Page 87 of He is Poison

Domenico frowned. “AllI’m saying is that this would secure your position.”

“And you’d like that,right? What do you care.” Seth hugged himself and walked away again.“Distressed” didn’t even come close.

Domenico watched histense shoulders with a sinking feeling in his gut. “I don’t have the right toquestion the Don’s decisions.”

“You won’t even say it’sa fucked up idea?” Seth hissed, gesticulating wildly. “Thanks. I knew I couldcount on you.” He walked behind the table and downed Dom’s glass of wine in onego.

Domenico sighed, playingwith the fingers of his left hand. He was more than on the fence about it. “Asa future Don, you need to be a family man. There’s no way around it.”

“What am I? A breedingstud?? I have feelings, self-respect, personal dignity!”

Dom flinched when Seththrew the empty glass at the wall, smashing it into pieces.

“Don’t you want topreserve yourself in a son?”

“I’m twenty-six! I don’twant it. And where are you in all of this, huh?” Seth took a step in hisdirection, slouching and spreading his arms to the sides. “‘Cause I don’t thinkthere is a place for you in this equation.”

Blood drained fromDomenico’s face as he looked up into those fiery eyes. “Me?”

“Yes, you! I thought wecould—” Seth rubbed his face and turned his back on Dom, leaving him confused.

Domenico shook his head.“You need to obey for as long as you aren’t the one in charge.”

“Sure, I just need tosuck up being everyone’s pushover and now, a prime breeding bull father can pimpout to anyone he wants.”

Domenico rose from thechair and walked up to him. He needed to find a sweater soon with the way hisbody was getting colder by the second. “You need to understand, it’s business.”

Seth turned back to him,and his expression wasn’t promising. Lips clenched, brows drawn together.“Sure, I get it.”

Dom managed to give himan encouraging smile. He could sympathize with Seth, but there were things aman simply had to do.

“There’s nothing to behappy about though,” Seth snarled and walked away. Without a word, he picked upthe dirty dishes and took them to the kitchen.

“Are you going to belike that forever?” huffed Domenico, following him. “You’ll get yourself up,fuck her a few times, and that’ll be it.”

Seth slammed the platesinto the sink. “I don’t want to talk about it. And I don’t want you to speaklike that about myfuture wife.” He looked tense and angry, as if sparksof electricity were about to jump off his skin.

“Of course, Mr.Villani,” snarled Domenico, rolling his eyes. He hated it when Seth’s spoiledbratty twin showed his ugly head.

As soon as Dom got tohim at arm’s length, Seth squinted and pushed at his chest. “You’re standingtoo close.”

Domenico looked at theoutstretched hand and stepped back, ignoring the twisting heat in his stomach.“Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be from now on.”

“Yes, that’s what it’sgonna be.” Seth turned on the water with a scowl. “I am the son of the Don, thefuture Don, and the father of the future-future Don, so piss off.”

The empty ball of dryheat that was forming in Dom’s chest was now threatening to explode, sendingtingling sensation to Dom’s limbs, making them tense, eager to punch. “Whateveryou say, Villani,” rasped Domenico with his jaw clenched so hard it got hisback teeth to hurt. He turned on his heel and rushed to the one place thatpowerful energy could prove useful. He yanked open the door.

Vera sat in the corner,looking nothing like three days ago, her hair disheveled, lips and nosebloodied, eyes dark from all the mascara she cried out. Her pupils widened atthe sight of Dom, but she had nowhere to run.

“This is your chance,”rasped Domenico, shutting the door behind him. He didn’t even want to tease,corner her before moving on to the main act. He went straight for her throat,yanking her up by the wall. The tremble of her neck wasn’t nearly the relief hesought.

She started to gurgle,and grabbed his wrists, but the door behind him opened with a loud bang.

“What? What do youwant?” growled Dom, without looking back. Rage traveled up his arm, and hetossed Vera hard into the other corner, following her with his teeth clenchedtight. He wanted the smell in the room to change to something much saltier,more metallic.

“Please don’t! I can’tsay!” She was crying already and hid behind her arms, curling on the floor.

“Dom! She’s not gonnatell you anything if you punch her teeth in,” yelled Seth, coming closer. Nowhe came in. After he didn’t have the balls to approach this cell for two days.