Dominic (Benedetti Brothers 2)

“If you ever do—”

“I won’t.”

“Gia.” He started to reach out then changed his mind. “You’ll be safe. You and your mom. Scava won’t come near you.”

I nodded. I couldn’t speak.

I shifted my gaze down to my feet and clutched his jacket closer to me. I would keep it. I would keep this one thing of his.

“You’ll always have my protection. Anything you need.”

I looked at him one last time, memorizing his face, his eyes that studied me so closely, so carefully, eyes that seemed to want to draw words from me I could not say, not now, not ever. Eyes that saw the things I felt, the things I should not feel. That held a tenderness I only saw when their gaze fell upon me.

Without another word, I went to the door. The man opened it, and I walked out of the house. I didn’t look back, not when he closed the car door, not when we drove away.

I didn’t know if he watched me go but I knew he cared that I had left. I knew he hadn’t expected that. But I couldn’t think about those things. I couldn’t. Not if I wanted to be able to go on.25DominicI went immediately into the study and shut the door. The house already felt different. Empty.

I took a seat behind the desk and opened my laptop.

It was better that she left. Better for her. What could I offer her? Life as my—what? Wife? I couldn’t condemn her to that. Gia had been born into this world, but she could get out. She needed to get out. For all her talk of vengeance, she couldn’t stomach it, couldn’t take the reality of it. I knew that. I did. I think it’s one of the things that drew me to her. As fierce as she was, inside her, the light of her innocence burned bright.

In a way, I sought absolution.

She was clean.

And I had no business dirtying her, no business staining her with my sins.

I opened the desk drawer and took out the letter Effie had written me, picked up the phone, and dialed. I only checked my watch after it started to ring and realized it might be too late to call her, since it was past ten at night.

But then she answered.

“Hello?” came her little voice.

I smiled, tears warming my eyes as my heart thudded.

“Hi, Effie. It’s me, Dominic.”

“Uncle Dominic! You called!”

I heard her elation, and it felt so fucking good.

“Well, you made those delicious cookies, how could I not?” I said. There was a pause. She didn’t know what to say, how to proceed. “Effie, I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to call. I’m very sorry, and you don’t have to say you forgive me. I just want you to know I made a mistake, and I hope I can make it up to you now. I’m going to do everything I can to do that.”

“Oh, Uncle Dominic.”

I heard her sniffle.

“I’ve already forgiven you, silly. I just really miss you.”

“Me too, honey.”

“Where are you, Uncle Dominic?”

“I’m in New Jersey, but I am planning a trip to Florida very soon.”

“You are?”

“Yep. I just have to talk to your mom to arrange some things. Maybe you can show me around?”

“I’d love that! And I’m a great tour guide. I know everything around here. Hold on!”

I heard Isabella’s voice in the background, asking if she was still awake. Effie made up an excuse that she had to get a drink of water, and she would get back to sleep if her mom would stop interrupting. I laughed at that. A few moments later, she came back on the line. This time, she spoke in a whisper.

“Sorry about that. My mom thinks I’m a little kid.”

“Well, you are a kid, and I probably called you pretty late. Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but no big deal. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not so sure. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t we say good-bye for now, and you save my phone number and call me tomorrow after school. In the meantime, I’ll call your mom and see if I can’t arrange a visit.”

“That would be great. I will call you at five minutes after three tomorrow when I get off the bus, okay?”

“I am writing it down in my agenda.”

“Uncle Dominic?”

“Yes?”

“I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but I’m super excited and can’t wait. Since you’re so far away, it’s okay if I tell you, right?”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

She giggled. “I’m getting a baby brother or sister soon,” she whispered. “Mom told me last week.”

Isabella was pregnant. I felt taken aback, left out almost. Like everyone was getting on with the living of their lives, and I was stuck here, in the past, alone.

“That’s great, honey. I’m excited for you.” I hoped she couldn’t hear the effort it took me to say that.