“Kill me,” Dom snarls, grinning like a marauder, like he’s battle drunk, not even a hint of fear in his voice. “And you kill your friend.”
The men exchange glances.
Big mistake.
Dom uses this half-second to throw the human shield at them, leaping across the small distance as they get tangled up in the mayhem. He spins around with a vicious elbow, smashing into the side of one man’s head as he yanks the gun from the other.
He hits another man over the back of the head and then leaps over to Silver Tooth, grabbing him by the throat and pushing him up against the car. He brings the barrel of the gun to his neck, aiming it upward.
“Better tell these bastards to drop their guns,” he snarls.
“Do as he says,” Silver Tooth whines, all of the bluster draining from his voice.
Two of the men dropped their guns in the fight, and the other two – both cradling injuries – do as he says.
“On your knees, gentleman,” Dom snarls.
“Do it,” Silver Tooth whimpers, as Dom presses the barrel of the gun into his neck with even more pressure. “W-whatever he says, just do it.”
The men grumble and complain, but slowly they lower themselves to their knees, completely beaten as Dom holds their leader by the throat, staring hard.
My heart flutters, my mind faltering as I try to process all that’s just happened. It doesn’t seem possible that he flowed between them like that.
And yet, he said he’d always protect me, us, the life we’re building together.
“Apologize to my lady,” Dom growls. “Or I will put a fucking bullet down your throat. Now.”
“I’m sorry,” he croaks. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry.”
“Dreamer?” Dom snarls.
I’m too stunned to reply for a moment, staring at the scene as though any second the glass is going to shatter and reveal that this is all some kind of projection, like a movie playing against the glass.
It takes me a moment to realize what he’s asking.
Then it hits me.
He’s asking me if I accept the apology or…
Or if I want him to crush this man’s throat, put a bullet in his head for daring to disrespect me.
Deep belonging moves through me, a sense of rightness I’ve never felt before.
“It’s okay,” I call out to him. “Dom, it’s over… it’s over. Please just stay safe.”
He grunts out a laugh as sirens start to cut into the air.
“It’s not me you need to worry about,” he growls, and then throws the man to the ground near his mob goons, aiming the pistol at the group of them. “It’s them. How about it, fellas? Anybody want to be a hero? Or are you only tough when you’ve got the advantage?”
They remain silent, staring at the ground.
I stare at my man, at the solid way his muscles press against his suit jacket, immovable and powerful.
Butterflies flutter around my belly, unexpectedly warm and reassuring considering what just happened, what could have happened.
If I had any doubts that Dom would always protect me – I didn’t, but still – I know for an absolute fact now. He’s proved it.
No matter what happens, no matter where our lives take us, he’ll always keep me safe.
I love him so freaking much.
But I have to be careful with that sentiment.
What we have is too special, too new to risk it with such a declaration.
But I can’t stop myself from screaming it in my mind, over and over and over.
I love you, Dom, I scream silently.
Chapter Nineteen
Dominik
I walk down the lawn with Lucky at my side, the little man smiling up at me as the sun crests over the estate. The sky tinges a gorgeous carmine, seeping across the heavens, and I find myself pausing simply to watch the clouds drift by.
I never would’ve stopped to enjoy the simplicity of life like this before, but Daniella has changed me for the better.
Last night was absolute mayhem, I reflect as I drink in the sight of the beautiful nature.
After those mob guys ambushed us, I kept them under guard while the police sorted out the hostage situation. Kesha did some digging and found out that Flavio got wind of our coup and – hopped up on drugs and whiskey – decided to make a last-ditch effort to assert his dominance.
He wanted the attention the ambush would bring. He wanted word to spread.
But he didn’t count on my dedication to my woman, my unflinching commitment to keeping her safe no matter what.
A man like Flavio can never understand what an animal like me would do to protect what’s mine, who’s mine.
Lucky makes a soft moaning sound and nuzzles my leg, looking up at me with a grin on his face.
I smile down at him and tickle him behind the ear, kneeling so he can put his forepaws on my legs. He props himself up, tilting his head this way and that under my touch.