Page 39 of Laced With Secrets

“And you—” Margie patted my hand gently, but her gaze was focused on Dominic. “You protect this omega here and your little one.

“I promise,” Dominic said, his hand finding my shoulder.

The drive back to Blake’s apartment was quiet at first, both of us processing everything Margie had told us.

We had stayed a while longer after questioning Margie about Thomas, letting her share happier memories. By the time we left, darkness had fallen completely.

Downtown Millcrest streaked past my window, a kaleidoscope of neon lights and shadowed silhouettes.

Finally, Dominic broke the silence, his voice tight. “Vicente Antonelli.”

“What about him?” I asked, turning away from the window to look at Dominic.

Dominic’s hands were white-knuckled on the steering wheel. “I’ve done business with him.”

I turned to stare at him. “What?”

“The Vertex takeover—the one that led to the pharmacy demolition.” Dominic’s jaw was clenched. “Vicente owned several properties in the district back then. When Blake and I orchestrated the Vertex acquisition, we essentially gutted his local business interests. Forced him to sell at a significant loss.”

Ice formed in my stomach. “You knowingly did business with a mob boss?”

“His legitimate business front, yes.” Dominic’s voice was carefully controlled. “At the time, I knew Vicente had a reputation for mob connections, but there was never any proof. He was just a local businessman who was willing to negotiate.”

I watched a muscle in his jaw twitch as his steel-gray eyes remained fixed on the asphalt stretching before us. “I wanted you to know,” he murmured, his voice barely audible above the hum of the engine. “No more secrets.”

My hand went to my stomach. “Are you and Blake mobsters?”

Dominic barked a sharp laugh. His steel-gray eyes flicked toward me, crinkling at the corners with genuine amusement. “We’ve rubbed elbows with them. It’s common in our line of work. But no, I’m not a made man.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks at his reaction. “Hey! It was a valid question, all things considered.”

“Touché, baby.” The corner of his mouth quirked upward.

I turned away, staring out at the passing streetlights, my reflection ghosting against the window.

“Do you think Vicente killed Thomas?” My voice finally broke the silence.

“Vicente was the general contractor for multiple construction sites in the seventies. That’s how he built his initial wealth before transitioning into restaurants.” Dominic pulled into the parking garage beneath Blake’s building. “He would have had access to every site, including the pharmacy. He would have known when concrete was being poured. And if he needed to bury a body…”

The implications were horrifying.

“And you ruined his business with the Vertex deal.”

Dominic parked and turned to face me. I could feel his need to sooth and protect me radiating through our bond. “I did. And Vicente is not the kind of man who forgives people who cost him money or power.”

His silver gaze dropped to my midsection. “And you’re pregnant with my child.”

“That’s why you want to stay somewhere more secure than my shop…” I said quietly.

“It is.” His hand found mine, fingers intertwining. “And I want to let the sheriff deal with him from now on—not us.”

CHAPTER NINE

The door swung open, and we’d barely crossed the threshold before I heard Penny’s animated voice carrying down the hallway.

“—and I’m telling you, the shade isdefinitelychartreuse, not lime. There’s a difference!”

“If you say so,” Blake’s dry response came from the direction of the kitchen. “Though I maintain that green is green.”