“You’re thankingme?” The prince took a rag and wiped up the spot. “For what?”
“For killing him.” I held open the bag of trash for the rag. “And for…the other night.”
“That doesn’t bother you?” Dominico watched me.
“They deserved it,” I said, and while my voice was quiet, it was steady andstrong. “So…thank you.”
His eyes flashed. The look he gave me sent the ball of warmth streaming through my blood and a slight buzz formed deep in my core. “I love that you’re not afraid of this world.”
“Oh, I never said that.” I laughed ruefully. “There’s enough evil to send anyone off their rocker.”
“No, I don’t meantheworld,” Dominico corrected. “I mean the world we are currently living in. The one my family runs.”
The criminal underworld.
I chose my next words very carefully. “That man was rich, yes?”
I pointed to the wet spot on the floor.
Dominico clenched his jaw but gave me a short nod.
I sighed. “Here’s how that would have played out. I don’t have money for a lawyer. And a judge wouldn’t listen to me. If he pressed charges, I wouldn’t be the hero. The justice system doesn’t help people like me.”
“You don’t have to fear them.” Dominico caught my hand. A thread of electricity zipped through me. “But Rae?”
“Yes?” I breathed.
“It’s me who should be thanking you.”
His voice was full of sincerity. Crouched in front of him, it was hard to rememberhe’dbeen the one attacked. Dominico was large and strong. Capable.Deadly.
“You were just surprised.” I shrugged. “You would have gotten him eventually. But maybe next time you want to listen in the hidey hole, lock the door?”
He barked a rough laugh. “Great. Now you know about the chink in the wall.”
“Oh, I already knew,” I said before I could stop myself.
The mafia prince gave me a funny look.
I took a deep breath. This was my chance to help his cousin. I quickly explained what I’d heard the other day. As I relayed the information, a storm cloud darkened his handsome features.
Dominico’s voice was steel and violence. “I’ll help Marcellius. He’ll never have to marry a woman if he doesn’t want to.”
“Good.” I did my part. “That’s…good.”
The way the monster watched me was suddenly too intense.
I pulled my fingers free from his.
Dominico let me go. “You’re really not scared of me.” It wasn’t a question. His tone was filled with awe.
Which was strange, because this man had never given me a reason to be scared.
Tying off the bag and gathering the bucket of cleaning supplies, I rose. “Your world has just as many demons as the real world. But a few of you aren’t afraid to cross the line, even to the point of murder. So I’d rather be on your side, Dominico.” I shrugged. “There’s nothing to fear there.”
The devil stared up at me from where he knelt. I liked the way he looked. Liked having him close. The man with blood on his hands for my sake.
But I couldn’t read the expression on his face this time. The wall closed off whatever he was thinking. I had to physically hold myself back from reaching out and brushing my fingers over his cheek. From begging him to talk to me.
