He could tell she was frustrated and trying to hold back her panic. “I can’t say it plainer than this. The life you had before last night is gone. You’re not alone. Now, you have both familiesand me to protect you.”
“For how long?” she asked. “I can’t just live in someone’s house for the rest of my life.”
“Actually, you can. Sooner or later, we’ll move to my mother’s house. Eventually, you’ll be able to leave the house with several guards, but it will be a while. Your life is with me.”
“What if I don’t want you, want this?” she cried.
“You’ll come to care for me and the family.” He stood, walked to her, and grasped her shoulders when she tried to pull away. “I think, eventually, you’ll realize you’re better off with us and me.”
She shook her head. “You think I’ll enjoy living with the mafia?”
“Yes. Once you learn everything you have here, you will become good friends with my sisters and Beth, Alastair’s wife. You’ll never have to worry about money or a job again.”
“But I’ll have to worry about people gunning me down.”
He almost rolled his eyes. “You have a better chance of getting hit by a bullet on your own than with us. Both houses are always heavily guarded.”
She pulled away from him, and he let her. He watched her walk to the window and stare out at the yard.
“I’ve got some food coming up. I’m going to shower and get dressed. Do not open the door.”
He walked into the bathroom, shut the door, and pulled off his clothes. He started the shower and brushed his teeth before stepping under the water spray. It took him a minute to wash. Usually, he liked to stay under the spray for a while, but he had too much to do.
After drying off, he got dressed in clothes Graham had brought the night before. The white shirt and black pants fit him well, but he’d still want to get his own clothes.
He glanced at the pile for Rebeka and decided it would bebetter if she stayed in the nightgown. She’d be less likely to make a run for it. He put the clothes on the back of the closet on the top shelf where she couldn’t find them. If she did, there was no way she’d be able to get them without a ladder.
The first thing he saw when he walked into the bedroom was Rebeka peeking out of the door. He waited with his arms crossed over his chest.
At one point, he thought she’d run for it, but all she did was sigh and close the door. She gasped when she turned to see him standing there.
“I’m glad you made the right decision, baby.”
“This doesn’t mean I won’t try in the future.”
“I’m sure you’ll think about it, but I’m warning you now, I’ll chain you to the bed if I have to.”
He gritted his teeth when tears filled her eyes. “I’m doing this for you. Not against you.”
“You holding me against my will is helping?” she asked.
“Yes. Because you have no idea how much danger you’re in.”
“I would say living with the mafia is dangerous.”
He sighed. “I know you’re tired. I have some food coming up. I want you to eat and then rest all day.”
“I’m not tired or hungry.”
Dominic rolled his eyes. “Then watch TV or read. There are several books on the shelf. If you don’t like any of them, I’ll have more brought up to you.”
“Where will you be?” she asked.
“I’ll be here most of the time. I’ll have to leave to check on my business, but the others will watch over you until I get back.”
She limped over to the window and looked out.
There was a knock on the door, and he opened it. One of the maids had a cart with coffee and food.