DOMINIC
“What’s the plan?” Levin asked tightly as he strapped a nine to his side and stuffed a knife into his boot.
I twirled two blades in my hands before shoving them in the sheaths by my sides while Vincent loaded a magazine. We’d gone to my safe house to gear up. Leaving Bianca behind wore heavily on me. All I wanted to do was get back to her as fast as I could because I knew her. Threatening Aubrey had been a last-ditch effort to get my queen to stay in line while we went to deal with my father.
I figured since Fallon was still on campus, I’d test him. See if he’d come to her rescue if the lords decided to beat down my door. I also had Stella watching. Everything was a test for those two. The court, our ass-kissers on campus, had their ears to the ground, which offered me some reassurance Bianca would be safe for the evening.
“We go in. I inform my father Bianca is my wife. We hope he doesn't kill us in his rage,” I grunted, shoving a Glock into the back of my waistband and a forty-five onto my hip. I straightened my black, wool jacket and cracked my neck.
This wouldn't be a good night. No visit to my father ever was, no matter the purpose. And tonight? I had to tell him I married into the enemy’s family. It was the whole reason Vincent and Levin were going with me. If shit went down, we’d have to shoot our way out.
I already had the text message to Fallon typed out and ready to send.
If you’re getting this, I’m dead or nearly dead. Take Bianca and run…
I’d added a list of instructions as well as the locations of my safe houses. No one knew where they were except me and my kings.
Would my father kill his only heir?Unlikely.
Was it out of the realm of possibility?Never.
He was insane, and what mood he was in would determine his next steps…and mine. If I could get him on board with this, then Bianca and I would be sitting really fucking pretty, at least for a bit until Daddy-dearest made his move.
“Did you tell Bianca you love her before you left?” Vincent asked, straightening his jacket. “Because I didn’t get to.”
“Yes,” I said, remembering the look in her eyes.
She was worried, but my queen wouldn’t say it. Instead, she’d straightened her shoulders and had given me a hug when I'd pulled her into my arms. I hadn’t waited for her to say it back, but then I might not have left. So, I’d simply let her go and strode out the door. In retrospect, maybe I should've kissed her or made love to her, but she wasn’t exactly in the mood for either. So I did what I did best—I went to work.
“How about you?” Vincent said to Levin, who was glaring at a spot on the wall.
“Didn’t. Won’t. I’m done.”
“What?” Vincent crinkled his brows as he gaped at him. “Since when?”
“Since she told me to fuck off,” he snapped. “I’m not waiting around for any fucking woman to get her shit together. I’m out.”
“Is that why you called me to come watch her? You two had a fight?” Vincent’s full attention was now on Levin.
I frowned. Levin had been quieter and more withdrawn lately. I hadn’t asked why. I assumed it was a Bianca issue, but I didn’t feel like pushing a dead subject around. We were all fucked when it came to her.
“Yeah. Doesn’t matter. I’m going out with Celeste next Friday anyway.”
“What?” Vincent and I asked in unison.
It was news to me. We’d been trying to get in bed with the Vander Veers for ages. Celeste had always had a boyfriend and never paid two shits to us. I’d heard her Ivy League toy had dumped her recently.
Levin clicked his tongue. “Yeah. I was talking to her after Vincent left today. She gave me her number. Since Bianca isn’t interested, I figured I may as well get this shit over with.”
“Are you fucking insane? You’re done with B just because she’s pissed off?” Vincent frowned.
“I’m done with Bianca because she told me she was done with me. Not a fucking hint of it. She said she didn’t want me, and we’d never happen. I feel really fucking confident that means it’s over before it started.” Levin glared at Vincent, who shook his head in disbelief.
“She’s Dom’s problem now. I never wanted her to start with. I honestly don’t give a shit anymore. I just want to get this over with so Dom can cut her ass loose, and we can go back to how shit was before she came along,” his voice shook.
I sighed, my irritation with him rising. “Wasp is pissed at all of us right now. While I like the idea of you getting in with the Vander Veers, I’m also concerned about how it’ll affect our relationship with Bianca—” I started, trying not to completely launch myself at him.
“There is no relationship,” Levin snarled back. “There’s a sham of a fucking marriage and her hating all of us. She’s even pissed at that cunt Vasiliev. I’ve got too much shit going on in my life to deal with her too. I said I was done, and I meant it. She and I are not happening. I was stupid to even consider it.” He turned away from me quickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I should've just fucking shot her in the head and been done with it.”
I leapt forward and punched him in the face before wrapping my hand around his throat and shoving him against the wall. He stared me down, a trickle of blood dripping from his nose.
“You want out? Fine. More for me. I don’t share well anyway. But don’t ever fucking say shit like that about my wife ever again. Got it?”
He swallowed and nodded sharply at me. I knew he was hurting from whatever had gone down between them. But friend or not, I wasn’t going to let anyone talk about my queen like that.
“If she were just a piece of ass to me, I wouldn't have married her and risked my own life or your lives for her. She’s more than that. Either act the fuck like she is or get out of my sight,” I hissed at him. “Now, I’ll ask you again. Are you sure you’re done?”
He stared at me, his blue eyes wavering. “I-I’m done.”
Fucking liar.
“Fine. Then I want you balls deep in Celeste by the end of next week. Free men get to fuck new pussy. Congratulations. You just won.” I released him and backed away.
“You’re a fucking idiot,” Vincent said to him, shaking his head sadly. “Hope you enjoy Celeste.”
Levin wiped his nose before stomping past us to the car.
“What do we do?” Vincent asked once Levin was gone.
I grabbed another magazine out of the cupboard and stuffed it into my jacket. “We do what we always do. We take care of our own, especially when they can’t take care of themselves.”
“What if B and Levin never get along?”
“Then you and I are going to have to step up our game for her,” I said, sending a silent prayer to the devil that shit would turn around. If it didn’t, I feared for our future, especially hers.
* * *