Unbound (The Dominator 3)

“Not really. Angel really isn’t but I’ll try to fix it. Call you tomorrow. All ok there?”

“All ok here. Sorry to hear that. You’ll fix it. Take care bro. Talk to ya tomorrow.”

I wanted to go work out, take out some frustration. I also wanted to take the pulse of the Kruna partners that were already here. Delgado had knocked on the door while it was happening and asked if he could observe in person. I’d said No. “My wife needs this and I need to be the only one there while she gets what she needs.”

He shook my hand and said he respected that. I had the feeling they were testing me. Things they were doing might’ve been to see if I was putting on an act or being myself.

Now, I needed to know if they would show me a poker face over what’d just happened here. I was good at cards, very good at reading people, and if their opinion of me shifted because of what’d happened in that room or what’d happened in this room, I’d probably see it.

But leaving her alone right now; would that be a good thing for her or a worse thing than the myriad of ways I’d already fucked things up today?

“I’m gonna go speak to them, take the temperature of things. You okay for a few minutes?”

She nodded but her eyes were still lost-looking.

“Want anything?”

She shook her head.

“Back soon.” I kissed her temple, “I’m so sorry,” I whispered into her ear, “Love you very much.”

The grating sound of the loud music on the TV might’ve been bugging her. It was certainly getting to me. I turned the volume down and scrolled until I found cartoons for her. I put the remote beside her and left, taking my keycard and locking the door on my way out.

Tia

The trip home was uneventful, thankfully. Tommy and I dropped Tessa, Sarah, and the boys off at Tessa’s house. Tessa didn’t want to go back to Tom and Lisa’s. She said she needed to feel near to Jim and it was time to get the boys back into their own beds.

Tommy wasn’t so sure but Tessa insisted. He sent security there, with her, and Sarah said she’d bounce back and forth between Tessa’s and Lisa’s. If Tessa wanted her full-time, she’d talk it over with Lisa.

Sarah told me, on the side, she was worried about them both. Lisa and Tess needed one another right now but they hadn’t talked since lunch at Venetia.

Tessa had been quiet, subdued, like me I suppose. Sarah had been chatty, trying to take care of everyone.

I was sick in my heart. For what they’d gone through. For what we’d just gone through. And I never wanted to see Sin City again. The first time there nearly broke me.

This time? This time my heart was in tatters. I had a meltdown and a fight with Tommy. I saw my sister-in-law in a state of shock and utter heartbreak after being kidnapped and raped.

I almost got kidnapped or couldn’t been killed in an explosion that took seven lives. Someone I knew, a mother of six, Katie “Cupcake” Lewis was dead.

I watched my husband kill another man with a bullet to his face. I watched my husband beat up a half-dead monster and then heard that monster get sodomized as I was forced to listen. If Tommy ever tried to take me to Vegas again he'd have to drag me kicking and screaming.

I was relieved to be home. He was preoccupied so he said nothing when I went right up to bed. I didn’t think I’d sleep. I figured I’d watch TV. But as per usual, I fell asleep.

***

A phone was ringing. Tommy’s phone. He answered it and left the room. The room was illuminated by our television’s splash screen. I guess he’d probably come in to our bedroom and when it rang, he left to answer it.

I sat up and glanced at our alarm clock. It was almost midnight and I was starving. I hadn’t had an appetite that day. But right now, my stomach was growling.

I got up and padded down the stairs toward the kitchen and heard him on the phone.

“Slit his fuckin’ throat. Yep. Only wish it could be done again. Really? Right. Did she? Yeah, man. I’ll pick the pup up in the morning. Bye.”

He saw me in the doorway.

“Hey baby girl.”

He looked tired.