral downtown with the reception to follow at the Drake Hotel just two blocks away from it. The wedding planner is brash and has a hard edge to her. I’m pretty sure she’s perfect to make everything happen in two weeks. She also tells me that the wives of Dominic’s three cousins will be my matron of honor and bridesmaids. Nice to know, then I remember that without them I wouldn’t have anyone else to do it.
Three hours later my head is spinning, and I have a slight headache but everything that needed to be chosen has been. I hated I was doing it alone.
Yet even though Dominic isn’t here, he’s involved. From his orders to Callie and Lydia and the laundry list he gave to Sonya, he’s exerting his control, and yet...he’s not running me over with what he wants, he’s leaving me options, letting me decide. Sonya had also made that clear: Dominic wanted certain elements, but how that happened was up to me.
Except it’s all an illusion. None of this is how I dreamed—god, I’m such a liar. The big white dress, the over-the-top flowers which are so expensive I couldn’t breathe when Sonya and the florist discussed the prices as if I weren’t even there. It didn’t matter I thought it was too expensive; it was what I wanted, so Dominic decreed it was what I would have.
Yes, I wanted the man I was going to marry to love me enough to grant my every wish. Except this is all wrong because he’s not the man I dreamed of. He carries a gun and he kills people and he threw me into the trunk of a car, and he threatened the life of a man I was foolish enough to believe I loved. How can I think I love him when he is who he is?
No, no, no. You don’t, don’t be stupid. It’s been less than three full days. You do not love him. Focus, Regina, you have to find a way out of this and you have to do it today.
At the doctor’s office I’m given the birth control implant Dominic wanted. The doctor is very obviously a mafia doctor—the office has few supplies except for what was needed likely to give stitches and remove bullets. Neither the nurse or doctor wore anything even resembling scrubs, we could have been in any office. I had been worried about pain, but the shot to numb me is the only thing that hurts. I’m warned it will leave a bruise and be tender for a week or so and to use condoms for at least seven days. I nod, no way is it something I’m going to worry about.
We’re inching closer and closer to the apartment and tension is building within me. If I don’t go now, I know I’ll never get a chance. Out of nowhere Everett slams on the brakes.
“Fuck, Everett,” Marco groans as he pulls his seat belt away from his chest.
“I apologize, there’s a car accident up ahead.”
It’s now or never. I unclip my seat belt, moaning. Marco barely notices as he leans between the two front seats. Slowly, I unlock my door. I sigh as it moves; then I take a deep breath, open the door, and run.
Thank god I’m in flats. Up one side street, down a short alley. I almost cry in relief to see a police car and two cops in uniform, one leaning against the car and the other running his eyes over the street.
“Help me,” I call out.
The words are barely out before a rough hand comes around my arm, yanking me up against a hard chest.
Both cops straighten, neither of them looking at me—their eyes are on Marco.
I fight back tears as the larger, bullish cop with a smashed nose and clipped haircut nods. “Evening, Marco. How is Mr. Sabatini doing?”
Marco’s hand squeezes my arm in warning. “Good, this is Regina Conti, Johnny’s daughter. She and Dominic will be getting married soon. Maybe give a call if you’re looking to work security for the big day.”
Both cops nod, and the bullish one touches his cap to me. “Sounds good, congratulations, Ms. Conti.”
Humiliated, I don’t fight as Marco walks me back to the SUV. “Any cop you go up to, the same thing is going to happen. They’ll hold you for Dom, and hand you over with a smile on their face. All you did is piss off Dom, and now me and Dario are going to pay for it.”
Ice slides down my spine in fear at the idea of Dominic finding out what I’ve done.
***
Regina
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I’m back in the apartment at the window seat. I had considered hiding in my room but knew I was putting off the inevitable. Besides, this room soothes me in a way I can’t explain.
There is no warning of the alert from the elevator I’ve been straining to listen for. Suddenly Dominic is there, Marco and Dario beside him. Both men have their heads down. Dominic is studying me.
Why are they here?
His eyes are ice blue. “What happened?”
I shake my head, my throat tight in fear.
“Tell me what you did, princess.” His voice is smoke and fire as it burns over me.
Even though Dominic has his eyes on me, from the corner of my eye I see Marco flinch. “It wasn’t their fault. I saw a chance and I took it. I’m sorry.”
“Their one single job at this time is to keep you in sight, and in hand. They failed. You running was no surprise, it was expected. If you got more than five feet away from them, they failed me. I cannot have that.”
Turning, his attention is on Dario. “Eye or hand? What do you want broken?”
“Dominic, don’t, please. I swear I won’t do it again.”
I might as well not have spoken. Dario meets Dominic’s eyes. “Eye.”
Dominic moves so fast if I had blinked I would have missed it. The crunch of hand to bone is loud in the room. Dario staggers back against the wall, he fights not to go down. His hand against his eye, he’s gasping.
Without a second look at Dario, Dominic asks the same thing of Marco.
I never hear the word; blood is thundering in my ears as I watch Dominic smash his fist into Marco’s eye. Marco isn’t able to stay on his feet. I reel in shock at the violence in front of me.
Through my tears, Dominic is in front of me, a terrifying blur. “Are you going to hit me now too?” I fight to throw the words at him, but I’m shaking so badly they come out a garbled mess.
A hand comes up to caress my cheek, I flinch. It’s the same hand he put through the wall yesterday, the same hand he used to hurt Dario and Marco. Bile rises up in me at seeing blood on his knuckles.
“Why would I hit you, princess? I do believe I have made myself crystal clear. For the next week every time you see Marco and Dario, you’ll be reminded of what you did. The next time,” he shakes his head, “I will not be as lenient. Next time, they will pay in blood. Next time you will pay in pain.”
Trembling in fear, I can’t look at him anymore. His big hand takes mine, the hand with blood on the knuckles. He slips a ring on my left ring finger. Satisfaction is clear on his face at how it fits just right.
“It was my grandmother’s. Nonno gifted it to her on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary for putting up with him for so many years.”
I shake my head. It feels wrong, so wrong. Everything about this moment is wrong.
Ice blue darkens to ocean as he presses a finger against my lips. Dominic presses his lips against my cheek. “Work with me, Regina, and when we get to twenty-five years you won’t regret a day. I promise you.”
Closing my eyes tight, I can’t say anything.
“Don’t run away from this, from us, princess. You belong to me. I will always come for you and I will always find you. Running will do nothing but make me angry with you. I don’t want to be angry. You don’t want me angry. Don’t do it. For both of us.”
I nod. I can’t say the words. He says what I’ve always known. He won’t stop until he finds me. Without another word, he’s gone.
For a long time all I can do is study the ring on my finger. A thick heavy platinum, if it’s art deco or Edwardian, I can’t say for sure. Intricate leaves climb up the band and tiny diamonds sparkle along the setting holding up the large European diamond that has to be at least three carats, but I think is closer to four.
Twenty-five years, she knew what her husband was, what he did and for at least twenty-five years they were happy, in love. Do Dominic and I really have a chance in hell of making it a year, let alone twenty-five?
***
Dominic
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“Repeat those words again, Valdez,” I dare the man.
“My deepest apologies. We will find Taylor. My man was concerned about Benny, they have been glued together since Regina went missing. They are trying to find her and you. Benny’s father wants both of them dead. However, you did not clear Benny’s death. Taylor gave my guy the smallest window, he took the shot and missed. Please know both my man and I take this as a personal failure. Richard Taylor will be found and we will kill him. The question is, is Benny acceptable collateral damage?”
“No, I don’t need the firestorm that will rain down on me. If Alonzo wants Benny dead he’ll want to be the one who did it. Kill Taylor, I don’t care if Benny knows it was me. I just want Taylor dead.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Valdez, don’t call me unless you have good news.” I end the call fighting the urge to get violent.
I nod at Vincent. “Taylor is loose and coming after Regina. I need you to get her to the dentist, have them put in the tracker as a filling. Start making sure everyone is wearing their bulletproof vests.”
Everett is stiff in the front seat. “Everett, you want to retire again?”
A pause as he considers the question. “No, sir.”
“There’s no shame, no offense taken,” I assure the man.
“I’m sure.”
Vincent shakes his head. “Don’t worry, Everett, Taylor is too much of a pussy to come right at us. He’ll go to the girl to hide behind her skirt. I’ll make sure aside from the dentist tomorrow, Regina won’t see the light of day until Taylor is dead.”
There is no doubt Vincent is correct. Taylor is a coward. But he’s riding shotgun with Benny. Benny is no coward. The only question is does he know his father wants him dead? What was his move being beside Taylor in all of this now that they should consider Regina out of play? Because fuck it all, she’s my woman, so she should be completely off limits to everyone. Tension builds inside me as I consider how far they are willing to go to get to my woman.
Vincent ends the call with the dentist. “He can get her in tomorrow. You need to talk to Tony. He’s your weak spot, Taylor might try to get to him.”
I shake my head. “I’m too pissed. You call him. Regina can’t know, not that I ordered Taylor dead or that he’s coming after her. Make sure the men are aware to keep their mouths shut.”
Vincent nods. “It will be done.”