Bedding the Billionaire (Book 3) (Legacy Collection) (30 page)

Dominic crossed the room to
look out
the window
and spoke while taking in the view. “
I love your sister, Lil. I’m going to marry her.
”

And
you’re here to make sure I don’t mess it up?

Lil swallowed nervously.
“
I know.
”

He turned from the window and frowned. “
That makes you a sort of little sister to me.
I want you to feel comfortable here.
”

His words floored Lil. When she didn’t
view
him through the lens of her guilt, he looked more uncomfortable than he did threatening. “I do,” she lied softly.

He buried both hands in the pants pockets of his suit; certainly not the mannerism of a man with ill intentions. He continued gruffly, “
If an
ything was ever bothering you,
you
could tell me and I would move H
eaven and Earth to fix it for you.
You know that, right?
I protect what is mine.
”

He’d come to offer her his support? Lil’s eyes filled with tears that she angrily blinked away. This was the Dominic her sister had described to her, the one who was fiercely loyal to those he cared about.
Was it possible that he not only loved her sister, but would really consider
Lil part of his family?
If so, maybe confessing was actually the best course she could take.
A man like Dominic would understand breaking the rules to keep someone you care about safe. Lil asked, “Have you ever done anything that felt like the right thing to do at the time, but as soon as it was done, you regretted it and would do anything to undo it?”

Dominic conceded ruefully,
“I’m unfortunately familiar with that feeling.”

Lil came out from behind the chair and approached him. “
If
making things right meant putting someone you cared deeply about at risk, would you?
What do you do when none of the options are good ones?
”

Dominic straightened,
unpocketing
his hands and clenching them at his sides. “
Is this about Jake?
”

Jake was definitely one of the
reason
s
she wanted to turn back the clock and not involve
Alethea
and Jeremy.
Slow tears
began to pour down Lil’s cheeks and she sank into one of the chairs.
She couldn’t put a voice to the fears that roared within her.

I can handle a broken heart,
please, just let the consequences be mine
alone
.

D
on’t let me ruin the happiness my sister has finally found.

Don’t
let me have put my friends in danger.

Please, she begged the
universe,
I’ll mind my business from now on.

I don’t want Abby to raise Colby.

Dominic came to stand beside her chair and patted the ba
ck of her bowed head awkwardly. Lil continued to sob softly, trying but not succeeding to muster the strength to tell
him
everything
.

Dominic asked,
“Did he sleep with you?”

His question took her off guard and she answered too honestly, “It’s not about that.”

Dominic withdrew his hand and his roar boomed through the room.
“
I’m going to kill him.
”

The door slammed behind
him
as he stormed out of
the
suite.

Lil
raised her head, sniffed, and
gripped the arm of her chair with one hand
while wiping
the tears off one of her cheeks with her other
.

Well, that went well.

Jake had just arrived at the
Corisi
home for dinner when he saw his friend charging down the hallway toward him, looking like he wanted to hurt someone. Had he heard about the most recent breach to their security?

Dominic grabbed Jake by one suit
lapel and hauled him toward him.
“
I’m going to kill you.
”

Normally, Dominic appropriately reserved his fury for those who had perpetrated the offense. Jake knocked his friend’s hand off of him.
“Calm down, Dom.
They didn’t get anything.
I’m careful with what I put in my emails.
And I’ve had
my team
working on it since yesterday.
No one is getting back in.
”

Dom
inic
looked like he was about to reach for Jake again, but stopped suddenly. “
What are you talking about?
”

Jake
adjusted
his
rumpled jacket and stalled, “
What are
you
talking about?
”

Dominic paced in front of Jake, his hands flexing in a threatening manner at his sides. He growled, “You slept with Lil.”

“
Oh, Lil.
”
Maybe Dominic didn’t know about the breach yet.
Normally he would have informed him immediately, but the hacker had targeted Jake’s emails and that made it personal.
Jake wanted to catch this rat himself.

“
Don’t play dumb.
Yes, Lil.
I sent you down there to make sure she was safe.
”

“
I told you not to send me.
I said
–
”

Dominic stopped, stood nose-to-
nose with Jake and accused, “Whatever you said,
you left out the part where you were going
to break one of the fundamental rules of friendship.
”

Don’t let your crazy friend lose his company because you’re too busy chasing a skirt?

Jake
became impatient with his friend’s melodramatic fixation on something that was none of his business.
He spoke calmly, rationally, hoping some of it would rub off on his friend.
“
I
did
exactly what you asked me to.
I moved her into her n
ew place. Don’t be a hypocrite.”

Dominic ran a hand through his hair with frustration.
He leaned in and said, “
I still think I have to kill you.
”

Jake held his ground, mocking Dominic instead of cowering to him as he supposed some would.
They had spent too many years together for Jake to ever fear him. Brute strength rarely won over intelligence. “W
hat did you think would happen when you sent me
up
there? You knew I liked her.
”

Fire flew from his friend
’
s eyes, but he kept his hands to himself, perhaps sensing that Jake was more than ready to retaliate.
He frowned.
“
I don’t know, I thought you’
d
take her out a few times.
A nice date.
Movies maybe.
What happened to treating a woman with respect?
”

Jake couldn’t contain the laugh Dominic’s comment inspired. “
You
kidnapped
Abby
.
”

Dom turned away and began pacing again. “
That’s different.
People expect that from me.
I trusted you.
”

Jake shrugged
and
threw angry suggestions at his friend.
“
Maybe it’s time you stop trusting me.
Maybe I can’t be responsible for saving your ass anymore.
What if I am just as
screwed up
as you are?
”

Anger left Dominic in a whoosh and
a ridiculous smile spread across his face.
“You love her,” he said with
a smirk
.

Jake took a step back and denied it. “
No, I don’t.
”

Dominic advanced, his smile only growing wider as he counted off his observations on his fingers. “
She’s c
rying.
You’re miserable.
Maddy
is right;
t
his
is working.” Dominic folded his arms across his chest benevolently. “
I forgive you because I know what it’s like to want a woman so badly that you are willing to risk everyth
ing.” His expression turned serious and he said, “
You know you have to marry
her, though.
”

Forget about a shotgun wedding, Dominic would probabl
y use an armed military drone.
Jake smiled
at the thought
.
That slip
earned an angry glare from Dom and a threat.

Dominic
said, “
Don’t make me tell Marie.
”

Classic Dom
–
go straight for the big guns.
It was a pleasure to take that option away from
him
.
“
She
already knows.
”

Dominic straightened with rage. “
You told
her
?
What the hell were you thinking? I’m going to ho
pe that it was because you realized the gravity of what you’ve done and wanted her advice on how to do the right thing.”
He looked like he wanted to wrap his hands around Jake’s neck, but controlled himself, satisfying himself with a warning. “
In case I’m not being clear enough
–
p
lan a wedding or plan a funeral.
Your choice.
”