Dominic (Benedetti Brothers 2)

“Eight.”

“What’s the date?” I didn’t even know that.

“Eleventh of January.”

“They killed Mateo the day after Christmas.” They’d come for me that same morning. That meant I’d been held captive for more than two weeks.

Dominic didn’t respond. We rode in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts, until we merged onto the highway. It was still early morning, and there were only a few other cars on the road besides us. A sign told me there was a McDonald’s at the next rest stop.

“I’m really hungry,” I said. “Can we get some food?”

He glanced at me like food was the last thing on his mind.

“Please?”

He put on his blinker, and we took the exit. He rode slowly up to the drive-through window.

“If you try anything, Gia—”

“I won’t. I already told you at the cabin. I want Victor Scava. I’m not fool enough to believe I can get to him on my own.” It was true. I had to be realistic. Dominic’s hatred of Victor meant we had a common enemy. He was taking me away from Victor. I didn’t fool myself into thinking Dominic was good, not by any means, but as long as our goals lined up, Dominic was the lesser of two evils.

He nodded. “What do you want?” he asked when we got to the menu board.

“Everything.” I felt greedy as I scanned the options. “But I’ll settle for a sausage egg McMuffin and a big cup of coffee.”

Dominic ordered, taking a sandwich and a coffee for himself as well. He gave me one more warning glance as we drove to the drive-through pick-up window.

I just held up my two hands and shook my head. I wouldn’t do anything. Getting away from him may have been smart—getting to the police even smarter—but if I wanted revenge for Mateo’s death, I needed to stick this out. I needed Dominic.

I watched the girl in the window when she saw him. Saw how her eyes widened and her smile grew, and for reasons I could not understand, I felt a jealousy in my core. An anger at her boldness. But when Dominic then began to flirt with her that anger boiled. I roughly grabbed the bags from him, and he made a joke to the girl as she handed him our coffees.

“I don’t mess with her when she’s hungry.”

He winked at her as she gave me a sideways glance.

“She has sharp teeth and a sharper tongue.”

The girl giggled like a fool. I only glared at him. Finally, we drove off.

“Why did you flirt with her?”

He bit into his sandwich. “Why do you care?”

“I don’t. I just don’t like being made fun of.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “This is good. I haven’t had McDonald’s since I was a kid. My mother only allowed it when we went on vacations.”

I glanced at him. It was hard to imagine him as a kid with a mother. The SUV bounced over a dip in the road just as I brought the cup to my mouth. The scalding liquid burned my tongue. Damn.

“How many girls have you sent to auction?”

He only glanced my way but didn’t answer. Instead, he turned his attention back to the road.

“Let me ask you something else. This isn’t Victor’s first time hiring you, is it?”

He shook his head.

“Does his uncle know?”

“I don’t know.”

“He doesn’t like him much.” He didn’t. Angus Scava could hardly stand Victor, but he had to put up with him. There was no one else to take over the family reins. “He’d been readying James to take over the family. But then James was killed.”

“He was shot, correct?”

I nodded. “On his way home from a meeting he’d gone to in place of his father.”

Dominic’s eyebrows seemed locked in a permanent furrow, but he seemed to be a man used to shielding his thoughts. The momentary flash of vulnerability I saw in his eyes was gone like it had never been there in the first place.

“The Scava’s are a powerful family. James’ grandfather was killed much the same way as he was. He had a sister who died in a car crash. I know Mrs. Scava had miscarried twice. James was the only direct survivor. Bad luck.”

“Not bad luck. They’re a leading crime family. They have enemies. The more powerful you are the more hated you are.”

“You seem to know a lot about this.”

He glanced my way. “I’ve been around. What about your family?”

“The men have been foot soldiers for as long as I can remember. I don’t think many make it past fifty. So fucking stupid. Such a waste.”

“How did you meet James Scava?”

“At a party being used as cover for a meeting. My father had gone as Mr. Benedetti’s bodyguard. I’d been invited to come along. Mateo hadn’t been there. He’d been at school. He was getting out of the life, making a new start.”