Chapter Twenty-Four
“Ava, please talk to me. Say something.”
Ava shook her head. They’d picked Maia up from school and returned home, the picture of quiet domesticity. After two days they were settling into a comfortable schedule. Just like the first day they’d met, Maia had monopolized Dominic’s attention until her bedtime, leaving Ava alone with her thoughts. But now, Dominic stood next to her bed, waiting. She knew he wanted to know why she’d been so silent all afternoon, but she didn’t want to share her feelings. She didn’t want to share anything, but him staring at her with soft, puppy-dog eyes wasn’t helping things either.
He sat down on the bed beside her. He reached for her and she leaned away from him. He swore softly under his breath.
“I understand you’re on edge. You have a lot going on right now.
“Like someone trying to kill you and I both. I need to go see Smitty again. Maybe he has some info.”
“Who’s Smitty?” Dominic asked.
“Nobody for you to worry about. Let’s talk about you.”
“What about me?”
“This isn’t weird for you? I’m your stepmother, maybe. I was married to your father.”
“I stopped seeing you as Joseph’s the night I came to the house.”
“Really? And how do you see me now?”
“As mine.”
“Yours?”
“Yes. Some things are just meant to be.”
Ava laughed. “I can’t deal with you getting all mushy on me. Some of the things you say are definite no-no’s for a man.”
“Would you rather I not told you how I felt and just used you for sex like most men do?”
“No.”
“Alright then. You don’t have to fight me so hard, Ava. I’m not the enemy.”
“When you’ve had a life like I have, you look at everyone that way. It’s safer than allowing yourself to trust anyone.”
“I want you to trust me, Ava.”
Dominic pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“And what about the lawsuit? Hard to believe you’re serious when you’re still taking me to court.”
“The suit is over.”
Ava leaned back to look at Dominic. Her eyes stretched. “What do you mean, the suit is over?”
“I called my attorney when we got back to the house. I told him I was dropping the lawsuit. Naturally he tried to talk me out of it, but I told him to file the paperwork in the morning and send me the bill.”
He’d dropped the suit. Holy Mary, Mother of God. This was almost too good to be true. She was going to have to see the papers with her own eyes.
There was nothing she could hide behind now. No reason to keep pushing him away. No reason to keep denying what was obvious. Somehow, somewhere along the way, he’d seemed to have developed real feelings for her.
Clue the Twilight Zone horror music.
She wiped her hand across her face.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you do that?” Ava asked.
Dominic laughed. “Do you really have to ask?”
“Yes I do. A chance to one-up me?”
Dominic turned her so that she was facing him. There was something behind his eyes she hadn’t seen before. Something that suddenly made her very, very afraid.
“Because I think I just might love you.”
The air seemed to whoosh from Ava’s lungs. Love? Love? The word was like a foreign concept to her. No grown person had ever loved her before. Not her parents. Not Joseph. What was love anyway? An emotion people used to gain the upper hand over someone else. A flowery word that was supposed to make everything all right.
“Love.” She laughed. “You fling that word around like it means nothing. I’ve never met a man that would cop to loving a woman so quickly and with such ease.”
His dark eyebrows dipped down. “Would it please you, if I acted like every other man?”
“You know that’s not what I mean, Dominic. I just find it hard to believe that you could be in love with me, considering who I am to you.”
He shrugged. “I think I’ve known for awhile.”
“A while? How long have we known each other? A little over three weeks and now you’re throwing the word love around? It’s absurd.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened. His green turned dark. “I’m not throwing it around. Telling a woman that I love her is not something that I take lightly, Ava. My mother is the only woman I’ve ever said that to,” he said. He pulled away from her and got out of bed, going to stand in front of the window.
Way to go Ava. You just don’t know when to quit, do you?
She swallowed. “I wasn’t trying to make light of what you said. I just…this is all just happening so fast. I don’t even know how to process it all.”
“Everything in life doesn’t have to be thought through and overanalyzed, Ava. If I tell you I love you, then damn it, I mean it.”
“But I don’t understand why? I haven’t exactly been the nicest person to be with.”
“No, you haven’t. You’re pigheaded and feisty. You will go toe-to-toe with anyone who gets in your way or disrespects you. You’re a fighter. You’re passionate. An incredible lover. But most of all you have a strength that I’ve never seen before and I want to be the person you can lean on. Who you can draw that strength from.
“Who you can wake up to each morning and know that there are no others but you and there will be no others but you. If you want me to be completely honest I think I fell in love with you the moment we finally came face-to-face.” He smiled. “Before that, it was just lust. I can admit that now.”
Ava smiled. “Love at first sight? It sounds like something you hear in a movie. A fairy tale.”
“Dreams do come true, Ava.”
“Not for people like us. Not in this lifestyle.”
Turning from the window, Dominic crossed his arms, smirking. “And what lifestyle is that?”
“Don’t play coy.”
“I’m not. I’m not in ‘the life,’ and you sure as hell aren’t. We’re just two regular people. Well I take that back. I’m a regular person. You’re the businesswoman extraordinaire.”
“And what about the difference in our ages?”
Dominic shrugged. “What about it?”
“One day I’m not going to look so hot and then you’re going to wish you had a younger model. I am thirty-eight, you know.”
“I’m not that fickle, Ava. Give me some credit.”
“I’m not saying you’re fickle. I’m just trying to consider all the possibilities.”
“There’s nothing to consider. Now what you need to do is stop thinking. Stop worrying. Stop trying to convince me that I don’t know what I want. You aren’t going to change my mind.”
Ava lay back against the pillows on the bed. “Fine. I give up. You want me. You love me enough to throw away an opportunity at a multimillion-dollar estate because if you get crazy enough to propose marriage you will sign a prenup so what else can I say?”
Smiling, Dominic came and laid down next to her. “Nothing. Don’t say anything. Just enjoy the moment and stop worrying.”
“I’m a worrier by nature.”
“I know. I picked up on that.”
“You know everything that’s happened has been so crazy. It still hurts like hell that Gina’s gone. You don’t just get over losing that kind of friendship.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling.”
“Thanks. You know, I guess the silver lining in all of this is that if it weren’t for Gina, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
“Forget silver, we’re talking about a platinum lining here.”
They laughed together. Dominic’s hand cupped her cheek. Ava smiled at him, a real, carefree smile. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d actually done that. It felt good. Real good. Her lover leaned closer and kissed her, his lips meeting hers in a kiss of ardent passion. Unable to help herself, she grabbed his T-shirt to bring him closer. Dominic’s lips trailed down her throat, as he covered her body with his.
“Why do you do this to me?”
“Do what?” he asked, lips against her neck.
“Make me want you this way.”
“The same reason you do it to me.”
His lips found their way back to hers, his tongue slipping between them. Ava touched her tongue to his as they kissed. She grew wetter with each kiss. Dominic’s hand found the waistband of her panties and he jerked them down her body. Ava lifted up to give him better access. When her panties went flying over his shoulder, his finger delved inside her.
“You are so ready for me,” he said looking into her eyes.
“Don’t wait.”
She caressed his shoulders as he hurriedly removed his boxers. Freed and jutting up like a proud battalion, Ava couldn’t resist touching him. Dominic growled, hissing in the back of his throat.
“Baby, if you keep that up, we’re not going to make it to the finale.”
Ava pouted when he removed her hand. His lips crashed down on hers at the same time his body joined them together. He grabbed her legs, wrapping them around him. They were frantic together. This would be no languid lovemaking. His body moved in and out of her, as both of them fought to show dominance. Ava gripped his shoulders, her teeth tugging his lip as he plundered her hidden depths.
His grip on her waist tightened as they continued to kiss greedier than they ever had been before. With every slide of his body into hers, Ava moved closer to orgasm. Closer to a completion she’d never known before Dominic. In perfect tandem, they moved together. Thrusting hips meeting receiving ones and then it happened. Ava’s world broke apart. The force of the orgasm rocked her from her head to her feet. The waves of pleasure continued to cascade over her as Dominic groaned his own release into her ear.
Her legs trembled, falling away from his body. They held each other tight as their ragged breathing slowly started to slow. Ava blinked tears away as she held Dominic to her. She didn’t know why she felt like crying all of a sudden.
“Ava?”
“Hmm?”
Dominic moved inside her. He was hard again, just that quick.
“Again?” he asked.
She nodded, then smiled. “New position?”
“What did you have in mind?
Dominic eased off her body. Ava took the opportunity to push him flat against the mattress. She straddled him and easily took him into her.
“Does this answer the question?”
“Ab-so-damn-lutely.”
Ava smiled. Dominic’s hands circled her waist and then she was riding him. In control again, just the way she liked it.
Ava awoke. She looked at the bedside clock. It was almost two in the morning. She and Dominic were entangled together, her head on his chest, his leg between her thighs. Arms wrapped around each other. It felt so intimate, so comfortable. Something she could get used to. With a smile, she carefully eased herself from his embrace. Her throat was parched. She donned her robe and headed down the stairs. The house was silent as she made her way to the kitchen.
Going to the refrigerator, she grabbed a bottle of sparkling water and drank it greedily. She’d consumed it before she even realized it. Thirst sated, she turned to make her way back upstairs to Dominic. As she entered the hallway to the living room, Ava stopped dead in her tracks. A shadow passed over one of the large, glass windows. Moonlight illuminated the shadowy figure. Ava could clearly see the outline of a gun, firmly clutched in the intruder’s hand. Someone was in her house. Someone with a gun. Death had come to try again.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ava ducked down behind the couch. She could hear the intruder’s footsteps against the tile. Her heart galloped inside her chest. Dominic was asleep upstairs. His gun case was with him. Ava’s bat was near the front door but she’d never be able to reach it without the intruder hearing her. What was she going to do? Downstairs she was defenseless.
Except for in the kitchen.
As quietly as she could, she crept back into the kitchen.
There shining pristine in their wooden block were her Ginsu knives. She picked up a butcher knife. Perfect. As sharp as it was, she could likely cut a cow in half with it. She gasped when she heard footsteps approaching. Ava dropped to her knees behind the island. Peeking out, she could see dark boots moving toward her. Thank God for the moonlight streaming through the house or she’d be blind and waiting to be slaughtered.
“Ava. I know you’re here.”
She bit back a scream as the man’s gruff voice sliced across her senses. This wasn’t a random break-in. He’d been sent here to kill her and even worse, he knew where she was. Clutching the knife, she hugged the side of the island.
“Let’s not make this any harder than it has to be. I can make this as painless as possible.”
The man stood directly in front of her now. He wore all black. A ski mask covered his face. He hadn’t spotted her underneath the island. She had to buy herself some time. Raising the knife, Ava stabbed it as hard as she could into the man’s calf.
“Ahh!”
The man fell to one knee and Ava grabbed the knife from his calf. Blood spurted out, coating her hand, but she didn’t care. As the intruder turned and faced her, Ava raised the butcher knife and stabbed it into his chest.
The man roared. “You bitch. You’re going to pay for this.”
Ava scrambled to her feet as the man tried to dislodge the knife from his chest. Quickly she grabbed another knife from the block and raced out of the kitchen. The stairs loomed in front of her. She’d just taken the first step when she stopped.
Maia.
Her daughter was sleeping peacefully in her room. She had to get to her baby. Holding the knife in a firm grip, Ava stepped off the stair and went as fast as she could down the hallway that lead to where Maia’s room was.
Opening the door, she went inside. Maia was asleep. Her Princess and the Frog nightlight lit up the room. Ava stood over her daughter’s bed. Maia’s face looked so relaxed and peaceful, her small arms clutching her favorite purple rabbit, Timmy. Quickly, Ava eased her daughter out of her bed and into her arms. It was a delicate balance holding Maia and the knife, but she couldn’t leave either. Thankfully Maia was still sleeping.
Carefully Ava eased her daughter’s door open and crept down the hallway as quietly as she could. She heard no footsteps. The house was eerily quiet. Her heart started to slow as she reached the stairs. If she could just get upstairs to Dominic, she and Maia would be safe. The cocking of a gun made her freeze.
“You didn’t really think it would be that easy, did you? Turn around.”
Ava fought back tears as she turned to face her attacker. The moonlight showed her handiwork. He was standing in a pool of blood that leaked from the calf she’d stabbed. His shirt was ripped where she’d knifed him in the chest. Blood oozed there, dark and murky.
“Please don’t do this,” Ava whispered.
“Don’t waste your breath begging. I have my orders.”
“Orders? Orders from who? Who wants me dead?”
“That’s not important. What is important is that your daughter will be spared. Now put her down and die with some dignity.”
Ava looked down at her daughter. Maia. Her entire world. The only good thing she’d done in this life. She didn’t want to let her go. No. Not like this.
“I said, put her down before I change my mind.”
“Okay. Okay. Just don’t hurt her.”
Ava dropped the knife on the staircase. Pressing a kiss to her daughter’s forehead, she slowly put her daughter down on the floor next to the staircase, out of the way of the gunman’s aim.
“There. You satisfied now?” she said, with bravado in her voice she no longer felt.
The man laughed. “No. Not really. If I had more time you and I would have a little fun before I smoked you.”
“Just shoot me and get it over with.”
“Gladly.”
Ava stared at the gun pointed at her face. His finger squeezed the trigger and Ava closed her eyes, ready for death. A loud bang signaled to her that the bullet was on its way, but it never came.
Ava opened her eyes. The gunman in front of her was sprawled on the floor. Blood poured between his eyes. He was dead.
“Ava, sweetheart, are you two alright?”
Ava turned. Dominic came flying down the stairs, a silver Glock in his hand. She leaped into his arms. He held her close and she sobbed. The tears poured from her eyes.
“Shh. Shh. Baby, it’s okay. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
“He was going to kill me,” she said, voice trembling.
“I know. I know, baby. I’m so sorry I didn’t wake up sooner.”
Ava leaned away and wiped her tears. She looked up at Dominic. There were circles under his eyes. His dark hair was tousled and stood wildly on end. His chest was bare. Pajama bottoms had been carelessly tossed on. They hung low on his hips.
“Thank God you got here when I really needed you.”
“What are you doing down here anyway?” Dominic asked.
“I came to get something to drink.”
“Next time, wake me up. I don’t care what it’s for.”
“Okay.”
Dominic kissed her hard. She melted in his embrace, so thankful to be alive. So glad that her stubborn pride hadn’t let her push him away. She would’ve been dead otherwise. Ending the kiss, she stepped away.
“Maia.”
She walked down the few stairs to where her daughter still lay, sleeping. If it weren’t for the silencer on Dominic’s gun, there’s no telling what could’ve happened.
“She sleeps like the dead,” Dominic said, coming down beside her.
Ava picked her daughter up. “I know. She’s been a hard sleeper ever since she was a baby and I’m finding myself immensely grateful for that right about now.” She winced as she noticed the bloody handprint she’d placed on Maia’s pajamas.
“It’s going to be okay.”
Ava shook her head. “No it’s not. He said he had orders to kill me. Somebody wants me dead.”
Dominic’s face grew stony. “I’m not going to let that happen.”
He walked over to where the dead man lay. Ava watched as Dominic knelt down over the gunman and rifled through his pockets.
“What are you doing?” Ava hissed.
“Looking for any clue about who sent him.”
Dominic stopped as a folded up piece of paper fell out of the dead man’s pocket. He picked it up and read. Ava waited anxiously.
“What does it say?” she asked.
“If you’re reading this, then I suppose I must give you more credit than I expected, but don’t get too happy. This isn’t over. You betrayed me and you are going to pay for that with your life. So will your would-be protector.” Dominic put the note down.
“None of this makes any sense.”
“It makes perfect sense to me. I think your brother-in-law is behind this.”
“I know Angelo is a jealous asshole, but I doubt he’d go so far as to want me dead.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.” Dominic put the note down and reached for the facemask of the would-be killer. He cursed when the man’s face was revealed. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?” Ava asked.
“I know this piece of shit.”
“You do?”
“Yes. It’s Joey Fergonza. Contract killer. He’ll kill anyone for the right amount of money.”
Dominic stood up. Ava stepped closer to see the man. A pockmarked face. Vacant brown eyes. Pointed nose. The man looked like a weasel. A very ugly, very dangerous weasel.
“So that means we’re no closer to finding out who sent him?”
“Right.”
“What do we do now?”
“You’re going to get dressed, pack some clothes for you and Maia and you’re going to a hotel.”
“What about you?” Ava asked.
“I’m going to clean up here and dispose of the body.”
“Dominic, are you crazy? We can’t just cover this up.”
“The police just got finished looking at us for offing your friend. Do you really think it will go over well that someone was killed inside your house?”
“No. I guess you’re right. But I can’t handle anything else. I’m still grieving for Gina. I’m still trying to process the fact that I can’t pick up the phone and call her. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”
“I can’t begin to understand your pain and I wish I could take it from you, but I can’t. All I can do is try to protect you. I’m right, so you need to trust me on this.”
“I do. I’m just scared. I don’t want you to get caught up in this any more than you have to.”
“I was already caught up in it, the first time someone took a shot at you.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“That’s right. Now I’m going to tell your housekeeper and Natalie they need to leave until we get to the bottom of this. Then I’m going to start on the cleanup. Thank God for silencers.”
“Where are you going to take him?” Ava asked.
Dominic shook his head. “It’s better you don’t know. Now hurry up and get dressed. I want you leaving here in less than an hour.”
Ava nodded, too frazzled and weary to argue. Turning to go to Maia’s room, Dominic caught her arm. She turned to face him.
“I love you,” he said.
Then he kissed her, as if this might very well be the last time. She responded to him, wishing for time she wasn’t sure they had. When he released her, he offered her a brief smile.
“Go ahead.”
She did as he said and walked towards Maia’s room. Ava heard the back door open as Dominic left to go warn Natalie and the housekeeper. Walking inside her daughter’s room, she carefully laid Maia on the large beanbag she often fell asleep on. As quick as she could, she packed a bag of clothes. Her mind raced. She’d been seconds away from losing her life. Maia would’ve been an orphan if not for Dominic.
So why couldn’t she tell him what she knew he secretly longed to hear? Why couldn’t she admit that she loved him? That she probably had from the moment he’d revealed his real identity to her on the cruise ship? No. It was too soon. People didn’t fall in love in three weeks. They fell in lust. A passionate, earth-shaking lust but still lust the same. No. She couldn’t tell him. Not now. Not with everything they were already dealing with.
Love made you weak. Made you vulnerable to threats that would’ve never bothered you before. She needed to be strong, now more than ever. There wasn’t just her to consider. Her child had to come first, even before what she felt for Dominic. He would just have to bear his pain a little longer.
Bag packed sufficiently, Ava went into Maia’s small bathroom and grabbed her daughter’s toiletries. She wondered how long they would be gone. When it would be safe to come back. Items added, she slung the bag over her shoulder and grabbed her daughter. She’d wake Maia and change her clothes as soon as she’d completed her own packing. Leaving the room, she walked back down the hallway. Dominic was already at work. A bucket of some foul-smelling concoction was beside him. He’d already rolled the body up into a large garbage bag. He was on his knees scrubbing her floor.
It was amazing, how important Dominic had become to her in such a short time. A few weeks ago she’d wanted his head on a platter for daring to interrupt her well-ordered life. Now, she didn’t know where she’d be without him. Probably dead. But as she watched him carefully cleaning, something in her heart twisted. He was risking everything for her. He’d killed someone to protect her and now he was going to make it as if this night had never happened. No one had ever gone out of their way for her. All her life, she’d never been someone’s priority until now. Ava quickly brushed away a falling tear. Dominic had changed her life in a way she’d never expected and though she’d fought it as long as she could, there was no denying it anymore. She loved him and the thought of imagining her world without him suddenly made her sick to her stomach. He looked up as she walked past him, heading for the stairs. She’d taken the first step when she stopped and turned.
“Dominic?”
“Yeah?”
She stared at him, her tongue suddenly feeling heavy in her mouth.
“Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Before he could respond she was going up the stairs as fast as she could.