Page 35

Gwen

W aking up the next day, my body feels like it’s shutting down. I don’t know how long I’ve slept, but it feels like forever. The room is dark, the black curtains blocking out any light. I recognize this place the last time I was here feels like ages ago. I’m wrapped in a black comforter and lying on black sheets atop a king-sized bed with four towering posts. For a moment, I debate whether this was all just a bad dream. But as I lift my hand to my lip and feel how sore it is, I know it wasn’t.

Throwing the covers off, I realize I’m no longer in the trashy bra and panty set Jamison forced me into. Instead, I’m wearing a shirt that smells like Dominic. I pull the fabric up to my nose and inhale deeply. God, I’ve missed this scent.

The bedroom door creaks open, and Dominic peeks his head inside. Seeing that I’m awake, he pushes the door fully open and steps in. He moves to the side of the bed, lowering himself onto his knees so his arms rest on the mattress and his head is beside mine. His brown eyes search mine, and something about him feels different softer, somehow.

Lifting a large tattooed hand, he brushes a strand of my blonde hair over my ear. “Good morning, princess,” he murmurs, never breaking eye contact. His face is shadowed with stubble, his gaze filled with unspoken words. “Good morning, my king,” I whisper back. A slow smile tugs at his lips, breathtakingly gorgeous. “Tell me what you need anything, and I’ll get it for you. And when you’re ready, you have company waiting.” My forehead wrinkles. “Who would be here to see me?”

“Let’s go.” I try to get up, but weakness washes over me, making my limbs heavy. Dominic catches me before I can fall. “Take it easy, princess. You’ve been through a lot—your body hasn’t caught up yet.” His hands slide under me, steadying me as I find my footing. Once I’m standing, I look up at him, taking in his full height. He lowers his head and presses a soft kiss to my forehead.

“Nice and slow,” he instructs as we make our way down the hall. The moment we step into the living room, I spot Levi sitting on the couch beside Maddie, the two of them speaking in hushed voices. Bash leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed. As soon as Levi sees me, he jumps to his feet and runs toward me, throwing his arms around me so hard I nearly stumble. Dominic’s strong hand at my lower back keeps me steady.

I wrap my arms around Levi, feeling him tremble. He sniffles. “Hey, what’s all this about?” I ask, lifting his chin to meet my gaze. “I was scared you weren’t coming back.” A tear rolls down his reddened cheek. “Levi, as long as I have breath in my body, I will always come back for you.” He buries his face against me, and my heart aches. I don’t know where Jamison is, or my mother, or Lily but from now on, I’ll be the one looking after him.

I glance up to find Maddie crying on the couch, watching us. Before I know it, she’s running toward us, wrapping Levi and me in a tight embrace. “You scared us to death,” she murmurs, kissing my cheek before squeezing me tighter.

My eyes open, and I take in the people around me. These are my people. This is where I belong. I don’t have to be good enough for them I can just be me.

“I love you guys,” I say softly. Dominic sneaks off to the kitchen, and when he returns, a striking woman with jet-black hair follows him. She wears a tight black shirt and light-colored skinny jeans, her knee-high boots clicking against the floor. Large gold hoops shine in the living room light.

I let go of Maddie and Levi as the woman steps beside Dominic. “Gwen, I’d like you to meet my older sister, Carmin.” I extend my hand to shake hers, but she pulls me into a warm embrace instead. “Finally, I get to introduce myself,” she giggles, hugging me tighter. “We had to take care of that asshole first, but it’s all good now.”

As she squeezes me, I glance up at Dominic, who is watching us with a knowing smile. I laugh as she releases me. “It’s nice to actually meet you the normal way.” “Oh honey, nothing is ever normal in this family. We were born and raised to stand out. You’ll get used to it,” she says with a smirk, her gaze shifting toward her brother.

Dominic clears his throat. “Speaking of a certain asshole, Gwen and I need to have a little talk.” His eyes lock onto mine. “Let’s get you dressed. We have somewhere to be.” I nod as Carmin kisses one of my cheeks, then the other. “Adiós,” she says before grabbing another dark-haired man by the arm and striding away. I glance at Dominic, hoping for some clarification. “It means goodbye,” he chuckles, before guiding me back down the hallway toward the bedroom.

All of your things are here. I had Bash and Trey gather them last night. They are all in my closet.” I look around the room, seeing the few possessions I own now sitting in Dominic’s space. A picture of my father, myself, and Levi sits in a new frame on the television stand. On the other side is a picture of Maddie and me, a selfie from one of our coffee dates. I walk over, tracing my fingers along the glass that shields them.

“Why are all my things here?” I turn to look at Dominic. “Because you are mine, and this is our kingdom. I want to wake up every morning with you in my bed, preferably dripping with my cum.” He winks at me before his grin fades, his face turning serious. “That is, if you will have me, after everything. I know it doesn’t make it any better, but the things I said to hurt you were to keep you away so that when Jimmy came out of hiding, he wouldn’t know you were mine. I thought I’d get to him before he got to you. And for that, I will spend the rest of my life begging at your feet for forgiveness. I will never hurt you again or let anyone get close enough to hurt you.”

I see the raw pain in his eyes.“I want you, and I forgive you for what you thought you needed to do.” I step forward, closing the distance, pressing my lips to his. His hands find the back of my neck, pulling me in deeper. Kissing me harder, he tugs my shirt over my head, exposing my breasts, my nipples hardening under his gaze. He pulls back, his eyes darkening as he takes in my naked body. His expression shifts when he sees the bruises dark blotches painting my skin, from my stomach to my legs.

His eyes meet mine, burning with fury. “Every bruise on your body, every mark he ever put there, will be counted for when I make him beg for his life.” I believe him. I feel it deep in my bones. My vengeance is in the hands of a king, and Jamison will pay for his sins. Justice has a name, and its name is Dominic Costello.

I slide my black skinny jeans up over my battered legs, tugging on one of my band shirts. As I watch Dominic button up a crisp white dress shirt, rolling the sleeves to reveal his muscled forearms, he pulls something from the nightstand drawer. “I have a present for you, princess. But you’re going to need this.”

He steps behind me as I stand in front of the full-length mirror, his strong arms encircling me, placing something cold and heavy in my hands. My revolver. The one I stole from Jamison. I look up at him, confused. “I stole that from Jamison when I ran. I’ve been keeping it,” I murmur.

His lips curl into a smirk. “You see that crown engraved on the handle?” I glance down. I knew it was there but never paid much attention. “That means this gun is one of mine. Which means you didn’t steal it from Jamison, you stole it from me.” He chuckles. “This is yours now, unless you want a nicer one. I’ll get you whatever you want.” I grip the gun, feeling the familiar weight in my palm. “I want this one. It means something to me.” His smirk softens. “Good. Because you’re going to learn to use it properly in just a few.” He turns toward the door, glancing over his shoulder. “Meet me in the car in ten minutes, princess. If you’re not out by then, I’ll come get you and your body isn’t ready for that yet.”

He disappears through the doorway. I take a deep breath, staring at myself in the mirror. I gather my long blonde hair into a ponytail and whisper to my reflection, “You are a bad bitch, Gwen. Your past does not define you. But she did help build you.” With that, I tuck the revolver into the waistband of my jeans and head outside, where my king waits.