Dominic (42 page)

"You fucking bitch, what was that for?" Dominic snapped when he turned to face me.

"Lookin' at me sister's arse, you pervy bastard!" I growled.

I heard Branna's laughter come from down the hallway, and it made Dominic grin as he rubbed his head and walked towards my bed. "Why do you and Branna always aim for my head when you throw things at me?" he asked when he all but fell on top of me.

I grunted and tried to move him, but he wouldn't budge. "We're tryin' to literally knock some sense into you."

Dominic laughed as he climbed up beside me and pulled me close to him. He was quiet for a moment then said, "Damien booked his flight."

I frowned; Damien was going back to America one last time to say goodbye to Nala. He knew he couldn't have her taken out of Trent's marked grave, because it would raise too many questions, so the best he could do was ignore the gravestone that was engraved for Trent and lay fresh flowers for her.

He said he was coming back to Ireland; he promised me he would. He just never promised when and that made me sad because I knew deep down it wouldn't be anytime soon.

"You know he is goin' to be gone away for a while, right?" I murmured to Dominic.

He nodded his head. "I know, he won't come back here for a few years at least, but if it helps him sort out his head then good for him."

"What if he never comes back?" I whispered and clamped my mouth shut when my voice shook.

Dominic squeezed. "He will come back; this is our home, Bronagh. We're his family… plus, Lana is here and even though she kicked him in the nuts yesterday when he tried to say sorry for what he had done; he will still come back for her. Kicking him in the nuts just put the final stamp on things. No girl will measure up to her now."

I snorted. "I
still
can't believe she did that. I understand it but still can't believe it."

"I don't know what it is about my family but once a girl knocks us about, we set our sights on them. You're a prime example of that, you mouthed off at me from day one and slapped me when I tried to get a spider off your ass-"

I elbowed him in the stomach cutting him off. "You're a lying piece of crap. You were trying to feel me arse, not wipe anythin' off it!"

Dominic shrugged and chuckled. "I love that phat ass."

I rolled my eyes and said, "I invited Gavin over for Christmas Eve drinks tonight after our family dinner so you have to be on your best behaviour or you won't get any fat arse again."

He grunted. "You mean I'm not allowed to pound on any guy that gets close to you? Not even your friend?"

I looked up to him and smiled. "When Christmas holidays are over, and we're back in school, you can target and pound on Jason Bane all you like."

Dominic burst out laughing. "I love you, babe, even though you're a bit of an evil bitch."

I rolled my eyes and traced my fingers over his abs. "I love you too, babe, even though you turned my world upside down."

"But in a good way, right?"

I smiled and looked up at him. "In the best way."

He winked, which made me snort and say, "Cocky bastard."

He suddenly flipped me over then and smirked down at me, his dimples waving at me as he said, "I'll show you something cocky, pretty girl."

I screamed with laughter making Dominic grin when he tried to get his hands into my trousers.

"Don't even think about it, Nico. We're leavin' the house in thirty seconds so leave her alone!" Branna's voice shouted from downstairs.

Dominic groaned as he fell next me and grunted. "Your sister is a huge fucking cock block."

I snorted, and leaned over kissing his cheek. "I'll be back soon."

"You better," Dominic grunted as I jumped up from the bed and headed downstairs to my impatient big sister.

"We're fucking starving," Dominic groaned for the tenth time since Branna and I got home from town an hour ago. While we prepared dinner, we gave the lads the jobs of wrapping the presents from them to other people that we had picked up for them. I checked on them a few times and found each grown man either complaining about the wrapping present process or popping the bubbles on the bubble wrap we gave them.

"If you complain one more time you won't be gettin' any dinner," I snapped to Dominic as I poured the gravy into our gravy boat.

I felt hands on my hips and a kiss on the back of my neck. "Sorry," he mumbled.

"I've never heard you apologise so fast before." Branna laughed from my right.

"He will apologise at the speed of light if his pussy and food are threatened," Damien said.

I growled as I looked over my shoulder to the blond-haired Slater brother. "You're disgustin'."

Damien smiled as much as his still swollen face would allow. "You still love me."

I rolled my eyes. "Only a little bit."

Dominic chuckled as did Damien as they both moved to the large kitchen table. Branna was already putting out plates with food on them, and the smell was attracting the brothers like a bunch of wild animals.

"Touch those roast potatoes, Dominic, and I will end you," I said without turning around.

"How did you know I was going to take one?" he asked.

"Because you're impatient and greedy," I answered, making him snort.

I turned and smiled at everyone taking their seats at the table while I walked over and put the gravy boat on a coaster. I took my seat next to Dominic and smiled when he gave me a wink.

I looked to all the food and grinned. "Not to toot my own horn, but this looks amazin'."

Ryder chuckled. "It does look amazing, you and Branna did an awesome job."

Branna and I perked up with the praise and beamed when the other brothers agreed. Damien reached for a roast potato, and because he was seated to my right, I smacked his hand away making him yelp which his brothers found funny.

"Rude!" Damien snapped.

I raised my eyebrow. "Says the greedy fucker who is takin' food before we pray!"

Damien sighed. "Sorry."

I nodded and looked to everyone. "Hold hands."

No one moved except Branna, and it made me snort. "We don't pray before every meal but Christmas time is different. Besides, after all the shite you lot did over the past few years, you
need
to be prayin' to God."

Branna snorted when all the brothers practically grabbed each other hands and held them; everyone bowed their heads, and so did Branna, so I guess it left me to say a prayer.

"Thank you for blessin' us with this meal we're about to receive and thank you for keepin' us all safe and sound throughout our struggles over the past few weeks. Thank you for makin' mine and Branna's family whole again by bringin' the brothers into our lives. Please keep Damien safe when travels to America and when he is ready, guide him safely back home to us. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

"Amen," everyone said in unison.

I looked up and reached for the mashed potatoes bowl but froze when I realised everyone was looking at me. I felt my entire face flush as I cleared my throat as I said, "Branna always says the prayers, I never do, did I mess it up?"

Dominic leaned over, pressed his hand to the back of my neck and pulled my face to his. He covered my mouth with his and gave me a long, gentle kiss. "No, pretty girl, it was perfect."

I smiled when we broke apart and looked to everyone else and found them smiling at me, I felt like I was about to combust when Damien reached over and kissed my cheek. "Love you, Bee," he said.

I forced myself not to cry, but it was hard because this was a damn touching moment.

"Love you, too, Dame."

Alec's overplayed clearing of his throat made me snort. "Love you as well, Alec."

I flicked my eyes to Kane and found him already looking at me, his eyebrows raised. "I love you Kane, and you Ryder, and you Branna. I love you all."

Everyone chuckled as more I love you's got thrown around making everyone beam with happiness. We all dug into our food then, and drank our beers as the lads started up random conversations about the future. Dominic wanted to finish school and go on to college; Damien was going back to America for a while; Alec wanted to remain a bachelor; Kane wanted to see if he could do something with the abandoned community centre in town for the kids in the area, and Ryder just wanted to marry Branna.

A few times I just stopped to look around at the faces of the people who had all done what I thought was impossible; they had set up camp in my heart and wouldn't leave no matter what. It was the best feeling in the world.

I had a family again, a
whole
family, and I felt truly blessed because of it.

"Are you okay, phat ass?" Dominic asked in a teasing tone from my left.

I looked at him; I looked past his bruises and saw him. He was perfect; he saved me from myself, and he was all mine.

I gave him a wink that made him smile as I said, "I've never been better, Fuckface."

To write and self-publish Dominic took a crew of people, people I wouldn't have been able to do without during this journey.  I couldn't have done any of this without you all, you're all brilliant!

God, for giving me the courage to simply 'go for it'.

My daughter, you're everything to me, mini me. I love you with all my heart.

My sister, the brainiac behind our late night brainstorming sessions. Like I said at the start of the book, I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without you. You're crazy, annoying and sometimes brilliant, I love you!

My family, even though you all aren't interested in reading, you still promised to buy Dominic when it is released. Your continued support means the world to me, I love you all.

My best friend, even though you don't read fiction, you promised to by an eBook copy as well as a paperback. The promise of helping me get extremely drunk on my release day just proves how great (and crazy) you are. You're fab, and your support has been second to none!

My beta readers, Neeny and Yessi, who broke Dominic down piece by piece and gave me incredible feedback and helped me mould Dominic into the story it is today. Even though my stomach was twisted in knots as I awaited your input, you made my first beta experience a brilliant one, thank you both from the bottom of my heart!

Yessi, as my editor and new BFF, I can't tell you how much you have helped me throughout this entire process. From the random conversations to answering endless newbie book related questions from me, you have been absolutely brilliant. I would have been lost without you.

Jenny over at Editing4Indies for proofreading! Thank you for everything!

Jennifer Tovar for proofreading also, you're fab!

Ty, the best P.A. anyone could ask for, I probably would have reached out to fifty or so people if you weren't around to help me. You're brilliant at your job; you rock!

L.J. over at Mayhem Cover Creations for creating a cover that I am in love with.

Last, but not least, my readers. I hope you enjoyed Dominic and Bronagh's story as much as I did writing it. Watch out for the rest of the Slater Brothers books. I'm not nearly finished with them. ;)