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The silent look Lucca gave him promised retribution for not telling him over the phone.

Maria’s eyes flashed in surprise at Dom before she nodded. “I called Kat to meet me here, and then I just snuck out and took a cab.”

It appeared Lucca would save the tongue-lashing for their meeting tomorrow, as he looked back at Maria with harsh, blue-green eyes. “We’re leaving.”

“Yep, so are we.” Dom wasn’t wasting any time getting them the fuck out of there. He pulled Kat in the opposite direction that Lucca was trying to pull Maria toward.

Maria waved, clearly not scared of her brother. “Bye, Kat.”

“Bye. Thank you for everything.” Kat smiled as he dragged her away.

“You’re welcome.” Maria looked at him. “Bye, Dominic.”

He, however, didn’t have the luxury of turning back to look at her, knowing, if he did, his body—that was screaming for him to stay—wouldn’t be able to control itself. It were as if his body had become possessed around her, like it didn’t belong to him, and he didn’t trust to keep his feelings in check, especially when Lucca was around.

He also didn’t trust his voice to say the word good-bye.

If only he had turned around, he would have seen her upset face; not saying good-bye affected on her too.

Dominic didn’t know when it happened—the first time he met her at her mother’s funeral, the second time after Matthias opened the door, or third time when he’d looked up at her as she held Kat’s wedding dress—but he wanted her. And it wasn’t just want, she was a fucking need. Dominic needed Maria to be his, and he had to have Maria need him as well.

When she placed that black wedding dress up against her, he had her move it out of the way because the only thought he had was that he wanted her in a beautiful white wedding dress … to marry him in.

He had envisioned it all in a split-second, from his ring on her finger to a baby in her belly; his fucking soul needed her. Dominic could feel that she was meant to be his, and his body had secretly known it since he’d first met her. Like how he knew a gun belonged in his hand at the age of two, Maria belonged to him, and he was never going to be able to get a chance with her because his last name was Luciano.

It would be the last thing his name would take.

“That was rude,” Kat whispered harshly.

“Don’t care.” Dom only slowed his pace when they were far enough from Lucca. His mind still on Maria, he almost felt bad for Ted. “That psycho is on a mission to get every man in Kansas City murdered today, and I’m sure as fuck not going to be one of them.”

That was why he knew Maria was meant for him.

Dom would never have to pretend to be something he wasn’t around her, or have to hide what he was or the things he did. Not only did his body cry out for hers but, for once, he wasn’t afraid of being around a woman and hurting her.

Dominic had never trusted himself around women, fearing that part of Lucifer was somewhere deep inside of him, like the anger he’d passed down to him. But Dominic wasn’t afraid that he’d hurt Maria, knowing he’d never be capable of it. What he feared was Maria hurting him.

“Jesus, are you drunk?” Kat asked, having to throw her arm around his waist as he slumped forward so she could keep him up on her shoulders.

“Psst … No.” Dom reached into his pocket, thanking God that weak-ass champagne had finally kicked in and that Lucca came for his sister after all. Giving Kat the keys, he hiccupped, “But you’re driving.”

“Oh my God, Dom.” Kat shook her head. “Why exactly did you feel the need to get wasted midday?”

Because I had to watch you try on wedding dresses! And now I’ll be forced to watch you walk down the aisle to marry a fucking piece of shit who just wants revenge!

However, it was much easier to sum it down to a couple hiccupped words. “Lucca fucking Caruso.”

Thinking back to yesterday, it was no wonder Lucca hadn’t killed him for not telling him about Maria on the phone. This was what he wanted, and Lucca got his retribution, as Dom was now leaving without freeing his sister.

With all hope for his sister not having to marry the Caruso lost, he hadn’t seen Maria at first. Not until he hit the foyer and Maria’s head and eyes lifted to his from where she sat at the bottom steps of the grand staircase.

He did his best to hide his sadness from from them both. A part of him felt dirty the second he walked out of Lucca’s office, taking the deal from the boogieman that didn’t include his sister’s freedom, regardless of how unfeasible it was.