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"I willingly got in that car because the Wild Seven offered to pay off one of my father's debt collectors on the spot, and they did," I snap. "Was it stupid? Yes, but it was necessary because I can't keep raising my daughter in these conditions, and there's so much fucking debt left behind by my father that I can barelybreathehalf the time. And for your information, before yourfrienddecided to drive smack into the side of the car I was already trying to get out of, one of those assholes had a gun to my head and was about to blow my brains out. So no, they didn't harm me, but you don't get to assume a single damn thing about me!"
My small blow-up ends with me sucking in a breath and rubbing my temples, realizing I just made the massive misstep of being vulnerable to Domenic Caputo, of all people.
And I mentionedmy daughter.
God, can this day get any worse?
I don't realize I'm crying again until I hear the cracking of wood, and then Domenic pulls me tightly against his chest. I fight him at first, frustrated and not liking how fragile I feel, but he's so solid and sure as he embraces me. I go slack against him, and he holds me while I get control of myself again, steadying my breathing.
He hasn't said anything, and I should find a way to backtrack everything I just said. I can't just let this mobster comfort me, especially not after he literally ripped my chain bolt lock from the door frame.
"I'll kill them." His voice is comforting, low against my ear like a person hushing a child. But there's an undertone of anger to his sure words. "For daring to threaten you again, they'll die. I promise."
"No. I don't want promises from you," I grumble against his chest.
"What do you want from me, Loren? Tell me, and it's done."
Domenic is being gentle again. So careful. He's holding me tightly and running warm fingers down my arms and through my hair, and I find it's helping calm my shakiness. In fact, his proximity is making my core warm, and my knees feel a little weak. He smells like fine cologne, and everything about him is so sure and comforting right now—he's the man I couldn't resist three years ago and the one I can't stop thinking about today.
And like always, when I'm feeling completely unmoored, I don't even want to try resisting him.
I pull away enough to whisper, "Right now, I just want you. Please."
Chapter 16
Domenic
I hate seeing Loren cry.
She's not the type. She's strong and bright and damn sassy. When she opened the door of her godforsaken apartment, she looked so broken and miserable that I knew I needed to stay with her, no matter the shit we had to work through.
Now, she looks up at me with her soft blue eyes and quiet plea for me…I could never say no to her. Not when she needs me, and I need her.
I quickly capture her lips, kissing her deeply and winding my arms around her. She's still trembling slightly, so little that someone else might not notice, but I do. And I vow that when I find the Wild Seven, I will take my time inflicting pain on every group member for scaring her the way they have—but especially whoever dared to put a gun to Loren's head.
I feel like an idiot because I had no idea about her father's debt. No inkling that she was facing what she just told me about. That she slipped up and mentioned her daughter tells me how much she really must be struggling right now. These are all things to discuss with her at length later, but right now, all I want to do is make her feel better. Make her feel good.
She was right. I asked no questions, and I was a fool to fire her so quickly when she gave me her trust so willingly mere days ago.
But perhaps I can make up for adding to her terrible day by pleasing her until she's screaming my name again. Then I'll inform her she's not terminated from my casino, and I'll get her the hell out of this dump that she evidently doesn't feel safe in.
I need Loren to be safe at all times because she's kept a part of my heart ever since the moment I met her three years ago. I've learned all my life that it's a danger to feel too deeply for anyone—it's why my father married multiple times and constantly had women coming and going in his life. But he's miserable. Half the Caputos are miserable because they don't allow themselves to feel for anyone the way I do for Loren.
Maybe it's dangerous, but I don't fucking care. I can't resist my spitfire cherry blossom.
"Domenic," she whispers against my lips, finally breaking our heated kiss as she threads her fingers into my hair. "I need—"
"Me," I growl against her mouth, scooping her up and carrying her through the damn apartment, down the hallway, and into a bedroom.
She doesn't protest, and I know it's her room by the cherry blossom scent lingering in here, so I pin her to the twin-sized bed and kiss her again, unbuttoning her blouse as I kiss my way down her body.
I take my time with her breast, adoring her soft cleavage and remove her bra to lick and suck at her peaked, pink nipples. My cock rages against my zipper as I groan against her supple skin, nipping at her stomach on my way down.
"Take off your pants and panties before I rip them off," I command Loren, loving how her chest is heaving and her face is flushed.
She starts to comply, and then her delicious mouth quirks to one side. She sits up, takes me by the jaw to kiss me long and hard, and finally whispers, "Or what? You'll spank me?"
Fuck.
