“In a condo now, but I lived in my aunt’s house. She passed away a few years ago.”
“Would you mind very much staying at least tonight? I know that woman better than anyone except Mateo, and she willwant to talk to you when she can get herself under control. I guarantee she will want to tell you about the day you were born. I have to tell you that I’ve known your mother for over fifteen years, and she’s only talked about her baby that was stillborn to us once, and she was depressed for days. We never asked about it again. She wanted you. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“My father told me for twenty-five years that she didn’t want me. How could he have lied for so long if it wasn’t the truth?”
“I worked for your father, and I can tell you he’s one of the evilest men I’ve ever known. He didn’t care who he hurt. There is so much I can tell you about him, but another time. Let me put you in a room tonight. Please, I need to help take care of Aria.”
Domonic sighed and nodded. He felt slightly wrung out and thought it would be better to stay, plus he’d get to see everyone more.
Trent came back after checking on Aria. “Come with me, please,” he said to Dominic.
The room he took him to was very spacious, much larger than his one at home, and tastefully decorated in grays and creams. Dominic had to swallow when he said it was his room forever because an emotion he’d never felt before grew in him. Trent also sent up some scotch and food so he wouldn’t have to go down again until the next day.
As he chewed, he investigated the room and bathroom.
After a shower, he tried watching the TV in the small alcove with a small sofa, chair, and a few tables because he was so tired and needed to go to bed. An hour later, he was still staring at the ceiling and knew it would be a long night.
The next morning, Dominic was sitting at the table drinking coffee with his mother’s men when she walked in. He could tell she was barely holding it together, but she was still incredibly beautiful and poised.
He gritted his teeth when she finally looked his way. He could see the strain he was putting on her, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
“G-good morning, Dominic. I hope you slept well?”
He nodded.
“I hope your room was okay.”
“It was fine.”
“Good. It’s yours from now on.”
“It doesn’t matter. I won’t be here that long.” He could tell that hurt her, but she was hiding it well.
“May I ask what aunt you’ve lived with?” Aria asked.
“I don’t think she was a real aunt. He just made me call her that. When Father visited me, they would go into the first available room and fuck like rabbits.” Jesus, why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut? He guessed years of anger started to surface, and it felt next to impossible to keep from saying these awful things.
“Were you able to spend any nice time with your father?”
Dominic chuckled at the thought of spending quality time with his father. “If you call a hand across my face and several insults quality time, then yes.”
He saw the tears in Aria’s eyes as she apologized to him. He didn’t want her sympathy. At least not, then.
“The one thing he did say that I liked was that this was my destiny, and everything is mine.”
Aria looked down at her lap. “It will be one day, Dominic. You are the oldest in our family. But not until I die.”
“That can be arranged.” Why in the fuck did he say that?
It took a long moment for her to calm down the men who wanted to kill him. He yelled at her when she tried to make him feel better. “Don’t fucking tell me how I feel. You know nothing about me.”
Aria nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. What about youraunt?”
He shrugged. “She didn’t beat me, if that’s what you mean. She knew I was her meal ticket. For as long as she had me, Father paid all her bills.”
“Where is she?”
“Dead. A few years ago.”