Page 75

“I—”

Dominic lifted her chin, forcing her gaze back to his. “Don’t you dare apologize for something you don’t mean, princess.”

The pain in his eyes suddenly subsided as she watched his lips barely tilt to one side. She looked at his cheek to see if a dimple would appear, waiting on pins and needles, holding her breath ….

“You’re a shit liar,” he teased as he bent his head down closer to hers. Moving her chin with his forefinger and thumb, he lifted her face up slightly, stretching out her long, delicate neck so he could take her lips more easily.

Maria’s brain told her this wasn’t right, as it was too soon after Kayne’s death, but holy fuck, her body told her it was so … right. Her lips begged her to close the little distance between them.

So, she did the sane thing, choosing somewhere in between her mind and body by holding perfectly still. She might not have been shoving her tongue down his throat like a part of her wanted to, but she wasn’t stopping him either.

Her eyelids started to drift closed in anticipation when he tilted his head to the side … right before his lips came a millimeter closer to hers. His hot breath hit her waiting pout when he murmured the words, “I’m taking you home.”

Maria’s eyelids shot back open as he smugly backed away from her, but somehow she expertly managed to make sure he knew it hadn’t bothered her.

You better pray for your soul … asshole.

Twenty-Seven

Princess, Don’t Make Promises You Can’t Keep

The lights on his blacked-out Mustang flashed as he unlocked the car doors with his key fob as they exited his house.

“Thanks.” She gave him a sweet smile that Dominic saw right through when he opened the car door for her.

“Uh-huh,” he mumbled under his breath, watching her get in.

Maria waited until after he swung the door shut to dart him an evil glare, closing her inside the tinted cover of the blacked out windows while she buckled her seat belt and watched him walk to the other side of the car. She made sure to wipe her promise of retribution clean off her face when he opened the driver’s side door.

The confines of the two-door car suddenly got smaller the second Dominic slid behind the wheel, reminding her again just how big he was and how glorious he smelled when his fiery scent assailed her nose.

Wasting no time, he roared the engine to life with the flick of his wrist before quickly pulling out and onto the road.

“So, which poor sucker did you talk into dropping you off at my house and leaving you there?”

“None.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I took a taxi here.”

“Right,” Dominic said sarcastically, thinking she didn’t want to give up a name, considering the last one who had done it took a bullet between the eyes.

“I’m serious.” She watched his tanned right hand as he changed gears. “I really did take a taxi.”

“Does Lucca know where you—”

“I told Lucca I’m done with having one of his men follow my every move.”

Dom was about to bust out in laughter, but then he gave a quick glance over at her. “You’re fucking serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Crossing her arms, she raised a brow. “You think I need a big, strong Caruso protecting me too?”

“No,” Dom answered, clearly reminiscing to when a heel was pressed against his throat. “I just can’t believe Lucca listened.”

Looking out the window, she watched Blue Park pass by. “Well, it was a long time coming ….” And it had been. Her whole life had been spent with a man in a suit following ten steps behind her. She hadn’t been able to go anywhere or do anything unless it was approved of by her father or brother. Yes, Maria might have been born with a tiara on her head, but it came with a cost. A normal childhood … sleepovers, friends, a real college experience. Being a “normal” girl for once was something she had never experienced until … Kayne.

“Having someone watch your back isn’t a bad thing, you know. Especially considering One-Shot.”

“And if that was the case, I’d be fine with it,” she agreed, looking back at his profile. “But it’s the controlling aspect I have a problem with. Imagine having someone decide when and where you are allowed to go at all times since you were born. It gets kind of old, especially when you get to watch your brothers do what they want.”

“I understand.” He nodded, feeling for her. “But I’m sure Lucca’s overprotectiveness comes from what happened to your mother.”

“You know, you talk about my brother like my father doesn’t exist, right?” Maria’s brows furrowed. “You are aware that Lucca is the underboss?” she asked, knowing full well he knew and reminding him of that little fact.