Page 36

Dominic

P ulling into the open field outside city limits, three holes are dug into the ground, each one six feet deep. Each one ready to be filled. I drive up to the open space, Gwen looking out the window, taking in the scenery. The sun is shining on this beautiful day. Not only is my girl free to be mine, but her enemies will be dealt with soon. I own the property we are on—all fifty-two acres. There is no one around to witness anything I choose to do out here.

We step out of the car, and Gwen walks around, inhaling the crisp air. “This place is beautiful,” she says, looking all around. “This is ours, baby.” She gives me a small smile. “What do you mean, ours?” She walks closer, and I pull her into my arms. I spin her around, pressing her back against my chest, draping my arms over her shoulders. “This is where we’re going to build a family. This is where our house is going to be.”

She looks out across the land, taking a deep breath. “Next week, we’re meeting with a contractor to build the home my princess dreams of.” I watch as the first tear of happiness falls down her cheek. The first of many to come. As we take in the moment, a black van rumbles down the dirt road. Gwen tenses. “Who is that?” she asks, looking up at me with those beautiful blue eyes.

I kiss her forehead. “That is my present to you. An apology present.” The van’s sliding metal door opens, and Santino steps out with a few of his guys. They reach inside and pull out three bodies, each one bound with rope at the wrists and ankles. Black bags cover their heads. The men carry them to the graves, standing them at the edge.

Gwen scoots closer to me. “Don’t be scared, princess. This is all for you. No one can ever hurt you again.” She looks confused, so I walk her forward for a better view. “Are those graves?” Her eyes widen. “Yes, baby. This is where we bury the past.” She doesn’t say anything, just stares at the graves and the bodies standing in front of them.

“This is a lot easier than paying a therapist to make you write your problems on a piece of paper just to burn it. This is how you actually take care of problems. Being a lady in the mafia, this is how you handle things.” She tilts her head back to look at me. “This really is some John Wick shit, huh?” I can’t help but smirk. She’s so damn pure. It’s cute. I plan on breaking that in her. After today, her past will have no hold on her because they will all be dead.

“John Wick? That’s cute, baby. John doesn’t hold a candle to the king of the Chicago mafia.” She nods, smiling slightly. I pull the revolver from the small of her back, where it sits perfectly. Snapping my fingers, I signal for the guys to remove the bags covering the prisoners’ faces. I feel Gwen stiffen as the first one is revealed. All three have duct tape over their mouths.

“Princess,” I say, handing her the revolver, “I present to you the three rats who tried to take your life. You are free to do as you please to them. And if you decide otherwise, I will handle it for you, however you wish. I am handing them over to you on a silver platter metaphorically. Unless you want an actual silver platter, that can be arranged.”

She looks between them, then at me. I walk over to Jimmy, grab the tape, and rip it off his face. He yells in pain, the sound tearing through the quiet field. His blood-soaked clothes cling to him, and the bullet wounds in his knees are wrapped to stop the bleeding, but he can barely stand.

As soon as he finds his voice, he spits venom. “You bitch! You were working against me the whole time!” He spits on the ground at her feet. Gwen doesn’t flinch. Gwen looks between Jimmy and me, seemingly unsure of what to do. “Princess, come closer. Do you remember what Carmin taught you?” As she steps closer, she nods. “How did you know about that?” she asks. “I see everything, baby. Even the things you didn’t think I did. Now show me what she taught you.”

Lifting the revolver in her tiny hands, she cocks one elbow out while keeping the other arm straight. Her right-hand finger stays straight on the barrel, while her other finger hovers just above the trigger never touching. She closes one eye as she points the barrel at Jimmy. “That’s my good girl. Now, I want you to think where do you want to shoot this asshole? We don’t want to kill him yet, baby, so aim small.” The sobs from the other two grow louder. They know they’re next. “Okay, aim small.” Her tiny hands begin to shake. I know she’s never actually shot someone before. This is a teaching process she’s learning how to protect herself.

“Calm yourself. I am right here. Let me be your peace. Focus on my voice. Calm and steady, baby. When you’re ready, and you know where you’re aiming calmly pull the trigger.” Within seconds, a loud ring cracks through the air. Gwen pulls the trigger, hitting Jimmy in the arm opposite where I stand. He lets out a blood-curdling scream, unable to do anything but take whatever she gives him. Blood streams from the wound.

Gwen keeps her gun aimed at him, her chest rising and falling with force. A slow smile spreads across her gorgeous face as she processes what she’s done. She just shot the man who brought so much pain into her life. “That was great, baby. You’re doing amazing,” I praise her.

I walk to the next body, yanking the cover from their head. Lily stands there, eyes flooded with tears, sobbing against the tape covering her mouth. “Next target, baby.” I rip the tape from her lips. She gasps before pleading. “Please, Dom. Please don’t let her do this to me. Please. Please” Another shot cuts her off. Blood erupts from her upper arm, smoke curling off the hot metal in Gwen’s hands. Pride swells in my chest as Gwen’s eyes lower with rage. Lily screams, writhing in pain. Gwen pulls the trigger again, striking Lily’s other arm.

“You will never speak to my man again,” Gwen hisses, then aims at Lily’s forehead and pulls the trigger. Lily’s body stiffens, life draining from her eyes. Blood cascades over her face before she topples backward into the grave behind her. Gwen puckers her lips and blows me a kiss. Fuck. I need to get this girl home. I’ve never been this turned on in my entire life. “Next target,” I say, winking at her. “Then I’m taking you home.” But I know the next one won’t be easy for my girl. Walking over, I yank the cover off and rip the tape.

“Gwen. Please, baby. Don’t do this,” Romana begs, her voice trembling. Gwen raises the gun. Staring at her mother. Moments pass. Nothing happens. “You sold me out. You told him to come get me. You have no idea what I went through the hell I was put through!” She sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks. I stand silently, letting her decide. I’m giving her every opportunity to heal.

After a second, she lowers the gun, her body shaking with grief. “I can’t fucking do it. I can’t kill her.” I step in, gently taking the revolver from her trembling hands and wrapping her in my arms. “Shh. It’s okay, baby. You don’t have to.”

Keeping her close, I turn slightly, lifting the gun. I pull the trigger. A clean shot between Romana’s eyes. Her body stiffens before crumpling into the dirt. As the gunfire echoes, Gwen burrows deeper into my chest, sobbing harder than I’ve ever seen. Even though she couldn’t do it, I want her to know there isn’t a single life I wouldn’t lay at her feet. I would let her walk on my grave if that’s what she wanted. “Look at me, baby. It hurts now, but it’s for the best. Because of her, you could be lying in that grave instead.” She sobs. “Dry your tears, Princess. Let’s finish the job.”

I wipe her face as Jimmy moans on the ground. Pulling her by the hand, I lace my fingers through hers. Her tears slow as we stand over a bleeding Jimmy. “Jimmy, I need you to do something for me,” I tell him, nudging his stomach with my shoe. “Fuck you,” he grunts, blood pooling beside his body. “Ah. Wrong answer, buddy. Now, I need you to beg my girl not to kill you.”

He groans, rolling onto his side but says nothing. I press my foot onto his throat. “I said beg for your life, rat. Beg Gwen not to kill you. Beg like my girl begged you not to lay your hands on her.” His face turns blue under the pressure. I lift my foot, letting him suck in a ragged breath, coughing up blood. “Please, Gwen. Don’t kill me,” he wheezes. “Not fucking good enough.” I kick him hard. “Okay, okay! Please, Gwen. Please don’t kill me. I’m sorry.” He looks up at her, pleading. “Getting better. But still not good enough. Much like yourself not good enough. Now tell her you were never good enough for her.”

Jimmy trembles, his breathing ragged. “I was never good enough for you. I’m sorry for everything. I’m so sorry, Gwen.” Her eyes darken, but she says nothing. “Good enough for you, Princess?” I ask. She nods. I lift the revolver and fire. Jimmy’s eyes go wide as his soul leaves his body. I nudge him into the grave with my foot. “You are mine forever, Gwen.”

I lift her chin, making her look at me. “This is the fate of anyone who dares ruin your peace. Understand? Anyone who makes your beautiful blue eyes fill with pain will end up in a grave. Say the word, and I’ll take out anyone you want me to.” She grabs my face, kissing me fiercely, tears mixing with the taste of blood and gunpowder. “I love you, Dominic,” she breathes between kisses.